The Pittsburgh Steelers are occupying a unique territory in the NFL. The team is in second place in the AFC North and have won five of eight games in 2023. That is a three-game improvement over where they stood in 2022 halfway through the season. Pittsburgh has also been out-gained offensively every game this season and has had some very fortunate bounces on a leaky defense. The Steelers are heavily criticized for being a pretender in the AFC playoff picture.
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Steelers Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson celebrate their first touchdown connection.
The Steelers beat the Tennessee Titans, 20-16 on Thursday night. Their second-year quarterback shook off a rib injury to start and lead the Steelers on their first opening-game touchdown drive of 2023. Najee Harris punched in the opening score and had one of his best games of 2023. Diontae Johnson scored his first touchdown since Ben Roethlisberger was throwing bubble screens. In the aftermath of the game, the only thing that seemed to matter was Kenny Pickett played poorly, and George Pickens threw a tantrum on social media.
"I like the fact that Matt Canada was on the sideline. It seemed like he was more in tune and in touch with his team."@CowherCBS weighs in on the state of the Steelers pic.twitter.com/cbjARniMWZ
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 5, 2023
On Sunday, Bill Cowher weighed in on the current state of the Steelers on the NFL On CBS. Cowher praised Pickett’s toughness before focusing on what he felt were the positive attributes of the Pittsburgh attributes. One name was conspicuously absent from his assessment.
“The two guys who give their offense a little spark are Diontae Johnson and Jaylen Warren,” Cowher observed. “During the game, when they touch the ball, there are some exciting things that happen.”
The former Steelers head coach is just the latest to emphasize that Jaylen Warren supplies more potential for a big play than Harris. It would be interesting to see if Cowher was still in control of the team and how he would use the much-maligned third-year running back in Harris. He might tap the 2021 first-round pick as more of a closer in the late career that Jerome Bettis role and have Warren occupy his cousin Willie Parker's role as the lead back.
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Former Steelers running back Willie Parker carries the ball in inclement weather against the San Diego Chargers.
The surprising omission of Pickens in favor of Johnson is an interesting development. Cowher had little patience for players who he perceived as a prima donna during his coaching career. Cowher was known as a player's coach during his time in the league, but the NFL player has changed dramatically since he retired. Johnson has infuriated Steelers fans with untimely drops during his career, and most fans think Pickens is underutilized in the anemic Steelers’ offense.
“Kenny Pickett, as the game goes on, he has a good feel for it,” Cowher continued. “I know he hasn’t made a lot of things happen. In the last six games, he has only turned the ball over one time.”
Mike Tomlin made two Super Bowl appearances early in his career with the black and gold following a simple recipe: play great defense and good enough offense. The Steelers, during Roethlisberger’s prime, evolved into an offensive-minded team and fell into a now seven-year and counting playoff win drought. Since Roethlisberger's retirement, the Steelers offense has retreated into a shell under Matt Canada.
Arron Anastasia Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Matt Canada got out of his comfort zone and into one of his best offensive coordinator performances.
Cowher was a defensive coach, but he was also a gambler. He wasn’t risk averse, and unlike Tomlin and Canada, his trick plays often worked. They were well hidden and did not appear in the offense weekly. The Hall of Fame Steelers head coach would not have allowed Ken Whisenhunt to hand the ball to Connor Heyward on a jet sweep inside the 10-yard line of a close football game. In fairness, it probably would not have even entered Whisenhunt’s mind to get cute that close to the goal line.
“Is it pretty football? Is it exciting football? No,” Cowher concluded. “It’s very sound football, the way they are playing right now. I think if you want to go far and get into the playoffs, the offense needs to continue to progress. I like the fact Matt Canada was on the sideline. It seems like that was a step in the right direction. They are in a good position.”
Cowher concluded the segment without ever mentioning Pickens. Johnson's touchdown was the go-ahead score against the Titans, but one score does not absolve him of multiple drops this season in big moments. Like it or not, Pickens is the best weapon on the offense, and since the veteran wide receiver's return, he has been an afterthought.
Why didn't Pickens drag his toes for a TD here?
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 3, 2023
Look how much space. NFL WRs do this all the time.pic.twitter.com/Sr0ukKJcZphttps://t.co/1b3WE3z6iR pic.twitter.com/x6ZsHUPp9T
Pickens' opportunities are so limited in the passing game that what would have been his third catch for less than 10 yards ended as a failed toe-tap opportunity for a touchdown. Experts and social media have endlessly dissected it. Suggestions that he is not as talented as advertised are running rampant on social media, and the whispers are creeping in that he did not drop in the draft because of injury but attitude.
Steelers' George Pickens Has Interesting Comments About Targets
The Steelers offense under Canada does not attack the middle of the field. When they have targeted Pickens in the middle of the field, big plays have followed. It is easy for defenses to cover short sideline curls and go-routes, which is what Pickens is continuously asked to run, putting him in a poor position to succeed.
The bizarre use of Pickens is one of the true mysteries of the NFL. Steeler Nation should recognize that this is not the second coming of Chase Claypool, but rather, Plaxico Burress. The Steelers gave up on Burress too soon, and he went on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. Burress was immature and made some significant mistakes on and off the football field, but his talent and production were not in question.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens can bring energy to the field, but it needs to be contained and used in the right way for 2023 to be successful.
Pickens is immature and is frustrated that he is not more involved in the offense. It is a problem with the Steelers' offense and the reaction of a significant talent that yearns to be used correctly. I suspect this is a problem he would not have if Cowher were the current head coach. He certainly would not have slipped Cowher's mind for long stretches in games, never mind a segment of the NFL On CBS.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you surprised Pickens was not identified as a primary weapon on offense by Cowher? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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