Asked and Answered: Dec. 16

RONALD DAVIS FROM AURORA, OH: Mitch Trubisky is 0-2 vs. opponents that came into their games against the Steelers with 2-10 records, and he still shows tendencies that lose games. Is it a wacko idea to think Mason Rudolph should start the next game? I think it’s his time. If not, the rest of the season could look pretty bleak.
ANSWER: First, get your facts straight. Mitch Trubisky isn’t 0-2 in the games vs. Arizona and New England, because Kenny Pickett was the starter against the Cardinals, and in the NFL it’s the starting quarterback who gets “credit” for the win or the loss. Besides, against the Cardinals, Trubisky completed 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) for 117 yards, with 1 touchdown, no interceptions, and a rating of 104.3; he also rushed for 5 yards; and both his passing and running totals were higher than Pickett’s. Trubisky then came back on a short week for a Thursday night game against New England, and that was when he put together a lesser performance – 22-of-35 (62.9 percent) for 190 yards, with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and a rating of 74.5, to go along with 8 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown). That makes him 0-1 as a starter this season, and let’s see how Trubisky performs today against the Colts with a full week of preparation and practice before we start changing quarterbacks like we change our socks. And I really wonder if your voice was in the 2019 chorus of wanting Duck Hodges to replace Mason Rudolph, but don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to fess up to that.

MARTIN KOHLER FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: Why do many fans advocate for Mason Rudolph all of a sudden? Is he really an upgrade over Mitch Trubisky during Kenny Pickett’s absence?
ANSWER: My sense of the dynamic regarding the quarterback depth chart is that Mitch Trubisky is the backup and Mason Rudolph is an experienced No. 3 quarterback seen as a viable option in the event of an emergency. Remember, Trubisky originally was signed to a 2-year contract as an unrestricted free…