Mitchell Trubisky Isn’t Steelers’ Only Problem as Loss to Browns Sheds Light on Flaws

Panic isn’t a word that is typically connected with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are rather potentially the most steady franchise in sports. They have had 3 head coaches in over half a century. They have actually won 6 Super Bowls. And their existing head coach has actually never ever experienced a losing season.

But the stress and anxiety level on the banks of the Monongahela River is ratcheting up due to the fact that Mike Tomlin’s stretch of non-losing seasons remains in extremely major jeopardy. After losing 29-17 to the Jacoby Brissett-led Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, talk radio in the Steel City will no doubt center on the idea of eliminating quarterback Mitch Trubisky and changing him with first-round novice Kenny Pickett.

But the truth is that Trubisky’s restrictions aren’t the Steelers’ only issue. Or their most significant issue. This group has genuine problems on both sides of the ball– and a modification under center isn’t going to repair them.

Earlier today, while appearing on The Mike Tomlin Show on the group’s YouTube channel, Pittsburgh’s head coach suggested that he wasn’t thinking about significant modifications to the beginning lineup– consisting of at quarterback.

” I’m not even in the community of having conversations like that, male,” Tomlin stated, by means of Bob Quinn of Steelers Nation “I’m more worried about our cumulative development and advancement and what we’re assembling in regards to what we prefer to do to engineer success. [Trubisky is] simply an element of it.”

Tomlin’s persistence was tested Thursday night by a video game that remained in numerous aspects a carbon copy of Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots.

The excellent news for the Steelers offense is that the group set a season high in yardage. The problem is that season high was 308 lawns. Pittsburgh got in Thursday’s action dead last in the AFC in overall offense, and today’s overall isn’t going to assist that ranking much.

Does Trubisky bear his share of obligation for another uninspired offending effort? Sure. His numbers Thursday were a testimony to mediocrity–20 conclusions in 32 tries for 207 lawns and a passer score of 81.1. Once again, Trubisky flatly declined to assault the middle of the field.

This is not brand-new. It’s been a style all season.

But entirely blaming Trubisky for this offense’s failure to average 300 lawns of offense 3 weeks into the season is unreasonable. There is a lot of blame to walk around.

Pittsburgh went into Week 3 with the seventh-worst ground video game in the NFL, balancing 83 lawns per video game. That number will bump a little after the Steelers collected 104 backyards on 22 brings, however their ground video game looked worthless compared to Cleveland’s.

Lead back Najee Harris has yet to enter any sort of groove this season, and Week 3 was no exception. He acquired simply 3.7 lawns per continue his 15 lugs– which was really his finest average of the season. Heading into the week, he was balancing less than 3 backyards a pop.

That ain’t excellent, folks.

Of course, Trubisky’s and Harris’ battles can be traced to yet another of the issues. The Steelers have among the worst offending lines in the NFL. In his latest offending line rankings, Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked Pittsburgh’s front 28 th in the league

Yes, that line just permitted one sack versus the Browns. Stated sack came on a crucial 3rd down in the 2nd half, and the Pittsburgh front was yet once again not able to open holes for the run video game.

Lest you believe he will be spared, offending planner Matt Canada is worthy of blame, too. In The Middle Of reports that some in the company are growing annoyed with the second-year OC, Canada’s play-calling failed as soon as again. When Canada discovered something that really did work (utilizing pace in the very first half), it totally vanished after halftime– and Pittsburgh’s momentum disappeared with it.

But wait! There’s more!

For years, the Steelers have actually been a group related to terrifying and powerful defenses. Simply like the their capability to move the ball regularly, that’s gone now, too.

Last year, the Steelers fielded the worst run defense in the NFL, enabling 146.1 lawns per video game. This year, that number “enhanced” through 2 video games– to 22 nd in the league at 128.5 backyards per contest.

After dealing with the Browns, that number is headed in the incorrect instructions. Nick Chub, Kareem Hunt and the Browns gashed the Steelers for 171 lawns on the ground. Given, the Browns tend to do that, however Week 3 was a repeat of Week 2 versus the Pats– a worn-down Steelers defense being worked on effectively once again and once again in the 2nd half.

The pass defense is springing leakages, too. Recently it was Nelson Agholor publishing a 6/110/ 1 stat line. Thursday, both pass receiver Amari Cooper (7/101/ 1) and tight end David Njoku (9/89/ 1) had huge video games.

No one is going to puzzle Mac Jones and Jacoby Brissett with Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Both had success versus the Steelers. With edge-rusher T.J. Watt sidelined by a torn pectoral muscle, Pittsburgh is creating beside no pass rush.

That absence of pressure is exposing a typical group of cornerbacks. And Pittsburgh is being gradually, systematically taken apart.

The Steelers are losing the third-down fight, transforming at a substantially lower portion than their challenger the previous 2 weeks. They are likewise losing the time-of-possession fight to the tune of practically 20 minutes the last 2 video games.

They aren’t being beat in one aspect of the video game. Losing at one position. It’s all over the location. On both sides of the ball.

It didn’t take wish for Tomlin to make it clear no huge modifications were coming for Week 4.

That will not make fans pleased, however it’s barely unforeseen. Tomlin isn’t the sort of coach that makes knee-jerk modifications. The Steelers aren’t that type of group.

Or perhaps he understands that pulling Trubisky or shooting Canada, on some level, would simply be re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Perhaps he understands that Pittsburgh’s issues exceed Trubisky. And Canada. And the offense.

Maybe he understands that these Steelers are a problematic group, and those defects are being exposed.

And perhaps he understands that streak of non-losing seasons is most likely toast.