Devlin Hodges

[Drink IRON City]

Quarterbacks need to be smart enough, but they also need to be able to throw with velocity, timing, and accuracy. They also need to be able to perform under pressure, both situational pressure, and physical pressure. Brains don't help you with that. If being smart was all it took, the league would be filled with guys from the Ivy League, and Stanford. That's why Ryan Fitzpatrick has never been anything more than a journeyman in the league, despite being extremely smart. I don't think Terry Bradshaw is dumb, but he's obviously no rocket scientist. He has 4 rings..

Isn't that the same number of letters in C-A-T-T.?






Salute the nation

 

[Super Dave]

It's still early, but you have to figure he now has a chance to make the team. If he plays this well the next two games, I'm keeping him over Dobbs, not just because I think he's better than Dobbs, but because I think he might be able to eventually give Rudolph a run for his money. Some players just have IT, you can't always put a finger on it, but it's there. I think Rudolph can be a starter in this league, but I see him as being an Andy Dalton level starter, a bit better than O'Donnell. You could do much worse (Kyle Boller, or any Cleveland qb before Mayfield), but I don't see him becoming elite. He'll win games with a good team around him, but can he work some magic when games against big teams are on the line. It's early, but I see some Drew Brees in Hodges. Maybe he'll fall on his face the next two games, and be lucky to win a spot on the practice squad, but I don't think so.

Rudolph's footwork look much improved last night.

 

[Superman]

Dobbs tries to be a pocket passer, even if he's very athletic and can pick up yards with his feet. He tries to stay in the pocket too long, which hurts his decision-making. When he has a hot read, he's much better. Still, his mechanics haven't gotten much better. Seems he regressed from last week to this week.

Last week he was money. This week, he was the Dobbs of old.

Hodges needs to see time against 2nd stringers before we can determine which of these guys to cut.

Rudolph looked average to me. Nothing special, but not trash either. Someone compared him to Dalton and that's pretty accurate.

 

[Steelworth]

Rudolph's footwork look much improved last night.

He said they worked on that, his pocket presence and ability to move around to avoid the rush like crazy during the off-season. Sure looks like it's paying off. One thing about Rudolph, he strikes me as cocky and brash (which is not bad for a QB, but perhaps why Tomlin didn't want to say anything about him leapfrogging Dobbs).

 

[Steelworth]

Rudolph looked average to me. Nothing special, but not trash either. Someone compared him to Dalton and that's pretty accurate.

Really? I thought he looked good. His receivers did him no favors in the beginning, but they stuck with it and I loved that long drive that ended in the Samuels TD. Guy seems poised, calm in the pocket and can get the ball to his targets. I'm not sure if he even made any glaring mistakes. Seems like a good first start to me.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Really? I thought he looked good. His receivers did him no favors in the beginning, but they stuck with it and I loved that long drive that ended in the Samuels TD. Guy seems poised, calm in the pocket and can get the ball to his targets. I'm not sure if he even made any glaring mistakes. Seems like a good first start to me.

Rudolph is still a work in progress, but he is exponential better this year than he was as a rookie. I've been very impressed with his growth as a quarterback.

 

[ark steel]

I don't see anyone offering a 5th for dobbs. Has hodges played against any talent?

They won't cut dobbs or Rudolph. Last night's game gave the #2 edge to Rudolph. i think.

You could do worse than an aeronautical engineer holding you clipboard and helping the other qbs.

 

[SteveA]

Dobbs has a lot of Dennis Dixon to his game.

Man, this dude had wheels and a gun.

 

[Hoot]

I don't see anyone offering a 5th for dobbs.

Honestly, I don't see it as it stands today but that can all change with an injury or two after third preseason game.

I know Hodges is one of the popular diamonds in the rough right now, but he has played against the same level of guys he was successful with against in college (i.e., a lot of guys who will not be on rosters in about 15 days.) My only view of the guy is in 2 preseason games and not in practices and other team functions, but from what I have seen, I do want to see him play against the next tier up. Seems to me that would answer a lot of questions about Hodges ceiling. The next question is really team philosophy - what do you want as your 3rd string QB? I mean, if you the Steelers, do you see this guy developing into the next Landry Jones? Do you even want that at this stage or do you want a guy with some experience and can run the scout team? (Dale pointed out in one article, that Dobbs can run scout team much like some of the mobile QB's such as the kid in Baltimore).

 

[Drink IRON City]

Man, this dude had wheels and a gun.

Just needed a stronger knee, Oh and maybe more between the ears.




Salute the nation

 

[Steelworth]

Do you even want that at this stage or do you want a guy with some experience and can run the scout team? (Dale pointed out in one article, that Dobbs can run scout team much like some of the mobile QB's such as the kid in Baltimore).

Good point.

 

[Superman]

Really? I thought he looked good. His receivers did him no favors in the beginning, but they stuck with it and I loved that long drive that ended in the Samuels TD. Guy seems poised, calm in the pocket and can get the ball to his targets. I'm not sure if he even made any glaring mistakes. Seems like a good first start to me.

I didn't say he looked bad. Just looked like an average NFL QB.
I've been most impressed by Hodges.

Of the 3 QBs we have behind Ben, which would you rather our defense NOT face? In order, for me:
Hodges
Rudolph
Dobbs

But, must also consider that Hodges hasnt faced the same level of comp that the others have.

 

[Steelworth]

I didn't say he looked bad. Just looked like an average NFL QB.
I've been most impressed by Hodges.

