The film has been reviewed and digested, and Mitch Trubisky seems to recognize that quite a number — but not all — of the Steelers’ offensive woes lie squarely on his shoulders.
Trubisky, who led just one touchdown drive Sunday in Pittsburgh’s 17-14 loss to New England, spoke with the media Tuesday as the team gets ready for Thursday night’s game in Cleveland.
“It’s some missed opportunities,” Trubisky said. “A couple of better decisions by me, and giving our playmakers a chance. Looking to fix that this week on a quick turnaround, and it’s a great opportunity for us to get on the right track.”
The question, coming out of the game, is if the offense’s lack of adventure was more due to the scheme of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, or from Trubisky’s decision making.
From the quarterback’s standpoint, it is mostly on himself.
“I could take more opportunities down the field,” Trubisky admitted. “That’s where we can get our playmakers the football. Better decision making and taking those opportunities, for sure.
“I like to throw the ball down the field. Why I haven’t, given the certain looks, especially early in the game, I can’t tell you exactly why. We’re looking for that, I’m looking for that.”
Most notably, Trubisky has a desire to get the ball to rookie wide receiver George Pickens, who has just two catches through the first two games.
“I can look for 14 more often, George (Pickens),” said Trubisky. “He’s doing a great job for us. I’ve got to get these playmakers the football… It comes down to me making better decisions, being aggressive and putting ourselves in that position.”
PIttsburgh’s one touchdown drive against New England came when the team went up-temp, and Trubisky is open to more of that, as long as Canada signs off on it.
“Pace has been a positive component for us thus far,” Trubisky said. “We’d like to continue to build off that and hopefully it can become more of a part of our offense, for sure.
“It comes down from the coordinator and the coaches, when we get into those kind of things… I’m comfortable with it. You just have to pick and choose when you use it. I thought the time we used it in the game, it worked well.”
The poor decision making isn’t just confirmed to the arm of Trubisky, who is completing under 60 percent of his passes this year. He also is not using his legs to his advantage, something he was able to do at times while in Chicago.
“I’ve looked at that, as well,” he said. “Just continuous conversations on how I can use my legs, and also toeing that fine line of when to move in the pocket and when to not.
"There's a couple times where I thought I had to move and, really, if I just trusted my timing within the play, I could've got the ball out sooner."
He also admitted that he does not, currently, have the freedom to audible on every play, and said that he could have done so more against New England.
That opens a fair question on, after signing praises about the veteran quarterback’s experience, communication and leadership, if the team’s coaches truly believe in those things.
“It’s still early in the offense and we’re still figuring out when is a good time for me to audible and, within each play, I have the option to do so,” he said.
During Sunday’s games, the calls for rookie Kenny Pickett rang out as the offense, drive after drive, sputtered and lacked direction.
It’s been a somewhat awkward dynamic. The free agent signee or the rookie first rounder, who the majority of the fanbase wants to see. But Trubisky maintains that Kenny Pickett perhaps breathing down his neck is not factoring into his decision making.
“No, not at all,” he said. “I’m not worried about mistakes. You all — I do think about protecting the football and being smart and making good decisions.”