Steelers' Kenny Pickett Still A "Tremendous" Quarterback According To Some Former NFL Head Coaches

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett did not have the 2023 season many envisioned after a nearly flawless preseason heightened expectations for the second-year signal-caller. The University of Pittsburgh product downplayed his success in the meaningless tune-up games because he was playing against mostly second and third-stringers on defense. Pickett however, didn't reach the preseason hype, as his first year as a fully-fledged starting quarterback to begin the season was marred by injury and inconsistent play. Despite the issues, the 2022 first-round selection still has some believers among former NFL head coaches, as long as if he can play in the right system. 

Andy Benoit is the Head of Football Analysis at The 33rd Team and previously worked on the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff under Sean McVay from 2020-2022. He joined Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers beat writer Brian Batko on a recent Chipped Ham and Football podcast episode to discuss the Steelers' season. Benoit said that some of his co-workers at the website are still firm believers in Pittsburgh's presumptive QB1 for 2024.

"There are coaches with us that think Kenny Pickett is tremendous," he said. "He plays the position the way coaches want it to be played."     

Benoit qualified that Pickett is "a certain kind of quarterback" and needs a system with a good balance of the running and throwing game to be successful. He said that the best examples of the types of offenses Pickett would thrive in are ones similar to the Miami Dolphins or the San Francisco 49ers. He said those teams have done a fantastic job giving their quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Brock Purdy designed reads on early downs, which has allowed the two, perhaps not the most talented quarterbacks. 

Benoit said historically, the Steelers have put a lot on the quarterback's plate when it comes to making plays. That worked well with Ben Roethlisberger, who had the talent to make the off-schedule throws. He said the question is whether Pickett can be that. 

"They're not running exactly what they did with Roethlisberger, but it's closer to that than it is to being a highly schemed offense," he said of what he saw on tape from Pittsburgh in 2023. "Is Kenny Pickett a guy you can kind of just go out there and play with, or do you scheme it up with him? I think there are coaches in the league that if he played in a system where you schemed it up, he would be an excellent quarterback in that kind of system." 

Pickett and Purdy will probably be linked together for eternity, rightly or wrongly. Pickett was the first quarterback chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft, and Purdy the last. After Purdy had such a terrific run as the starting quarterback for the 49ers, taking them to the NFC Championships in two seasons, many were comparing the two and wondering if Pittsburgh had made the right choice. In the first meeting between the 2022 draft classmates, Purdy outshined Pickett with 220 yards passing with two touchdowns to help seal a 30-7 beating of the Steelers. Pickett ended the game with more yards (232) due to the team throwing to try and work back from a 20-7 deficit at halftime. Pittsburgh's quarterback also threw two interceptions.

As Benoit alluded, Purdy has played in a very quarterback-friendly system under Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, while Pickett was in a less-than-ideal situation under former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. Pickett had one of the best games of his young career against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12, after Canada had been fired, with 278 yards passing on 24 attempts. 

Steelers' New Coordinator Hire Will Be Under Heavy Pressure To Help Pickett Succeed 

The organization has already started its search for a new offensive coordinator. Names like former Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly and former Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury have been bandied about as potential hires. Rams pass game coordinator Zac Robinson has reportedly been sought after for the job as well.  

No matter who Pittsburgh hires at the end of their hunt for the new leader for the offense, a priority will have to be setting up Pickett for success. After 25 games, the jury is still out on Pickett, and the 2024 season is the proverbial put up or shut up year. He needs to be put in a position to thrive, which probably means a system tailored to helping him out. 

Do you think Pickett would be better served in a Miami or San Francisco-like scheme? Are you still a believer in Pickett? Comment below!

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