Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 9:24AM | 
MENU
Advertisement
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is slow to get up after taking a hit from Buccaneers linebacker Devin White in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.
1
MORE

Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Who gives the Steelers the best chance to win now — Mitch Trubisky or Kenny Pickett?

Post-Gazette

Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Who gives the Steelers the best chance to win now — Mitch Trubisky or Kenny Pickett?

Welcome to Joe Starkey’s mailbag, where the Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 The Fan radio host answers your questions about sports, life, Lee Flowers and everything in between. If you want to ask Joe a question, tweet him @JoeStarkey1 or email him at jstarkey@post-gazette.com. On to the questions ...

perfectgame06 ,@perfectgame06: Pickett gave them spark but truth be told he hasn’t been as pro ready as all said. Trubisky has better arm, runs better. believe Trubisky is much better when u open game up & let him play. Canada’s offense is 2 rigid 4 his skills.

Starkey: Interesting thoughts, PG, even though they did not arrive in the form of a question (I don’t even know if this was tweeted to me as part of the mailbag, to be honest, but I’m running with it).

Advertisement

Let’s break this down in parts.

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson stands with quarterback Mitch Trubisky during training camp in August at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WATCH: Feuding Steelers teammates, plus what to make of Penguins' start

• Is Pickett as pro-ready as most thought?

Well, he hasn’t looked overwhelmed. I know that isn’t the highest of praise, but consider the circumstances here. Mike Tomlin’s quarterback “competition” was a total sham, meaning Pickett had hardly worked with frontline teammates before he was thrown into the Jets game. His coach put him in a very difficult situation.

Having said that, he regressed in the Tampa game, to the point where most of his throws after the first drive felt like they were way out of bounds. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but it sure was ugly.

Advertisement

• Does Trubisky actually have a better arm and superior running ability?

Yes, I think both of those are fair observations. I just don’t think Trubisky plays the position very well. I don’t think he has much of a feel for it, whether it’s the timing of delivery, or anticipatory throws or knowing when to run. Or just delivering some juice. Before his excellent performance Sunday, he seemed like a robot out there, very mechanical and afraid to make a mistake. But, man, was he good Sunday.

So now what? Does Trubisky give you a better chance to win than Pickett, whenever Pickett is cleared to play?

I’m not willing to go there yet. If Trubisky plays like he did Sunday, he could be a top-10 quarterback in the league. But one has to consider the dynamics at play: He was thrust into a situation where he didn’t have to think and could just cut it loose. What was the worst that could happen — he’d lose his job? That had already happened.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talks with quarterback Kenny Pickett as he stretches during practice, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Steelers' quarterback saga has been dizzying

Now, as we head into Miami, the dynamics have shifted. If Trubisky gets the call, I’m guessing he will feel like he is playing to get his job back — and he might be. It would be hard to put him back on the bench if he plays great and leads the Steelers to a second consecutive upset win.

Knowing what could be at stake, will he still play free and loose?

That’s the big question.

One more thing: It’s still unclear to me whether Canada’s offense restricts the quarterbacks. I think the quarterbacks sometimes restrict themselves within it. Sometimes, a quarterback just has to make a play. Was that rollout to the left, away from pressure, and subsequent laser beam to Chase Claypool by design, or just Trubisky deciding to go for it?

Lee Hughes, @TheRealJStrap: If I was in charge of game day stadium operations: get rid of Renegade, since all it seems to do these days is fire up the opposing offense. Two, take that annoying thirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd down call and fire it into the sun. You?

Starkey: I’m fine with whatever you say, Dr. Hughes. I would prefer Peter, Paul & Mary’s “Where Have all the Flowers Gone” as the fourth-quarter anthem. But that’s just me.

*name listed to the right*, @iamjoshdouglas: I recently found out that the @cavs are restricted from live games in the Pittsburgh market (I know it’s stupid) and it got me wondering...what team should Pittsburgh adopt more for basketball? The Cavaliers or the @sixers?

Starkey: First of all, Dr. nlttr, the fact that Cavs games are blacked out here had me enraged last season, and that won’t change. We’re two hours away! Plus, the Cavs are one of the most exciting teams in the league. Third, if you’re NBA Network, and you’re going to black out the Cavs game in Pittsburgh, put another game on! If I had the energy. I would take up the issue. I don’t.

As for adopting a team, I recommend the Golden State Warriors.

St. John Smythe, @StJohnSmythe6: If the Guardians win do you think it would be bad for baseball. What I mean is it would create a false sense of parity? The powers that be will say see no salary cap is needed.

Starkey: Anybody can win in baseball, Dr. Smythe. Anybody can make the playoffs. The Pirates made the playoffs three years in a row. Tell me the last time the Detroit Lions, New York Jets or Washington Commanders made the playoffs three years in a row. Shoot, the Steelers have only made the playoffs three times in a row once since the late 1990s (they made it four times straight from 2014-17, which I guess technically means they made it three times in a row twice, but I digress).

