After signing his rookie contract right before training camp started, Joey Porter Jr. got his first reps with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Porter learned very quick that he needs to always be on his toes and expect anything, and he learned it the hard way. Numerous players in 2022 have fallen victim to the same savage move that Porter experienced, and now it's time to see how he will bounce back and respond if/when the situation arises again.
George Pickens - Instagram
Steelers receiver, George Pickens, catches the ball against Browns' defender, Martin Emerson Jr.
During training camp, Porter got victimized by one of George Pickens' patented blocks. Even with Porter lining up very deep for a cornerback, Pickens ran full speed to Porter and caught him flat-footed. He sent him to the ground before turning back towards the quarterback on a deep curl route and making the catch, only for Porter to get right back up and tackle him. Even with the quick bounce back, getting caught off guard and getting taken down like that is not the best way to make a first impression for the team.
Joey Porter Jr. had his welcome to the NFL moment at practice today, courtesy of George Pickens#Steelers #SteelersCamp
— Brogan Noey (@BroganNoey) July 28, 2023
📹@jamesdug13
pic.twitter.com/6YN9y4RKyg
As you can see Porter was laid out by Pickens. As if that wasn't bad enough it was also reported that Porter had his chain snapped off by Pickens in the tussle.
George Pickens runs over Joey Porter Jr. during a route and breaks his chain. Not sure which part of that hurts worse
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 28, 2023
Pickens' History With Vicious Blocks As A Steeler
Pickens has made plenty of pancake blocks when he played college with the Georgia Bulldogs, and he took that level of intensity to the NFL level. In his preseason debut against the Seattle Seahawks, he did a quick one-yard jab on the cornerback to knock him onto the ground. Even though it was a run play, Pickens has proven to use any chance he gets to impose his will on a player.
Steelers.com
Pittsburgh Steelers Kenny Pickett and George Pickens celebrating after a touchdown in a game at Acrisure Stadium in 2022.
Two weeks later, Pickens took out a Detroit Lions cornerback on another pancake block. This time, there was a little more of a stutter-step before he exploded through the unsuspecting cornerback. Once again, it was a run play, and the run was going the opposite way of Pickens. Even though the block doesn't have much impact on that particular play, Pickens still likely made the cornerback think twice about playing him in press coverage for the rest of the game.
It did not stop in the preseason either. Against the Buffalo Bills, Pickens sent Dane Jackson on a ride with another quick one-yard jab to try and create some space between him and Jackson. Like Porter, Jackson also got up quickly and recovered, which lead to Kenny Pickett targeting Zach Gentry on a crosser/rub route for a first down. All of Pickens' previous blocks can be seen on SB Nation. At this point, it's well known that Pickens likes to take advantage of anyone who is unprepared for him.
Watch George Pickens on the bottom of the screen. 👀😤
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022
📺: #PITvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/5bVODjrAl5 pic.twitter.com/7vZQd1SH5P
AP
Steelers veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson will play a large role in the maturation and growth process of rookie DBs Cory Trice Jr. and Joey Porter Jr.
Despite Porter likely watching plenty of Steelers football because of family ties, he clearly was not ready for it and became another victim of it. Of course, with Pickens being that far down the field, that play would end up being called a penalty for offensive pass interference, but with the young, unsuspecting player in training camp, anything goes.
Now that Porter has experienced one of these hits in a situation where it should not have happened, it will be interesting to see how he responds in the future. At 6'2 and 194 pounds, Porter is almost even in size to Pickens, who is 6'3 and 201 pounds. Coaches at all levels talk about how the lowest man wins with blocks and tackles, although cornerbacks and wide receivers don't hear it too much. Porter might want to get lower whenever Pickens is charging him, however.
What do you think about George Pickens pancaking Joey Porter Jr. into oblivion? Let us know down in the comments below.
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