Kovacevic: Sticking by this QB after another clunker would be a Mistake

CLEVELAND -- "Yes. Yes, it does."

Mike Tomlin, at his weekly press conference three days ago, had described his intent to "exercise appropriate patience" with the Steelers' quicksand offense. And when pressed as to whether that includes the quarterback currently taking all the snaps amid that quicksand, the head coach came back with the answer above.

Authoritative, too:

Buying it?

Nope. Me neither.

I'll buy this, though: If Mitch Trubisky, on this Thursday night against Cleveland's beloved Keebler Elves at FirstEnergy Stadium -- 8:15 p.m. kickoff --  performs anywhere as low as the level he's exhibited through two games, Tomlin's "patience" will have blown off the biggest of chunks. And all that'll feel "appropriate" in that aftermath will be a change at his team's most pivotal position.

I'll buy this, too: Tomlin's going to preserve all his "patience" for his offensive coordinator, even if it's clear to the entire football world at this point that Matt Canada's every bit as much a problem as Trubisky, if not more so. There are two more backup QBs in the fold than there are backup OCs. There's nothing a defensive NFL head coach hates more than making a midseason change at a coaching position he can't hijack himself.

And this: That 10-day break that follows this game will look like gold to Tomlin and everyone else when it comes to weighing whether Kenny Pickett could be ready for the Oct. 2 home game against the Jets. No, they can't sneak the kid into the facility on the days off mandated by the labor agreement, but nothing stops the coaches from investing that time toward a plan to make it happen in a relative hurry. 

And this: Nothing stops them from telling the kid he just might be needed, which affords Pickett a little extra focus on the specific task ahead.

And this: Nothing stops Pickett, a professional since he was an amateur, from putting in that extra work. Presuming he isn't already.

And this: If the Steelers don't somehow put it all together in time to prevail tonight -- and expectations obviously aren't high -- there couldn't conceivably be a more optimal scenario for Week 4 than to launch Pickett through that tunnel to the unbridled roar of the crowd, which otherwise would arrive for blood.

And this: After the Jets, need I remind, it's the Bills, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Eagles leading into the bye. Those teams are a combined 8-0, and not one of them looks like they arrived there by accident. If the Steelers can somehow run that gauntlet with a .500 record at the bye, and have T.J. return around that time, and have Pickett get some experience and success, and the O-line continues to not be the anticipated catastrophe ... hey, I'm trying. 

And this: All the unjustified fear about utilizing Pickett too soon, such as the playcalling or the offensive line, has at least been minimized on the latter front. Besides, he’ll have to deal with one or both throughout his NFL career,

And this: If all of the above doesn't happen over the coming weekend, it'll happen in the coming weeks, or month, anyway.

I don't believe it's a mistake to have opened the schedule with Trubisky. I'd held that stance all summer, and I'm holding it in this very sentence. For a slew of reasons, all of which I'd have to repeat for the millionth time.

But I do believe that any mistake made beyond this one by the lake ... would be exactly that.

• Don't exempt Tomlin from what ails the offense. Remember, I've asked him now in both Cincinnati and after the home opener about the lack of throwing downfield or over the middle, and he's acknowledged both times he had a big hand in avoiding those areas. And that might well be why he's gone to bat for Trubisky and Canada so far.

One of two things must change:

1. He'll have to let them sink or swim.

2. The rushing offense comes alive.

So yeah, it'll have to be that first one.

• Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the NFL's premier rushing duo, will decide this outcome. Unless Kevin Stefanski loses his mind and tries to show everyone how clever he and his offensive staff can be.

The undercurrent culprit in the loss to the Patriots was the visitors being able to run 31 times for 124 yards, including 15 carries for 71 yards by Damien Harris. Cam Heyward was quick -- and accurate -- to call that out, saying "What we needed was to stop the run," and that'll go double or triple tonight. One could point to the solid effort against Joe Mixon in Cincinnati, but one also could point to T.J. Watt having participated in that one. T.J.'s hardly some elite run-stopper, but the pressure he brings to the pocket causes all kinds of mayhem.

Not feeling this facet at all.

• There's a common refrain that the wide receiving corps is oozing playmakers, and it usually sounds like, "I've just got to get the ball into the hands of my playmakers," as Trubisky reiterated Tuesday.

But I'm constantly cringing at the isolation of blame on any individual in a team sport, and here's an excellent example as to why: Diontae Johnson's made 13 catches for 112 yards, both team highs. He's been, by every reasonable measure, a rare bright spot, including when it comes to playmaking since catching a football is a play being made. 

And yet, he's got three -- count 'em, one, two, three -- yards after the catch so far this season.

That's ... almost impossible, except for his endless tendency to peel back in search of extra running room that most often doesn't materialize.

Chase Claypool has eight catches for 44 yards, including just 11 yards after the catch.

Just saying. It's legit that they all need to be better on that side of the ball.

• Anyone else notice that Najee Harris didn't start hitting holes with gusto against New England until after seeing Jaylen Warren do it?

Mm-hm.

Rotate 'em. If it's good enough for Cleveland's duo, there shouldn't be any complaints here. Also, short week, etc.

• Two AFC North games out of the first three ... hate to even utter this out loud, but there'll be some injuries. Both sides. Bad ones. Always are in a short week, but this is something else.

• Only thing more entertaining than the Browns' mindbending late loss last week to the Jets was getting to hear the head coach as it unraveled:

The perpetual variable, my friends.

• According to Pro Football Focus, Myles Garrett's already graded out as an A+ for his performance tonight. Congrats to all concerned!

• No, seriously, if Dan Moore eats Garrett's lunch again, it'll only be because Garrett spent the week on the injury report with a neck issue.

• Can someone, please, at least see to it that George Pickens boards the bus?

• Of the six Steelers now eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, only the newest -- James Harrison -- would get my vote. All due respect to Gary Andersen, Chad Brown, James Farrior, Casey Hampton and especially Hines Ward, but Deebo's got bona fide credentials, not least of which is arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

• Thanks for reading!