Bench Kenny

[SteelCrazy]

Kenny Pickett has regressed. Usually bad coaching causes regression because they are trying to get the player to play differently. The biggest difference and most telling stat to me is his IAY (intended air yards). It measures what a QB was going for regardless of completion or not on every pass attempt. 2022 KP IAY was 2923. In 2023 it?s 1854. The average per attempt went from 7.6 in 2022 to 6.5 in 2023.

Hes checking down a lot. Checking down is not an instinct for a QB. Idk who?s responsible for his direct coaching in the NFL. Mike Sullivan, Canada, or Tomlin. Possibly a combination, idk but it?s killing his career. If he ever had one?.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I agree.

hard to blame the defense when they only gave up a FG in the 2nd half and 13 points total.

not gonna win too many games only scoring 10 points.

And a phantom TD. I never saw conclusive evidence the RB crossed the plane of the goal.

[T.Ferguson]

Kenny Pickett has regressed. Usually bad coaching causes regression because they are trying to get the player to play differently. The biggest difference and most telling stat to me is his IAY (intended air yards). It measures what a QB was going for regardless of completion or not on every pass attempt. 2022 KP IAY was 2923. In 2023 it?s 1854. The average per attempt went from 7.6 in 2022 to 6.5 in 2023.

Hes checking down a lot. Checking down is not an instinct for a QB. Idk who?s responsible for his direct coaching in the NFL. Mike Sullivan, Canada, or Tomlin. Possibly a combination, idk but it?s killing his career. If he ever had one?.

Money post. His regression, his lack of confidence and really lack of emotion are all really concerning. Steelers basically need another Ben to make this offense work in any kind of capacity and good luck finding another Ben. And the offense would still be bad.

[NorthCoast]

Kenny Pickett has regressed. Usually bad coaching causes regression because they are trying to get the player to play differently. The biggest difference and most telling stat to me is his IAY (intended air yards). It measures what a QB was going for regardless of completion or not on every pass attempt. 2022 KP IAY was 2923. In 2023 it?s 1854. The average per attempt went from 7.6 in 2022 to 6.5 in 2023.

Hes checking down a lot. Checking down is not an instinct for a QB. Idk who?s responsible for his direct coaching in the NFL. Mike Sullivan, Canada, or Tomlin. Possibly a combination, idk but it?s killing his career. If he ever had one?.

Is he checking down or being told 'read short first, then long'??

[Chucktownsteeler]

I'm not defending Levis, the point is that TN at least recognized early that Willis wasn't the guy, and took a shot on another. And while we all sit here and trash Levis, an argument can be made that he's at minimum as good as Pickett.
This was not intended to be a post defending Levis. It's 100% about recognizing you missed on a guy, and quickly look to find another. It's difficult to find the right guy, and at this point, continuing to try and find the right one is the path the Steelers should be taking.
Firing Canada and replacing Pickett aren't mutually exclusive. Last - throwing for 200 yards and 1 TD may win 10 to 11 games on the regular season schedule. But I struggle to think that level of QB play does anything for us in the playoffs.

Did we give up too fast on Dobbs? QBs mature and learn at different speeds, we can't draft a QB every year. I'd say 4 years is the minimum you give, especially with the OC we have.

[Mick'sTeam]

Did we give up too fast on Dobbs? QBs mature and learn at different speeds, we can't draft a QB every year. I'd say 4 years is the minimum you give, especially with the OC we have.

I know Dobbs is a fun story, but he's also 2-10 as a starter. That first game performance with the Vikings was impressive, but again I'm not sold on Dobbs being much more than what he's shown in his 7 year, 6 team career. He's Jeremy Lin in pads. A good story, but not someone to build a team around.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I know Dobbs is a fun story, but he's also 2-10 as a starter. That first game performance with the Vikings was impressive, but again I'm not sold on Dobbs being much more than what he's shown in his 7 year, 6 team career. He's Jeremy Lin in pads. A good story, but not someone to build a team around.

I agree, but my point was I think you have to give QBs 4 years minimum. Especially with this horses arse Matt Canada.

[Eich]

Money post. His regression, his lack of confidence and really lack of emotion are all really concerning. Steelers basically need another Ben to make this offense work in any kind of capacity and good luck finding another Ben. And the offense would still be bad.

