The preseason is on the verge of wrapping up for Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the rest of the NFL. The team is back in the South Side facility and preparing for their finale against the Detroit Lions this Sunday. There is a lot riding on this last game, as the team just made the roster cut to 80, and after this game, have to make the final cut to 53.
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There are battles all over the team, but none so more under scrutiny than the quarterback position. Mitch Trubisky has been the odds-on favorite all camp and preseason, but rookie sensation Kenny Pickett and team veteran Mason Rudolph haven't made it an easy path for Trubisky. All three have performed well so far in the preseason, and have made it that much more compelling of a battle.
Trubisky and Pickett seem destined for the 1 & 2 spots, but at this point, it is not as clear after Pickett's monster back to back performances. Coach Tomlin has not written off Trubisky by any means, but has definitely not been blind to what's in front of him with Pickett. According to Coach Tomlin, this Sunday's contest against Detroit will be the deciding factor in who will be the starter for the Steelers' Week 1 match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals.
What Does Trubisky And Pickett Need To Do To Potentially Earn The QB1 Spot?
Trubisky: Trubisky needs to continue to play his game. He will have to get the ball out a little quicker than he did in Jacksonville, but the offensive line will also need to give him a little more time to work with. He needs to continue to push the ball downfield and get the ball in the hands of his play-makers. Also, a big proponent that Trubisky and all the quarterbacks have done and will need to continue to do is protecting the ball. None of the three quarterbacks have thrown an interception or even lost a fumble thus far.
Trubisky needs to keep doing all these things, and if given extended time, needs to just continue to play solid all-around ball. If he does this, I believe he will be the Week 1 starter.
Pickett: Pickett also needs to continue to do what he is doing. So far, Pickett has the highest quarterback rating in all of preseason throughout the league. He has been darn near perfect, and has not just been effective in moving the ball, he has been great in situational football. He has led the two-minute drive to perfection twice now, and has shown poise in the pocket and good touch in the face of pressure.
One thing Pickett would really need to do is capitalize. If Trubisky happens to not perform up to snuff, and Pickett came in after him, he would need to outperform Trubisky. If he were to do this, I believe Tomlin would have a conundrum on his hands and would be forced to seriously consider the young first round pick to be the starter. He has seemed to just consistently get better, and has been up to the challenge in just about every aspect of his young career thus far.
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The Dilemma With Starting Pickett
There is a difference between the decision, and some potential consequences that come with it. If the Steelers start Trubisky, there is an easier and more natural path to Pickett starting if Trubisky has struggles early on. He is here to primarily be the bridge to Pickett after all. Even if it weren't this season, Pickett is the future.
On the flip side, if they start Pickett, they need to stick with him all the way through. Through the good and the bad, you need to keep him in and let him grow. Unless there is an injury, Trubisky cannot supplant Pickett. It would only hurt their self confidence.
This decision will likely be under a microscope, and I believe it would tale a serious lopsided performance from the two in favor of Pickett for Tomlin to go with Pickett for Week 1. Tune in Sunday to see how the two perform, and who will be under center Week 1 in Cincinnati!
Who do you think will win the job? Let us know in the comment section below!
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