Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin spoke to the press on Tuesday about the win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, as well as the upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens. Tomlin also addressed Kenny Pickett’s ongoing development as a quarterback and as a leader on this team. Tomlin said he is expecting Pickett to continue to improve, develop and win games.
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Pickett Continues to Improve
Tomlin was asked about the possibility of a rookie playing a backup this week as Lamar Jackson is out for the Ravens. He stated that the Steelers have faced Tyler Huntley before and went on to say that facing him before isn't enough to judge him on. Tomlin said quarterbacks continue to grow and develop. He used the example that Huntley and Pickett are both evolving. He expects Huntley to be significantly better because Pickett is. This growth from young players in all positions is helped by exposure. Pickett, as well as Huntley, are improving because they have more opportunities than they did before. They keep being exposed, they keep getting better.
In Week 13 in Atlanta, Pickett had a solid game. He had 16 completed passes with 28 attempts for 197 yards with 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. Pickett has shown a steady improvement since taking over from Mitch Trubisky earlier this season. He was initially thrown to the wolves at halftime against the New York Jets and it showed. Pickett had 122 completions with 195 attempts for 962 yards those first several weeks. However, what was really troubling was that he only had 2 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. Since the bye week, there has been a marked turnaround in Pickett's play. Since Week 11, he has had 79 completions with 128 attempts for 835 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
Pickett Needs to Win While Developing
Tomlin was asked about his young quarterback and his progression over the past few weeks.
"We're not grading on a curve, we're expecting him to produce wins while this development is happening."
Tomlin said he holds all young players to that same standard. He said they are growing and developing in part because of the victories, but the victories are also happening because of their development.
"It is a chicken and the egg situation," said Tomlin. Their development is responsible for producing wins and the wins help promote development.
This young offense is continuing to get better and better. The Steelers are now 5-7 and while there is still work to be done, things are looking much better. They are now able to sustain drives and help give the defense some much-needed rest between possessions. This kind of time control allows Pittsburgh to set the pace for the game and control the win as they did in Atlanta. It looks more polished than watching the team trying to scramble from behind to make up points. That scramble creates situations where mistakes happen, such as Pickett's earlier interceptions.
The run game is showing signs of life as well. RB1 Najee Harris looks more like his old self. The Steelers' "run game by committee" approach seems to be working with Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Benny Snell all getting reps over the past few games.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris carries the football during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati. | (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
All of this improvement really comes down in large part to how much better the offensive line is. This group took a verbal beating from fans and commentators over the past few years. Now they are protecting Pickett, opening lanes for runners, and blocking with a purpose.
Tomlin attributes all that growth to the fact that the players are able to "tune out the elevator music" and ignore the relentless negative narrative.
The growth and development are undeniable. The Steelers' offense is showing signs of life and making a run toward the playoffs as we enter December.
Do you think the Steelers have a shot at the playoffs? Who do you think is most improved on offense? How does winning help Kenny Pickett continue to grow? Click to comment below!
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