Steelers Excited To Replicate Kenny Pickett's Surprising Deep-Ball Accuracy From His Rookie Season In 2022

The Pittsburgh Steelers faithful watched in horror while their squad stumbled their way to a 2-6 record in 2022. All the positivity and hope from Kenny Pickett's earlier-than-expected debut against the New York Jets was quickly turning to anxiety and worry. The running game was mediocre at best and defense found out exactly how irreplaceable TJ Watt was. While Watt's return and the running game getting its' sea legs played into the 9-8 final record, a massive factor was the consistent maturation of Pickett and his relationship with those catching his passes.

Steelers Fans May Be Surprised By Pickett's Accuracy

It's easy to use singular snapshots from the 2022 season to point at Pickett's errors and plays where his judgment could easily be called into question. His very first throw in the NFL also became his first career interception and in the moment, a simplistic opinion could that he made a bad call as an overwhelmed rookie. Use his entire 2022 body of work as context, though, and you see a competitor who isn't afraid to take a shot and give his receivers the chance to show off their talents, of which there are many.

In Pickett's first five professional games as the Steelers' quarterback, he threw eight interceptions, which included two, three-interception games. One of those three-pick games was against the Miami Dolphins in a painful loss that, in hindsight, ended up being the difference between a postseason game and sitting at home. It seemed to be that heartbreaking loss where Pickett was able to flip a switch, recognizing the role he played in the Miami loss and setting out to not let that outcome strike again.

The 7-2 run that led to their 9-8 finish came because of many factors, but Pickett's growth was the catalyst behind a scrappy offense straining against the incompetence of their Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada. Pickett threw only two interceptions following the Miami game, but the surprising statistic to many fans and pundits was that the young quarterback finished with a deep ball accuracy of 39%. While that number may not seem to jump off the screen at first glance, it actually puts the Pittsburgh quarterback among the elite in the league.

Pickett's Deep Accuracy Has Him Above Rivals And Friendly Faces

It's easy to see 39% and shrug, or even be disappointed, since great quarterbacks aim for 60% overall passing accuracy, or more, but it's different when it comes to the deep ball. It would be simple to assume that many of the household names in the NFL that have established reputations for putting the ball deep down the field would rank above Pickett when it came to their deep accuracy, but that is exactly why the statistic is surprising.

Matthew Stafford has thrown the ball deep his entire career, but had a deep ball number of 25%. Josh Allen is often said to have a rocket for an arm, yet he finished at 38%. Lamar Jackson may be a dual-threat quarterback, but his arm strength is no joke, however, he also finished below Pickett with 26%. The cannon-on-his-shoulder Justin Herbert ended 2022 at 37% for his deep throw accuracy. Every name mentioned has proven themselves worthy of the "star" label, yet Pickett's deep ball was more accurate than all four better-known players.

Throughout his rookie season, Pickett knew he would be compared to Ben Roethlisberger, and for good reason considering the career that Roethlisberger put together and the legacy he left behind. During the first half of Roethlisberger's career, he played a more freewheeling type of game, mobile but pocket, gunslinger kind of style. As he progressed in the league and age started to catch up, his style adjusted and he became more patient. He used short, quick passes more and used the deep ball more strategically.

Over the final six years of Roethlisberger's career, he ended up having a deep ball accuracy that averaged 33.6%, not including the 2019 season where he missed all but one and some of another game. When you compare Pickett's 39% to Roethlisberger's average accuracy, it's important to also take into account the freedom that Roethlisberger enjoyed under center. Pickett's lack of audible ability stemming from Canada was a topic discussed throughout 2022, while Roethlisberger was known to call his own plays with blank-check authority.

It makes one wonder how much of 2023's offensive success in Pittsburgh rides on Canada's willingness to give his second-year quarterback at least some of the freedom that his predecessor enjoyed.

Could Pickett's Early Accuracy Be A Sign Of Future Steelers' Success?

While Pittsburgh isn't known for lighting up the scoreboard or having league leaders for yard totals or offensive award finalists, that doesn't mean it hasn't happened in the last two decades for the Steelers. The short-lived "Tommy Gun" era, led by Tommy Maddox, resulted in Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress each having over 1,000 yards in 2002. Roethlisberger also had three seasons where he was able to show off two receivers that surpassed the 1,000-yard mark (2009, 2011, 2018).

The Steelers haven't been shy about their desire to return the team to a running strategy, but the Steelers of the last while have struggled to replicate the kind of success that the Steelers of the early 2000s enjoyed. Pickett was learning on the job under a great deal of pressure considering the faltering rushing attack, and still, he boasted the impressive 39% deep ball accuracy as a rookie. If the circumstance requires it, could Pickett shoulder the load?

An offseason spent getting bigger across the board, giving the offense versatile talent, and surrounding Pickett with firepower means that, while it may not be Plan A, it's good to know that the Steelers have an accurate deep passer eager to show that he is just getting started. We've seen the "Tommy Gun", and we've cheered "Big Ben", so what name will Pickett make for himself going forward? Whatever it is, you know he'll be accurate while earning it.

Is Kenny Pickett capable of leading an elite offense in 2023? 

#SteelerNation