The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't afraid to use a big body type receiver in the slot position, even if it's a position that traditionally was used for quicker, shiftier players. JuJu Smith-Schuster carved out a nice role in the slot for Pittsburgh, even though he didn't necessarily want to be inside.
The NFL is always evolving. As the slot receivers got smaller and quicker, defenses started to find faster, smaller linebackers to cover. Now genetics has given offenses a new advantage of having big bodied receivers that can move like the smaller guys too.
Enter Steelers' new WR George Pickens
New Steelers receiver George Pickens is one of those guys. He's 6'3" with 4.47 speed. So when he gets inside and it's him one on one with a middle linebacker, the advantage is going to go to Pickens every time. While Pickens was primarily used as an outside receiver in college at Georgia, Pickens says that he used to play the slot during practice all the time.
"Yeah, like at practice I would always play slot instead of just outside, because that was like my game [position]. When I get in the game, I'll play that [outside], but practice I always play slot. Catch like jet sweeps, screens, and stuff like that. So yeah, I was always comfortable with tight spaces. I was just always bigger so it forced me to outside, you know what I mean?"
(Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
The Steelers will be able to deploy which ever type of slot receiver they see fit on a week to week basis depending on their opponent. If they feel like Chase Claypool bumping inside is a better option than Pickens, they can use him there. They also have fellow 2022 NFL Draft pick Calvin Austin III that fits the prototypical slot size at 5'8". But with that size comes blazing 4.3 speed and the ability to move well in small areas.
Pickens doesn't seem to care how the Steelers use him. He just wants to play. When asked whether he cares about where he plays he said:
"No, not really. Just go with the flow. That's kind of like my personality too. Go with the flow."
Just go with the flow? We love to hear that from the rookie.
The Steelers lacked any type of explosiveness in their offense last season, and even in 2020. Diontae Johnson and Claypool getting behind the defenses for long gains seemed to be the only way for the Steelers to hit a homerun. Gone are the days of Antonio Brown taking a short pass and going the distance as he sliced and diced the opposing defense up the field.
It seems like Pickens can change that. Steelers reporter Missi Matthews asked Pickens about what in particular is explosive in his game.
"Really? Everything. I'll probably say my catch radius, I'm tall my arms are long. Like, you were just talking about them fast, too. So strong, physical. I can block, I can really do everything. And I think when they say explosive, that's like an overall aspect of my game."
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