PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Recruited by then Pitt assistant Matt Canada out of high school, six years later Kenny Pickett will finally play for the now Steelers offensive coordinator.
“It’s just the diversity of it,” Pickett said of what he likes about the Canada offense. “He has the quarterback in the pocket. He gets the guy on the move. I feel like that’s underrated in my game, I feel like I do a really good job outside of the pocket and making plays. He does that with his play design naturally.”
“I feel like I do all of the great things that he wants. That’s why he recruited me for his offense. I feel like that’s why I’m in Pittsburgh now, again. I can’t wait to get into it and obsess over the playbook.”
Competition
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert said Pickett will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job. He’s going against another former number one pick in Mitch Trubisky and the only one of the three who has started a game for the Steelers, Mason Rudolph.
“I’m pretty familiar with competing,” Pickett said. “I’ve been doing it my whole life. I know how to be a good teammate and compete at the same time. I’m excited to join the quarterback room, get to know those guys. Honestly get better every day, we are all chasing a championship.”
Pickett said Trubisky actually called him when he was a senior in high school to try to get him to go to North Carolina. He said he’s excited to learn from him.
“I’ve always had that confidence in myself as I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh,” Pickett said. “I know what I can do. I’m confident because of how hard I work. I know sooner or later I will get to where I want to get to, it happened in college.”
Getting the call
“I was speechless, 23 years of hard work to get to this point and that all came in a phone call,” Pickett said. “It was probably one of the best moments of my life. I’m so excited to get started and get to work with the guys next door to me.”
Pickett admitted he broke down having dreamed about this moment since he was a kid with his father. He said he felt helpless waiting but got the call immediately after the Saints pick. When he saw the 412-area code, he was overwhelmed with emotion.
Pressure in Pittsburgh
Kevin Colbert said one of the issues they talked with Pickett about was handling going from being a Pitt great to being the Steelers quarterback. He warned Pickett about the expectations in this city for the black and gold QB.
“It’s the National Football League, so there is pressure always,” Pickett said. “I love playing football. I love playing a game. This has been my whole entire life. I’m so excited to get with a new team, new coaches. The pressure is always there, it’s a business.”