Playing all year with unproven WRs (even Washington falls into this) and without Rosie has not helped our offense. YES, the OC need to plan better to RUN against teams that are weaker against the run AND NOT DO THE OPPOSITE!
But, IMO, the evaluation of either Duck or Rudolph has to be held back by the fact that most teams are "loading the box" which allows blitzing the run and the pass because we don't have the WRs that scare anyone!
Having a FB would have helped all of the RBs and the OL by a bunch. Having a consistent "DUO" of TEs would have helped too. (Vannett is new and may blossom next year but Vance was hurt or missing as usual and Grimble got hurt early on)
When we have no WRs with the ability to create separation OR even know the playbook and tendencies confidently, it hurts the potential of establishing even an average passing attack. WIth every team loading the LOS, it takes away the ability to throw quick releases to TEs, RBs and WRs over the middle because they can drop back into the "lanes" against an inexperienced QB and pick him off too, just like this past week.
I'm not worried about our OL, or our RBs as it would be hard for anyone to be consistent with every team loading up on us...they wouldn't be able to get away with that with more seasoned players that could react to it.
Neither of our back-up QBs has the ability or latitude to "change a play call at the LOS" and that HURTS! The reasons for this are obvious. We don't know IF the inexperienced WRs and TE (Vannett) even know the original playcall, let-alone the QBs.
I think our D looks promising for next season. I think our O needs better players at WR which we will have with Washington, Johnson and JuJu back next year. We will need a possession guy or a field stretcher to go with a decent TE to go with Vance and Vannett. We will have better play calling with BB back too because unlike the back-ups, he can change the play-call and not just run a slow developing pass or run up-the-gut against a 8-9 man box. They hopefully will have a FB next year too. (I don't know why they didn't bring one in when Rosie went down OR even bring Sutton Smith onto the active list after Rosie went to IR, instead, they released him a week later?)
It's really unfair to judge our offense based on who has been able to play this year and who has had to play out of necessity. Both QBs may be fine. I still like Duck better because he has an slightly above-average arm (based on all of his scouting reports) but has below-average size (why he didn't hit anyone's radar). He will never be Russell Wilson or Drew Brees but he could be a cheap, not as good version of these guys. HIS PROBLEM, IMO, is he does not make good decisions under-pressure from the blitz/DL. He had completed over 90% of his passes in 4 years at Samford WHEN NOT PRESSURED against 19% WHEN PRESSURED. That is his experience as a Steeler. He shouldn't be playing, but he has had to before he was ready, with a bunch of first-year skill players...not fun. Rudolph is a better player than Duck with DL in his face BUT he will get killed sooner than later playing this way. HIS problem is his accuracy in the short/middle game. He also has the same issues of playing a stacked box, not able/allowed to change the play, playing with inexperienced players, etc.
Sure, we still have the issues with playing TO the opponents strengths, instead of their weaknesses, bad timing of play selection, poor 3rd down planning on both offense and defense, ridiculous Special Teams play and play-calling and generally playing "down" to our competition, but we have gotten used to those issues with MT and his lack of game awareness and adjustments. Whether it's him or his minions...it's on him.
Lots of teams have better performances from lessor talent BUT they are "prepared" lessor talent. We have lessor talent that are only on the field out of necessity, not planning and our guys are not prepared to deal with the obvious "game-planning" of other teams, to exploit our inexperience.
We have done FAR BETTER than any non-Steeler fan would have expected (That's why MT is being considered for the great job he has done). As Steeler fans, we EXPECT to win every game regardless of how unrealistic it is...and our lack of coaching (which we ARE used to), just teases us with what "could have been".
IMO, "we are who we thought we are"...a team without proven skill players on offense, playing with PS guys and guys who just got here, dealing with what other coaches employ to exacerbate the inexperience.
We will be fine next year, IMO.
