Pittsburgh Steelers mentor Mike Tomlin amongst attendees for Liberty QB Malik Willis’ professional day

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Liberty quarterback Malik Willis impressed a college pro-working day file 60 NFL coaches, scouts and executives from all 32 groups with the arm strength and athleticism that has him projected as a initial-spherical draft decide on.

Willis was especially amazing Tuesday with an improvised strike that traveled 65 yards in the air, with no time for the 22-year-previous to established just before launching the bomb.

But what seemed to most impress Willis, who claimed he came into the working day without the need of any ambitions or expectations, occurred the evening in advance of whilst getting supper with Pittsburgh Steelers mentor Mike Tomlin.

“I’m like, ‘Mike Tomlin’s ingesting rooster wings?'” Willis reported in amazement after a session that bundled 70 scripted throws. “Which is what you want. I mean, he is a ordinary dude.”

Tomlin, whose team has the 20th choose in the April 28 draft, was one particular of two head coaches in attendance. The other was Carolina coach Matt Rhule, whose group has the sixth select.

Rhule and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo spent most of Willis’ 70 scripted plays standing in 10 to 15 yards of the quarterback. Carolina’s Scott Fitterer, a person of 4 general professionals/executives in attendance, was not much at the rear of.

The other general supervisors/executives were Atlanta’s Terry Fontenot, Pittsburgh’s Kevin Colbert and Washington’s Marty Hurney.

Carolina and Atlanta came up limited very last 7 days in trying to trade for Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson, who finally went to Cleveland.

So both of those teams are in the market for a quarterback, even nevertheless Atlanta signed Marcus Mariota right after buying and selling Matt Ryan to Indianapolis and the Panthers continue to have Sam Darnold less than deal.

Washington also stays in the market place regardless of investing

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Ben Roethlisberger out vs. Lions: Here’s what the Steelers’ offense will look like with Mason Rudolph

Pittsburgh Steelers fans were hit with alarming news Saturday night when it was revealed that Ben Roethlisberger will miss Sunday’s home game against the Lions. Roethlisberger is on the team’s COVID-19 list after reportedly self-reporting having symptoms related to the virus. 

Making his 10th career start on Sunday is Mason Rudolph, the Steelers’ 2018 third-round pick. With Roethlisberger out for most of the 2019 season with a severe elbow injury, Rudolph went 5-3 as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. In just his second start, Rudolph went 24 of 28 with two touchdown passes in a win over the Bengals. Rudolph was poised to lead the Steelers to an upset win over Baltimore the following week before he was knocked out of the game by then-Ravens safety Earl Thomas. The hit left Rudolph inactive for the following week’s game. 

Rudolph wasn’t as effective upon his return from being in the league’s concussion protocol. His rocky play (which included a four-interception performance in a Thursday night loss in Cleveland) led to the Steelers inserting Delvin “Duck” Hodges at quarterback late in the season. But after early success, Hodges’ play faltered during the final weeks of the season. With the Steelers’ playoff hopes on the line, Rudolph replaced Hodges in New York in Week 16. Rudolph played well, but he was unable to lead the Steelers to a come-from-behind win against the Jets. 

With Roethlisberger healthy, Rudolph’s only start last season came during Pittsburgh’s Week 17 game against the Browns. After struggling early, Rudolph threw two late touchdown passes to pull the Steelers to within two points. His incomplete pass on Pittsburgh’s two-point conversion attempt led to the Steelers leaving Cleveland with a 24-22 loss. In defeat Rudolph threw for a career-high 315 yards. He also took (and completed) several deep shots after being criticized

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