PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – George Pickens wants more. He knows there is more out there for him, but he said he hasn’t demanded, asked or even suggested to Steelers coaches or Kenny Pickett that he catch more passes this year. Pickens said he’ll just let his game do the talking.
“I’m not really sure how each game will go, how the targets will work,” Pickens said. “I just know when it comes my way, I’m going to try to make a play.”
The rookie from Georgia really opened eyes in training camp last year. Fans could see the athleticism, the acrobatic catches and his competitiveness wanting to compete against, and often trash-talk, veterans Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Sutton in drills. But it was slow to materialize on the field.
One catch for three yards in his first game, one catch for 23 yards in his second, three catches in his third before breaking out for 102 yards against the Jets. That would coincide with Pickett taking over as the starting quarterback. Going into his second year, Pickens said the communication and timing is so much better already this season.
“We’ve had a really good first couple of days together,” Pickett told the PM Team on 93.7 The Fan referring to the two days of Organized Team Activities. “When we are on the field together, we are constantly talking about what we see. What he sees. Where I need him. He goes out there and does exactly what we ask him to do and then let his talents take over.”
“You don’t want to have him overthink it. I tell him I will put it in his zip code and he will do the rest. The guy makes unbelievable plays. I’m excited to go into year two with him and build off what we did in year one together.”
Even though they had some big games, it wasn’t consistent. The zero-catch game against the Eagles, one catch for two yards against Atlanta or the two-catch game against the Ravens. Now, though he has someone to talk to and potentially play opposite of with 10 years of experience.
“I see a lot of my younger self in George as far as coming of a rookie year being able to expand that into being a Pro Bowl, All-Pro player,” new Steeler Allen Robinson told 93.7 The Fan. “We have been able to communicate some of the things that I’ve been able to experience. Some of the things I look for play-in and play-out.”
Robinson, how has 43 career touchdowns and three, one-thousand yard seasons, said he thought he knew it all in his second year but didn’t. He’s trying to show Pickens the importance of studying, which will allow him to play faster. There is also an art to know what you want to do and then execute that during a game.
It’s not forced either, the two have developed a bond where Pickens said he’s learning the ins-and-outs of the game.
How to attack the field. He said they are always talking football-between reps, in meetings and even off the field.
As an offense, Pickens said the emphasis has been to improve on first down. It’s a team that was middle of the pack last year on yards per play on first down, the second-year receiver said that has totally changed.
“First down is more critical this year, ‘cause it sets up go-balls, posts,” Pickens said. “First down is one of the things we’ve been talking about in the meetings, first down is probably the most important down.”
Being more aggressive on first down could lead to a more successful offense overall and . It’s a group that was 26th in points per game at just 18.1. What could help spark it is some chunk plays, the Steelers were worst in the league in plays of 40-yards. That’s where a more clued-in, knowledgeable, confident Pickens can make a big impact.
“Just me personally, I’m just going to get yards after catch, just reach for the highest,” Pickens said. “If I got an out route, I’m not going out-of-bounds this year. I’m going to fight for extra yardage. I feel this year we are going to have an edge. We are definitely going to have an edge.”
While he has some individual goals of 1,000 yards and a Pro Bowl, he said the big goal is to win a Super Bowl. For the Steelers to be in that conversation, Pickens must have a big year.