Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, George Pickens is stacking up catches and now finds himself ranked alongside some illustrious company. According to PFF, Pickens so far has 13 receptions for 20+ yards this season. The only players who have more are Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 11: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a pass as Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens defends during the second quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Steelers Rookie Pickens is Making A Name for Himself
Pickens has become a bit of a controversial topic in Pittsburgh. The rookie was drafted in the second round despite being billed as a first-round talent. He played for the University of Georgia and had a huge catch during Georgia's National Championship win.
There were also some rumblings about him being a bit of a hothead. He was ejected from a game as a freshman in college for getting in a fight with a defender. Then he was seen on the sideline in Atlanta yelling, "Throw me the f---ing ball!" This behavior, coupled with his checkered past, was enough to validate the feelings of some fans that think he is too immature.
However, the fans are starting to outnumber the doubters. Pickens has developed a loyal following, yinzers love his passion and energy. It is also hard to not marvel at the amazing contested catches he makes. So far this season, Pickens has 47 catches for 700 yards, with a ridiculous 14.9 yard per catch average.
Speaking of those contested catches, Pickens has a whopping 17 so far this season according to PFF, which is the most for a rookie since 2016. That has him currently tied with D.K. Metcalf, who had 17 during his rookie season in 2019. Pickens seems likely to break the record, given that he has two more games to play.
Pickens does show some true flashes of brilliance and it is easy to envision him becoming a star. However, there is also work to be done. Pickens tends to run along the sideline, which is part of what creates those contested catches. When receivers run routes like that, the sideline acts as another defender in a way. It limits the space in which the receiver can move and forces them to keep their feet in bounds.
Still, fans are screaming about the perceived lack of targets Pickens is getting and that has become quite a hot topic. It seems there is enough blame to go around. Offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, vaguely addressed the topic of Pickens and fellow wide receiver, Diontae Johnson, who has had similar complaints, according to Dale Lolley,
Canada said the coverage dictates where the ball goes. That directly contradicts his comment after the game against Carolina about Johnson. Johnson has also been complaining about his lack of targets. However, he caught 10 passes against the Carolina Panthers with backup Mitch Trubisky in for QB1 Kenny Pickett. After the game, Canada said, “Diontae was open…the ball found Diontae.”
Regardless of whether the issue is Pickett reading the field, Pickens getting himself open, Canada's play calling, or defenses applying heavy coverage to Pickens, it is clear this young man has a bright future. A big part of what will help determine Pickens' success is his on-field chemistry with rookie quarterback, Pickett. That appears to be improving every week as you see the two of them looking more comfortable out on the field.
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 13: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Pickens can likely be that deep ball target that the Steelers hoped Chase Claypool would be, but never quite became. Yet Pickens seems to offer a more complete receiver package than Claypool did, at least if he continues on his current trajectory. It leaves you wondering how many he would have if he was getting the ball sent his way more often.
Are you a Pickens fan? Why do you think he isn't getting the ball more often? Click to comment below.
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