May the Pittsburgh Steelers be self-sabotaging themselves by tying their pocketbook to the utilization of second-year large receiver George Pickens?
Professional Soccer Discuss’s Mike Florio definitely thinks so.
Showing on 93.7 The Fan’s PM Present with hosts Chris Mueller and Andrew Fillipponi, Florio acknowledged that he thinks the Steelers may not be making Pickens the point of interest of the offense to attempt to keep away from a “contractual monster” within the close to future.
No, actually. Florio mentioned that on air. It’s by some means extra ridiculous that it sounds. Severely.
“Why aren’t they even wanting his means? They aren’t even wanting his means within the development. He ought to be the centerpiece to the offense. He ought to be the man that they’re continually seeking to get the ball to artistic methods, handoffs, bubble screens, brief passes, lengthy passes. This man is among the most harmful gamers in all soccer. And so they gained’t make him the centerpiece of the offense,” Florio informed Fillipponi and Mueller, in accordance with audio through 93.7 The Fan. “And I don’t get it. It’s both that they don’t notice what they’ve or the speculation that I articulated on PFT Reside: They sort of don’t wish to create a contractual monster with George Pickens as a result of they might in the event that they use him to his full extent.
“If he would have the sort of performances that he’s able to, sooner or later you gotta pay him 30 million a yr. So for those who by no means totally embrace what he can do and he by no means turns into that celebrity that he may very well be, you by no means have to offer him a contract that’s among the many greatest receivers within the sport.”
Sure, the Steelers are actively going out of their solution to restrict Pickens’ utilization for the second straight season to attempt to hold his potential earnings sooner or later extra inexpensive for the Steelers. Does Florio perceive how loopy that sounds, particularly in this offense?
Perhaps not, contemplating he mentioned it on radio.
Right here’s the even crazier half: Pickens leads the Steelers in targets with 17 by way of two video games. The following closest Steeler in targets is working again Jaylen Warren with 11. Extensive receivers Allen Robinson II and Calvin Austin III are the subsequent closest to Pickens on the place with 11.
Even when Diontae Johnson was wholesome in Week One, Pickens out-targeted him, 7-6. Pickens had a team-high 10 targets on Monday night time towards the Browns in his first true foray right into a No. 1 large receiver standing for the Black and Gold.
No different receiving choice had greater than six targets. Once more, that was Warren. Austin had the second-most targets at receiver towards the Browns with simply 4.
On the receiver place solely, Pickens has an absurd 31% goal share. How, precisely, is that not making him a focus of the offense? It’s a misguided, half-baked idea from Florio. The Steelers aren’t frightened about extending a large receiver on a rookie contract proper now. He’s not even eligible for an extension.
Florio ought to know that.
Asking the Steelers to run jet sweeps, screens and extra with Pickens simply to get him the soccer appears a bit foolish. He by no means acquired a carry within the NFL as a result of he’s such a downfield monster, and he has simply three profession carries within the NFL thus far, although one among which was a 22-yard landing.
Pickens isn’t precisely a man you wish to get the ball in area and ask him to create YAC. That’s not his sport. It by no means has been, and it probably by no means will. He’s a contested-catch monster who wins downfield along with his measurement and pace. Take extra deep photographs to him, however don’t fear about getting him the soccer on screens and jet sweeps.
The Steelers aren’t going out of their solution to keep away from Pickens as a focus of the offense. There are a variety of points with Pittsburgh’s offense below Matt Canada. Getting the ball to Pickens — not to mention concentrating on him — isn’t one among them.
