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 8 of training camp was the first without pads after practicing for two days in pads. Here's what we saw Wednesday ...
DEPTH CHART
1. Mitch Trubisky
2. Mason Rudolph
3. Kenny Pickett
4. Chris Oladokun
After several days of the top three quarterbacks rotating every four reps with their respective teams, Trubisky and Rudolph alternated every two reps with each of the first and second teams. As far as the reason why ...
"We’re just thoughtfully mixing it up," Tomlin said. "Making those guys adjust, putting them with different groups, getting to watch them in different groups, and it will continue."
The quarterbacks were tested with the two-minute drill for the first time in training camp. The offense was challenged to go 53 yards in 1:19 with only one timeout, needing a touchdown.
MITCH TRUBISKY
• Trubisky earned three reps during seven shots. His first pass was batted at the line of scrimmage and dropped for an incompletion. His second throw was a perfectly timed, perfectly placed ball to Anthony Miller running an out route on the goal line for the first of three touchdowns by the offense. His final throw came on a rollout to the left side and would have added another touchdown if George Pickens would have held onto a pass in the back of the end zone.
• We saw Trubisky utilize his legs a little bit more. A few more designed rollouts, and Trubisky even stepped up in the pocket and ran when the defense gave him room to run. He still looked to throw and used running as a last resort on those plays, which is good during a time where the offense needs to gel. Even so, his mobility will be a weapon that allows Matt Canada to be more free with his playbook this season.
• Many more decisive throws from Trubisky today, as well. One example was finding Miller on a short hook when the defense busted an assignment and left Miller wide open to catch and run for a significant gain. Those aren't the pretty plays, but necessary for moving and offense down the field. Speaking of which ...
• Trubisky was first of two quarterbacks who ran the two-minute drill. He completed four of his first five throws, leading the offense down to the 6-yard line. After missing Cody White on the sideline on first down, Trubisky stepped up in the pocket to avoid the pressure and fired a bullet to Pickens cutting inside for a touchdown.
MASON RUDOLPH
• Rudolph went 2 for 3 in seven shots, rolling out to his right and finding Steven Sims for the first touchdown, then hitting Jaylen Warren on the same route Trubisky threw his touchdown in the drill. Just as we expect with Rudolph, the ball came out quickly and accurately.
• As expected Rudolph did what he did best. He hit a lot of shorter throws, trying to find receivers with some open space to run after the catch. He had a couple of very accurate throws a little further down the field that were good enough to be completions, but were not due to the receiver's lack of execution on a route or simply dropping the pass.
• Rudolph's best throw of the day came during the two-minute drill, hitting Kevin Rader on a tight end seam. He had to put some zip on it and throw the ball high, but Rader read it perfectly and came down with the completion.
• Rudolph also ran the two-minute drill, and completed his first four throws to drive the ball quickly down the field. After spiking the ball to stop the clock and after Jace Sternberger dropped a critical third-and-7 pass, Rudolph found Gunner Olszewski to convert the fourth-down play. The drive fizzled out, however, as Rudolph missed Sims on first-and-goal from the 8-yard line, then was forced to heave one up to Olszewski in the back of the end zone as time expired on second down.
KENNY PICKETT
• Pickett moved back down to third-team reps again, but still earned a rep during seven shots. On the play, the offense ran the patented Roethlisberger shovel pass to Connor Heyward, who was "tackled" at the 1-yard line, according to the referees officiating the plays. Practice was not in pads, so it's really a judgement call of whether or not Heyward would have actually been tackled prior to breaking the plane.
• Even though it was technically a win for the defense, the good news about the shovel pass play was Pickett's timing was on point. In fact, he had several throws today that were more on time than they were at the start of camp. For someone like Pickett, any progress is good progress.
• There still are times where Pickett looks very uncomfortable when the pocket is collapsing. In one instance today, Pickett's footwork was very sloppy as he was trying to shift to his left under pressure. He just doesn't seem to have the same feel inside the pocket that Trubisky and Rudolph have.
• It wasn't a bad day at all for Pickett, though he didn't get an opportunity to run the two-minute drill. His best throw of the day was a dime to Sternberger in between two defenders during seven-on-seven. He got the ball out quickly and threaded the needle through a tight window. It may have been his finest throw so far in camp.
QB THOUGHTS
Trubisky really looked much more like the No. 1 guy in Wednesday's practice. He was decisive and threw each pass with conviction, and usually with accuracy. To be fair, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt earned veteran off days, so that made things much easier for him and the offensive line. His communication during the two-minute drill also earned praise from Tomlin and some of the receivers.
"He’s a veteran and he displayed that," Tomlin said. "I thought his communication was good. I thought he directed younger players and made good use of opportunities to do so, stoppages of the clock, huddle scenarios, etc. But that’s what you expect veteran players to do."