Can George Pickens Live Up To His Own Hype?
Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
The hype around George Pickens has been enormous heading into the 2023 season, his second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Don’t believe me? Just ask him. “The stuff that I do, bro, I feel like I’m the best in the whole world,” Pickens told The Ringer’s Kevin Clark.
The Steelers have seen this before. After a solid rookie season, Chase Claypool started making the same kind of statements — and then failed to meet those growing expectations. He was more concerned with his brand than he was putting in the work on the field, and it showed. That’s not the way to make maximise your potential as a football player, nor is it the Steelers’ way.
Pickens obviously has more talent than Claypool, but a closer look at Pickens reveals significant room for improvement if he intends to live up to his own hype.
Route Running
Pickens has yet to show a developed route tree. Yes, he is long and lanky, and that’s what elicits the DeAndre Hopkins comparisons. But Hopkins in his prime was a seasoned All-Pro-level receiver who executed his footwork to near perfection. Pickens may even be more explosive than Hopkins, but to match the legendary receiver’s production he’s going to have to evolve his game. Where are the short posts, crossing routes, dig routes? I’m not saying he can’t execute them, but so far he’s not. And if he was consistent with those routes, the coaches would undoubtedly call more of them. To be the elite receiver Pickens says he is, he must expand his route tree.
Separation
Lack of consistent separation is another major concern. Yes, it’s all part of route running, but it needs to be addressed. We love the circus catches and the highlight-reel plays that Pickens can make on a regular basis. But why is he so often in the position to have to pull of these catches? Often on go routes specifically, he doesn’t get past the defender as he should. Elite receivers turn Pickens’ contested catches into touchdowns because they accelerating past their opponent.
It starts with the setup at the line of scrimmage. Even if you’re not the fastest guy on the field, elite receivers use hand fighting, stutter steps, and jab steps at the line of scrimmage to get behind a defensive back. While Kenny Pickett’s arm will never be confused with Josh Allen’s, he can sling the ball down the field. Pickens needs to be able to turn those long balls into touchdowns, not just out-jump guys for highlight plays on social media.
Confidence
Trying to stymie Pickens’ confidence wouldn’t be advisable. Every good football player has that. But when it starts to curdle into arrogance, problems creep in. Again, look at Claypool as your guide. It became more about what he was saying than what he was actually accomplishing on the field.
Talk trash. Getting in a guy’s face (without drawing a penalty). Swagger. All of that is welcome. But Pickens didn’t put up Justin Jefferson or Ja’ Marr Chase numbers last season. To be this bold after a pretty-good rookie year raises some red flags. If he backs up the walk with the talk, I’ll happily cheer on his every statement. But until then, it would be nice to see Pickens do more showing and less telling.
Pittsburgh needs more from their talented second-year reciever. He’s acting like he caught 110 balls for 1,500 yards. That wasn’t the case, not even close.
Can he do it? Absolutely. I have no doubt that Pickens can become one of the better receivers in the NFL. But he is currently only the second-best receiver on the Steelers’ own roster. Diontae Johnson is miles ahead of him as a route runner. Don’t be fooled by Johnson’s lack of a touchdown catch last season. That was more of an issue with the red-zone offense overall, which ranked 22nd in the NFL. That should change this season.
The Steelers have a real chance to do some damage this season. George Pickens is going to be a huge part of that. Although Johnson is the No. 1 receiver now, if Pittsburgh is going to get where they want to be, Pickens needs to take over that top spot. His talent and aggressiveness are commensurate with WR1 status. With some fine tuning, and maybe even a little humility, George Pickens could be exactly who he thinks he is: an absolute monster.
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