The 2022 NFL offseason is one of the more exciting off-seasons I have ever been a part of. The player movement is at an all-time high. On Monday, March 14, we were hit with another major announcement. The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to sign quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to a two-year deal according to Kevin Patra of www.nfl.com.
Why Mitchell Trubisky?
The initial reaction many are sharing is why Mitchell Trubisky? The answer is clear, he is the best available option at the right price. The Steelers did not give up any draft capital and the money they reportedly invested is minimal for a starting quarterback. The Steelers needed an upgrade at quarterback and more to contend for a Superbowl. By acquiring Trubisky they can afford to improve in multiple areas.
Mitchell Trubisky is coming to Pittsburgh with some added pressure. He will be replacing a future Hall of Famer in Ben Roethlisberger. With Ben at the helm, the Steelers appeared in three Superbowls, winning two of them over his 18 seasons.
In Ben’s final season the offense struggled. He was no longer the same player and it was clear the team would have to find his successor. It appears the team chose to forgo other options and give Trubisky the opportunity.
Who Is Mitchell Trubisky?
Who is Mitchell Trubisky? He is an uber-athletic 27-year-old dual-threat quarterback with untapped potential. The Chicago Bears moved up in the 2017 draft and selected Trubisky as the second overall pick. He spent four seasons with the team and posted a respectable 29-21 record along with two playoff appearances. In 2018 Trubisky had his best season throwing for 3,223 yards and 24 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions (www.espn.com/mitchell-trubisky)
I believe Trubisky is up to the task of a Pittsburgh franchise quarterback. He is coming off a valuable year in Buffalo where he was able to learn behind Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen. Like Allen, he is an elite runner at the quarterback position that follows his blocks and is not afraid to extend runs. He also possesses a big arm and loves to take the deep shot.
The knock-on Trubisky is poor accuracy in the passing game, specifically in the red zone. In the 2019/2020 season, he tied for the league lead in red-zone interceptions with four (www.lineups.com/nfl-redzone-stats/qb). If he can improve that part of his game, the Steelers will be in a good position.
For Trubisky the Steelers are a fantastic landing spot. Head coach Mike Tomlin will help improve his character and leadership skills. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will take full advantage of his skill set and emphasize his strengths. Matt Canada likes to run a lot of shotgun read options which is similar to the offense Trubisky ran in college. The transition should be seamless allowing Trubisky to hit the ground running.
At the very least the Steeler’s new-look offense should be fun to watch. Does anybody remember another Steelers quarterback that wore the #10 jersey? Steeler fans get ready for Kordell Stewart 2.0, the Mitchell Trubisky experience!
