Guess what, people. It’s time for training camp. And that means it’s time for training camp questions. For the first time since 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers are actually back at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe after being forced to stay in Pittsburgh, where they held their last two training camps inside the formerly known ground. under the Heinz name.
Even though the Steelers are back on very familiar ground, specifically Chuck Noll Field, this is an exceptionally certain training camp. After all, they haven’t had a real quarterback battle in a few decades, but now they have one with Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph.
We have yet another new offensive line, with some incoming veterans in James Daniels and Mason Cole. Myles Jack is inside linebacker, replacing Joe Schobert, and we’ll have to see if Devin Bush can get back to form after last year’s dismal performance.
There’s still so much going on, and boot camp will only create more questions as it goes along, even as it begins to provide answers. We’ll be covering them here daily for the community”talk to each otheras Linda Richman might say on Coffee Talk.
Question: When can we start reviewing Mitch Trubisky?
I wrote about Mitch Trubisky’s stocks yesterday, saying that based on the first six practices of training camp, his stock was down based on how he performed. I allowed many caveats, in particular the lack of availability of virtually all of the squad’s most notable players, but some comments I received implied – or did more than imply – that it was not could not yet be assessed, even preliminarily.
He’s new to the team (of course, so is Kenny Pickett, who’s also a rookie). OK. He learns of a new offence. But how many veteran starting quarterbacks signed in free agency would get that excuse? And if Trubisky plays with second-string players, who do other quarterbacks play with second- and third-string linemen?
I argue that evaluation is a fluid process to which there is never a final conclusion, at least until a player retires, and because of that I don’t believe there is plenty of room for there to be a “too early” moment to offer one — provided the appropriate import level is applied to it.
Yesterday’s article was just an observation on the general analysis of his performance in the Steelers’ first six practices in training camp. I haven’t read any positive reviews of her first six days in Latrobe.
But this is only the beginning. And it is already changing. Trubisky had a better day of practice yesterday. I could easily write another stock watch article for today noting the one-day improvement, though hopefully it can stack at least a few best practices together, first.
Let’s be clear on something. I have no dog in the running for who the Steelers quarterback is. Ideally, the rookie draft pick will be worth the time investment, but if we’re talking about the 2021 season, I have nothing against Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, or Kenny Pickett. I think the best quarterback should be whoever plays, no matter who it is, and I have no preconceived idea who will be the best by the end of August.
I just wish there was real competition. I don’t think it’s anyone’s “job to lose”, as we’ve heard in some reports. Trubisky hasn’t had the best start with his new team, but there’s still plenty of time to write his story. This is just the very beginning. No conclusions have been drawn and shouldn’t be, but he definitely needs to do better.
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