Haskins, Steelers fall flat
Rudolph likely will remain backup QB to Roethlisberger
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Well, the Steelers discovered a significant fact on an otherwise meaningless night in the Carolinas — Dwayne Haskins is not ready to be their No. 2 quarterback.
Playing with three starters on the offensive line and two of the top four receivers, Haskins looked more like a quarterback who would have a tough time making the 53-man roster than someone who is going to supplant Mason Rudolph as the top backup to Ben Roethlisberger.
“It wasn’t the performance he wanted or we wanted, Coach Mike Tomlin said.
Unlike his showing two weeks ago in Philadelphia, Haskins was erratic and unproductive in a 34-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers Friday night at Bank of America Stadium in what was the final preseason game for both teams.
“I wanted to play better and wanted to be better,” Haskins said.
The Steelers ended the preseason with a 3-1 record and now have 15 days off before they open the season Sept. 12 in Buffalo against the defending AFC East Division champion
Bills.
Tomlin used three starters on the offensive line — left tackle Chuks Okorafor, guard Kevin Dotson and center Kendrick Green — in addition to receivers Chase Claypool and James Washington against the Panthers. Tight ends Eric Ebron and Pat Freiermuth made token appearances. No starters on defense played against the Panthers.
Nonetheless, he was hoping to see a better performance from his players against the Panthers, who started quarterback Sam Darnold and a number of their top players.
“Really disappointed,” Tomlin said. “All in all it was a junior varsity performance.”
Asked if saw anything good on the field, Tomlin said, “Not much. When the score looks like that it’s pretty much the case.”
Starting and playing into the beginning of the third quarter, Haskins completed just 4 of 11 passes for 29 yards, was intercepted once and fumbled a center snap as the Steelers trailed at halftime, 17-0. He had a passer rating of 2.4 in the first half and 7.0 after three quarters.
But, Haskins had to come back in the game in the fourth quarter when Josh Dobbs sustained a turf toe injury. Haskins completed all five passes for 79 yards, including a 22yard catch-and-run touchdown to Ray-Ray McCloud with 57 seconds remaining. That allowed him to finish with a passer rating of 71.9.
“I’m sure it did [matter] for him in terms of getting that taste out of his mouth,” Tomlin said.
The performance by Haskins is not expected to damage his chances of making the team — the final cutdown is 4 p.m. Tuesday — but it did nothing to make anyone think he is ready to move ahead of Rudolph on the depth chart.
“The big thing is I finished the game strong,” Haskins said. “I wanted to start fast, but finishing the way we finished was good.”
The Steelers managed just 65 yards offense, three first downs and failed to convert a third down in four chances in the first half. Most of the offense came on three plays -— an 18-yard reception and 11yard run by Claypool and a 17- yard run by Benny Snell.
It got a little better when Dobbs relieved Haskins in the third quarter, if only because the Steelers managed their first points when Boswell kicked a 52yard field goal on Dobbs’ second possession.
Carolina took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 52yard field goal by Ryan Santoso, who was recently acquired in a trade with the New York Giants. The Panthers had another good scoring chance at the end of the quarter when
Haskins’ threw behind fullback Derek Watt and had his pass intercepted by defensive end Brian Burns at the Steelers 27 after it deflected off Watt’s hand. But kicker Joey Slye was wide right with a 49-yard field goal
The Panthers did pad their lead in the second quarter when receiver Mathew Sexton, hoping to land a roster spot as a returner, muffed a punt that receiver Keith Kirkwood recovered at the 15. Two plays later, Darnold threw a quick out to receiver Terrance Marshall Jr., who cut inside rookie slot corner Tre Norwood for a 13yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
Darnold made it 17- 0 near the end of the half with his second touchdown pass, this time an 8yarder to receiver Robby Anderson over linebacker Robert Spillane with 24 seconds remaining. And they started the third quarter by taking the opening possession and finishing a five- play, 76- yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown run by Spencer Brown to make it 24-0.
Former West Virginia quarterback Will Grier scored on a 24-yard scramble to make it 31-3 in the fourth quarter.
“The big thing is I finished the game strong. I wanted to start fast, but finishing the way we finished was good.” — Dwayne Haskins Steelers quarterback