Tim Benz: Steelers have no one to blame but themselves for extra-loud 'elevator music' on QB situation

Up until now, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has avoided snapping despite repeated speculation about the status of his starting quarterback.

He was asked (once again) about the prospect of replacing Mitch Trubisky — and/or offensive play caller Matt Canada — after the team’s 29-17 loss in Cleveland on Thursday night.

“I’m not in that mindset,” Tomlin replied. “I’m interested in reviewing this tape and looking at the totality of it and figuring out how we collectively get better. So, to answer that question definitively, no.”

Tomlin may have been less than engaging. But snapping? Or challenging? No. Far from it.

As for “definitive”? I guess we’ll find that out if Trubisky is still the starter come Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium against the New York Jets and if Canada is still in the role of offensive coordinator.

Honestly, though, Tomlin shouldn’t react or respond any other way. Nor should Steelers general manager Omar Khan or owner Art Rooney II if they are ever asked about the status of their QB position.

Because they created this dynamic. They knew what they were doing. They — along with outgoing GM Kevin Colbert — extended Mason Rudolph’s contract through 2022, before 2021 even began.

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They signed Trubisky in free agency, a month before a draft featuring numerous college quarterbacks they had been scouting. Why? Because they obviously weren’t comfortable going into 2022 with Rudolph as the most likely starter if one of those quarterbacks didn’t become available at pick No. 20.

But when all of them were still on the board in the first round, they still drafted Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett even though Rudolph and Trubisky were now on the depth chart.

They also took Pickett knowing that the added dynamic of him being from Pitt was going to charge the external debate even more than what would normally be the case if the team drafted a first-round QB.

Not to mention retaining Canada despite last year’s 23rd-ranked offensive output (315.4 yards per game) that generated a mediocre 20.2 points per outing.

So, yes, Tomlin better continue to be patient with the fan speculation and media inquiries about when Pickett may take over for Trubisky. Especially when the Steelers offense has only cobbled together four offensive touchdowns in three games.

Especially since Pickett is 24 and his maturity, seasoning and ability to play quickly were part of what drew the Steelers to drafting him. At least that’s what Colbert and Tomlin explained after the draft.

That said, whether Pickett was from the University of Pittsburgh or Pittsburg State, people may be calling for a quarterback change. Why not? Trubisky’s passer rating is 77.7, 29th in the NFL.

In theory, I get where Tomlin is coming from.

In theory, three weeks isn’t enough time to reach a verdict on a reconfigured offense and a new quarterback running it.

In theory, the Steelers fan base should still be buying into all the reasons why they were supporting the signing of Trubisky in March.

But this isn’t about theory. This is about reality. A reality the Steelers crafted themselves. They knew what they were getting into by adding Pickett to a QB room that already included Trubisky and Rudolph.

Tomlin may think that sticking with a veteran free-agent quarterback after just his first three regular-season games with the Steelers makes perfect sense. He may think that firing a coordinator after three weeks makes no sense. He may be right in both cases.

You and I might differ. But it’s an argument the coach can make.

But if he didn’t expect the outside noise to be as loud as it has been — and as loud as it might get if the Steelers lose to the Jets at home this Sunday — then he’s been fooling himself.

In the past, Tomlin has referred to fan and media criticism of his team as “elevator music.” Given the variables associated with his current offensive situation, that elevator music is about to sound like a heavy metal concert with the speakers turned up to 11.

Unfortunately for him and the front office, no earplugs are coming.

This is the clutter I predicted the Steelers would create by drafting a QB after signing Trubisky. Now they are the ones that are going to have to sift through it.