Of the 3 QBs we have behind Ben, which would you rather our defense NOT face? In order, for me:
Hodges
Rudolph
Dobbs

But, must also consider that Hodges hasnt faced the same level of comp that the others have.

That touchdown pass that Hodges threw to Johnson with the pressure right in his face, and before Johnson came out of his break was Ben roethlisberger-like. I'd like to see him do it against the 1s like Mason first. But what a nice problem to have on your hands.

 

[Hines57]

Cut Dobbs, keep the other two

 

[Stryker]

Honestly, I don't see it as it stands today but that can all change with an injury or two after third preseason game.

I know Hodges is one of the popular diamonds in the rough right now, but he has played against the same level of guys he was successful with against in college (i.e., a lot of guys who will not be on rosters in about 15 days.) My only view of the guy is in 2 preseason games and not in practices and other team functions, but from what I have seen, I do want to see him play against the next tier up. Seems to me that would answer a lot of questions about Hodges ceiling. The next question is really team philosophy - what do you want as your 3rd string QB? I mean, if you the Steelers, do you see this guy developing into the next Landry Jones? Do you even want that at this stage or do you want a guy with some experience and can run the scout team? (Dale pointed out in one article, that Dobbs can run scout team much like some of the mobile QB's such as the kid in Baltimore).

Great point about scout team QB Hoot. That may be a reason why the Steelers keep him.

I will say, there is a lot of low talent playing in the second half of football games. If you can't make plays against them, you don't deserve to move up. But the kid IS making plays. He should play the majority of game 4. Not sure if he plays at all in game 3, but Tomlin may do a QB each QTR? Ben won't play much 2 drives max, 1 for sure.

 

[Super Dave]

Hodges has the tools to be a quality long-term backup quarterback. Before I get too excited, I want to see what he can do at least against the No. 2s. I wonder if the Steelers would even keep 3 QBs with the depth at some of the other positions.

That is a great point. I would say yes given Ben's age.

 

[Hoot]

Great point about scout team QB Hoot. That may be a reason why the Steelers keep him.

I will say, there is a lot of low talent playing in the second half of football games. If you can't make plays against them, you don't deserve to move up. But the kid IS making plays. He should play the majority of game 4. Not sure if he plays at all in game 3, but Tomlin may do a QB each QTR? Ben won't play much 2 drives max, 1 for sure.

Wish I could take credit for the scout team point, but I am just repeating Dale at DK.

agree. From what we fans see, the kid deserves a shot to play against the next tier players. I have no idea what kind of opportunities he will get in practices between now and game 4.

 

[Steeltime]

Unquestionably, Devlin has far exceeded all expectations. But in the end Dobbs is going against 1s and 2s. He has made lots of good throws and runs. Devlin is going against 3s and 4s.

So what is Hodges supposed to do - run to the sidelines and challenge the opponent's starting DB's? Okay, Dobbs is going against better players. But Hodges is a better passer right now, in his first NFL experience, while Dobbs is in his 3rd season.

Let's do a little comparison, apples-to-apples. In his first two preseason games of his career, Dobbs went 18-34 for 170 yards (5.0 yards per attempt), with 1 TD, 4 sacks, and 3 interceptions. THREE.

In his 9 preseason games in his career, much of it against 2nd stringers and nobodies, Dobbs has thrown 6 TD's and 6 interceptions.

SIX INTERCEPTIONS, in 126 attempts. A pick every 21 attempts. So when Dobbs makes dumb decisions in an NFL game, he is just doing what he always does.

In his 2 preseason games in the NFL, Hodges has thrown 18 passes, completing 10, for 117 yards, 2 TD's, 0 picks and 0 sacks. Should have have a 3rd TD on the terrible OPI call as well.

So in an honest comparison as to how they did very early on, against 3rd stringers, Hodges >>>> Dobbs.

 

[stillwright]

So what is Hodges supposed to do - run to the sidelines and challenge the opponent's starting DB's? Okay, Dobbs is going against better players. But Hodges is a better passer right now, in his first NFL experience, while Dobbs is in his 3rd season.

Let's do a little comparison, apples-to-apples. In his first two preseason games of his career, Dobbs went 18-34 for 170 yards (5.0 yards per attempt), with 1 TD, 4 sacks, and 3 interceptions. THREE.

In his 9 preseason games in his career, much of it against 2nd stringers and nobodies, Dobbs has thrown 6 TD's and 6 interceptions.

SIX INTERCEPTIONS, in 126 attempts. A pick every 21 attempts. So when Dobbs makes dumb decisions in an NFL game, he is just doing what he always does.

In his 2 preseason games in the NFL, Hodges has thrown 18 passes, completing 10, for 117 yards, 2 TD's, 0 picks and 0 sacks. Should have have a 3rd TD on the terrible OPI call as well.

So in an honest comparison as to how they did very early on, against 3rd stringers, Hodges >>>> Dobbs.

LOL....Good stuff. Apples to apples for sure.

 

[scraps]

That touchdown pass that Hodges threw to Johnson with the pressure right in his face, and before Johnson came out of his break was Ben roethlisberger-like. I'd like to see him do it against the 1s like Mason first. But what a nice problem to have on your hands.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hodges Touchdown!<a href="https://twitter.com/Juiceup__3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Juiceup__3</a> <a href="https://t.co/5K1ENqnQPM">pic.twitter.com/5K1ENqnQPM</a></p>— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) <a href="https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1162924038273916928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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