LATROBE, Pa. -- The quarterback competition in the Steelers' training camp will be watched with intense scrutiny. It's the first time there's been even a breath of controversy at the position since Ben Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004. Now, after an 18-year career, it's time for someone else to take the reins.
In turn, we're going to provide updates on what each quarterback is doing throughout training camp -- where they are in the pecking order and, more importantly, how they are performing.
While we will be watching and reporting this competition closely, it's important to note that Mike Tomlin was very specific in how he plans to handle this situation.
"We're not going to micromanage or over-manage this quarterback competition," Tomlin said on reporting day. "The depth chart will not rest on every throw. ... We're gonna be a little bit more steady than that. I think it's important from a leadership perspective to not over-manage it; to not be too impulsive. That's what I relayed to those guys, and our actions will continue to display that mindset."
Day 12 of training camp was moved up earlier in the day in order to avoid storms forecasted for the afternoon. Here's what we saw Tuesday ...
DEPTH CHART
1. Mitch Trubisky
2. Mason Rudolph
3. Kenny Pickett
4. Chris Oladokun
This is the order of the team's official depth chart, but Pickett earned some second-team reps Tuesday. Rudolph was in the mix for those reps too, and the two shared reps with the third team. Oladokun's participation in any team drills was limited to only a few during one-on-ones inside the 10-yard line.
Just as it was Monday, Tuesday's practice focused quite a bit on the run game. However, there is still more than enough for us to talk about.
MITCH TRUBISKY
• The first two of Trubisky's reps in seven shots were Benny Snell runs up the middle -- the first was stopped short while he found paydirt on the second. Trubisky's only throw was a beautifully thrown ball to the back right corner of the end zone where Chase Claypool came down with the ball in bounds for a touchdown. Trubisky's final rep was a rollout to the left side, and he found a soft spot in the defense and ran in for an easy touchdown.
• Trubisky's timing is far and away the best of the group. Whether it's a jet sweep or a slant route, Trubisky has been the best in that regard -- all while facing the first-team defense. As the offense continues to work together, I would expect the timing to get even better.
• With Claypool, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris all missing time due to injuries, Trubisky has had a great opportunity to build a rapport over the first two weeks of camp with George Pickens during first-team reps. The duo hooked up a few different times Tuesday, especially during 11-on-11. One play after Levi Wallace disrupted a pass to Pickens on an out route, the rookie receiver ran another one, this time beating him, and Trubisky timed the route perfectly and hit him in the numbers. On the very next play, Pickens ran a quick slant in the slot and Trubisky got the ball out as quickly as it was snapped to him in the shotgun. This goes back to Trubisky's timing, and it was really on display Tuesday.
• Trubisky and Pickens hooked up once again during the final drills of the day in the red zone. Pickens ran a deep post and Trubisky put it right on his receiver in stride for what might have been his best throw of the day. Minkah Fitzpatrick flew in and would have made it very difficult for Pickens to hold onto the pass with a would-be hit during a live game, but it was still a great connection deep over the middle of the field. Any fan who watched the Steelers last year should be excited about the team trying any passing play that includes the words "deep" and "middle" in the same sentence.
MASON RUDOLPH
• Rudolph played the final rep of seven shots, finding Miles Boykin on a drag route on the goal line. Rudolph put the ball right on Boykin, who was able to make the contested catch.
• Rudolph has probably been the most steady quarterback of the group, but was a little off Tuesday. He missed a few throws that he hasn't missed thus far, including a comeback to Anthony Miller on the sideline. Rudolph's throw sailed a bit and was nearly intercepted.
• It took until Tuesday's practice, but Rudolph finally threw his first pick of training camp. It came during 7-on-7 when he tried to fit a pass in a tight window over the middle. The ball deflected up in the air and Donovan Stiner came down with it.
• Overall, just a lot more of the same from Rudolph. We've had enough time in practice to see the same guy we've seen in the past. There are some more designed rollouts and Rudolph hasn't looked uncomfortable running those plays. Most of those rollouts come with shorter reads, and we know Rudolph is at his best finding guys closer to the line of scrimmage.
KENNY PICKETT
• Pickett ran two reps of Seven Shots after Trubisky's four, going 1 for 2 with a touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren. His first pass was a fade to Gunner Olszewski in the back right corner of the end zone, but sailed out of reach. Pickett's touchdown pass came out of a play-action rollout to the right side, and Pickett found Warren by himself in the flat for the easy score.
• Camp stats really don't matter (which is why we don't track them here), but Pickett threw two interceptions Tuesday. The first was a heck of a play by James Pierre, who jumped an out-route and made a diving catch for the interception. The second was a short throw that pinballed off his receiver and a defender before Chris Steele snatched the ball hanging up in the air.
• As camp has progressed, Pickett has looked better and better when he gets the ball out on time. It's something I've noticed Matt Canada coaching the quarterbacks on, and Pickett has the most room to grow compared to Trubisky and Rudolph. The short, quick throws are beginning to look a bit more crisp than they were at the start of camp.
• Pickett has also started to look a bit better under pressure. In one instance Tuesday, he had a designed rollout to the right, stopped when the pocket was pushed back, then moved back against the grain to find more room to make his reads. On the same note, his decision-making needs to improve when his first couple reads are covered. That's still an area where Pickett is lagging behind, but he doesn't look as overwhelmed as he did even a week ago.
QB THOUGHTS
It's really clear who the No. 1 quarterback is. It may not be officially announced yet, and the same guy has been atop the depth chart since OTAs — Trubisky really does look like the best quarterback in camp. He admittedly was trying out different types of throws early in camp, trying to see which guys can make certain plays -- testing the waters, so to speak. Now, it's about tightening things up, and we're seeing that come through in his play during reps and how vocal he's become throughout practice.
Pickett has progressed the most during training camp, but he also has the most room to grow. He should be progressing as much as he is. He's a first-round pick. Rudolph is steady, but I haven't seen anything yet to believe he can elevate the offense better than the other two. Trubisky currently has the highest potential to do that.
Then again, we haven't played a preseason game yet. That'll change Saturday night. Then, we'll have a whole lot more to talk about.
