Plays of the Year: Josh Dobbs goes deep

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the tops runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between for the Steelers 2017 season.

The first half of Joshua Dobbs first-ever game in a Steelers uniform was a rough one. Pittsburgh hit the road to face the New York Giants in the first exhibition game of the 2017 preseason. Dobbs, a rookie fourth-round draft pick, was set to start the game, due to an injury to backup Landry Jones that kept the latter out of training camp activities.

As customary, starter Ben Roethlisberger would watch from the sidelines, placing the new passer into the starting role for his first official time as a Steeler.

Unfortunately, that start was a slow one. The fourth round rookie went three-for-seven with two interceptions in his first five series, with Pittsburgh only able to muster three points off of a 48-yard Chris Boswell field goal.

With 1:12 remaining in the second quarter, Dobbs was poised to run the offense’s two-minute drill. However, that also failed. The Tennessee product was sacked and then failed to convert on a third-and-nine, sending out the punting unit.

The special teams group came in and salvaged the first half as they recovered a muffed catch. That splash play would set up another, for the Steelers offense.

Dobbs and company took over at the New York 28, while offensive coordinator Todd Haley sent in a play we’re all too familiar with. Singling out former Steelers cornerback Valentino Blake (formerly Antwon) wide receiver Cobi Hamilton ran a deep route to perfection, hauling in this 28-yard pass from Dobbs for the touchdown.

The score would send the Steelers into the locker room at halftime up 10-9, and while scores never matter in preseason games, Pittsburgh broke their perennial curse of losing exhibition games with a 20-12 victory.