Steelers: Mike Tomlin has strong words for his QB in latest media hit
The Pittsburgh Steelers have no intention of repeating the road trip that brought them to a 9-8 record and the destination of the couch for the playoffs in 2022. That means that second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett will have to take the next step in his development, because as goes the QB so goes the team. […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers have no intention of repeating the road trip that brought them to a 9-8 record and the destination of the couch for the playoffs in 2022.
That means that second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett will have to take the next step in his development, because as goes the QB so goes the team.
So when Mike Tomlin made an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, his comments on Kenny Pickett were sure to generate conversation.
Tomlin's witty one-liners, candid answers, and no-nonsense tone when speaking to the media are what make him such an entertaining listen week in and week out. But in the offseason, those appearances are few and far between.
So when the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers has something to say in the Month of May, you better believe the league and the public, in general, will be all ears. Here's what Tomlin had to say about Kenny Pickett's development on the Rich Eisen Show:
“I expect him to kill it. I’ll describe what I mean by that," Tomlin told Eisen on Pickett. "It’s his second lap around the track. He’s no longer speculating in terms of what this business is about, what the job demands, what the challenges are, what the feel of the process is like, whether it’s getting ready for a season or getting ready for a week. He had all of that experience, and so I just think it’s reasonable for him to have significant growth in all areas with that understanding, to be more engaged in the process and have an opinion about the process, to be more comfortable in his own voice, because he has deep relationships with his teammates. He’s delivered for them some and so his credibility is there and so it’s reasonable to feel that comfort."
While it's common to hear the head coach of any team publicly back his quarterback, it rings a little different when it comes from Mike Tomlin. Remember, this is someone who once said "we don't want hostages, we want volunteers" when speaking about the departure of star players Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.
There's also the attention to detail to consider, both in his response and within Kenny Pickett's process. Coach T makes a great point that may be surprising to fans that don't know the ins and outs of players lives.
Think back to your onboarding process at your job. There was likely a learning curve, a few blips on the radar, and a couple of overwhelming moments. Well take that and add the fame of being an NFL quarterback, the personal and financial change in your life, and the switch to a game that is completely foreign from the one you just played in during college.
All of that is now behind Pickett as Tomlin stated. But that doesn't mean it will be all easygoing. The league's most successful QBs take a leap from year to year two, making this season critical for Pickett. So with solid infrastructure in place, I would say the ball is in his court.
