Pittsburgh fans and media are eager to bench QB Mitch Trubisky and start first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett. Former Steelers star QB Ben Roethlisberger, however, said blame for the team’s struggles on offense shouldn’t fall on Trubisky.
“I hate it for Mitch because I don’t think it’s fair,” Roethlisberger said Monday on his podcast. “I wouldn’t blame Mitch for the performance. I don’t think he that he deserved the fans getting on him.”
The retired QB, however, didn’t assign blame for the struggles.
In Week 2 against the Patriots, the Steelers’ offense was anemic, averaging 4.2 yards per play. Trubisky didn’t take risks downfield. Fourteen of 21 completions came within six yards of the line of scrimmage.
It’s not clear if Trubisky is unwilling to throw deeper or if he’s mandated to throw short. Some blame offensive coordinator Matt Canada for the team’s failings.
“They should fire Matt Canada,” said Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden on his Monday podcast. “This offense has the stench of death.”
The offense hasn’t played well since the Steelers hired Canada as offensive coordinator in 2021. Last season, it finished 23rd in total offense. Pittsburgh (1-1) has only two offensive TDs this season.
Many expected that with the retirement of the largely immobile Roethlisberger, the Steelers’ offense would improve. The Steelers have good weapons, such as wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, and rookie wideout George Pickens has shown promise.
Claypool has hinted the issue could be playcalling. “We can only do what they tell us to do and execute it,” he told The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly.
