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Not just another one-trick pony, George Pickens seeks growth to ascend in Year 2 for Steelers
CHRIS ADAMSKI | Saturday, June 24, 2023
CHRIS ADAMSKI | Saturday, June 24, 2023
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ESPN offers fascinating stat on WR George Pickens
Last season was a trial by fire for wide receiver George Pickens. The then-rookie came in with tons of hype and potential and each week offered just a sneak peek at what he?s capable of on the way to 801 receiving yards on only 52 catches.
But those numbers are nothing compared to what they could have been. At least according to ESPN fantasy analyst Bill Barnwell. On NFL Live, Barnwell noted that in 2022, Pickens had the lowest expected catch rate of any receiver in the NFL. Translated that means he has the lowest percentage of catchable balls throw his way.
This stat is made even more remarkable when you consider Pickens had the highest catch rate by any rookie receiver last season. Let that sink he. He had the best hands in the league as a rookie and had the lowest percentage of passes thrown to him he should be able to catch.
Pickens will be working with Diontae Johnson this season to make the life of second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett easier. We can?t wait to see if one of them emerges as a true No. 1 receiver or if it will be more of a committee approach.
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Both Pickett and Pickens have to show significant improvement in Year 2. Both have shown glimpses, but both also have much more to do"My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"Comment
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He is playing with Pickett at quarterback. He made him appear better than he is. By far and away, he is our best skill player on offense.If Pickens was so ALL THAT, how come our overall passing production was so weak? I know he's only one guy, but his #s did little to offset our weakness there. Our 200 YPG barely beat any team in passing yards per game.Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game in seven years and counting. The earliest will be eight years. I guess that in Art Rooney's II, opinion is worth a 3 year extension.
Our 2024 draft looks to be grade A. Our 2023 draft is an A. The roster is talented, but Mike Tomlin is still the head coach.
*** Mike Tomlin is the best coach since the AFL- NFL merger that has not won a playoff game in 8 seasons or more. It's either him or Lewis. ***Comment
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He has the potential to be anyway.
I think our best skill player currently is probably DJ. Muth is probably next on the list. But I think Pickens has the best shot at being a star player on offense of this group.
I don't think we really have any star skill guys. But a lot of them are still young and hopefully ascend this year.Comment
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A stat like this makes me wonder if it is a double edge sword. Is he not getting as open as a guy like DJ, meaning that he is facing tighter coverage that doesn't allow him to be as open. Similar to (but a better version of) James Washington. Very often their catches must be more difficult because they are facing such close coverage.Comment
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Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Getting open is about route running not out jumping someone. DJ runs great routes...his problem is after he catches the ball, when he does, and he runs the wrong way or doesn't fight for YAC
Pickens needs to dramatically improve his route running and ability to get open or he will be just another "what could have been""My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"Comment
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I wonder if there's some kind of breakdown for who each WR faces. My guess is that DJ usually gets the better CB.
I thought the breakdown of Pickens said he was really good against man, but bad against zone? Also think it said he was good running fades and go routes, but bad at in breaking routes. But that he mostly ran fades and go routes and not much in-breaking.
Here's the video, but I didn't rewatch it today to double check. Talks about the "Reception Perception" review of Pickens from last season. IIRC it breaks down how he did against man and zone, and how he did in certain routes.
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