Josh Dobbs explains grasping Steelers playbook, adjusting to full-time football
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Through three weeks of Steelers organized team activities, the rookies have been tasked with learning a playbook likely twice the size of what they had during college, and with different positions come several different challenges.
As a quarterback, Josh Dobbs has more responsibility than most. In addition to his own personal assignments, Dobbs must know that of the 10 other players around him.
Whether it鈥檚 his pre-snap calls, his check-downs, the footwork in his drop, identifying defensive coverages, slide protection from the offensive line or, most importantly, anticipating the routes and breaking points of each receiver; Dobbs has a lot to learn in a short amount of time.
鈥淵ou just take it day by day,鈥� Dobbs told the Times after OTAs on Wednesday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cool seeing the comparison from college to here. It鈥檚 a lot of similar concepts, but of course, there鈥檚 different variances with trying to isolate different matchups, different reads and different progressions.鈥�
It鈥檚 widely known that Todd Haley鈥檚 system is one of the most complex in the NFL. Ben Roethlsiberger has run-pass autonomy at the line of scrimmage where a variety of different plays can stem from the same offensive formations and packages.
Dobbs, a dual-threat quarterback, ran a spread offense in college and has now been forced to adjust to taking snaps under center, rolling out of play-action fakes and operating out of a huddle. Though his pre-snap reads and audibles were similar to what he鈥檚 doing now, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a similar thought process,鈥� said Dobbs, who threw for 7,138 yards and 53 touchdowns while at Tennessee. 鈥淭hat really never changes, but communicating the motions, communicating your hots, your slides and your different things. There鈥檚 always going to be a learning aspect to it. I鈥檓 trying to gain as much knowledge as I can and apply it as quickly as possible.鈥�
As Dobbs weathers the learning curve, he鈥檚 doing so with a lot more time on his hands. Dobbs鈥� aerospace engineering major required him to equally divide his time between football and academics. He grew accustomed flipping a switch from his time on the field and his time in the books. Now, he鈥檚 still in a book, but it鈥檚 strictly his playbook 24-7. He described the structure of his typical day during OTAs as full-time football.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge difference, but it鈥檚 a good thing,鈥� Dobbs said. 鈥淵ou wake up early, get here and get your lift in. Then, get some extra film study in. Then, go to meetings; get on the field and go out to practice. Get more meetings in after. Watch more film to get a head start on tomorrow, and a head start on next week.
鈥淵ou go home and you sit there and you鈥檙e hanging out and think to yourself, 鈥楬ey, don鈥檛 I have something to be doing? Don鈥檛 I have homework?鈥� But you really don鈥檛. You get your work done, rest to take care of my body and then get ready to do it tomorrow.鈥