After 20 nfl games Pickett

Is anyone saying Pickett doesn't play a part in the struggles? My personal opinion is he'll never be able to work through any of his flaws in this pathetic offensive system. Do you think a guy like Burrow or even Mahomes would have success to the degree they've had with their current teams in the Steelers offense?

 

Next years class is chalk full of both OTs and Guards. I am sure you have seen many of my comments related to a Center by the name of Sedrick Van Pran already but he, along with Zach Frazier (Center from West Virgina) are more or less what the 2024 Class has to offer in terms of Center prospects. Either or are good options but if I were to be picky, Van Pran gives me a Pro Bowl Caliber Center from Day One. Dude is the complete package as far as Centers go.

 

That stupidity deserved two

 

I want to see that replay from the 22 to see if DJ was going full speed on that route to catch that pass. If he was that was a tough catch that was slightly high and it was raining. My first instinct was, was DJ running full out so he would have been slightly further ahead to make that catch vs a tad behind thus finger tip ball.

 

I think an nfl quarterback hits the easy throws that picket misses and that alone changes how defenses play against us. There isn’t a defensive coordinator in the league sitting in his office worried about picket. The ravens flat out said we have to stop Harris.

 

If you are asking me if the game has changed in the last two decades then the obvious answer is yes. Clearly it has gone to a more pass happy league. Does that mean it's all of a sudden easier for incoming quarterbacks? It's not as if the offensive schemes were the only thing to change over the course of those years. Defensive philosophies and coverages have changed as well. You don't have to look much further than the model the Ravens used to be successful early in Lamars career. They were going to run the ball on you even if you knew it was coming. Granted, Lamar was a big part of that run game but even if teams focused on taking him out, they still managed to run the ball down peoples throats. Now why is that? I'm pretty sure we can all agree that not many teams felt threatened by Lamar throwing from the pocket early in his career.

All I am trying to get at is that if the Steelers had brought Pickett in with an already established offensive line and run game, we might be having a completely different conversation but that is just not the case.

 

That right there is the biggest point that I will grant you. That is by far the most worrisome part of Picketts game, the missed receivers.

His play reminds me of the quicksand conversation in the movie The Replacements. The harder you try to fight, the more you sink. Feels as though he's pressing so hard now to make plays that he is simply not trusting what he is seeing.

 

the ravens built their offense around Jackson’s strength. Which is/was his athleticism. We didn’t have such a luxury. We started out with a new offense, new offensive line, and two new quarterbacks. Neither of which were or are up to the task at hand. Stop the run and make picket beat you. He can’t now. Maybe he will be able to on the future, but it isn’t looking good.

 

Right, the Steelers didn't have that luxury because the roster probably wasn't handled the way it should have been back when it was clear Ben was on the downside of his career.
The Ravens built the team around Lamars strengths because that is the smart thing to do. I think most people would be in agreement that giving a young quarterback a strong offensive line is the most paramount thing to his success. Unfortunately, as you alluded to, not all young quarterbacks have that luxury but because of that fact, I just don't see how Pickett can be judged a failure when so many things around him aren't at the level they should be.

 

I think he is progressing slowly but it is progress.

 

I agree. From a positional standpoint, the Steelers went all-in with a declining Roethlisberger for too long. An argument could be made that emphasizing more foundational positions might have not only benefitted his successor, but benefitted him in his final years as well.

For me the progression in the offseason needs to be: 1) hire experienced OC with proven success running a scheme(s) applicable against modern NFL defenses; 2) identify appropriate blocking scheme needed for this offense and hire an OL coach with proven ability to instill it in the line; 3) ensure foundational players in place to execute OL scheme; 4) evaluate and acquire skill position players as needed to compliment foundational components and add dynamic aspects to the overall offense.

 

I agree on all counts. Sounds super easy from where we're standing doesn't it?

 

The offense is putrid. They have a full week to script and practice the first 10 to 15 plays and yet week after week the best they do is 3 plays and a punt. Straight putrid.

 

Always is.

 

Only sure and fair way to find out if kenny is the future or not ,let him call the plays ! In the final minute wins it seems he did change the call canada sent in .Unless you just really hate Kenny , take canada out of the equation and see what Kenny can do given a real chance ,and add the bonus of getting rid of canada if Kenny does better . Most of the best qbs did call their own plays.Nothing to lose and much to gain if it works.

 

The difference between Picket, Ben and Bradshaw was the 2 latter were very mobile, they had a O line in front them. Picket is a little mobile but he is always late moving and gets caught. For a guy that is 6-3 220 he has a glass jaw. This is not what we want for the future because I’m afraid he will get seriously hurt.

 

You're just renting him for a couple of years using him as a bridge potentially...maybe Pickett needs a veterans presence to play behind and go from there. It's quite obvious he's not a quick study from what we know about his college years and what he's shown up to this point at the pro-level. I could name at least 5 other rookies or second year players that have shown way more promise then Kenny and it's all we can do to point out that this is all on Canada or the OL. I don't know if he'll ever get it, but maybe he's one of those that excels behind watching a veteran play like Rodgers did? I'm just putting it out there. Im not ready to give 30-40 mil to a QB either, but I couldnt/wouldn't be mad at it.

 

During Canada's first year, I stated that I wanted to see what he could do after Ben was gone. I had no idea if Ben was limiting Canada, the other way around, or if they both sucked.

I feel the same now about Pickett. I want to see what he can do without Canada. Ideally I want to see what he can with a whole new staff but I know that's not happening. They're going to fire Canada, it's only a matter of time. So for me, Pickett gets at least 1 more year, a post-Canada year and see what he does. I am leaning towards Pickett being an average QB at best though. If the Steelers had the ability to draft someone potentially better, I'd be all for it.

It's just so hard to decipher the full nature of a problem unless you're in that building.

 

HA! Canada wouldn't let Mahomes throw to his TE.

 

But QB sneaks and gets the first downj just like Brady.

 

The fat punter… bahahhaha

 

Can Cousins coach? But in all seriousness, I hope they do. He's not a RB, so his injury will heal and he'll be back to normal in no time. I know they won't, but I would take a stab at him and see what happens. His price definitely went down due to the injury

 

That was a terribly weak under thrown ball. I feel he struggles to place the ball with either touch or zip when needed. The play to DJ on the skinny post you can argue an NFL receiver needs to haul that in but it was high and thrown to hard could have been a much easier completion.

 

We can’t develop a rhythm because we go three and out the majority of the time

 

That play was just magnified because of how horrible the offense is. Under normal circumstances, we would just shrug our shoulders and say we almost had one. Instead, we're left to find which person gets the blame when in reality, that play was about 6 inches from being a home run. That sh!t happens. I don't know that I necessarily blame either one. They simply didn't connect. Picketts miss of DJ in the end zone bothered me much more.