Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Set Up for Massive Year Two
The Kenny Pickett that entered the game following halftime of the Jets game and the Kenny Pickett that walked off the field after the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 18 win were two different quarterbacks.
Early season Pickett looked a bit reckless and unwilling to move the ball down the field like Mitch Trubisky before he was benched. Late season Kenny Pickett looked like he had the moxie and showed the growth that you want to see in a first-year quarterback.
OTA’s begin this week. Football in shorts isn’t the best indicator of how a guy is going to play in an upcoming season. However, Pickett got zero first-team reps last season in OTA’s and even into training camp. Late in camp, he started taking second-team reps but still not the amount a first-year guy needs to build continuity.
That’s not the case this year. After the re-signing of Mason Rudolph and the extension of Mitch Trubisky, the quarterback room is the same as it was last season. This time, it’s Pickett as the clear number one guy in the room.
Everyone is talking about Pickett taking another step this season, but what does that entail exactly?
We watched last season as Pickett led a handful of late game-winning drives over the final few games of the season. His confidence grew with every win the Steelers racked up. Their season was dead in the water after a 2-7 start. The rest of the season was about Pickett growing and proving he’s the guy. The Steelers' defense then stood up and Pickett’s overall play improved and the Steelers went into Week 18 with an outside shot at a playoff berth.
As year two for 25-year old begins, Pickett will be able to fully grasp the playbook. The language and concepts are going to become more clear. The tape is out on him so the adjustments to how he’s being played will be one of the biggest things to watch for. Teams know that he can use his mobility on top of his arm when needed.
Many people want to see Pickett’s stats take a considerable leap but I don’t know that such a thing is totally necessary. Sure, seeing him pass for 3,500 yards and toss 25-30 touchdowns, along with minimal interceptions, would be an awesome jump. He won’t have to light things up to really push the Steelers ahead, though.
The selection of Broderick Jones in the NFL Draft, along with the signings of Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, signify that the Steelers are hellbent on improving the offensive line depth. There will be more time for Pickett to throw, which is a good thing. But these moves feel more to me like a chance for Najee Harris to really break out here in his third year.
Harris really came into his own last season in the final nine games like Pickett. He did that behind an offensive line that arguably is worse on paper than the one the Steelers will employ this year. Harris can be a guy that garners 20-25 carries a game with some Jaylen Warren sprinkled in. That takes the load off of Pickett.
The former Pitt product has a lot of weapons in the passing game as well. George Pickens might be a number-one receiver. Diontae Johnson can be maddening from time to time, but he certainly has the talent to be a high-end guy as well. Allen Robinson, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and the list goes on.
As long as the offense scores more points and moves the ball more productively, Pickett doesn’t have to throw 40-50 times a game and post 400 yards and four touchdowns every week to be successful. One or two of those games sprinkled in would be awesome, but if Pickett has to be a game manager for another year to really maximize the season, that’s okay.
General Manager Omar Khan has done all of the things to put a good team around their guy. Mike Tomlin is an incredible coach who clearly believes in Kenny Pickett and his abilities to be a franchise quarterback. It’s up to Pickett to continue that growth in year two.
The leadership is there. The work ethic is there. It’s time for Pickett to grow even more in year two and begin his ascent toward becoming one of the better quarterbacks in the league. Earning a playoff berth with a considerably easier schedule than the one he faced last year would be a big start.
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