After Maddox it’s Randle El or Rutherford?

 

By A. D.

            Let’s pretend that one night you’re dreaming that the Steelers are playing one of their toughest games of the season. Big Ben Roethlisberger has been injured so now starting at quarterback is Tommy Maddox. The game is an arduous journey full of ups and downs, turnovers and bad calls, and just when you think the game is over and the Steelers have won, Maddox throws and interception that turns into a touchdown and the game is over. Chalk up an L in the lost column. You wake from this nightmare only to realize that it wasn’t a dream, it really happened.

            Now flash forward to this week as the black and gold take on the Baltimore Ravens in a heated rivalry that dates back over ten years to when the Ravens were called the Browns and resided in Cleveland instead of Baltimore. Roethlisberger is not starting and the nervous fans await gripe their seats in anxiety as backup QB Maddox returns to the first string. The game could go either way, with Maddox gift wrapping the game to the other team or Maddox reprising the title of Comeback Player of the Year he once held.

            Roethlisberger has been sidelined yet another week in hopes that his knee will be fully recovered after having surgery to remove fragments of cartilage. So where is Charlie Batch, the second backup? Batch is also on the injured list with broken bones in his right hand. That leaves no. 3 QB Maddox, practice squad QB Rod Rutherford and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (in case of an emergency). "I've got all the confidence in the world in my ability," said Randle El.

            Randle El played the quarterback position while in college at Indiana University. He broke many Division 1-A football records including being the first quarterback to throw for more than 6,000 yards and run for more than 3,000. Against Cleveland, Randle El took the football on a reverse from Duce Staley and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward. If Maddox were to get injured this week against the Ravens the Steelers would probably have more confidence going with Randle El than Rod Rutherford.

            Rutherford, who played as quarterback for Pitt, has been compared to Atlanta Falcon’s QB Michael Vick. While in college Rutherford was known for his speed, agility and ability to run for the first down. He even helped the Carolina Panthers, his rookie team, prepare for their games against Atlanta by mimicking Vick in practice. Now signed to the Steelers practice squad, Rutherford, in his second year playing in the NFL, has yet to be placed on the active roster. That could change this Sunday.

            It’s hard to say what puts the Steeler Nation more on edge, watching someone other than Roethlisberger take the snaps or knowing that Big Ben will probably dress for the game and be called upon if the worst case scenario should happen. If Big Ben is tapped to play he could potentially damage his knee even more and what’s worse, be sidelined for the biggest test of the Steeler’s season, a Monday Night Football against the (as of right now) undefeated Indianapolis Colts. At the beginning of the season the Steeler’s depth chart appeared as strong as the blitzes of Dick Lebeau’s defense. Now, it’s the biggest concern.