PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There were a couple of words that were prevalent when Mitch Trubisky talked before his first start of the season ‘comfortability’ and ‘aggressive’.
The comfortability comes from being on the same page with play-caller and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan. It also comes from being the starter for the entire game planning week, even with a shorter time to prepare. He knows he’s playing. Trubisky said he will be comfortable from the first snap.
He’s comfortable with the way Eddie Faukner is now leading the offense. The interim offensive coordinator has stepped up as a vocal leader and the offense looks to him for leadership. Trubisky said he’s brought guys together and they are moving in the right direction.
Then there is the comfortability with the receivers.
“I think they trust me,” Trubisky said. “We got a good relationship. I'm always coaching them on and off the field about what I think they can do better and what I see from my perspective when I wasn't in, but now that I am, it's just constant communication.”
“Trying to get on the same page on a short week and we just got to have that trust and comfort level to go out there and play with confidence.”
He says players have faith in him because he’s very active on the sidelines during games and players often see his tips and advice works. Trubisky also says he tries to encourage them and congratulate them when they do something right.
Now he gets a first opportunity with this specific group under this coordinator to put actions with his words. What we’ve seen from him in recent opportunities, he will go for it and not just let the game come to him.
“I'm trying to be aggressive, push the ball down the field, help this offense be explosive,” Trubisky said. “I know I got to take care of the football. I'm just
looking to be more efficient this week and execute well all together. But I like to be aggressive, push the ball downfield and we got to find ways to score points. So, I'm trying to be that catalyst.”
He watched and tried to assist during the week to help the offense improve. He’s involved in the team meetings. He tries to help in practice and from the sidelines. Well aware of the difficienties, Trubisky said he’s ready to show he can complete the objective and score points.
”I'm going to be aggressive,” Trubisky repeated. “I'm going to take care of the football and we got to play better as an offense. We're going against a good defense this week, well coached.”
“So, we just got to do our job, execute well, play all of them together and we want to be an aggressive offense. So, whatever that means, taking care of football, we got to find ways to score points. That's the bottom line.”
So rarely has the Steelers accomplished that bottom line this year, even in wins. Trubisky gets his first shot with the keys on Thursday. What will comfortability and aggression do for him and a Steelers team desperate for a win.