Originally Posted by
pczach
I was all for picking up Trubisky because I didn't believe in Rudolph, and the draft was in the future and all the uncertainty of QB availability that comes with that.
My opinion has been that I would go with Pickett, but I understand what Tomlin is thinking becuase of the experience factor and the OL situation. I don't agree with it, but I understand it.
On the surface, what we saw out of Trubisky was substandard. He looked hesitant. He was looking to see receivers open rather than anticipating or throwing them open. He was very cautious with the football, and seemed more worried about taking care of the rock than he was about making plays. I believe part of this is the limited action in preseason. All QB's go through this early in the season. Some thrive....others struggle when the action button goes to full speed. I also believe that Tomlin believes in this defense and has coached his QB's to protect the football at all costs. This type of coaching breeds what we saw yesterday. We see quarterbacks that are afraid to make throws. It makes them hesitant to try to make plays. The early lead and the great play of the defense put the coaching staff and Trubisky into full protection mode, making them far too conservative and afraid to take any risk.
I also know that no matter what, the QB is still the one with the ball in his hand. I saw some plays from Trubisky that concerned me because he had some open receivers, but either didn't see them or didn't throw them the ball. He also missed several wide-open check downs, where the RB was alone in the flat. If there is nothing open down the field, just take the safe, easy throw and take what was available. I'm not sure whether this is mostly coaching that causes paralysis, or Trubisky being unwilling to make throws in tight windows and not following his progressions. The check down is available on nearly every pass play unless there you have an empty backfield or the back stays in to block. Trubisky wasn't even taking those safe throws that are part of the progression, and he had the time and the space to get the ball to them. He was also inacurate on many throws. The receivers basically caught everything near them in that game. They were outstanding. MT has to be better than that in the execution of the offense. Period. Trubisky was at his best late in the game when he had the freedom to just let it go and create. When he had to make plays, he was able to do so, and the team got the win.
I beleive that the coaching staff has to allow Trubisky to play with type of freedom. He also needs to use his legs more. All we heard was that they wanted a mobile quarterback, and then it's as if he was being coached to not run with the ball.
TJ Watt is going to miss significant time. Maybe the entire season. This should have a huge impact not only on the defense, but also on what is expected of the offense. They offense has to score more points. They need to be more agressive, because you could see the affect of the absence of Watt late in that game. The pass rush was no as effective. The secondary had to cover longer. The Bengals were able to run different routes because they had a little more time, and the protection was better.
The bottom line is that the coaching staff needs to ditch the game manager, play defense and don't make mistakes style of play. Trubisky then has to show that he can operate the offense with the chains off of him....or it should be Kenny Pickett time.
Losing Watt could actually force the team to go to Pickett because of the urgent need for more offense. I think Trubisky can and will play better if the coaching allows it and he gets more snaps. But if he continues to leave plays on the field or is wildly inaccurate, they will need to see what Pickett is capable of. I do beleive coaching philosophy is an issue, and at some point you have to let players play.