Breiden Fehoko Thinks Calvin Austin III Will Breakout in Year 3

You have brought that one play up more than once. I am aware that there were open receivers Pickett should have seen, but some of the examples posted here show receivers coming open after the protection had broken down. Also, I think he passed on some more aggressive throws because he had a coaching staff pushing a conservative approach on him. That is just a theory, but one that fits the available evidence.

Most of what I'm pushing back against is this notion that Pickett is entirely responsible for Austin's lack of production last season. Austin had opportunities and didn't make the most of them. Hopefully, he progresses and can do more this year.

 

Not just Pickett, but Trubisky did as well.

 

As I mentioned in another response, I think Pickett was being pushed by Tomlin and/or Canada to make more conservative choices. They wanted to rely on the defense, to win tight games late. They finally opened things up when injuries ravaged the middle of the defense, but that was after Pickett was injured.

 

I don't think he had quite as many opportunities with Trubisky. The most disappointing part of Austin's season was that he failed to do much when Johnson was out and Pickett was the quarterback for those games.

 

The Steelers wanted to be more aggressive to start the season on offense, but it was a real disaster after 4 games....It was the same thing in the first 4 games of Pickett in 2022 when most of his turnovers were from his 4 games....He was a rookie,so I gave a pass for that but he had the same problem last year after 4 games....This is true that Canada was just awful

 

I don't think that is true at all. They just couldn't run the ball worth a damn early in the season and the whole team played like garbage against the 49ers and Texans.

 

And that's the point we are trying to make, weather it was Tomlin or Canada to make more conservative choices by not looking down the field when Austin was running deep routes or Pickett and other QB's just not finding him all were saying it looked like the QB were not looking his way much. Agree Pickett was being pushed by Tomlin and/or Canada to make conservative choices.

 

It wasn't every play. There were shorter routes, too. Austin's lack of production isn't entirely on everyone else. Some of it is on him.

 

I don't see it. Good for 25 receptions and a couple hundred yards maybe? Is that break out?

These aren't the Marc Clayton days. Austin doesn't have bulk. He's very lean. Catch a quick Akan over the middle and get smacked by a lb that is 70lbs over your weight... and that's just a guy at 230.

 

Ya. He was a big disappointment. But I still believe. This year matters for a lot.

 

it is what it is.

THIS season will determine if CA can play or not. You have made up your mind, already. Most of the rest of us of have not, due to a SUCK OC and SUCK QB play.

that should help

 

"this is it", as Kenny Loggins sang

 

He was open in many games....just like Washington. So I will wait, and See if a change of Qb will help them

 

Speaking of Breiden Fehoko, do you think he will finally get to play in 2024?

I was happy the Steelers signed him to play NT last year, because he was excited to play NT. The Steelers drafted Keeanu Benton and we never heard of Fehoko again. I am thinking in 2024 we may see Benton take over for Cam and Larry at the DT position and give Fehoko some actual playing time at NT with Adams.

Is Benton ready to take over for Cam as the leader on the O-line this year, or is it still too early?

 

Stating that it is foolish to count on him based on how little he has done isn't the same as saying I've made up my mind about what I can become. Player development is more like gambling than science. The best you can do is try to stack the odds in your favor. At receiver, the Steelers have left themselves playing some long odds.

 

yes - he was. Saw it often and commented often. Some don't care to see or listen

 

Been hearing good thing about CA3 lately. Plus we got a better qb lets see how this plays out.

 

Others blame everything else on our former OC and lack of qb play, so this should definitely apply to lack of production for CA3 too