Steelers' Insider Claims Kenny Pickett Has "A Lot To Prove" In 2023 To Justify Suddenly Full Pittsburgh Bandwagon

The Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 are looking to return to the AFC playoffs after a one-year absence. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. A return to the postseason would be nice, but fans are expecting more than just an appearance. It is imperative that Mike Tomlin’s team not only make the playoffs, but win at least one game.

The key to a successful campaign in 2023 for the Steelers is Kenny Pickett. The second-year quarterback has to take a significant step forward this season. Those who observed the team during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamps have been impressed by Pickett’s advanced command of the offense. It is football in shorts, but there is a buzz surrounding the Steelers’ signal-caller’s improvement.

Mark Kaboly, who covers the Steelers for The Athletic joined the 93.7 The Fan Morning Show on Thursday and threw up a caution flag about the 2023 version of the black and gold. Kaboly told co-hosts Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson that hype might be creeping into the narrative surrounding the team and its quarterback.

“The expectations, I have never seen this before,” Kaboly observed. “For a team that has really little success over the last couple of years. Having such high expectations coming in, I am talking about externally. Internally they always have high expectations. You’re hearing people like Herm Edwards, it’s like the popular take right now. Watch out for the Steelers.”

Kaboly is making a point that fans of the Cleveland Browns are eternally caught up in, you don’t win anything in the NFL in June. It does not matter how loaded your roster appears to be, you still have to win games when the season starts. High media expectations are a dangerous trap, especially with the exceedingly young offense in Pittsburgh.

“Kenny Pickett threw seven touchdowns last year,” Kaboly points out. “We all understand why and what happened. The fact is he still has a lot to prove. The offensive line is just totally revamped, and they have to stay healthy. They got a lot to prove. I’m just kind of shocked with so much expectations, I don’t know if they can live up to them right now.”

Steelers Draw Unexpected Praise From Colin Cowherd 

The Steelers have suddenly become the darlings of the national media. Colin Cowherd and Herm Edwards are just the latest examples of big-name personalities jumping on the Pittsburgh bandwagon. The Athletic reporter went further when asked to project a ceiling and a floor for the upcoming campaign for the Steelers.

“The ceiling of this team, realistically, probably 10 wins,” Kaboly declared. “If they struggle, they could be a six to seven-win team. A lot of things can happen and one thing I can guarantee you, that offensive line isn’t going to play 99 percent of the snaps. I believe [Pickett] can take that step forward, but I am not going to sit there and make a bet on it right now. He still needs to be able to show me a lot of stuff.”

Kaboly’s prediction of a one-win improvement for the Steelers as a best-case scenario is a little disconcerting. Based on his statements, he seems to be hedging his bet on just how much Pickett will improve in 2023. It is a fair point, simply doubling his touchdown total won’t be good enough for the offense to improve dramatically. Kaboly shared the reason for his tempered expectations, and they had nothing to do with the quarterback.

“You always got that Matt Canada situation,” Kaboly concluded. “Until he puts together a plan where the scheme he wants to do is being told to do works, I’m a little skeptical.”

Matt Canada is the person in charge of the play-calling and he has earned Kaboly and Steeler Nation's distrust. The Steelers' offense has not been dynamic for two seasons under him and it remains to be seen if the offensive talent is so superior that even Canada can't get them off track. The Steelers on paper have an intimidating receiving corps and a formidable running back tandem, but they have to execute on Sundays. 

The Steelers and Pickett enjoy an interesting relationship with the media. During the offseason, the talk has swung from Ryan Clark calling for the Steelers to draft a quarterback to replace Pickett, to multiple reports that the second-year signal-caller is making a significant step forward. Who is right? Pittsburgh and their fans are going to find out in a little over two months. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are the Steelers going to make a playoff run or fall flat in the face of all the hype? Please comment below or on my Twitter@thebubbasq.

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