Steelers' Mike Tomlin Absolutely Noticed George Pickens Embarrassing Lack Of Effort During Week 15

The Pittsburgh Steelers were once known as a team that rarely missed when drafting receivers, but that reputation has taken quite a hit over the years. Another example of a worrisome young wideout who is starting to show his lack of maturity is George Pickens. After another disappointing effort during the Steelers' Week 14 loss, Pickens was challenged to do better. In the aftermath of Pittsburgh's third consecutive loss, Pickens was again called out for simply not trying, and Mike Tomlin knows he needs more from his second-year receiver.

Steelers' George Pickens Leaving Tomlin Without Answers

When the Steelers dropped their second straight game to a two-win opponent in Week 14, there was enough blame to go around, but plenty was put onto Pickens and his effortless performance. Tomlin took some time during their preparation for Week 15 and discussed the situation with Pickens in hopes that the head coach could reach the young athlete. Obviously, whatever conversations occurred had no recognizable impact on Pickens, as he turned in another poor effort on Saturday.

Tomlin, during his Monday press conference, was asked about Pickens. He did his best to dance around the questions, but it was apparent he had no real answers for what he saw from Pickens against the Indianapolis Colts. The questions regarding Pickens began with Tomlin being asked how he thought the receiver did after being challenged to improve from Week 14 to Week 15 in 2023.

"I thought he was better, but obviously still has room for continued improvement."

The follow up came immediately, with a specific play being brought up. Pittsburgh had the ball inside their own 10-yard line, and on a pitch play to Jaylen Warren, the run went to Pickens' side. The receiver barely made any attempt to block for Warren as the play finished. The pathetic showing was mocked across NFL media, and for good reason. After Tomlin's short answer on Pickens, he was asked if the poor blocking attempt - if you could call it that - could be corrected.

"That's one of the examples that I'm talking about in terms of still obvious room for improvement."

Without missing a beat, Tomlin got a third question about Pickens. After watching Hines Ward take glee in blocking on running plays, it's painful to watch a talented receiver not even try when he has the size and strength to make a key difference on the run. The second follow up about the Pickens situation was about what Tomlin needed to do in order to get the message through to the frustrated player. Tomlin's answer was hardly worth the time it took for him to say it.

"We keep working."

Steelers Need To Go Off Or Lose Out

It would be one thing if the epicenter of the 2023 Steelers' issues were Pickens' refusal to put effort into every single play, but the problems are much more widespread than that. Whether it is the lack of a consistent running game, a porous and oft-injured defense, no one knowing what they actually have in Kenny Pickett, a void in coaching ability, or poor front office decisions, the 2023 Steelers are floundering.

Sitting at 7-7 after watching a 13-0 lead slip away from them against the Colts, the Steelers are seeing their poor play finally start to catch up to them. For years, it seems that the script in Pittsburgh has been for Tomlin to somehow transform an injured, struggling team into a winning record and perhaps a first-round playoff loss in embarrassing fashion. A key component to this happening consistently is that other teams have been putting in the heavy lifting for the Steelers.

In 2023, the teams that would normally go through a collapse that paved the way for a Steelers' playoff game have been winning, and that has led to the 7-7 Steelers on the outside of the AFC playoff race looking in. The on-the-field product hasn't shown any signs that they would be a dangerous postseason team or even an interesting one. These Steelers only have two options left for them in 2023: demolish the remaining three teams in epic fashion to erase everything that came before, or lose and use it to make the necessary changes in the offseason. 

Knowing how things have gone in Pittsburgh for the last while, the expectation should be success, but the results will tell a very different story. After a stellar career, Tomlin is proving more and more that his time in Pittsburgh is likely winding down, and maybe that isn't a bad thing.

What do you think of Tomlin's remarks? How about the play from Pickens? Comment below!

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