The Pittsburgh Steelers are still managing to come away with wins lately, despite being outgained in yardage by all of their opponents this season. With a current record of 6-3, they find themselves in an advantageous position to secure a spot in the playoffs this year. Although both the offense and defense have shown flaws in terms of yards gained and allowed, it is worth noting that Kenny Pickett and the offensive unit have exhibited great resilience in the fourth quarter.
Lucy Schaly / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Kenny Pickett has experienced a lot of ups and downs in 2023.
During a recent episode of Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio and Peter King of NBC engaged in a discussion about the Steelers' ability to execute so far. Florio made the observation that the Steelers' yardage statistics seemed to stand out significantly when it came to securing wins. Adding to this, King expressed his bewilderment at the Steelers' current winning record, especially considering their overall performance throughout the season. One particular reason for this was attributed to the surprisingly low rate at which Pickett has been throwing touchdowns.
"You know what? That Kenny Pickett in the last six games... this is six games. This is not one or two. The last six games, he's thrown two touchdown passes. He's like Zach Wilson West. How in the world are they winning all of these games when Kenny Pickett is completing whatever it is, I think he's completing like 61 percent, and he doesn't score touchdowns. What in the world is going on here?"
One significant aspect to note of Pickett's performance is his avoidance of utilizing the middle of the field. This preference is clearly reflected in his passing chart, as he predominantly targets the sidelines when making throws. In addition to this, Pickett is currently lacking the presence of tight end Pat Freiermuth due to his ongoing hamstring injury. However, even when Freiermuth was in good health earlier this season, Pickett still struggled with this same predicament.
Over the past six games, Pickett has been hindered by injuries, causing him to miss playing time in both the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars games. Despite displaying potential, his ability to deliver consistent results for Pittsburgh has fallen short of expectations.
MATT FREED / PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth celebrates with Kenny Pickett after he scored a touchdown against the New York Jets in 2022.
Despite being a Heisman finalist in his last college season, Pickett's game footage showcased his ability to gain crucial yards in challenging situations, his determination to triumph against stronger opponents, and his knack for orchestrating an offense that led to a conference championship victory in 2021. Rather than leaving college early, Pickett chose to stay and utilize his full eligibility to bring victories to the University of Pittsburgh in any way possible, and he succeeded in doing so.
With his current performance, there has been a lot of talk surrounding CJ Stroud being compared to Pickett, with some going as far as suggesting that Stroud might actually be the better pick. This speculation arises from the fact that Stroud has also managed to start in all eight games for his team in the year 2023. While it took Pickett a total of 20 starts and 21 games to reach a career milestone of 13 touchdown passes, Stroud has already completed his 14th career touchdown pass in just eight starts (15 total currently through nine starts).
Thomas Shea / USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers had no answer for rookie C.J. Stroud during their Week 4 matchup, despite Stroud having been sacked 11 times coming into the game.
Steelers Will Need to See More Progress Made by Pickett
Overall, the Steelers still have a reliable quarterback who consistently delivers when the team requires it. The key now is to ensure that his performance endures throughout the rest of the season, with the ultimate goal of making a strong push towards the playoffs. The success of Pittsburgh will be determined by their ability to secure victories on the field, rather than solely relying on their statistical figures. However, as Kenny Pickett nears the conclusion of his second season in the professional league, it is essential for him to demonstrate his talents as a passer, surpassing the expectations held by fans.
Do you think there will be improvements made by Pickett as the season progresses? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
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