Pittsburgh Steelers vast receiver George Pickens has been visibly annoyed throughout latest video games as his variety of targets and massive performs have taken a major hit within the second half of the season. On Thursday, he addressed a few of the considerations with his lack of playmaking and production by mentioning that he can solely achieve this a lot with the routes he has been given.
Pickens instructed Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that he cannot actually produce when he is being requested to run three- and five-yard routes.
A fast have a look at the routes he was focused on throughout their Thursday night time loss to the New England Patriots reveals an incredibly small route tree that stored him nearly fully close to the road of scrimmage.
Targeting Pickens on performs like that’s not taking part in to his strengths in any respect. At this level in his profession, he isn’t essentially the most polished route-runner on the crew, whereas he’s at his greatest when he’s getting used as a vertical goal within the passing sport and being requested to go up and make powerful catches. He has demonstrated that capability on a number of events all through the primary two years of his profession and has proven flashes of being an impression 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 solely 267 yards within the seven video games which have adopted. That is a night-and-day distinction.
Part of that’s as a result of return of vast receiver Diontae Johnson and tight finish Pat Freiermuth from damage. There can be the very fact the Steelers have change into far more practical at operating the soccer within the second half of the season and have performed to that energy extra usually. But one other a part of it’s the reality the Steelers offense has merely not been designed for massive performs or vertical passing.
That’s not solely irritating the crew’s followers, but it surely’s additionally irritating their most proficient vast receiver. It’s additionally losing his biggest energy.
Pickens may not at all times be utterly vast open, however he’s the kind of vast receiver who doesn’t want 5 yards of separation to make a catch. He has demonstrated that he’s going to win a variety of 50-50 bounce balls and make powerful catches because of his athleticism, measurement and energy.
The Steelers want him to make extra massive performs. They additionally want to provide him extra of an opportunity to take action.
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