Justin Fields Must Follow the Mason Rudolph Model
Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Redemption arcs are a fickle and delicate thing. In film and literature, building up the audience’s trust takes time and consistency. Think of “Game of Thrones” characters Jaime Lannister and Tyrion Lannister. Both had good and bad moments, which ultimately left fans with differing opinions on how they ultimately finished their journey.
Sports are no different. Or at least, minus the swords and dragons. In recent Pittsburgh Steelers history, Mason Rudolph made a miraculous comeback in the eyes of the Steelers faithful. He was met with resistance after they drafted Rudolph as the hopeful heir to Ben Roethlisberger. After struggling in a few starts and a helmet-to-helmet hit courtesy of Myles Garret, his tenure in the Steel City appeared to be doomed.
Rudolph was relegated to the third-string slot and left for dead after Big Ben’s departure. Then, through the most unlikely of circumstances, Rudolph emerged as a starter, and actually played well. His willingness to improve through the disappointment and lack of opportunity forged a redemption arc and recaptured the hearts of many fans in the Black and Gold.
He’s gone now.
In his stead are two quarterbacks with similar redemptive aspirations. Russell Wilson is hoping to re-solidify his claim to the Hall of Fame by bringing postseason success to Pittsburgh. Justin Fields is working to undo the glorified running back tag that many have thrown his way due to his limited success in the league. One of the two will have to follow Rudolph’s model if they hope to right the ship of their career.
Fields has had a tumultuous start in the NFL and is now seen as the definite No. 2 option for his new team. His highlight-reel runs and flashes of greatness weren’t enough to keep him in command in Chicago. A blow to his self-esteem, no doubt, but now he can take the time to develop, the way his predecessor did.
To do that, he’ll need both the right approach and the right support. Fields must stay out of the headlines the best he can. The drama of a quarterback competition once the season begins will only bring additional pressure to an already tricky situation.
This puts Fields in the ideal spot to follow Rudolph’s path. Rudolph often prioritized preparedness over pining for the big job throughout training camps and practices. Instead of sulking, he took the opportunity to learn rather than try and steal the show week in and week out. Following that example should help Fields break some of the habits he seemed to have established in Chicago.
The coaching staff must foster Fields’ development with intent. Discussion of Taysom Hill-type packages or the blasphemous use of Fields on kick returns must only happen after careful consideration. Sure, exposing the young quarterback to game action seems logical for both the team and his maturation, and he’s experienced enough to handle the moment. On the other hand, condensing his options or playbook could have an adverse effect over the long-term.
The question that remains is whether or not Rudolph’s success can be a predictor of how Fields will fit in the Steelers organization. Many seem to feel that Rudolph’s success was despite Tomlin’s handling of the situation. Surely Rudolph would never say it that plainly, but it seems possible. Even if it is true, though, it’s doubtful Tomlin would fumble the situation with his new backup.
Ironically, the best person to bring Fields through this experience was Rudolph, who has signed with Tennessee. He’ll likely get to compete with and mentor the Titans’ young quarterback, not Fields.
Nevertheless, the Steelers have provided a soft landing spot for two quarterbacks who need to re-prove themselves. Surely, Pittsburgh is hedging its bets, but it could also end up that the Black and Gold have both filled an immediate need and are developing their quarterback for the future.
Up Next