Given the team’s offensive struggles to begin the season, questions have been asked with increasing volume regarding the Steelers’ quarterback situation. At halftime during today’s game against the Jets, the Steelers benched starter Mitch Trubisky in favor of first-round rookie Kenny Pickett. 
Trubisky signed a two-year deal this offseason to operate (at least temporarily) as Pittsburgh’s starter to begin the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. In the build-up to the draft, however, it was widely known that a long-term move was coming. Pittsburgh made the Heisman finalist the only first-round quarterback of his class, leading to questions about when he would see the field.
Those were intensified when Trubisky struggled out of the gate. Despite an average of just 5.5 yards per attempt, and only a pair of touchdown passes through the first three games, it was reported that the team was intending on keeping him as the No. 1 throughout the 2022 season. It came as little surprise, then, that the former Bears first-rounder got the nod again for today’s contest.
By halftime, however, Trubisky had managed 84 scoreless yards and an interception, and the Steelers trailed 10-6. Going against the perceived notion that Pickett wouldn’t take over until at least midseason, head coach Mike Tomlin decided to make the swap. The effect on the team’s offense turned out to be substantial.
The unit scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and got the lead until the game’s final seconds. Overall, Pickett finished 10-of-13 passing, with 120 yards through the air and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Each of his other three passes were, however, intercepted, contributing greatly to the end result, a 24-20 loss.
After the game, Tomlin said, “I thought we needed a spark… We didn’t do much in the first half, not enough offensively, and I thought he could provide a spark for us” (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network).
He added that no decision has been made regarding Pittsburgh’s Week 5 starter. Given the performance of each of the team’s signal-callers, the way the team ultimately leans will be worth watching in the coming days.
Steelers next four games are against the Bills/Bucs/Dolphins/Eagles. A 1-7 record is a real possibility.
A 1-7 record is a good week for the Pirates so I don’t think Steeler fans need to panic just yet.
I find it funny when people act like Steelers fans for whatever reason can’t handle a down year. Especially an expected one. 1-7 instead of 3-5? Yes, the sky sure is falling.
Those people clearly don’t watch baseball.
As a Steelers fan, losing in the Divisional Round as a 1 or 2 seed coming off a bye with a loaded team is 10x more painful than finishing as a bottom 5 team in a transition year…
Transition year? Detroit and Cleveland have been in a transition year for 20 years. There’s no guarantees in football
Sounds like a Cleveland & Detroit problem. But yes…if Pickett is a bust then, sure, all bets are off. Chances are he is at least Andy Dalton level competent which means Steelers will be at a minimum playoff contenders.
This year they are not. Most Steelers fans seem to be realizing this if they didn’t already and most will be 100% A-ok with it.
Andy Dalton had Whitworth and Zeitler. You can’t just look at the quarterback. Sure, he can make a bad line look better but Pittsburgh has to fix a lot of problems. Replacing HOF quarterbacks is not easy. Green Bay is the only one to be able to replace one HOF quarterback with another in the last 30 years. Indy was close until luck quit. You can’t win in this league with an average quarterback anymore
Moving the goal posts a bit. I never said anything about finding another HOF QB or winning SB’s. Don’t get me wrong, that is the goal and would obviously be nice, but I’m speaking about getting back to the playoffs next year and being a realistic SB contender again in 2.
Plug half the holes this year, half the holes next. If they still suck then might as well call me Chicken Little because then I’ll be sweatin’.
I thought they plugged the holes this year? They signed new offensive lineman and defensive lineman plus linebackers. It’s not as easy as just saying we’ll plug the holes. You have a new GM and no telling how good he is.
They did plug a lot of holes, and did a decent job doing so. But when you throw a lot of newcomer vets and a lot of younger players into a mix, sometimes they don’t blend well, and so far they haven’t. I’m actually not discouraged about this season so far mostly because we’re already starting to get a good idea of who the keepers are (Pickett, Pickens, maybe Leal, Ogunjobi, Jack), and also who it’s time to cut bait on (Claypool, Bush, Edmunds, Bush, Moore, did I mention Bush). A bit of trial and error is going on this season.
