Just like that, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is entering Year 2. With that, the expectations are higher for the team and Pickett himself. General Manager Omar Khan has played a role in that, signing several marquee free agents at key positions of need. The offense, which has seen the line further rebuilt this offseason, is expected to take a step forward with Pickett at the helm.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett is a big reason why fans are optimistic about the team in 2023 and beyond.
Wide receiver George Pickens is a big part of that, as he also enters his second season in the NFL. He showed flashes of his immense talent in 2022, accumulating 801 yards and four touchdowns. The connection between Pickett and Pickens will be a key part of this team's evolution over the next few years, and they've been working hard together this offseason already. In an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Pickett gave Steelers fans a glimpse of Pickens' untapped potential.
"He's [Pickens] shown how athletically gifted he is, but I think what I saw today [working out], just kind of working his routes. He wants to become a route runner, and he wants to have all of those routes in his arsenal where it's not just one or two routes. Once we put that together in the spring man, along with Diontae [Johnson] on the other side, Pat [Freiermuth] working the middle of the field, Najee [Harris] in the backfield, there's a lot of pieces that are young that we could really build around."
Now, to be clear, this interview was presumably filmed when Pickett was working out with his fellow teammates down in Florida. To follow everything up, Pickett said while the talent is there on paper, that's all talk for now. He realizes that the guys need to prove that talent and actually show up on Sundays. The offense showed signs of improvement in 2022 when Pickett took over for Mitch Trubisky under center.
Pickett saw how Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown practiced and how it transferred to games. He believes that he can have that same type of special connection with Pickens.
"Like I saw how it was supposed to be done with Ben," Pickett said.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers WR George Pickens is viewed as one of the best young wideouts in the NFL.
Pickens' biggest strength has always been his ability to make impressive catches in contested areas. While that will always remain a huge part of his game, it's encouraging to hear that he's really working on his route running. At times in his rookie year, his inability to get open sometimes led to a lack of production. In 17 games, he did only end up with 52 catches.
For obvious reasons, Pickett and Pickens will always be attached together in these conversations. They were apart of the same 2022 NFL Draft class and are seen as huge building blocks to getting Pittsburgh back into the postseason. Now, it seems like the two are ready to take the next step in 2023. For Steelers fans, that is encouraging in hoping the team makes it back to the playoffs with a shot at No. 7.
What are your expectations for Pickett and Pickens in their sophomore campaigns? Do you think this duo will become one of the best in the NFL? What areas of Pickens' game can he improve upon? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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