The Steelers next two games should be get right games for Pickett

If Pickett can't settle down and play better against the Raiders and Texans, then maybe he doesn't have it. He's staring down receivers, and throwing into double coverage on occasion, his accuracy also hasn't been good.

 

I believe He will look better this week.

 

I really thought he was on a nice upward trajectory the way he finished last season and performed in the preseason. But, man, has he taken a step back the last two weeks. He was going against good defenses for sure but he showed nothing really that we could hang our hats on other than maybe the big play to Pickens. But overall he really looks out of sync out there right now.

 

You must remember that every team has game tape on him from last year, and have built their game on what they have seen. This is why I never get too high , or too low on any player for one year. The great players have to constantly adjust to what is being looked at, and then thrown at them, and if it keeps stopping them....the Ds keep throwing it at them.

 

Not with Canada as OC. This article describes how horrible our offense and coaching is
https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/steelers-offense-struggles-2023/

 

As bad as Canada may be, Pickett still needs to be able to make routine throws on-time and on target.

 

It's all back to the same problems we experienced last year with this crew; they are still scared sh-tless to throw the ball down the middle of the field. Geezo crappo. Nothing has changed at all. Back to crappo el offensio.

So where are they struggling most with?

Well, on early downs in the first three quarters, although they are wisely dropping back to pass at the #4 highest rate in the NFL, Kenny Pickett has the NFL’s #1 highest pressure rate (48%) and has been hit the #1 most often.

For a second straight year in the Matt Canada offense, Pickett is being asked to throw outside the numbers a ton.

60% of his early down passes in the first three quarters are outside the numbers.

That’s 4th-highest in the NFL.

 

No, the next two games really don't mean crap. We have 15 games that Pickett needs to get right, and hopefully more after that. Counting on two worthless teams to fold for Kenny and think that is what is going to get us a playoff win is what is wrong with what I've read on this board since preseason last year. I like KP and nothing would make me happier than to see him develop into a real, no s..t franchise QB. I mean a real franchise QB like our last one where he steps in and wins 15 straight. I call that a no brainer. We don't have that and for good reason. Owner, coaching, OL, and inflated expectations are all working against him. I read articles that KP is being wasted by who is running the offense. If true, what are the next two games going to do? Even if we win those, what says that continues throughout the regular season? How long did it take the Steelers to go from Bradshaw to the nest franchise QB? Who here really thought that the Steelers magically would only take the next draft to go from Ben to the next franchise QB? I think it would be wise for all to buckle up and weather this storm out and support KP as best we can. There are so many things that I think need to happen to get all phases of our team to be in sync before hitting paydirt. I won't go into what I think needs to happen, but hoping, wishing, thinking, or whatever to happen is the same crap we've been relying on for the past decade of which you may or may not we ok with. Personally, I'm not. JMO>

 

The raiders and Texans will try to do to KP what the browns and niners did. Harass, sack, and knock him down a half dozen times. They’ll probably be less successful at it and I hope Canada can draw plays up for Kenny to help him out. Yeah, we need to see the Kenny from last year too. Big games coming up for him and probably Canada also, although I doubt Canada is extended at this point - he’s not going to suddenly turn into don coryell or even Todd Haley

 

Pickett looks rattled. What he needs right now is a better opportunity to have some success. An opponent that isn't as strong as the ones he has faced so far gives him that opportunity. That is what the next two games can do.

 

Does that give him what reality is in the big scheme of things or a false sense of success against lesser talented opponents? No matter what he does in the next two games, eventually he will need to ante up against top teams and I am not so confident that winning against the Raiders and Texans won't slap him in the face later on when it really matters. Maybe it will, maybe not. I'm just someone who is more of a show me type than a maybe, hope and wisher. JMO>

 

Funny, you know they are saying the same thing about Canada. Being on the road for the next 2 weeks should help Matt Canada as the Away Crowds will not be as hostile toward Canada and start the "Fire Cananda" chants at games.

 

I’m in Italy so this actually made sense

 

How's the Scungilli?

 

While improvement from Pickett is urgently needed he isn’t solely to blame for the offensive ineptitude.

 

I don’t want it at all, but if the team went into a skid or other AFCN teams went on a tear, such that we had no real chance to make the playoffs … all the pressure would evaporate, and KFP could loosen up and just play. That would help him more than anything else, imo.

 

Same here. My rule with Qbs (even if they have success early) is I expect them to struggle their second season starting or second season with significant playing time. They have tape out...and it's easy to see what they're comfortable with and what they struggle with...since their game isn't refined. It's that third year to me that is the end all be all. How well do they adjust to the league adjusting to them. If the QB makes the adjustments...you got a player. To what level will remain to be seen. If they can't make the adjustments...then likely career back up is the ceiling.

Kenny is clearly in the adjusting to the league taking away what he's comfortable with phase. The worrisome thing is this year he's struggling to hit even open receivers when he does read the D correctly. I don't think he all of a sudden became inaccurate...i think he's seeing things late and its resulting in poor accuracy. He's pretty obviously struggling with zone concepts...good QBs make a living beating zone. Someone will be open, the D is banking on you not reading it correctly consistently enough to keep the team on schedule and march 9-12 plays for a score - which has been what we've seen (see missing open receivers or not pulling the trigger) Until he proves he can do that, we'll continue to see what we've been seeing from the offense.

That said I don't think the verdict is in on him...but it's gonna start getting late early if things don't at least begin to trend in a positive direction. The playcalling doesn't help, and the o-line could be better. But even with that, he's missed more plays than he should.

 

Sure hope so.

 

Going anywhere near Rome? The Steelers bar there is awesome, though I may have mentioned this before.

https://botticellapub.com/

 

Struggling players have to build confidence somehow. Playing well against anybody would give him something to build on. Also, those are NFL defenses. The games count, so it is silly to argue that these aren't opportunities to improve the offense, including Pickett, so they have a chance to play better in tougher games later in the season.

 

I’m going to avoid that

I also skipped the pasta with squid ink

 

I have met the owner before and will see him again Monday

He’s actually become friends with the guy who sits behind me at home games and he has come to a game

 

What it can do is give Him a bit of confidence. Without confidence in anything You do it makes it harder.

 

Exactly