This^ is why having realistic expectations is important. Allows you to see the positives in a down year instead of shouting into the wind.
I never expected much from this season. They’re due for a down year. I wasn’t expecting a 1-3 start… but I wasn’t expecting a winning record either. Too many new pieces of the puzzle to sort out.
Shouldn’t you say as a bucs fan since you are referencing baseball ?
No I meant exactly what I typed. Most Steelers fans are familiar with losing from being also being Bucco fans.
Opposing fans that seem to think Steeler Nation is crumbling under the disappointment of a losing season after 2 decades of winning either don’t watch baseball (and know how bad the Pirates have been for as long as they have) or aren’t smart enough to put 2 + 2 together.
If we didn’t already know that this simply isn’t a very good Steeler team this year, we sure know it now.
Trubisky was drafted by Ryan Pace, Which is the only fact that really matters as his other Trade up for a QB Justin Fields is struggling mightily with the Bears new OC and West Coast type offense. These offenses are based on quick reads and quicker throws which are never going to Mitch’s strong suit. By the way, I told you all James Daniels was just as bad, How’s that working out? Anyway, at least the Bears will have a high draft pick, A ton of cash, and a New GM to get it right next year anyway.
All this needs to happen. Reality is the O’line is horrible and needs to be built in the draft. The team has too many offensive weapons being wasted away with Trub and the line, and with Watt out, the reality is we’re not going anywhere and need the tank. Start by drafting solid O&D line players (need to stop the run as well). Repeat the draft strategy the following year.
I agree, and I don’t think that you’re wrong. However, I will point out on the other hand that the culture in Pittsburgh is the reason that they can pull out of tough times, and is what separates them from other teams who struggle (like, say, the Panthers). The notion that they’re always trying to win is what gives the team its identity-even if losing would bet them more talent in the end.
I know Tomlin is a great coach and always wants to win but sometimes you have to change your strategy. Take a step back to go forward stronger. You got a young QB and RB and several WRs and a TE to build around….and they’re CHEAP. Get some good draft picks to start to rebuild the O line and D, sign some reinforcements in free agency and come back and compete in 23.
I was laughing at “Tomlin is a great coach” before I realized you were serious, then I laughed harder.
Tomlin has never had a losing record as head coach and that’s up to 14 years now. Please tell us how exactly he is a bad coach?
Tomlin isn’t a great coach, nor is he a bad coach. This is the first opportunity we have to see him coach without a HoF QB. He obviously some lag on the leash, but 2-3 years of futility and he will be driven out of town.
And please… stop with the “never had a losing record” argument. That would be great if he wasn’t 8-9 in the playoffs
He hasn’t coached a HOF QB for a few years.
Peyton Manning was 14-13 in the playoffs. Does that make him any less of a HoF QB? See how dumb your reasoning is? I’m glad you’re not hiring coaches. Tomlin has coached Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges to wins. Give him the respect he deserves.
Ok… another who wants him gone. You realize that when you fire a coach, you have to find another. Can’t change your mind because the NFL knows just how good a coach Tomlin is so he’ll be gone to another team quickly. So…..who’s your new coach?
Tomlin is where Andy Reid was before departing the Eagles…except Tomlin has more success that Andy at that point. Then Andy was gifted a generational QB to win a SB.
I’m no Tomlin apologist but the defenses he has put together are some of the best in in his time in the league and he is a great coach. But his time in the city is up. He needs to move on and be successful elsewhere.
I’ll say again that Pickett is the real deal and you could feel the energy the offense embraced when he came in. But there are a lot of issues here that make me wonder if his situation will look more like Mayfield than Burrow in a season or two
Yeah, the line in front of him is horrendous.
Two of the interceptions Kenny threw were a good illustration of the inconsistent play of Claypool and Freiermuth. Let’s be serious—you have to catch those balls. We all know Johnson will drop the ball
I loved Najee at Alabama. I loved the pick. But he doesn’t look to blast through a hole quickly and seeks first to dance and juke.
