Steelers Won't Make Same Mistake With Kenny Pickett That They Did With Ben Roethlisberger

The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL from 2004-2021 in Ben Roethlisberger. 166 wins and two Lombardi Trophies later, he will forever be known as one of the most iconic figures in the history of Pittsburgh sports. Now, the Steelers have a different quarterback under center in ascending star, Kenny Pickett. 

While Pickett has a long way to go to reach the status of Roethlisberger, he has all the potential to cement himself as the next great quarterback for the Steelers. One of the greatest advantages Pickett has thus far in his career is the organization's commitment to surround him with a quality offensive line group, something that Roethlisberger, during the first part of his career, did not have. 

Over the course of Roethlisberger's career, he was well-known for various types of playing styles. During his 20's and early 30's, he could best be described as a "gunslinger," relying heavily on his rocket of a right arm and improvisational skills to make plays. He had countless numbers of unscripted plays in which he would roll outside the pocket, essentially engaging in "backyard football" and throwing the ball deep to players such as Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, and Mike Wallace.

Ultimately, this style of play worked well for Roethlisberger and the Steelers, winning Super Bowls in both the 2005 and 2008 seasons. However, the gunslinger was not able to escape unscathed. During this period in his career, he was one of the most frequently sacked quarterbacks in the NFL. Some of these sacks can be attributed to Roethlisberger simply trying to extend a play, but most of them were at the fault of the offensive line. During a four-year stretch from 2006-2009, the Steelers' quarterback was sacked an astounding 189 times and suffered a wide variety of injuries. Both the team, and Roethlisberger knew, this type of play would not be sustainable. 

As Roethlisberger progressed throughout his career, his style changed more to a traditional pocket passer, making it a point of emphasis to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible. Consequently, the number of times he was sacked each year went down dramatically as well. The organization finally realized the need to add quality offensive linemen to help extend the career of their star quarterback. Players such as Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Ramon Foster helped to solidify the Steelers' offensive line and helped Roethlisberger thrive under the new style of play he was adopting. 

The Kenny Pickett Era For The Pittsburgh Steelers 

Kenny Pickett walked in to a much different situation with the Steelers' offensive line than his predecessor did. While the 2022 version of the team's offensive line was far from great, the 2023 Steelers' offensive line is poised to be one of the best in the NFL with the additions of Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig to go along with starters James Daniels, Mason Cole, and Chukwuma Okorafor. The only question at this point in the offseason is who Pickett's blindside protector at left tackle will be. Dan Moore held the title in 2022, but the Steelers may look to add a long-term answer at this position during the 2023 NFL Draft. 

General manager, Omar Khan has done an exceptional job of building the "Pickett Fence," perhaps learning from the mistakes of the Steelers' former general manager, Kevin Colbert, who saw his young star quarterback get sacked far too many times. With Pickett proving himself to be the franchise quarterback in 2022, Khan realized the need to solidify an offensive line group that would allow him time to sit in the pocket confidently and deliver passes to playmakers, Pat Freiermuth, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Najee Harris. 

No need for Pickett to adopt the same "backyard" type of play that Roethlisberger was forced to revert to as a young quarterback, the current offensive line for the black and gold is light years better than the one #7 was forced to play with. 

The Steelers Finally Get It Right

The Steelers' philosophy regarding their offensive line has come leaps and bounds from the Roethlisberger era to the current one with Pickett. The "Pickett Fence" is inarguably one of the best investments the team could ever make for their young quarterback. Pickett will still be able to create plays outside the pocket and engage in "backyard football," but not out of necessity like Roethlisberger. With a solidified offensive line and an already elite defensive group, the Steelers have all the makings to be a serious contender in the AFC North for the 2023 season. 

The team will only go as far as Pickett will take them. The success of the Steelers next season is almost entirely contingent upon how much Pickett progresses from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign. With a full offseason as the unquestioned starter and an improved overall roster in 2023, there is no telling how far he can lead the Steelers. One thing is for sure, he will have one of the most talented offensive lines in the entire NFL. Props to you, Omar Khan. The "Pickett Fence" will be a huge factor in the Steelers capturing the team's elusive seventh Lombardi Trophy.