why our receivers never open

I'm not taking your question badly at all. I get it.

I agree that Howell looks better to this point. I also think much of that is because of the system he plays in.

Kenny Pickett is seeing the field better within the offensive system he is playing in. In other words, about 4 weeks ago, there are things on the field that Pickett wouldn't have even seen. I know that sounds bad, but a bad offense gives a quarterback a muddled view of things and nobody looks open. It sounds ridiculous to say it like that, but it's true. You see it every week to great quarterbacks that have horrible games. They didn't forget how to play football. Defenses were doing things to take away their offense. They confused that quarterback and made it very difficult to get anything done. It happens to great players all the time. It just happens in Pickett's offense more of the time IMO.

Here's the other thing. The team keeps taking huge penalties on positive plays by the quarterback, or drops potential big plays down the field. Pickett only threw the ball 23 times. He completed 17, but there were several good completions called back because of penalty(including what would have been the game-clinching completion to Pickens), and DJ dropped what should have been a huge gain down sideline. That's not a lot of opportunities for plays, but the offense around him probably cost the team 70-80 yards that Pickett executed on the field.

I think he has had less opportunities lately with the way the game is being called because of the improvement in the running game. Which is a good thing. Now the OC has to use the new-found running game and match that with what Pickett does well.....play action passing.

Here is a link that gives you the very good numbers that Pickett puts up when play action is used. It is criminal that this coaching staff doesn't use play action more, because if you want to know what Kenny Pickett is doing well...this is it. This is why I think there is hope and that if the coaching staff can scheme to his strengths and take advantage of a better running game, the offense and Pickett's numbers will improve a lot.

https://dkpittsburghsports.com/2023...s-for-kenny-pickett-steelers-analysis-nfl-cdc

 

He’s right you know. Can you imagine KFP playing on the Patriots? He wouldve been benched and demoted to waterboy!

 

It sounds like you would be happy if Pickett put up stats like Howell, but had a losing record and been sacked the most in the league .

 

I'm not worried about Pickett's stats, he does need to play better, as long as the running game keeps improving and the team keeps winning.

 

I’d like to see diagrams of our receiver routes and compare them to the routes of other teams, that will be your answer

it’s certainly not a talent issue

 

I think you nailed it SV. How can SF receivers run wide open? Our receivers are no slouches.

 

Yes I love it when my QB puts up huge stats but the team is 2-8.

I simply said Howell is better right now than KP which……he is.