Pickett is a leader. A natural. And he knows Pickens is quickly going to become the big play guy here
But with all of these problems, a porous d-line, inconsistent linebackers and only one playmaker in the secondary….well, it’s going to be one incredible undertaking to contend after a year. And I haven’t even mentioned the offensive coordinator
At least the games will be worth watching again but boy, these next few weeks are going to be ugly
3 interceptions in your first 13 professional passes might be a record
Johnny Manziel has entered the chat along with the Bengals defense.
3 interceptions should come with a bit of an asterisk. One was a last play Hail Mary, and the other two bounced off of his receivers hands. Pickett didn’t make the greatest of throws on those two, but his receivers didn’t help him either. And hey look at the bright side: technically he didn’t throw any incompletions, it’s just that 3 of his “completions” were to the wrong team. 😉
I say let Mitch play the rest of this season. Let everybody see that Tomlin is a bad coach and finish with a one win season. Then, maybe ownership will push him to retire or move him to a meaningless front office job and bring in a real coaching staff from top to bottom with a playbook with just one page written in crayon. And we get a top draft pick to get a real monster OL guy.
With not just one page written in crayon.
Lmao
Did tomlin do bad things to your mom or something ? You tried to spout this garbage off earlier and got called out about how Tomlin has put up a winning record 14 straight years. Now here you are again running your mouth when you have no idea what you’re talking about. For the record it would be hard for any team who has Mitch Trubisky as their starting QB to win a football game.
Ya know, I was a Tomlin supporter for years. While I haven’t gone in the opposite direction or think he’s a bad coach, I do think he and Colbert became not only complacent over the years, but also resistant to new ideas.
It’s shown in their assistant coaching hires, their overall draft picks and their offensive and defensive schemes
I try to wrap my head around the idea that Tomlin oversees everything and as such, just has to see how bad his lines are, how poor offensive play calling has been dating back to Fichtner
Whether it was LeBeau, Haley, Arians, Whisenhut or Munchak, nothing wrong with having some guys on staff who have fresh ideas that may not jibe with yours. Odd that those guys aren’t around anymore
The team (the Rooneys) doesn’t want to pony up for decent assistant coaches compared to the rest of the league.
The Steelers have a smaller coaching staff than most teams and lower paid.
They lost a coach mid season to a college team last year, FFS.
Should Tomlin be such a good coach that he can get by with less? If so, why? To save the owner’s money?
The Rooneys need to find some more “the official oven mitt of the Pittsburgh Steelers” type money to get some decent coaches.
I agree with a great deal of what you say but wonder how much control that Tomlin wishes to exert, which negates the need for numerous positions.
We all remember Lebeau diplomatically saying in effect that he didn’t need any input. We saw what happened with Arians and Whisenhut (I’m taking it Roethlisberger ran off Haley)
The gripe we heard about Butler’s defenses here was that it really wasn’t his defense at all
It all makes this year incredibly ironic. An offensive coordinator who is clearly overmatched. Two defensive bosses who’ve been around the NFL.
Not sure about the money issue only in that they sure have spread the cash around with Roethlisberger, Watt, Minkah and Johnson
Pickett has both poise and moxie. That’s a great start for a pro QB. He also reads the play well. FAR better than Trubisky already.
Wish his arm was 10% stronger.
Can he tackle though? He’s gonna need to learn how to. 3 picks in 13 passes? That’s a horrible start to a career
The third INT came on a Hail Mary throw on the final play. Doesn’t erase the good vibes that Pickett brought to the Steeler offense (and I say that as a Jets fan).
Sounds like “Brownsbacker,” our favorite contrarian, has a new account. Now you’re pounding “3 interceptions”
Had Brady or Mahomes thrown these, you’d have rightly said the following:
“Big time receivers make plays. Claypool didn’t on the first pick. He’s all mouth, little else. The second pick, while an inadvisable throw, needs to be caught by Freiermuth, who also hasn’t risen to the next level yet. The third pick was a Hail Mary”
Horrible o-line. Horrible OC. Poor defense. But yeah, pick on the only reason for optimism this team has
Nope. I’m a fan of the best team in Pennsylvania. You know them as the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. People in Cleveland aren’t the only ones that hate Steeler fans. Frankly, I hate Browns fans too
Most interceptions are not on the quarterback. Once the opposing teams can game plan for Pickett will be the true story on him. I guarantee that the Jets didn’t watch any tape of Pickett. You see that a lot where backups come in and move the team only to come back to earth the following week. Our backup is a prime example. Minschew is a good backup but that’s it. Same with Ryan Fitzpatrick
The problem in your thinking will be an o-line that acts as a mitigating factor throughout this season.
