The Steelers and Kenny Pickett have seen 2023 break the opposite way they wanted it to go with his development. While the team is 3-2, Pickett and the rest of the offense have struggled to get anything consistently going. The team still averages among the league’s fewest points per game. At least some of those struggles can be put directly on Pickett’s shoulders, but not all of it.
However, Colin Cowherd is officially out on Pickett. He believes the team can go over .500 and maybe even sneak into the playoffs, but Pickett is unlikely to be the answer. Moreover, he predicts that the team will hold onto Pickett longer than they should, even if it becomes more apparent that he is not the guy. The reasoning? Pickett’s Pittsburgh ties since he attended Pitt.
“I was told for years they didn’t like drafting the University of Pittsburgh kids because if they didn’t make it, they’d have to get rid of them and they share a facility. I mean, the Rooneys are just embedded in that community,” Cowherd said on The Volume Podcast. “They didn’t want to draft Pittsburgh kids and cut them or trade them. They’re going to keep Kenny Pickett around for years. They’re not going to bail on Kenny Pickett the first-round quarterback, they won’t do it to that kid. And I have to tell you, I don’t see it. I just don’t see it.”
There’s merit to the worries that Cowherd brings up. However, it’s OK to give Pickett more time, given the situation he currently finds himself in. The accuracy he struggled with early in the year as come back. But he is still skittish in the pocket and lacks the processing speed from the pocket needed to sustain success there now. Some of that could be attributed to the play of guys around him. Pickett’s escapability remains a unique trait that many NFL quarterbacks do not have. But with him right now, that is a blessing and curse as he can run himself into pressure.
Pittsburgh needs to see strides from Pickett. They know he has the clutch gene. He pulled that out of his bag of tricks against the Ravens. Somehow, the guy makes plays when it matters. It is about getting that same production over the rest of the game with some consistency. Matt Canada’s play calling does not help him at all, but Pickett needs to sharpen things up in the second half of the season to prove he can be the guy in Pittsburgh.