Kenny Pickett's Sophomore Season: A Closer Look at the Steelers QB
Evaluating Kenny Pickett's Sophomore Season
As the Pittsburgh Steelers navigate through the current NFL season, all eyes remain on quarterback Kenny Pickett. Now in his second year, Pickett has been a subject of both hope and scrutiny. The promise he showed in his rookie year has been met with challenges, leading to an uneven sophomore campaign that has not gone unnoticed by fans and critics alike.
Pickett's recent performance against the Baltimore Ravens highlighted his potential. Completing a critical pass under pressure, he demonstrated the poise and skill that initially excited Steelers fans. Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan praised Pickett's execution, saying, "He hung in there and was able to get that ball off just in the nick of time before [Hamilton] got to him to hit A-Rob near our sideline. That was a big conversion."
However, this season has not been without its difficulties for Pickett. His Total Quarterback Rating (TQR) and completion percentage have seen a decline from his debut year. Critics have pointed fingers at the Steelers' offensive play-calling, implying that it may be a contributing factor to the young quarterback's inconsistency.
Preseason Potential Versus Regular Season Reality
The preseason offered a glimpse of what Pickett could become. His performances were promising, showing off his capability to lead the offense effectively. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner reflected on Pickett's early showings, stating, "When you're with an organization, you hold on to all the positive things that you see. You go back to the preseason and go, 'OK, I saw him do it. I saw him recognize it. I saw him get to the right guy. I saw him go get touchdowns on every drive they had."
Despite the setbacks, Pickett has led five game-winning drives and four fourth-quarter comebacks over 17 starts, indicating a knack for clutch play. Notably, his completion percentage during these critical final drives has improved, contrasting the overall dip in his seasonal statistics.
The Return of Diontae Johnson
The Steelers' receiving corps, which has struggled throughout the season, is anticipating a boost with the return of wide receiver Diontae Johnson from injury. Pickett expressed optimism about Johnson's comeback, highlighting his teammate's exceptional skills: "Each guy does different things really well, and Diontae brings another element with his route running. His ability to get separation and get open is awesome."
Johnson's presence on the field could provide Pickett with a reliable target and potentially improve the team's passing game.
Addressing Challenges and Building Chemistry
Pickett himself has acknowledged the areas in need of improvement. In discussing the complexities of the passing game, he said, "It's things like routes and timing and spacing, it all works together. So that's always the key in the passing game, everything working together—protection, and guys are on the right routes, and I got to put the ball where it needs to be. So we got to get right in those three phases and expect those numbers to go up."
His self-awareness and commitment to growth are evident as he aims to be a consistent force for the team: "I want to be consistently good, continue to be the guy that these guys can rely on."
Pickett's Poise Under Pressure
Despite the mixed results of Pickett's second season, Sullivan sees a silver lining, especially when the stakes are high. He commended Pickett's demeanor in crucial moments: "The thing that we're most pleased with is when the game is on the line... there is a calm, there's a poise, there's a confidence that he has."
Warner also noted Pickett's earlier struggles with identifying defensive schemes but suggested that these growing pains are part of the learning curve for any young quarterback: "Kind of the crazy thing is that—and I think we saw it last year as a rookie—he was having a little trouble identifying stuff and kind of getting to the right spot early in the process."
Looking Ahead
Kenny Pickett's journey as the Steelers' quarterback is still unfolding. With his sophomore season providing both highlights and learning experiences, Pickett's development will be critical to the Steelers' success. As he continues to adjust and refine his game, the hope within the organization is that the promise shown in the preseason and his proven ability to deliver when it matters most will translate into more consistent performances on the field.