Here is where I give Burrow a great deal of credit, and look at his true first season, when he first started and not last year
I suspect you’re going to see a comparable situation with Pickett and not your laughable comparison. And again, the other motivating factor will be an overmatched offensive coordinator, something Burrow hasn’t had to deal with. Fichtner was bad, but this guy?
The move to Pickett was the right call. He clearly has a better feel back there and has the make-up to succeed. But with this team and under this OC, it’s not going to mean much.
By the way, I like the Eagles. Sanders is a local kid and I hope they do well, despite their fanbase
Again, you want to blame the coordinator for everything. Zac Taylor calls the plays and Brian Callahan is the coordinator for the Bengals. The Bengals can’t run the ball or pass protect, yet Burrow is successful. I don’t think Canada is reading the defense or making the pass. As for Pickett, the Steelers were most likely the only team that thought he was worth a 1st round pick. 19 other teams passed on him, and some could have traded up if they thought he was worth it. Nobody knows how a quarterback will pan out, especially guys like us that aren’t exactly quarterback gurus
Again, false equivalence at work. Only one team had a need at QB— Carolina. You’re right, they didn’t trade up
And you’re right, there are no sure things or cannot-miss types in terms of kids coming from college and into the pro game
The Browns misfired with both Manziel and Mayfield. The Chiefs hit the lottery in Mahomes. One never knows
But to completely beat a dead horse, having watched Pickett for years—and as someone who is not a Pitt fan—I truly believe Pickett is the real deal.
I just wonder about how many young players excel under these circumstances. That’s all.
(Where the OC is concerned—watch the tape from this year and last. Yikes)
Nice group of young talent here in Kenny, Pickens, Najee and Muth who can’t do it by themselves
How have you watched Pickett for years and does it really matter if he were good in high school? He only started one year at Pitt from what I know. As for Carolina being the only team needing a quarterback, you are wrong. Indy. Atlanta. Seattle. New Orleans. New York Giants. Houston. Maybe Tampa for next year. If Pickett is as good as you say, there are a lot of teams that would have been willing to move up to 17th, 18th or 19th to nab him. He was the best this year but everything I read about the draft said that there weren’t any 1st round talent in this year’s draft at QB
More baloney. And yes, you are mistaken about Pickett’s trajectory at Pitt, his work at the Manning Camp etc. You’ve been misinformed from the jump
Indy had grabbed Ryan. Atlanta had opted for Mariotta
Seattle was in flux with the Wilson situation but were believed to be in the hunt for a number of vets. NYG has their franchise QB, for better or worse and never mentioned as in need of an upper round pick. NO had marginal interest and had cast their lot with Jameis
No one denies it was a down year for QB’s in general, but your glee in trashing Pickett is noteworthy. Run along son and enjoy your moment with the Eagles. Wonder what tune you’ll be singing in six weeks
Wrong. Giants declined Jones option. He’s gone. Mariotta is not a starter. He’s a placeholder just like Trubisky. Again, I realize that you are a fan of Pittsburgh and you want to believe in Pickett but the reality is nobody knows. 6 weeks? We may not be 10-0 but we’ll still be the best team in Pennsylvania
I think Tomlin came under fire to quickly by the fan base to start Pickett. I feel it will be a horrible mistake and should have started Mason awhile ago. Give Pickett a chance to learn without the pressure of the fan base watching every move he makes. The fan base of Steelers are so hyper critical and expect Pickett to be the next Big Ben. And will want to run Pickett out of Pittsburgh in a few weeks. Wait and see