The Pittsburgh Steelers will host future Hall of Fame quarterback, Tom Brady for possibly the last time on Sunday afternoon. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the game with a record of 3-2, while Mike Tomlin's team sits at 1-4. There have not been many bright spots for Pittsburgh this season, but if there is anything to be excited about, it is rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett and wide receiver, George Pickens. The two seem to have strong chemistry and if the last two games are any indications about the future, Steelers fans have the right to be excited.
Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) prepares to take a snap at Acrisure Stadium in his first regular season action against the New York Jets on Oct. 2, 2022. | Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Tampa Bay went through their normal media routine this week and players were asked several questions about their upcoming opponent in Pittsburgh. A lot of attention was directed towards the rookie duo. Head coach, Todd Bowles has been very impressed with Pickett.
"He's a very heady football player. He knows where his check downs are, he has a very good arm, [is good at] reading defenses, going to the outside or the inside. He can get out of the pocket and run pretty [well] if he has to. It looks like he has a good command of the offense, so we expect him to play well," Bowles said.
Bowles also acknowledged the physicality of Pickens and third-year receiver, Chase Claypool.
"[Pickens] is a physical receiver. They have two of them, Claypool as well. He's going to jump and try to make great catches, which he's shown week-in and week-out. That's why he got drafted so high. He's tough, he was a tough player in college, he's tough with the Steelers," Bowles said of Pickens. "They got a good draft pick. They've got a potential Pro Bowler on their hands. He's going to be a handful to deal with."
Steelers rookie wide receiver, George Pickens (#14) warms up at Acrisure Stadium prior to a 2022 preseason game. | Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Talented safety, Antoine Winfield Jr. has also liked what he has seen from the rookie wide receiver, but doesn't want him to make any plays on Sunday.
"He has great ball skills. I've seen him go up on top of people's heads a few times this year, so making sure he doesn't do that to us. That's my only job."
Buccaneers' linebacker, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka did not sugarcoat the fact that the Steelers are designing a simple offense to help Pickett assimilate in the NFL.
"He is a rookie quarterback just trying to get the ball out and make plays. They make the offense a little…I wouldn't say it's complex, but simple reads for him."
Aside from buttering up the Steelers' two dynamic rookies, Bowles made sure to give Tomlin a ton of credit for what he has done in Pittsburgh, never having a losing season.
"It's unbelievable. I don't know who else has done that. He's done an outstanding job since he's been there, as a coach and being a model citizen. One of the coaches that I have a lot of respect for in this league and truly look up to in that aspect."
Steelers' Mike Tomlin gets the defense ready to take on the Browns in Week 3 of the 2022 regular season. | Credit: Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers
Tryon-Shoyinka had positive things to say about a sputtering Steelers' offense.
"They do a lot of things well. They have a lot of weapons. Big body receivers that do a good job of getting the ball. They got a couple of good running backs. The offense is something we are not used to. We have to stay in the film room, study it, get familiar with it as we move on. We have a lot to work on."
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