Steelers Daily Links: Pickett ‘Sensational,’ Fans Vote Watt

Alan Saunders |

Sep 4, 2023

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett at training camp, Aug. 8, 2023. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

? Former NFL defensive end Chris Long is all in on Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

“I love the Steelers. Kenny Pickett looks f****** sensational. They have a really good roster, but you run his preseason tape against Atlanta and a couple of his throws were like, wow,” Long said on his podcast. “I think one thing that was really good for them is they won a lot of close games (last year). So you’re in a lot of close games, that’s how this team is going to have to win games.”

Chris LOVES the Steelers this year, here's why… #Steelers pic.twitter.com/PBfklbAK5Z

— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) September 3, 2023

? The Mercury News: During a CBS teleconference advancing the start of the NFL season, Phil Simms gave high praise to Kenny Pickett and the Steelers.

“I know it’s preseason, I don’t care. His movement, his confidence in himself, the offense, I love what they were doing,” Simms said. “I think they’re going to add on to what they did last year. His decision-making has been terrific. And I think the other thing that goes unnoticed about him is he can move around to throw the ball and pick up runs when he has to too. Very impressed with Kenny Pickett last year, and I think the start of this year the Steelers are going to be pretty tough.”

? Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher also likes what the Steelers have been doing with Pickett.

“I like the fact that they put him back under center,” Cowher said. “With Najee Harris and the downhill running, it can create play-action. I think they’ve done a really good job upgrading their offensive line. They’ve got depth, size and quality. I think there’s a very good feeling right now in Pittsburgh. The preseason went very well for him, and the regular season starts with the San Francisco 49ers, but they may not have Nick Bosa.”

? The Arizona Republic’s Bob McManaman picked the Steelers to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVIII. McManaman didn’t elaborate on why he picked the Steelers to win the Super Bowl, but he’s definitely the first of any major outlet to pick Pittsburgh to win it all. The Steelers currently have the 19th-best odds in the NFL to win the Super Bowl at +6600.

? Former Steelers guard Kevin Dotson spoke with the media for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Rams.

“Everyone on the Steelers, they’ll vouch for me knowing I’m a good guy, so I just try to bring that energy here too,” Dotson said. “I know what I’m capable of. I knew the Steelers knew what I was capable of, but, ya know, it’s a business, you gotta do what you have to do to be great so they did what they had to do.”

? Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said on NBC Sports Boston that there are major concerns with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s knee.

“The underrated story here: JuJu Smith Schuster’s knee is a mess, and that thing could explode at any point,” Breer said. “So, you almost have to keep an extra receiver because of that.”

Smith-Schuster had surgery to clean up his knee after the Super Bowl, and swelling became an issue during a flight to Japan in the offseason.

Smith-Schuster didn’t appreciate Breer’s claim and said he was just trying to find a story. “I don’t think my knee is a ticking time bomb,” he told MassLive. “If anything, it’s something that’s getting stronger every day.”

? According to a fan poll contacted by Fox Sports NFL, their voters believe T.J. Watt will win his second career NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023. Watt tied the single-season record for sacks and won his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.

? Former NFL nose tackle Beau Allen broke down tape of Steelers rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton on the Green Light Podcast.

Beau Allen breaks down Keeanu Benton on the Green Light Podcast. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/MU9MVlwlUF

— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) September 3, 2023