Pittsburgh Has Thoughtfully Built Around Kenny Pickett
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire via USA TODAY Sports
Taking over for a Hall of Fame quarterback is never easy. As the saying goes, it’s always easier to be the guy after the guy. While Kenny Pickett didn’t begin the 2022 season as the starter, it wasn’t long before he was thrust into action. The early results were a disaster. But as Pickett got better, so did the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As Pickett begins his second season, there are no excuses for failure. (Well, almost none.) He’s had a year to learn, and help from the front office through free agency and the draft. The simple fact is, in 2023, the Steelers will rise or fall with their young quarterback.
Kenny Pickett (or Babyhands Pickett, as I like to call him) is in a pretty good position this year as far as NFL quarterbacks go. The Steelers have thoughtfully built around him. Let’s count the ways. First and foremost, the Steelers have upgraded a very pedestrian offensive line. Not only will the protection be better in front of him, the running game should be able to thrive. A quarterback’s best friend is a solid running game. That especially holds true for a young quarterback with only 12 starts under his belt. So the burden of having to force passes to kick-start the offense shouldn’t always be on his shoulders as it was for much of last season.
The offensive weapons the Steelers have at their disposal are nothing to sneeze at. While Dionte Johnson didn’t record a touchdown catch last year, he is still an elite route runner. Babyhands and Johnson didn’t seem to always be on the same page last year, and it showed. But with an offseason to correct some chemistry issues, don’t be surprised to see this tandem become one of the better duos in the NFL.
Wide receiver George Pickens, on the other hand, blossomed with Pickett under center. They were both part of the 2022 draft class and formed a bond while working on the scout team together. Pickens finished the year with 52 catches for 801 yards and four touchdowns. The chemistry is only going to get stronger.
As for that all-important run game: Najee Harris is the lead back and will again have a big role within the offense. Once again, Harris will be counted on to spearhead the Steelers rushing attack, as well as being a capable pass catcher. One of the biggest plays of the 2022 season was a late fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Pickett to Harris. Having the run game and a quality outlet receiver are major advantages for any quarterback. Pickett has those in Harris.
Matt Canada’s play-calling will play a huge role in Pickett’s success. If you got a little queasy reading that, you’re not alone. Pickett could hit all the metrics to take a step forward, yet Canada’s play designs can certainly hold him back. Canada is on one of the hottest seats in the NFL, which should work to Pickett’s advantage. Canada can’t afford to have an offense stumble or he very well could be out of a job.
Having a Hall of Fame quarterback to fall back on for questions can’t hurt. Ben Roethlisberger has been more than willing to share his expertise with Pickett. Roethlisberger is quoted in an episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger as saying, “Early on I didn’t want you to succeed because you followed me. I didn’t want it to happen.” He later explained that his feeling changed throughout the 2022 season and he was now a fan who would help in any way he could. It’s another resource at Pickett’s disposal.
But this really comes down to Pickett himself. With all the weapons he has been surrounded with, if he fails, it’s on him. The Steelers organization has decided that he is The Guy. It’s not like we haven’t seen improvement from the horrific way his career started. He was a different quarterback the second half of the season. Yes, he will need to stay healthy. The two concussions he suffered last season are cause for concern. But with some luck in that department, as well as an organization that is 100% behind him, Kenny Pickett will have no one to blame but himself if the 2023 season is anything but a success.
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