Mike Tomlin Explains Why Steelers Chose Mitch Trubisky
Mike Tomlin Explains Why Steelers Chose Mitch Trubisky
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have two options to replace the injured Kenny Pickett on their roster currently but head coach Mike Tomlin was clear in the wake of a loss to the Arizona Cardinals that his team would roll with Mitch Trubisky over Mason Rudolph this week against the New England Patriots.
There’s a simple reason why the Steelers like Trubisky over Rudolph – as the second-stringer, Trubisky is simply better prepared to work with the first-team offense because of how the team divides up snaps in practice.
“You can’t give work to three guys, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “Most of Mason Rudolph’s work comes on scout team offense and so Mitch has been in position to get the most work.”
Tomlin went on to explain that Trubisky has gravity as a leader and experience as the centerpiece that makes him an ideal candidate to be the Steelers backup and earn those elevated reps in practice. He and the rest of the team feel comfortable with Trubiksy leading their offense.
“He has an outgoing and welcoming personality, he’s a good communicator, he’s been a franchise quarterback before so he’s comfortable in those shoes,” Tomlin said. “He doesn’t behave like a backup that’s being elevated and I think those are the things that make him attractive.”
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Alex Highsmith Agrees Refs Ignoring T.J. Watt
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers superstar T.J. Watt was frustrated following an embarrassing loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. It was mainly the defeat that had him short as he took questions at the podium following the game but the officials, who Watt said he thinks has “something going against him,” were also a point of contention.
His star running mate on the other side of the defensive front, Alex Highsmith, said he agreed that Watt isn’t getting all the holding calls he deserves and understands why that would lead to some anger.
“T.J.’s held almost every play. That’s just how I feel,” Highsmith said. “He’s up there rushing like hell. He’s crazy. I can sense his frustration but he’s a guy who’s balls to the walls every single play. When he doesn’t get some of those calls he should get, it’s definitely frustrating.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin added that frustration is part of the game for a player like Watt, whose talent, pedigree and history of consistently excellent performance make him the target of double-teams, chip blocks and every method of slowing pass rushers an opponent can conceive of. That could make anyone a little cranky.
“T.J.’s a special player,” Tomlin said. “People go to a lot of lengths to minimize him and frustration is probably a component of play for him.”
But the fact that Watt, who ranks second in the NFL in sacks with 13 and sixth in tackles for loss this season, continues to play at such an elite level amazes Highsmith and speaks to the respect teams have for his decorated resume, even if that’s only a small consolation prize for Watt.
“He’s a guy who gets chipped a lot, draws a lot of attention drawn towards him,” Highsmith said. “So for him to be able to still make a lot of plays while getting chipped and getting held and everything, just shows the type of player he is.”
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