DJ > George

When it comes to route running. I believe that’s why Kenny seems to go to DJ a lot more than most people would like. Say what you will, but the dude knows how get separation and that’s because of his elite route running abilities. We’ve all been disappointed with the drops and the backward running, but he gets open. It seems that George, on the other hand, is always having to make a contested catch because the DB is draped all over him. Fortunately, a 50/50 ball to him is more like 75/25 because he’s a physical freak, but at some point George needs to improve his route running abilities if he wants to be a true number one receiver. Let’s hear from my all 22 friends, are you seeing George getting much separation at all because my perception is that he really isn’t?

 

Nah, I think the mandate was get DJ the ball more since we're paying him. That and he had less snaps and he was in the slot more. When he was out as the Z he was bracketed or Kenny was moved off his spot. They did not want him beating them.

 

I honestly think DJ should be the one moved to the slot. I don't only think he'll thrive there, but will be a bona-fide star as a slot. His route running is perfect for the slot and Pickett is finding comfort in hitting the seem. DJ would dominate the average slot CB/S. 20 years ago a move to the slot would be deemed as a demotion, but in modern football it's a very important position. DJ can be the #1 option as a slot guy.

 

One doesn't have to be better than the other. I think DJ has more variety to his game. Pickens is still learning the game.

I think their skill sets could complement each other well. Add in Austin's speed and skills, PF, and Harris's skill set and the Steelers should be ok at skill positions for in the next 2 seaons as long as everyone remains healthy.

 

that is DJ's game. quickness off the snap. i say let each play to their strengths and don't try to make them something they are not. my real concern is the #3 guy. i'd hope simms gets more catches and gunner is used less. simms has to beat the 3rd corner more often to help take some pressure off the others.

 

DJ has to stop dropping passes and has to make those 50-50 catches.
I think his routes are good, except when he dances around instead of getting that first down. It's all about moving the chains.
George on the hand, seems to also have the route skills and can pull the ball down on 50-50's.
What he has to learn is how to beat the double, and how to move to the ball when the QB is under pressure.
And learn his role as a decoy.

 

That could very well be the reason Kenny has not been going to GP. I said before and I will say it again George may not be as open as he lets on. He thinks he is always open. Perhaps Kenny sees more than GP gives him credit for. If we remember KP was going to George and seemed like GP and Friermuth were his fav targets. So what has changed?

 

First thing I thought when I saw this thread. Inconsistent.

They need to get Pickens more involved.

This is where Canada shows he is the weak link. Glad his trickery has been reduced. And i'm sure he was told. And I do feel he was not the one that has advanced this running attack. He was told.

 

I agree and good point.
Kenny's job is to protect the football.
I do think Pickens is guy that make those tough catches, but you have to build trust from your QB to not let the ball get into the defense's hands.
That takes time.

 

Thing I like about KP play is two things really. He seems to be getting better each game. Secondly he balances protecting the ball like you point out but not to safe to the point where it impedes his success and development.

 

Good DJ

Bad DJ

Reminds me of a QB we had in the past

 

DJ can't be trusted, the rest doesn't matter. Ben knew it.

 

Not only that, when Pickett was being chased, Pickens was the guy who moved to an open spot in the endzone on the 2 point conversion. I haven't much of this with the receivers in the redzone. If Pickett can buy time, hopefully they can get open. Would help with scoring TD instead of FG.

 

he can't, he is not that good

 

correct - we desperately had to sign him. he won, we lost. Need a talented mature FA WR in the offseason, NOT another rookie.

 

Gotta throw a "Come on man" flag here.
DJ is coming off a 107 catches/1,000+ yd season/59 first down catches.
Apparently, he has potential. Now it was Ben throwing the rock to him, so it is an adjustment.
So, I can say he needs to get back to making those catches. We need that connection to click.
He does have 105 targets this year, and 61 catches.. he is definitely not producing what he was.

