Steelers “Studs and Duds” from Week 4 against the Bengals

Studs and Duds takes a look at the winners and losers from each of the Pittsburgh Steelers games during the 2019 season. Check with us after every game each week for our list, and to also see who climbed, or fell, down the rankings.

Another week, another… win?

The Steelers surprised everyone on Monday Night Football, not necessarily by their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, but by how they achieved the “W”.

Following a dominant, all-around performance by the team, I could’ve listed nearly everyone on the “studs” side but truly had to pick only a select few to keep this week’s column short.

Here are Week 4’s “studs and duds” from the Steelers-Bengals.

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Studs

Jaylen Samuels

Who better to lead off the “studs” category than Samuels, who did his best “Slash” impression on Monday Night by being utilized all over the field, including taking direct snaps in the wildcat formation.

This has led me to coin a new nickname for “Jay Sam” and rechristen him as “Jay Slash” – formerly listed as the “H” position in college, we saw the versatility of Samuels as he ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on ten carries, caught eight passes for 57 yards, and also completed three “passes” for 31 yards all within the same game.

Bud Dupree

Dupree’s big strip-sack late in the first half knocked Cincinnati’s scoring drive out of commission at a time when the game was only 7-3. The forced fumble was recovered by T.J. Watt, however, everyone has been extremely critical of Dupree’s play following four seasons of lacking big numbers from the former first round pick.

Regardless if this is the beginning of something bigger for the outside linebacker, this play may be remembered as his best to date and helped keep the Bengals off of the scoreboard.

Mason Rudolph

In his second start, the second-year passer completed 24 of his 28 pass attempts for an 85.7% completion rate, 229 passing yards, two touchdowns, no picks, and a 124.6 QB rating.

Yes, some of his passes were short – most of them actually. But consider other quarterbacks around the league who step into games and can’t move the chains whatsoever.

Rudolph was far from a liability on Monday and led the team in several key spots toward a victory.

I’ll take what Rudolph is giving us, and look forward to see his growth going forward.

James Conner

Conner made a comeback on Monday night, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and leading the team in receiving with 83 yards and a TD.

Cameron Heyward

If I could pick only one person on the defense to put here (despite many deserving names on an eight-sack evening) it would have to be Heyward, who left the game for a short period, then returned to get 2.5 sacks on Dalton and also force a fumble.

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Duds

Diontae Johnson

Johnson ends up on this side of the list for two reasons.

First, his fumble on the second play of the game could’ve proven costly, had the Steelers defense not held the Bengals to only a field goal. Against a better team, that could’ve spelled an early deficit that may have been harder to climb out of.

Second, even on his touchdown reception, it appeared that Johnson pulled up early and then unnecessarily jumped to catch the ball. The pass appeared to have been timed within stride and this could’ve wound up an incompletion rather than the big play it turned out to be.

I’m nitpicking, because the game was one-side; but both are great learning experiences for the rookie receiver.

Joe Haden

Again, a great game with little to complain about except I wish Ike Taylor had caught that interception thrown by Andy Dalton

Oh? That wasn’t Ike?

You’re right! It was Joe Haden, who pulled his best “stone hands” impression by allowing a misthrown ball to hit him right between the 2 and the 3 on his jersey.

Again, against better competition, it’s imperative those plays are made.

Haden again shows up with one of the few negatives from the game later on, when he armbars John Ross and draws a pass interference call. Granted, the Steelers were in prevent and the game was largely under control, but we still want to see perfection from star players!


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