The calls rang out from the yellow seats of Acrisure Stadium Sunday as the Steelers’ offense, for a second straight week, struggled to find consistency on the ground and through the air.
Many asked for backup quarterback Kenny Pickett to be inserted into the game in place of starter Mitch Trubisky.
It’s a desire that’s spread to some in the media and rapidly through the fanbase in the aftermath of the Steelers' 17-14 loss to New England. And it is, to an extent, warranted.
Trubisky’s play has been below average, uninspired and, from a more analytical standpoint, becoming far too predictable for opposing defenses.
According to the NFL’s NextGen Stats, Trubisky has struggled to develop a passing game over the middle of the field through the season’s first two weeks.
Most of his passes have been short (within six yards of the line of scrimmage) or towards the sidelines, particularly the left sideline.
Here is how it breaks down.
Trubisky’s passing breakdown in Week 1:
• Right side: 9/19 (1 completion over 10 yards beyond line of scrimmage)
• Left side: 12/18, TD (3 completions over 10 yards beyond line of scrimmage)
Trubisky’s passing breakdown in Week 2:
• Right side: 7/16, INT (1 completion over 10 yards beyond line of scrimmage)
• Left side: 14/17, TD (4 completions over 10 yards beyond line of scrimmage)
Trubsiky’s totals through two weeks:
• Right side: 16/35 (45.7% completion), INT (2 completions over 10 yards beyond line of scrimmage)
• Left side: 26/35 (74.2% completion), 2 TD (7 completions over 10 yards beyond line of scrimmage)
Some of that can be explained by strong safety play by the Steelers’ opponents. Cincinnati has one of the game’s top young safeties in Jessie Bates, and New England has a crafty veteran in Devin McCourty.
Plus, McCourty and the Patriots played a lot of single high safety looks against Trubisky — who was intercepted when attempting a pass over the middle in the first half Sunday.
That said, Pittsburgh’s opponents are succeeding in denying the middle of the field, and the Steelers are doing little to find a way around it. Trubisky, through the first two games, is just 1/5 for 26 yards, with an interception on balls thrown over 10 yards and over the middle of the field. The only completion came on a free play during overtime against Cincinnati, when Trubisky hit Pat Freiermuth.
To see the unimaginative tendencies of the offense, just take a look at Diontae Johnson’s targeted routes from the Bengals game:
Notice something missing? Like any routes over the middle, at all? Johnson’s only target over the middle of the field came as a result of a bad snap and broken play, and appeared to be an improvised route to the end zone. Other than that, the team’s best (and most expensive) receiver has not been a factor over the middle.
The question now becomes, is this a Mitch Trubisky issue or a Matt Canada issue?
Well, there’s truth to both. The Steelers, with Canada as offensive coordinator, neglected the middle of the field last season, as well. But Ben Roethlisberger was far better at spreading the ball around to various points on the field. Take Roethlisberger’s Week 11 performance agains the Chargers last season, for instance, when he was able to work the ball into various levels of the defense.
This, of course, was not always the case with Roethlisberger, and is partially based on game situations and the opponent's defensive scheme. But it is an example of what needs to be seen more from their starter now.
The Steelers’ inability to stretch defenses with Trubisky is costing them. Dearly. And until that changes, or until Trubisky is replaced with, say, a rookie quarterback known for his ability to target the middle of the field in college, don’t expect the Steelers’ offense to produce more.
They have taken a cautious approach with their new quarterback, and growing pains were likely no matter what. But now, through two games, with the NFL's third-fewest yards and with the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt, currently sidelined with injury, it might be time get a bit more creative offensively.