Even rookie Ben might struggle in the confines of THIS offense.

I feel like we set Kenny up for failure with Canada as the coordinator and the overly conservative approach on offense. 4QK used to give me hope. I felt like he wanted the ball in his hands at crunch time and would deliver. Now, it feels more like he's playing "afraid to mess up" ball.

I think Kenny needs some mental therapy from someone who's been through rough times. Hire a former QB like Kurt Warner to come in and be his advisor. We're breaking KP8.

[SteelCrazy]

Is he checking down or being told 'read short first, then long'??

Idk, but to me he is intent on checking down from the start if he decides on certain reads pre snap. I?ve seen him check down almost immediately under no pressure. I?m not talking about bubble or slip screens.

One thing is for certain, KP is not comfortable playing behind our line. He seems almost too worried about throwing an interception. I know that sounds funny, but it really could be part of his issues.

He’s not comfortable making quick reads necessary behind a poor passing OL.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Idk, but to me he is intent on checking down from the start if he decides on certain reads pre snap. I?ve seen him check down almost immediately under no pressure. I?m not talking about bubble or slip screens.

One thing is for certain, KP is not comfortable playing behind our line. He seems almost too worried about throwing an interception. I know that sounds funny, but it really could be part of his issues.

He’s not comfortable making quick reads necessary behind a poor passing OL.

I've seen that as well and to me he is being told where to throw on certain plays. It's determined pre-snap. I don't think this is on Kenny.

[feltdizz]

I know Dobbs is a fun story, but he's also 2-10 as a starter. That first game performance with the Vikings was impressive, but again I'm not sold on Dobbs being much more than what he's shown in his 7 year, 6 team career. He's Jeremy Lin in pads. A good story, but not someone to build a team around.

I think what most are suggesting is with Dobbs using his legs and making a few plays with our defense we could have a decent season. Especially when your OL stinks in pass protection.

[feltdizz]

Idk, but to me he is intent on checking down from the start if he decides on certain reads pre snap. I?ve seen him check down almost immediately under no pressure. I?m not talking about bubble or slip screens.

One thing is for certain, KP is not comfortable playing behind our line. He seems almost too worried about throwing an interception. I know that sounds funny, but it really could be part of his issues.

He’s not comfortable making quick reads necessary behind a poor passing OL.

One thing I noticed, when Kenny gets sacked early he starts to rush.

You can't have your QB getting sacked on the first play or first series of the game. Especially if it's Miles Garrett.

[SteelCrazy]

One thing I noticed, when Kenny gets sacked early he starts to rush.

You can't have your QB getting sacked on the first play or first series of the game. Especially if it's Miles Garrett.

He also seems to not have a sense of pressure. Even when it’s coming right into his face.

[SteelCrazy]

I've seen that as well and to me he is being told where to throw on certain plays. It's determined pre-snap. I don't think this is on Kenny.

You could be right. It might just be a well hidden bubble or slip screen. But what makes me think it’s not by design is the call side guard or tackle never releases to block downfield. A designed screen always has blockers releasing at the line to block in front of the play.

["BuzzNuter"]

Everybody says the OL is crap and Kenny needs a better OL. In another post last week I said Kenny stands in the middle of the league considering time to release. He is at 2.4 seconds. Burrow was 2.2 seconds. Trevor Lawrence is 2.1 seconds. The QB with the most time is Justin Fields with 2.7 seconds. Fields buys time by scrambling.

The point is you can't expect more then what he is getting. Ben averaged 2.21 seconds his last year. All these posts are leading to a false hope that Kenny can improve. Well at least for this year. They have the book on him. Rush straight up and put your hands up. He can't slide in the pocket and he can't see over the line in the MOF. He turns his back and rolls left.

That was a pitiful performance by Kenny yesterday. What's he going to do against the Bengals 85 yards passing. There is nothing that is going to save him this year. If we let him play out the year he will be sitting in the corner mumbling to himself.

We should either bench him or promote someone else to play calling. Let him take risks. Throw some interceptions. Let him see if he can do anything. Sacrifice this season for Kenny's development.