PITTSBURGH — George Pickens’ frustration on the sideline due to his lack of targets has once again become a topic of conversation. That happens when a receiver such as Pickens goes into a slump for as long as he has over the past few weeks. Pittsburgh’s leading receiver has not had a touchdown reception since the team’s loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 29th. He has not eclipsed 100 yards since the team went to Los Angeles and beat the Rams out of the bye week.
It got to the point this week that Mike Tomlin even admitted that it was a problem because Pickens is not offering up general solutions to fix the issue at hand. If his response is anything to go by, Pickens has to manage those emotions better to find answers.
“It’s a problem because it’s not solution-oriented,” Tomlin said. “We’re all frustrated, but we have to manage our frustration in a professional and mature way and when it’s not done that way, it’s not necessarily pushing us towards solutions.”
But what makes it even more complicated is Kenny Pickett’s injury. His injury has forced Pickens to sharpen his timing and chemistry with Mitch Trubisky. But before he can fix the production issues and targets going his way, Pickens has to communicate to Trubisky what he sees on the field to get those targets. They could on different wavelengths. That is the solution that Trubisky believes could get the pair on the same page.
“Get him the football. Have open communication about what he’s seeing versus what I’m seeing and just continuing to work on that timing,” Trubisky said.
Over the last six games, George Pickens has averaged just five targets per game. Pickens is not even the only frustrated player in the locker room. Diontae Johnson has been blasted for a lack of effort, voiced his frustrations, and has generally done similar things to Pickens.
However, he has to find a way to channel those frustrations into productive conversations. That is what will ultimately get him the football rather than the fruitless methods he employs right now.