PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In an interview that spanned ‘Wedding Crashers’ to 100-page playbook installs, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett joined the PM Team on 93.7 The Fan from Studio B at Bowser Chevrolet in Monroeville.
You can hear Pickett talk about the season, his receivers, the Draft, his learning curve as well as questions not normally asked in an interview setting. That is right below.
The second-year quarterback said they’ve laid a great foundation this offseason. Players have worked together and separately and he feels for himself, and the team, they are far ahead of 2022.
“This time last year, I had no clue what was going on,” Pickett told Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller from Bowser Chevrolet. “I was trying to catch up. After rookie mini-camp (2022) we were on install one and we picked up with the vets and they were on six. There were five installs I had to catch up on. Now that I’m leading the way and able to have an input on certain things. It has definitely slowed down for me.”
Pickett praised the effort done between the end of last season and now with Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada and Quarterbacks Coach Mike Sullivan. He said going through what he went through helps validate his opinion with his teammates and the coaches.
“After the bye week when I got a chance to really study, I felt a lot better going into the back-half of the year,” Pickett told the PM Team on 93.7 The Fan. “We took things we really liked. Saw things we thought were good, but when we look back we weren’t as successful as we thought we were.”
“We moved things, shuffled it around, got some new concepts from other teams watching in the offseason. It’s a long process. The entire staff, not just Coach Canada, really worked well together in bringing some stuff to the team.”
As for his take on some of the Steelers receivers.
George Pickens
“We’ve had a really good first couple of days together,” Pickett said 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.”
Calvin Austin
“It’s been awesome to have him back,” Pickett told 93.7 The Fan about the receiver who missed his entire rookie season. “He will play a huge role in this offense. His skill set, I think we were lacking last year with his speed and how he opens things up. He will do everything you will ask him to do. He’s in there every day working hard and one of the better guys I’ve been able to meet coming to the Steelers. He’s a great teammate and one of the better guys I’ve been able to meet.”
Allen Robinson
“He’s a veteran presence that’s been really good since he’s been here,” Pickett told Fillipponi and Mueller of the receiver who came over in a trade this offseason. “He’s played a lot of football. He’s been in multiple systems. He’s been saying on plays we are running ‘we’ve had success this way, rather than running it this way’. He’s had constant communication.
While there were obvious clear-out routes last year with no intent to throw deep. Pickett says he will be better going through his progressions. It’s part of the evolution of the offense. He didn’t promise they would take more shots down field, but it seems obvious they are in a better position to do so this year.
Pickett told the PM Team from Bowser Chevrolet the NFL Draft was a ‘home run’. He believes GM Omar Khan, Asst GM Andy Weidl and the entire staff hit everything they wanted to hit.
“The guys that we want are quality people and great football players,” Pickett said Wednesday. “It’s awesome to see these guys come in and work and think I was there a year ago. It’s great to give advice to guys that will help us this year.”
The Pitt All-American mentioned a couple of times about giving his opinion. He said while he lets the coaches run the show and have the lead voice, he’s into open communication. He doesn’t want there to be egos so they can have honest talks and attempts to set it up that no one gets offended when criticized. He said with this group, they are improved from last season with a single focus of wanting to win.
And that is Pickett goal, he doesn’t write down numbers of what he is looking to achieve. He tells Fillipponi and Mueller if they win the Super Bowl all the goals are met.