Steelers weapon starts a fight he won't be able to finish
Confidence is something every NFL player needs, especially if they start for a franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers. As University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart says:"I rather have to say woe to my players than sic em." And following a sit-down interview with The Ringer, Smart is probably grinning ear to ear when it […]
Confidence is something every NFL player needs, especially if they start for a franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart says:
"I rather have to say woe to my players than sic em."
And following a sit-down interview with The Ringer, Smart is probably grinning ear to ear when it comes to one of his former players:
George Pickens: "I Prey on Overthinkers"
In a recent piece released by Kevin Clark of The Ringer, he and Steelers WR George Pickens went deep on what makes the talented wideout tick. A different kind of cat to say the least, Pickens is as interesting as he is talented and as brash as he is exciting:
“I always kill DBs who are overthinkers,” Pickens told Clark. “And what’s crazy is the overthinkers are Xavien Howard or Jalen [Ramsey], and those are the best guys. And that’s why I think most DBs can’t really check me.”
Pickens couldn't have picked a better time to sit down with Clark. The interview with The Ringer picked up steam yesterday, just hours before Pickens activated his acrobat badge against Joey Porter Jr.
And before you think Pickens is punching above his weight by picking a fight with Howard and Ramsey, think again:
“You don’t find many receivers that can catch the ball any kind of way,” future Hall of Fame corner Patrick Peterson told Clark. “It’s just very, very hard to find those guys. He does remind me a lot of DeAndre Hopkins. Same body structure and deceptive speed to get behind you.”
The Browns catch made Pickens famous and Tuesday's grab only adds to his lore, but while we're on the topic of Dolphins' corners, here's a clip that encapsulates what Peterson is talking about.
The body control, the hand-eye coordination, the strength to position himself favorably, yet the flexibility to bend his torso analogous to an accordion is exceptional work.
I have pounded the table for Pickens since I first laid eyes on his 2021 Georgia tape. An elite athlete with that kind of structure is just a rarity, even in a league like the NFL.
So I'm all for Pickens calling out the best at the position that directly opposes him. I believe that he is more than ready to hold his own against the league's top corners, even those as decorated as Ramsey and Howard.
The only part that leaves you wanting more, is that seeing as the Dolphins and Steelers don't play in 2023, Pickens won't be able to show us his strategy against Miami's "overthinkers."
That is unless they meet in the playoffs, right when Jalen Ramsey is slated to return…
Steelers Training Camp Day Five: George Pickens shines, Cory Trice injured
He just cemented his name amongst the greats
Featured image via: © Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
