It solely took 3 ½ video games for Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to resolve he’d seen sufficient of Mitch Trubisky. Tomlin couldn’t have chosen a greater time to make the swap than throughout their Week 4 tilt with the New York Jets at house in Pittsburgh. Pickett bought a mega standing ovation because the hometown child who performed his faculty ball in the identical stadium for the College of Pittsburgh.
Coming into the season, each analyst on television and radio tried guessing when the change would happen. Some even favored Pickett starting the season as Pittsburgh’s Week 1 starter over Trubisky. However this transfer was inevitable and sure to occur sooner or later within the season. Trubisky had clearly been unimpressive, and whereas he wasn’t the worst, the Steelers had misplaced two in a row coming into the Jets sport.
Trubisky and the offense haven’t been lighting it up by any means. Hell, they’ve barely been common. Earlier than he was changed, Trubisky was 7 of 13 for 84 yards passing and an interception. Pickett got here in and accomplished 6 of his first 7 move makes an attempt. Pickett additionally threw an INT, however that’s to be anticipated within the first common season motion of his profession.
It’s transfer to go together with this child early within the season, particularly when your veteran quarterback isn’t taking part in nicely. It’d be one factor if Trubisky was doing simply sufficient for the Steelers to win. However after beginning 1-0, the Steelers dropped video games to the Patriots and Browns. New England might barely determine who was calling performs coming into the season, and the Steelers misplaced to them however solely allowed 17 factors. The ultimate rating of that sport was 17-14 in Week 2. If that’s the offensive output Trubisky is residing over, then you definately would possibly as nicely play the rookie. And that’s the place we at the moment are.
In the end, Pickett’s first sport didn’t go as deliberate for the reason that Steelers misplaced to the Jets, 24-20. There have been some good moments for Pickett within the sport apart from two INTs, one in every of which got here late within the fourth quarter and set the Jets up for the go-ahead rating. However the future is now in Pittsburgh, and Steelers followers hope they’ve discovered their subsequent franchise QB.
Pickett will get his first NFL begin subsequent week towards the Buffalo Payments until one thing modifications. That might be Pickett’s first “welcome to the league” second, as that sport will happen in Buffalo.