Whereas quite a lot of the main target across the Steelers offense has been its failures, particularly the play calling of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, there have been some shiny spots as nicely. And maybe the brightest of all of them has been the play of second-year wideout George Pickens.
Pickens had quite a lot of stress and expectations on him even earlier than the season began, and it was solely magnified when Steelers’ different vast receiver, Diontae Johnson, acquired injured in Week One. Johnson hasn’t performed since however ought to return in Week Seven, after the Steelers’ Week Six bye.
Whereas this harm appeared prefer it had the potential to derail Pickens’ season, he took it in stride. Extensive receiver coach Frisman Jackson had this to say concerning Pickens enjoying with out Johnson, in audio offered by the Steelers.
“I believe it’s helped him,” Jackson admitted. “In a way, he understands that groups know he’s the primary goal, and that he’s gonna get the ball. He’s needed to combat via and see coverages and perceive how groups are gonna play him and nonetheless must go on the market and make the play. The nice receivers on this league, all people within the constructing is aware of that particular person is gonna get the ball. Can you continue to go make the play? He’s been examined with that, he’s made some performs, and clearly having [Johnson] again will assist him and us out tremendously.”
Pickens has answered the bell in each sense of the phrase since Johnson has been out. He ranks twelfth within the league with 393 receiving yards and ranks within the high 10 with eight catches of 20 or extra yards. What is probably much more encouraging is that every thing Pickens was harping on within the offseason concerning growing his yards after the catch has been coming true. He’s already eclipsed his whole from final 12 months, and solely 12 vast receivers have extra YAC than the Georgia product in 2023.
Everybody is aware of how a lot the Steelers are counting on Pickens proper now simply from watching the video games, however some stats can put it into perspective. Pickens has accounted for a whopping 42% of the Steelers’ receiving yards this season, which is simply an insane quantity. For comparability, the Miami Dolphins Tyreek Hill leads the league in receiving yards by a large margin (79) and has outgained Pickens 651 to 393. Nevertheless, as a result of the Dolphins have thrown for therefore many extra yards than the Steelers, Hill solely accounts for 40% of the workforce’s whole passing yards. The truth that defenses know Pickens is the primary and generally solely man and he’s nonetheless performing like this can be a nice signal.
Johnson coming again will definitely be a lift for this offense. But it surely’s not the worst factor that Pickens has a style of what it’s wish to be handled as a celebrity receiver within the NFL. And now we all know for certain that he’s as much as the problem.