 

Pickett taking a step back to move forward meant fewer forced throws to Pickens when he is covered. Instead of trying to carry the offense as he was in his first few starts, Pickett has been in more of a game manager role lately. That is where he should have started. He has been making safe throws and taking off with the ball rather than forcing a pass. The more aggressive throws will come.

 

i hear you, but i watch and watch and watch. he has incredible talent

and incredible lapses. Drops routine passes WAY too much, has brain farts when running after catch and fumbles too much.

I'll be happy when we can transition from him.

he is better than avg, but many many others in this league are BETTER

 

I think that is a fair assessment. I do think however they have made efforts to get DJ more involved also because of his complaining. Ben Roethlisberger even commented on this. He said it would happen all of the time and often the coaches would do a bubble screen or something to try to get a WR more touches. I honestly think however that Pickett doesn’t have any more confidence than one receiver over the next with maybe the exception of Friermuth. Both Pickens and DJ have dropped balls at times. I think Kenny was trying to get the ball to Pickens a few times in the Atlanta game but our line did not hold up to allow him to go deep. I do think your assessment of Pickens would be more applicable to Claypool less the 75/25 contested catch factor.

When you look at our WR’s they all leave you wanting more. I believe Pickens has the potential to be a bonafide star. I am not sure if his game will ever be one where he is consistently wide open. To me he isn’t sudden and start stop quick but more of a glider who has tremendous ball skills. If they coach him up right he can be like a Deandre Hopkins or Devante Adams neither of whom are ultra quick like Tyreek Hill or Jaylon Waddle. If he can learn to run routes like those guys he will be special because he has ball skills like those guys.

With DJ I have always struggled to view him as a top tier WR for the Steelers. I think part of it is my unfair expectation of expecting him to replace AB. He was basically drafted to replace AB and that was just not going to happen. My biggest concern with DJ is his mental lapses, his drops and his go backwards after a catch.

I still think we are one guy short at WR. The main thing however is coaching. Scheming these guys open. The Chiefs are still very successful without Tyreek Hill. JuJu Smith Schuster looks great over there. It would be nice to add more speed and size to WR corp or some toughness like a Hines Ward type but those types of players are hard to come bye. I think the more they scheme and utilize Friermuth the better. He can be like a Hines Ward.

Ultimately with Pickens I think you will see him thrive more as Pickett matures and as we solidify the Offensive Line enabling Pickett and Pickens to go deep more.

 

False starts

 

Only thing I’d challenge here is usually the slot has to think like the QB. In the middle of the field if he’s not reading the defense the same as the QB…often will = int. And I’ve seen too many times where he’s not on the same page as QB whether it is Kenny or Ben last year. I do think physically he’d thrive in the slot. I think mentally, he’s not that guy.

I think he’s a top end WR2 or low end WR1. Pickens will be WR1. He’ll develop his ability to run the full route tree and clean up getting in and out of his breaks in the off season.

 

To be honest both skillsets are super viable and important. DJ and Pickens would be an ideal pairing together moving forward with their different skill sets.

Yes, Pickens can work on his route running... but he is going to have to win in different ways than DJ does because they are different types of athletes. That is the aspect that most young NFL WR's need to work on. If he can continue to improve in that area, he has top 10 WR in the league type talent.

 

The second line is true. I think hes somewhere in the realm of WR25 of the league. He wouldn't be a #1 on a great team or a team with lots of WR weapons, but would be on a lesser team or one without much WR talent. He is a perfect pairing for Pickens and both should be able to create for one another.

 

Pickett, is getting better. But, he does throw the ball late. And, this is one of the reasons, for alot of contested catches and limited amount of yac. DJ, lose yards by trying to create yac. All he has to do ... is get with DJ, Pickens, Simms, and work on timing ... after practice. He already seem to connect with Muth. I said this about Ben, when Wallace was here. And, Ben stated, when he was sitting home, during his suspension. That, he never realized, how fast Wallace really was. And, that they would work on their timing, when he returned.

 

I hear the media that covers the team say that Pickens isn't open as often as fans seem to think he is, he's not a finished product when it comes to route running.