Steelers' George Pickens says it will be easy to score in new role, calls defenders, 'Crash dummies'
George Pickens has been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for only two years, but we have come to expect two things from him: Explosive plays, and candid commentary. On Wednesday, he provided the latter in a way only he can: Pickens expects role as slot WR to be easy “Speed, splitting defenders, that’s the […]
George Pickens has been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for only two years, but we have come to expect two things from him:
Explosive plays, and candid commentary.
On Wednesday, he provided the latter in a way only he can:
Pickens expects role as slot WR to be easy
“Speed, splitting defenders, that’s the biggest thing in the slot,” Pickens told reporters when asked about more reps from the slot in 2024. “If you got super, super good speed, you can split defenders and it’s going to be easy to score…
“… It’s being smarter than linebackers, they got a few keys. They are kind of crash dummies. Just being smarter than them, catching the ball getting down when you are supposed to, catching the ball and scoring when you are supposed to."
Pickens, while limited in his role under the previous offensive regime, has already shown enough consistency to be one of the best perimeter threats on the league.
No stat proves that more than his league-leading yards per catch in 2023, which totaled out at an absurd 18.1 yards per reception. He can win outright with speed, jump over defenders on up-balls, and out-muscle defenders on contested catches.
But up until now, Pickens' usage was predominantly outside, and his routes were widely limited to what coaches call a vertical plane, meaning slants, posts, corners, and go routes.
But whether it was poor QB play, a bad scheme, or a combination of both, we have yet to see Pickens unlocked as a versatile chess piece who can attack the middle of the field or align in multiple positions.
But that's going to change in 2024. OC Arthur Smith believes in positionless basketball, to use a cross-sport analogy. He will move RBs, WRs, and TEs around religiously, and use them in a way that makes the offense more multiple.
And Pickens has been preparing for that all offseason, showing a development in the nuances of route running and body positioning.
“He just has to pick it up and take the cheese and do the things we ask him to do,” Steelers new WR coach Zach Azzanni told reporters at mandatory minicamp. “He can to anything he wants. He’s that talented. Ray Charles can see that, you don’t need to be a coach. We know that’s [greatness] out there for him if he wants it.”
If Pickens can remain focused and channel all his talent to the football field, he can stake a claim at an All-Pro caliber season as the bonified #1 option on Pittsburgh's offense.
