An Accurate Steelers' Mitch Trubisky Is Effective In 7 Shots With 2 Touchdowns

There may not be a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback competition ahead of the 2023 season, but that doesn't mean backup Mitchell Trubisky has nothing left to play for. In 2022, after being benched for the franchise's future, Kenny Pickett, Trubisky was still needed in three games, two of which resulted in victories. The former 2017 second-overall draft pick by the Chicago Bears knows his job, and on Saturday's '7 Shots' drill, Trubisky made sure he put his best foot forward.

Steelers QB1 Kenny Pickett Struggles In 7 Shots

The general vibe around Steelers camp is that Pickett came into his sophomore year ready to lead as "the guy". Everything that has occurred during the 2023 offseason has backed that up, but there is a reason why the phrase "any given Sunday" holds as much truth as it does.

The first play of the Saturday's drill had Pickett dropping back and looking to find fellow sophomore, George Pickens on a fade route. Veteran cornerback, Patrick Peterson was in on coverage, and the pass fell incomplete to put the defense up 1-0 on the day. On the second play, the young quarterback looked calm as he took his time and then found Diontae Johnson at the left edge of the end zone. The throw was perfect and a score led to the drill being tied up at 1-1.

After a penalty nullified the third try of the drill, Pickett looked for his new, veteran receiver, Allen Robinson, on a rollout. The ball fell incomplete, much to the frustration of both the quarterback and receiver. With four shots left, the defense was leading 2-1 and Pickett had one more chance before the second team was to be brought in.

When you have a tight end that stands at 6'5" like Pat Freiermuth does, one thing you don't want to see is an overthrow. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened on Pickett's final opportunity of the drill. The ball seemed to get away from Pickett a bit, but you can be sure that both the quarterback and the tight end will be looking over the play on film to ensure it doesn't happen when it counts. The chemistry between the two young players, Pickett and Freiermuth, has been obvious, and the organization will be looking to them for even more growth in 2023.

With three shots left, the defense had a solid lead, 3-1.

Steelers Backup Trubisky Makes The Most Of 7 Shots

After Pickett went 1/4 on his chances, Trubisky entered with the second team to try and get the offense back in the competition. That is, as every Steelers fan knows, what Tomlin thrives on and what he believes truly solidifies the foundation of a squad: competition.

On the fifth play of the drill, Trubisky's first, the backup looked collected and like a veteran as he dropped back to easily find the speedy Calvin Austin III right inside the goal-line to bring the offense closer. The defense still held the advantage, 3-2, with only two more plays left for the second team to make a comeback.

With a healthy Najee Harris in 2023, swift, crafty running back, Anthony McFarland is looking for every opportunity to show what he brings to the table. In 2022, the Steelers found out just how valuable McFarland was, becoming a sort of a Swiss Army Knife in a variety of situations. On the second to last play, Trubisky saw McFarland get himself open. The reward was yet another touchdown for the backup quarterback and a big moment for McFarland. Trubisky's second touchdown had the offense tied with the defense, with only one final chance left for bragging rights to be won.

Perhaps it is some sort of poetic justice, but it almost made sense for the final play of the drill to be a Trubisky incomplete pass. The Steelers backup had chances both in Chicago and in Pittsburgh to show that he should be starting, but that hasn't been the case. It isn't that Trubisky is an awful quarterback; he just isn't Pickett - and that means a great deal in both attitude and talent. When chances were there, Trubisky never seemed to be able to get over that hill where the above-average quarterbacks reside. So, an incomplete pass just seemed like it was destined to happen.

The defense won the day, 4-3, but the offense looked efficient despite not hitting every throw or winning. Both sides were focused, and the attitudes are beginning to shift from players acclimating to training camp to elite athletes striving to be the best. The defense doesn't simply shrug at winning the drill, and rest assured that the offense will remember the loss the next time they line up for this particular competition.

Until then, though, quarterback controversy or not, it's a positive sight for Steelers fans to see a Trubisky ready if they need to call on him, but let's hope they won't have to. All during training camp you can find live updates from our very own B-Wall, including 7 Shots! Don't miss out on up-to-the-minute posts for all your Steelers training camp needs!

Do you trust Mitch Trubisky to win games as a backup if needed? 

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