Pittsburgh Steelers large receiver George Pickens has been visibly pissed off throughout latest video games as his variety of targets and massive performs have taken a big hit within the second half of the season. On Thursday, he addressed among the considerations together with his lack of playmaking and manufacturing by declaring that he can solely achieve this a lot with the routes he has been given.
Pickens advised Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Put up Gazette that he cannot really produce when he’s being asked to run three- and five-yard routes.
A fast take a look at the routes he was focused on throughout their Thursday evening loss to the New England Patriots reveals a surprisingly small route tree that saved him nearly fully close to the road of scrimmage.
Concentrating on Pickens on performs like that’s not enjoying to his strengths in any respect. At this level in his profession, he is not essentially the most polished route-runner on the crew, whereas he’s at his finest when he’s getting used as a vertical goal within the passing recreation and being requested to go up and make powerful catches. He has demonstrated that skill on a number of events all through the primary two years of his profession and has proven flashes of being an influence participant.
He topped the 100-yard mark in three of his first six video games this season and had 27 receptions for 500 yards throughout that stretch. Since then, he has caught simply 22 passes for under 267 yards within the seven video games which have adopted. That could be a night-and-day distinction.
A part of that’s as a result of return of large receiver Diontae Johnson and tight finish Pat Freiermuth from harm. There may be additionally the actual fact the Steelers have develop into far more practical at working the soccer within the second half of the season and have performed to that power extra typically. However one other a part of it’s the truth the Steelers offense has merely not been designed for giant performs or vertical passing.
That is not solely irritating the crew’s followers, but it surely’s additionally irritating their most proficient large receiver. It is also losing his biggest power.
Pickens may not all the time be utterly large open, however he’s the kind of large receiver who doesn’t want 5 yards of separation to make a catch. He has demonstrated that he’s going to win a whole lot of 50-50 soar balls and make powerful catches resulting from his athleticism, measurement and power.
The Steelers want him to make extra large performs. In addition they want to offer him extra of an opportunity to take action.