Steelers Legend Ben Roethlisberger Offers Kenny Pickett Valuable Red Zone Advice For 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The former Penn State Nittany Lions star started slowly for the Steelers but as his rookie year progressed, he became a favorite target of Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger found Freiermuth for seven touchdowns during his rookie season and he was one of his favorite targets in the red zone.

During the 20th episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Fame quarterback broached the subject of red zone targets. Roethlisberger has offered advice for Kenny Pickett with gentle hints all season long through the podcast, but there was no mistaking what he meant regarding finding Freiermuth near the goal line.

“That is what makes you special,” Roethlisberger said to Freiermuth. “You’re going to run your route, but then you slide and move when he’s moving. I always thought that was one of the best things about how you played the game. I hated only playing one year with you. I think they should throw the ball to you every time inside the 20.”

Freiermuth is 6'5" and is an imposing figure in the red zone. Pickett only threw seven touchdown passes but especially late in the season, it seemed that the offense was forcing red zone targets to Diontae Johnson instead of the big tight end or the 6'3" combat catch specialist, George Pickens.

“I would agree with that,” Bob Pompeani chimed in.

“I’m not going to disagree with you,” Freiermuth succinctly answered.

Bob Pompeani is the sports director for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh and he has been covering the Steelers for 40 years and saw the special relationship that Heath Miller and Roethlisberger had that led to Super Bowl trophies. Establishing a safety blanket relationship that results in chunk plays for Pickett can only help the Steelers.  

Steelers Pat Freiermuth Directly Contradicts Matt Canada; Revealing Kenny Pickett Did Not Have Hot Options

The decision to consistently target Johnson, who is one of the smaller red zone targets on the Steelers, is either an indictment of Matt Canada’s play-calling or Pickett’s decision-making. Pittsburgh struggles mightily in scoring touchdowns and in a compressed area, going to your biggest targets who tower over smaller cornerbacks, safeties and even linebackers is a sound strategy. It is also one of the things that frustrate fans and they are all too eager to blame Canada.

Roethlisberger who was famous for improvising during his playing career seemed to indirectly encourage Pickett to follow his own instincts in his second season.

“I know people want to complain about coordinators and coaches,” Roethlisberger concluded. “The truth of the matter is the players play. Coaches coach and players play. I think you got a good chance to be special out there.”

The former Steeler signal caller was the poster boy for this philosophy, especially at the end of his career. Roethlisberger often endured merciless criticism from the national media about how seriously he took the game of football. He may not have always looked like a perfectly chiseled Adonis, but there is no questioning his football IQ.

The future Hall of Famer was just as adept at reading defenses as his contemporaries Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, but instead of screaming Omaha and checking to new plays, Roethlisberger would just look at one receiver and tug his face mask. It didn't generate any fanfare, just completions and touchdowns for the black and gold.

Pickett has a chance to do special things in his second season and he is earning a reputation for spending endless hours in the lab, studying film. If he is the player we all think that he is, this should lead to him taking Roethlisberger’s advice in the red zone and giving Freiermuth and Pickens more opportunities to score.

What do you think Steeler Nation? Is Roethlisberger right about red zone targets? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.  

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