False Narrative Being Spread About Steelers WR George Pickens
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers second-round pick George Pickens finished his first NFL season with 52 receptions, 801 yards and four touchdowns. But following a recent interview with wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson, a false narrative is being created about his rookie campaign.
NFL Rookie Watch, a Twitter account with 91,000 followers, has decided to stir Jackson's words into a negative view of Pickens' 2022 season, calling it a "failure." Which was not what the wide receivers coach was saying about Pickens in his comment.
In reality, Jackson was actually talking about Pickens' second season and how he needs to make a jump - like all NFL players - in year two. If Pickens doesn't make the leap this season, Jackson will then classify this season as a failure but will put that blame on himself, not Pickens.
"It has to be a big jump," Jackson said. "The onus is on me to have him take that next step, that big jump that we are all searching for and want. He's got to be a great player for us. We need him to be a great player, and for him to play like he did last year, that’s a failure on my part. That’s a failure on his part. And so he’s got to play at a great level, and the expectation is for him to play at a great level this year."
To add even more context, he was talking about Pickens adding underneath routes to his arsenal so he isn't relied on as just as deep threat.
"We're hoping to add to his repertoire," Jackson said. "Last year, he showed the vertical part of his game. He has a lot more to his game. Hopefully, this year we can get him doing a bunch more of what he's capable of doing. We gotta get him to be better after the catch. He's gotta be able to take a slant and go 60 (yards) with it.
"He showed one part of his game last year. We're working and improving the other parts of his game."
From the break of minicamp to the start of training camp, the news cycle in the NFL is as slow as it will be. So, be careful of the social media accounts you believe with your Steelers' information.
Sometimes, a line in a quote can make a player look very bad when really, the coach wasn't even talking about the same thing the social account is trying to push.
All Steelers will do our best to keep those narratives truthful as we all wait for Latrobe.
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