LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – The first play of training camp on Thursday was a deep pass from Kenny Pickett to George Pickens. On Friday the receiver said it was a message of what is to come from the 2023 Steelers offense.
"I feel like that was an explosive hint that we are going to take more shots this year," Pickens said. "Mix it up a little bit."
Cue the 'Hallelujah' music or even 'Renegade'.
The Steelers top deep threat says they are going to throw down the field more. He said it's not a huge change to the offense. Not even something they really talked about because most of the plays are the same. However, Pickens said 'in terms of where we are going with the ball, huge change'.
Comfortability with the quarterback, and he said Kenny Pickett is more composed this year and making the right reads, and other players knowing the system is a big reason why. He said personally he spent much of camp last year just trying to prove that his health was right from the ACL tear his last year in college. Pickens says he knows all of the routes now and has been working to turn the short passes he gets into chunk plays.
"He has all the God-given ability," veteran Allen Robinson said of Pickens. "From a veteran leader, from me, I think about all the things I may not have been told or exposed to when I was in my second year."
"That's off the field, from a treatment regimen standpoint. Certain things I had to do to keep my body right. Certain things I may look for when I'm on the field technique-wise. Very small things. For him, obviously his talent is going to take care of a lot of that. … but he has to put his antenna up for things to think about."
The two are roommates and Pickens said Robinson has been very available to discuss the game or even stuff outside of it. So has corner Patrick Peterson, who was one of his favorite players growing up. He told Peterson that he watched him and 'now I've got to make plays on you'. Pickens even has a picture of Peterson at LSU locking up Alabama's Julio Jones as a fond memory from childhood.
He's able to tell Peterson he's going to make plays on him. It tells you about his confidence. So do his list of goals--most catches in the league, 1,000 yards, All Pro and winning a Super Bowl as goals. How attainable are they?
"I feel like they are super attainable, just off the coaching," Pickens said. "One thing I know about getting to the Super Bowl, those goals aligned with the Super Bowl are going to come as well. With Kenny distributing the ball, I feel like that is going to make everyone better and happy."
"I can just feel it. Last year I was so busy learning and working I wasn't able to feel everyone's energy. This year I feel like everyone is going to come together."
There is also competition, receiver Diontae Johnson said they compete constantly. Pickens confirmed that and said it helps both of their games.
"That pushes me a lot," Pickens said with a smile. "That's how I was raised anyway. If he makes a play, now I'm ready to make a one-hand catch. Up it. Up it. Up it. That's only going to make it better. It's the best way to do it."
Pickens knows there is a lot of attention on him. He's dealt with the hype his entire life. He uses that to motivate him. He also has the attention component associated with many receivers. Meaning he's thought about arriving to camp someday in a helicopter.
"Yeah I have, I'm not going to lie to you because that's just cool."
If he can be anywhere near as explosive as the last receiver to arrive on a helicopter, the Steelers will have a better 2023.
