Kenny Pickett Thoughts

Check Down Kenny.

 

The problem is moving forward we are not going to be able to rely on our defense. We have too many injuries and a bad db backfield with the exception of JPJ. Minkah when he comes will have to play the slot or middle box even more to help on pass coverage because we don’t have ILB that can cover now. That leaves a single safety high and they are just gonna throw at Wallace or Peterson all day.

Teams are scheming up to block Watt and Highsmith and they are having a lot of success with it. In addition our Edge players have actually been a liability against outside runs and cut backs because they are over pursuing on inside runs every time.

Our defense is rated as one if the worst defenses in the league against the run and the pass. You add in the injuries it’s just gonna get worse. We can’t rely on getting turnovers every game.

teams are gonna stack the box to stop our run because it is the only productive element of our offense. Pickett has to step up and push the ball down field. The Receivers are getting open and the protection is better. He has to be more accurate and play less nervous.

 

Yep and so was Rudolph and so was Mitch. They drill it into these QB’s heads to not turn the ball over to the extent they all play really tight.

 

Even Ben was like that in the last 2 years

 

The gunslinging is really working for Josh Allen! The only way Kenny heads to the bench in 23' or 24' is if he starts playing wreckless. Sadly, with this pathetic offense of sideline throws, he's gonna throw some picks at some point but probably not enough to get benched.

 

Yes and no. The big issue that has been a common problem at least the last four years is the pass protection has been bad. That has a huge impact on a lot of QB’s. Ben didn’t have the legs to mask that issue later in his career so he had to get rid of the ball quick.

 

A offense always need some balance....I can live with turnovers,if this is not out of control if we have more production on offense....Right now the steelers have zero production on offense

 

That’s why you gotta find a happy medium.

 

It's not going to happen if he's being told not to turn the ball over, which he is being told that. They've clearly told him not to lose the game and he's making sure not to. But he's going to get in some shootouts down the stretch. The defense is a FAR bigger issue right now than KP is. The injuries and DB's may well get us blown out several times down the stretch.

 

I wish, just once, the Steelers would play to score instead of keep things close. Just to get a real idea where Pickett is in his progression.

 

It's becoming clear he is not the answer.

 

That's what's going to happen when you tell a guy not to lose the game. Sadly, he's had several drives to win games and gets hardly any credit for it from the online QB whisperers.

 

yeah, it's very possible that he is handcuffed like crazy....Even with Ben in his prime, sometimes I thought he was handcuffed by Tomlin except in 2 minutes situation or when we had to score in the fourth quarter....Bruce Arians already said in the past he couldn't open up his offense the way he wanted and he was right about that

But sure, Pickett is maybe a problem but he must have the trust from the coach otherwise why draft a QB in the first round if the only thing you want from him is to avoid turnovers?

 

Good points. Kenny may not be the guy, but the thrashing he's taking from people from behind their perputers is pathetic.

 

"Check Down" is such a cop out.
QB's these days, all take what the Defense gives.
KC struggles (the few) are that the Defenses are not letting him throw those bombs.

Mahomes (Lower box) has thrown almost 100 times more. Thier offense is basically 'extended handoffs' - get the ball quickly into playmakers hands and let them do their thing. Mahomes is obviously more talented, no doubt.

But Kenny is throwing a decent comp% and a yard shorter on the average although he did have that perfect 72-yard bomb.
Pittsburgh Offense is supposed to be based off the power run game, controlling the clock and mix in quick passes. (or if your lazy, check downs)
Pittsburgh also doesn't have the receivers KC does.
Pickens is supposed to be the best, but I'm starting to have concerns about his attitude.
DJ is emerging as our prime guy, and I don't know about anyone here but grade him out as a secondary receiver at best.

This isn't to support of promote Kenny, but some of the stuff is just made-up Sheet.
Kenny is coached to operate this offense, an offense that we know is not scaled to attack downfield.
Also, I now know for fact, that his ribs are causing issues but getting better. Try throwing a pass with sore ribs sometime.

Again, none of this excuses the fact that Kenny needs to ascend to the next rung, or two or three. I agree 100% on that.
That TD production needs to take a sharp incline. We have a 50% TD rate in the Redzone... tied at 19. Gotta get more dangerous there.
I kept hearing about long passes, but he's thrown some lightning strikes.... laser on.
Pickens screwed up a perfect throw for a TD by not doing what every rookie Receiver is taught daily - both feet down.
Another clutch throw to the middle was blown by a stupid penalty. (I think there have been a few of those)

We can toss the baby out with the batch, that's fine.
But there's a myriad of issues to solve as well.

 

In all honesty…we just lived through a great, I mean GREAT, QB era: Brady, Brees, Manning, Roethlisberger, Rivers, Rogers, Wilson … I wonder how that impacts our evaluation of the current crop?

 

I don't remember Ben being handcuffed. Pickett has to earn the trust from the coaches, he made some mistakes earlier and avoided a few since then. But he's got to play better before they turn him loose. I know he's young but once he starts hitting those open Wrs on the regular, things will change for him.

 

The Steelers were often too conservative when they had the lead, even if it was a one score game

 

That's always been the story for The Steelers, pound and grind. Ben was a gunslinger though and hit the open receivers when the plays were called.

 

well....there are a handful of GREATS (or will be GREATS) playing now. There are always GREATS playing......and one of them does not appear right now to be on our roster.

 

It’s a message board on the internet

Exactly how do you communicate on it without a computer

Plus his evaluation is in papers, 65,000 people at the game, two people talking in a bar, etc

So exactly what kind of sense did this make

 

This crop is NOT that crop. And Kenny is not what I hoped he would be.

 

I've got it! Since we were trying to think of a good nickname for Pickett on this board a while back, I have the perfect nickname given his penchant for not throwing interceptions...

KENNY PICKLESS!!! (unfortunately he's also Kenny Touchdownless )

 

Good post. Keep in mind that alot of vitriol towards Kenny isn't even about Kenny - it's people that are mad about things in their lives and Kenny is the whipping boy until they find the next whipping boy, LOL. Kick back, have a cigar and/or your drink of choice and enjoy the season. I know we are!