Steelers’ Mitch Trubisky balances taking chances downfield with avoiding risk

Chris Adamski
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 4:07 p.m. | Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 4:07 p.m.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky throws during the game at the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this month. Trubisky said Tuesday he desires to take more chances with longer throws than he has over his first two games as the Steelers’ quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are perplexed as to why Mitch Trubisky isn’t throwing the ball downfield more often. Perhaps they can take solace in knowing Trubisky doesn’t know why he isn’t taking more chances, either.

“I like to throw the ball down the field,” Trubisky said Tuesday. “Why I haven’t, given the certain looks especially early in the game, I couldn’t tell you exactly why.

“But we’re looking for that, and I’m looking for that.”

Mitch Triubisky said “it’s there” in the scheme to have downfield opportunities pic.twitter.com/S2hiGSMDYu

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 20, 2022

In his first two starts as the Steelers’ quarterback, Trubisky has led the offense to an aggregate 30 points and two touchdowns in 22 possessions. While the data suggest he’s not as averse to the deep throw as some are asserting — Trubisky has 11 pass attempts 20 or more yards downfield in two games — that the offense only has three completions on passes that long is part of the problem with the point production.

One of those passes was in the final seconds of the second half during Sunday’s loss to New England, when the Patriots were in something of a prevent defense; another was a “free play” in overtime when Trubisky hit tight end Pat Freiermuth.

The Steelers’ top top wide receivers — Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool — are averaging a mere 7.4 yards per catch. Rookie George Pickens has just two receptions on the season.

“It’s there,” Trubisky said of the ability to take shots on deep passes. “It’s there. We had our opportunities.”

Trubisky rejected the notion he is being risk-averse because of his status as a — likely — one-year placeholder with first-rounder pick Kenny Pickett waiting as the backup.

“I’m not worried about (making) mistakes,” Trubisky said. “I do think about protecting the football and being smart and making good decisions, (but) I’m not worried about mistakes. Those happen.

“But, as an offense, we’ve just got to score more points. So, however we do that, that’s got to be our mindset, to score more points.”

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