What I’m saying is, the no-cap excuse is bogus in baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays have made the playoffs four times in a row and made it to Game 6 of the World Series despite one of the lowest payrolls in the game. The Guardians win consistently (six playoff appearances in the past 10 years). The A’s have won (six playoff appearances in the past 11 years). The lower-payroll teams have no excuse.

Christopher Moltisanti, @IStallion412: Will PSU win 10 games this year?

Starkey: Yes they will, Dr. Moltisanti. They will lose to Ohio State (the only ranked team left on the schedule) and win their other five to go 10-2. Or they will lose one additional game and then win a bowl game to finish 10-3. Thank you. Very kindly.

Bob Pavlik, @bobp1964: You and Ron name one stadium/arena pro sports or college on your bucket list to watch a game.

Starkey: I can’t speak for Ron. He’s not here. But my bucket-list destinations are the Rose Bowl and the Big House. I grew up loving Big Ten-Pac 10 football, and the whole idea of the Rose Bowl, and I love the states of California and Michigan, and I wrote a book report on wolverines in sixth grade, and I hate most of the newer playing venues across sports. I like stadiums with history and character.

Runnin’ Ref Rick, @PadreRico: If you were asked to shoot your lowest score with only one club to play your entire round, which club would you select?

Starkey: Certainly the only hybrid in my bag, Dr. Runnin. It already works as a driver and a putter!

brian shindledecker, @geetpicker: Why would anyone in a position in the NFL think that in 2022 a college coach could succeed in pro ball? #mattcanada.

Starkey: Most of them were college coaches at some point, Dr. shindledecker, but I will concede this: The best offensive minds in the NFL — at least the ones I just checked — had way longer NFL apprenticeships than one year as a quarterbacks coach with a quarterback who didn’t need a coach. I can tell you that. From Brian Daboll to Sean McVay to Kyle Shanahan to Kellen Moore to Byron Leftwich to Matt Lafleur, all of them did most of their work at the NFL level before becoming play callers.

Canada’s resume did not scream “NFL coordinator.”

Kevin Peck, @Rugger6Wolfe: Why did we resign LeTang unless we’re going to trade home for picks. Tonight’s loss, same as Rangers Series, is 100% on him.

Starkey: Thank you, Dr. Peck, for your carefully considered and frequently misspelled question (it would be ironic to misspell “misspelled,” would it not?). And here I thought Trouba’s hit to Crosby’s head and goaltending injuries cost them the Rangers series.

Thanks for setting me straight.

And thank you, kiddies. Also, send me questions (tweet @JoeStarkey1 or email at jstarkey@post-gazette.com). And subscribe to our FREE daily all-sports newsletter, PG Sports Feed.

First Published: October 18, 2022, 1:35 p.m.

RELATED
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) celebrates after his touchdown catch of a pass by quarterback Mitch Trubisky during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022.
Joe Starkey
Joe Starkey: This is no time to trade Chase Claypool
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady drops back to pass in front of Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward in the fourth quarter, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.
Gerry Dulac
Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 10.19.22
Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III congratulates kicker Chris Boswell after the kicked a field goal against the Buccaneers in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.
Ray Fittipaldo
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat transcript: 10.18.22
Steelers linebacker Myles Jack takes down Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Steelers needed someone to step up ... and almost everyone did
Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a solo home run in the fifth inning during the game against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on August 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Jason Mackey
Jason Mackey’s 10 Thoughts: Predicting which Pirates could enjoy regular roles in 2023
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is slow to get up after taking a hit from Buccaneers linebacker Devin White in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.
Joe Starkey
Joe Starkey: What should Mike Tomlin do if Kenny Pickett is cleared for Miami?
SHOW COMMENTS  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Traffic passes by U.S. Steel in Braddock on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. An activist investor has accused U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt of potential insider trading as the group pressures investors to support its own plan for the iconic Pittsburgh steelmaker, which includes a new board and abandoning a planned merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel.
1
business
Ancora launches ‘Make U.S. Steel Great Again’ campaign, accuses CEO of insider trading
Gov. Josh Shapiro is joined in the broadcast booth by Curtis Aiken before the start of Pitt-Syracuse on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.
2
sports
Governor Josh Shapiro aims to make Pennsylvania 'compete' in NIL, bring 'stability' to transfer portal
The WPIAL basketball playoffs are underway.
3
sports
WPIAL boys basketball playoffs: Down go the Highlanders, all the way out of PIAA playoffs
President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)
4
news
McCormick on board with Trump, DOGE shakeup while Fetterman blasts 'chaos, confusion'
Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith watch a receivers and defensive backs drill at Steelers Minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday, June 13, 2024.
5
sports
Gerry Dulac: Next season’s major decisions loom this week for Mike Tomlin, Steelers staff
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is slow to get up after taking a hit from Buccaneers linebacker Devin White in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.  (Post-Gazette)
Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story