At this stage, what more can be done?
The Steelers' offense has been running through mud and sprinting through quicksand all season long, regardless of who the offensive coordinator or the quarterback is. The damning tune of scoring 16.2 points per game and averaging 292.5 yards per game has lost far more games for this team than it has won, and no two showings were uglier than the 28 combined points and the 290.5 yards averaged against a pair of two-win teams at home last week.
Even though the Steelers rest in a contention position with respect to the AFC postseason picture, things can change rapidly. Saturday's 4:30 p.m. kickoff against the Colts is absolutely crucial for the postseason race in and of itself, but the Steelers and Mitch Trubisky want to gain some solutions that can carry throughout the rest of the season, as well.
"It changes week-to-week on a game plan," Trubisky said after Tuesday's practice on the South Side. "We've just got to have all 11 guys executing on the same play and doing their jobs, and I think if we do that we will be fine."
Not all can be remedied this late in the season, but it's also important to acknowledge that not much can be changed by this point. Meaning this: The play book is the play book and the personnel are the personnel no matter how it might be perceived otherwise.
Mike Tomlin is intent on rolling with Trubisky over Mason Rudolph as long as Kenny Pickett remains sidelined following ankle surgery, and that's quickly becoming a choice of the lesser of two evils. Trubisky has completed 33 of 52 passes for 307 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for an 84.4 rating over these last two games as the starter. The offense produced just 264 yards and 4.0 per play against the Patriots while Trubisky averaged just 8.6 yards per completion.
The system is still the system, for as flawed as it is. These quarterbacks can only do so much with it and there is also only so much this system can do in order to benefit these quarterbacks. This system was kept in place the moment Tomlin retained Matt Canada over the offseason, and this play book is still his. This late in the season, there can't be much added to what is already implemented, especially when the schedule bears three teams with winning records and two currently in a postseason spot out of the Steelers' four remaining opponents.
"I think week in and week out you're always trying to tweak and do things better and make corrections," Mason Cole said. "We've obviously got to do that this week. It's the same process. The process continues, and we've just got to get better."
The Steelers reached a more desired level of production in the second half Thursday, as 152 of their 264 yards produced came in the final 30 minutes. This also factors in that the Steelers began drives at the New England 16-yard line and the New England 26-yard line.
One second-half drive resulted in a three and out, compared to the three three-and-out drives produced (out of seven, including a kneel down to end the half) in the first half. But, zero points were produced on the five drives the Steelers began in their own territory in that half.
"We're not really trying to do too much, change the offense or whatever," Diontae Johnson said. "It's the same offense we've been running, the same plays. It's just execution. No matter what play call it is it's up to the person's job to go out there and execute the play and make it look good. ... Just everybody coming to work every day and practice. Practice is going to speak for itself. I really stand on 'practice how you play,' and that's going to show in the game on Sundays."
The Steelers abandoned their fabric and their identity Thursday. Trubisky had more carries (eight) than Jaylen Warren (seven) and Trubisky rushed for more yards (30) than Najee Harris (29). In addition, Calvin Austin rushed for more yards (12) than Warren (11). That's a major problem. All of that is. If the Steelers want to break through for more production in these final four games, they will have to rush for more than 82 yards and the 2.9 per carry they achieved Thursday.
Over the last two games, the Steelers have rushed for 212 yards and 3.6 yards per carry. That's not going to produce many points.
The Colts present a solid opportunity for this rushing attack to get right. They are allowing 131.5 rushing yards per game, tied for 26th in the NFL, and their 25.4 points allowed per game is 29th in the league.
In addition to getting back to the running game, where do those solutions start?
"Faster start, better on first and second down, and then obviously converting third downs and staying of the field," Trubisky said. "I think it's that simple. Obviously when there's a pass that's incomplete or a run that doesn't go for very much we just look at it with open eyes, we make corrections, and we move forward and just continue to go back to work."
Aside from the issues with running the football, Trubisky has to string a heightened performance across four quarters. Tomlin also has no doubts in Trubisky. In his weekly press conference on Monday, Tomlin took time in his opening statement to point out his feelings of Trubisky's elevated play as Thursday's game went on.
"I thought Mitch picked up his play as the game wore on," Tomlin said. "I thought that that is a reasonable expectation for him to be even better because of that experience and because of the experience of having a full week's prep this week in preparation for the performance, in-helmet reps, and things of that nature. Full-speed reps. Excited about that component of it."
And Rudolph is content with the position he is in, despite the ire of some fans who chanted his name on Thursday inside Acrisure Stadium.
"I think I'm a backup quarterback right now in the NFL and I'm very thankful," Rudolph said. "You think about how much work it takes for all these guys in this locker room to get to this level, I'm going to be sharp, I'm going to stay sharp all week, and I'll be ready if and when my number's called. It's a day by day process and I enjoy that preparation and that grind and I'm looking forward this afternoon to meetings."
The Steelers will need more from Trubisky amid what can actually be changed.
Change and improvement are two different things, however. Trubisky is seeking the latter.
"Just put the game behind you and move on to the next," Trubisky said. "It's a week to week thing and any given Sunday it can go either way, so you've got to continue to put your head down and work and fight for wins. You can't change the past, you've got to stay in the present and continue to get better and just focus on that."
