Steelers continue to play coy over possible Josh Dobbs deployment vs. Browns

Whether or not they actually intend to use Josh Dobbs as a change-of-pace quarterback during Sunday’s wild-card playoff game, it has become clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers are quite all right with allowing the Cleveland Browns to believe the possibility that they will.

But did Ben Roethlisberger blow the cover on the entire ruse by taking it just a little bit too far?

“I think that is the cool part: no one knows who is going to start this game at quarterback,” Roethlisberger said during a video conference call with media Wednesday. “We’ve got three options.”

Big Ben’s tongue was firmly implanted in his cheek when he made the remarks, of course — barring injury or illness, there is zero chance that coach Mike Tomlin chooses to start Dobbs or Mason Rudolph in lieu of Roethlisberger for the game scheduled for Sunday.

But, making Dobbs one of the 48 players active and in uniform? Perhaps giving him some snaps and building some plays into the game plan to take advantage of Dobbs’ athleticism? A little less far-fetched.

“We are going to have that discussion as an offensive staff,” Tomlin said, saying the matter was discussed Tuesday.

“We talked openly about what Josh brings that is a little bit different that maybe levels the playing field and creates things to work on and think about. That is an asset to him. We will ponder those possibilities and make an appropriate decision that best benefits us. … All things are on the table as we work to put ourselves in position to win this football game.”

Was Sunday’s game a trial run in deploying Josh Dobbs into a small portion of the #Steelers offensive gameplan as they embark on the playoffs? https://t.co/Ln37CQ1zT5

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) January 4, 2021

The nine offensive snaps Dobbs played during the regular-season finale in Cleveland this past Sunday represented his first regular-season action since Dec. 9, 2018, when he replaced an injured Roethlisberger for four second-half offensive series of a loss at the Oakland Raiders.

Since, he lost the No. 2 QB job to Rudolph, was traded to Jacksonville, was cut by the Jaguars and re-signed with the Steelers early this September. He’s been their No. 3 quarterback all season, until Week 17 when Roethlisberger was kept at home to shield him from fatigue and possible injury.

“I thought Josh did a great job… and kind of sacrificed his body,” said Roethlisberger, who watched from his couch. “He took some shots.”

Dobbs had runs of 13 and 7 yards. He attempted five passes, completing four — but netting just 2 yards on them.

Some teams — most notably, the New Orleans Saints who similarly have an aging future Hall of Fame quarterback (Drew Brees) and a skilled runner (Taysom Hill) as a backup — have designed packages for change-of-pace quarterbacks.

The Steelers have never done so. Would they really dust off such a scheme for the playoffs?

“You never know what you are going to see,” Roethlisberger said with a smirk.

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