Although the Steelers had their mini-bye window to consider an early Mitch Trubisky-to-Kenny Pickett transition, no change is expected this week. Trubisky is set to start against the Jets, despite mounting scrutiny.
A report that surfaced just before the Steelers’ Week 3 loss in Cleveland indicated Mike Tomlin wanted to make this a true redshirt year for Pickett, which would have Trubisky starting throughout the season. That timeline may be shortening. The Steelers are now seen as wanting to give Trubisky until around the midseason point, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
The patience here can be attributed to Pickett. Early reports have the franchise seeking a long runway for its Ben Roethlisberger heir apparent, and Trubisky operated as Pittsburgh’s first-stringer throughout the offseason. Even though Trubisky was signed to a two-year, $14MM deal five weeks before the Steelers made Pickett the 20th overall pick, the team added the veteran to give its then-TBD rookie QB sufficient time to develop, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes.
That said, some in the organization may not be as patient. Some calls within the building have come for a quicker Pickett promotion, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (video link). A “strong push” exists in the building to pass the baton to Pickett, per Florio. Considering how Trubisky has played, this is understandable.
An organizational split regarding Pickett’s timeline would be an interesting plotline, though Tomlin has certainly built up enough capital to make the call. Setting a timetable of this sort is one of the last new challenges for the 16th-year HC, who had Roethlisberger installed as his starter since being hired in 2007. Tomlin has praised Trubisky, but calls for a Pickett bump will only become louder if the former No. 2 overall pick’s mediocre play persists. Pittsburgh ranks 31st in total offense, with Trubisky averaging only 5.5 yards per attempt — last among qualified starters. Steelers receivers have shown frustration with Trubisky this season; both Chase Claypool and George Pickens remain under 80 yards for the year.
In a division with established quarterbacks — Jacoby Brissett is not that, but the Browns’ stopgap starter outplayed Trubisky in Week 3 — Pittsburgh is in danger of falling too far behind early. Following their Week 4 Jets matchup, the Steelers’ schedule becomes much more difficult. From Weeks 5-8, the Steelers will face the Bills, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Eagles. Three of those games are away from home.
That schedule stretch would bring a stiff challenge for a rookie quarterback, but as of now, Pickett’s ceiling is higher than Trubisky’s. It seems clear Tomlin would prefer to avoid throwing the Pitt product into the fire during the upcoming gauntlet, which precedes a Week 9 bye. But if Trubisky continues to restrict the Steelers’ offense, it could put the accomplished HC to a decision on whether to change his designed timetable.
This was always the plan. And anyone should have known that the new line might take time to gel, and that Trubisky might not be all that great. If they think Pickett gives them the best chance to win, then put him in; if he isn’t, then don’t.
Even if the Steelers make the playoffs, they probably wouldn’t make it that far. A lot of good teams in the AFC.
So priority 1 should be Pickett’s development, not if he gives them a better chance to win.
I don’t think they’re making the playoffs. Stranger things have happened though
People need to remember two things…
1) They signed Trubisky when most people expected Pickett to be gone by their pick.
2) Trubisky himself was a former #2 overall pick who had only played (not standing with a clipboard) for a terrible organization with one of it’s worst management groups and coaching staffs in their ignominious history, which is saying something.
There was/is every reason to give him a real chance to show what he can do.
Having said that and having seen what can Trubisky can do, I see now that what he can do is largely irrelevant because he’s too timid to do it.
Completely agree.
ya watching guys like Cooper Rush and Joe Flacco play, it’s looking like Mitch was a really bad choice.
but honestly I’m fine with it.. would love a top LT or DT next years draft
Why does it matter, let the kid learn behind Mitch get a good draft position and rest TJ. Focus on next year.
What’s Mitch teaching him? How to be a career BU QB?
learn behind Mitch, not learn from.
but
A. he could absolutely learn from Mitchs mistakes
B. better to develop in practice where the consequence is getting a mouthful from the coaches , as opposed to develop during games where the consequence is getting piledrived head first into the ground by DTs
Better to save Pickett and let Tomlin prove he can actually coach Mitch to a winning record this season (he won’t) and when (not if) he fails, then Pickett can start next season with a new HC, OC and OL. What we have now in those areas is complete crap.
I’ve bn a Steelers fan for 40 years. Trubisky offers no hope to WIN the game! Play calling down by 2 scores with less than 5 minutes. You have Najee in the game. Why?
I’m not watching other game until Pickett starts playing. Our New GM doing a great job. But, you need to start holding all staff accountable with players. The TAPE goes both ways.
It seems to me the QB dilemma in Pittsburgh should be simple to solve. Just ask the Pirates what they would do…then do the exact opposite.
Once again, we have an article that misses the point. When you have such an outrageously overmatched offensive coordinator, does it even matter?
I’m a fan of Pickett, and I think he’s the real deal for the future. But you can’t look at Trubisky’s play as being *the* reason the offense has sputtered
The dink and dunk passes, the jet sweeps, the failure to have creative pass routes that incorporate all parts of the field—this is Matt Canada’s offense. And it’s pathetic
Add in a porous D-line, suspect secondary and Watt’s absence in addition, and it’s clear this team is going nowhere. I just don’t see how Pickett changes all of that, especially with a poor o-line in front of him
So you’re basically saying that Pittsburgh is poor? A bad offensive line can make an offense look bad unless you have Joe Burrow as the quarterback.
Of course, you’re only telling part of the story. Burrow is a good QB thanks to an OC who utilizes not only his skills but also the skills and strengths of a tremendously talented receiver group. Funny how you didn’t mention that
Again, I like Pickett. But it’s dubious asking him to excel in such a system. We haven’t really seen what Trubisky can do here. Not yet, anyway.
Burrow is good because he’s good. Has nothing to do with the OC. Pittsburgh supposedly has a great group of receivers too. Trubisky is not good and apparently Pickett isn’t ready. I think Tomlin would use the quarterback that has the best chance to win. You don’t know if Pickett will be good or not. Nobody does. Lots of quarterbacks drafted higher than him have failed
The problem is offensive coordinator Matt Canada. The Steelers changed quarterbacks, the offensive line coach and three offensive linemen and the result has been the same as last year. The one constant is Canada. It doesn’t matter whether Pickett or Trubisky is the QB. The play caller is still in over his head.
They can’t protect the quarterback or open up holes for the running back. The biggest issue is the line and quarterback play.
Baloney. You must be related to Canada. And your continued references to Burrow amounts to apples and oranges. Burrow played behind a bad line last year. The Steelers line was—and still is—worse. Burrow was given the opportunity to utilize the talents of his receivers all over the field. Let’s take a look at the distances guys like Claypool and Johnson are averaging on catches
Again, I like Pickett. I think there are a lot of similarities to Burrow. With this OC however, he’s set up for failure
Haha. You are the only person comparing Pickett to Burrow. Trubisky is a bad quarterback and the OC has to protect him by calling safe plays because he doesn’t trust him to make the right decisions. I assume that you are a Steelers fan but I’m just being honest. It’s not all on the OC. If you had a better line and quarterback, you’re OC would look smarter. Be prepared for some non Steelers like seasons
Boy is this an old story now. Why does a 2d old story like this show up in my Google feed?