PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Varying assessments of Kenny Pickett's performance and his role in the win against the Saints on Sunday. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed how he's matured at his news conference on Tuesday.
Pickett completed 18 of 30 passes for 199 yards against New Orleans. He missed some throws early, but also led an offense that was 9 of 17 on third downs and one of one on fourth down. Pickett rushed for a career-high 51 yards and the game-clinching touchdown. Most importantly for the group, the Steelers got a third win.
"It's been really impressive," Tomlin said of Pickett's growth. "I think his general growth if you ask me to summarize the rate of growth. The range of growth. It's been really impressive in all areas. I think it's reasonable to expect it to continue."
Sunday was his fifth start and only the second with no turnovers. He mentioned after the game he stopped himself from trying to make a risky play and threw the ball way to live for another opportunity.
What also has picked up in the last two games, his rushing totals. Along with the 51 against the Saints, he had a previous high of 37 against Philadelphia; 85 of his 149 career rushing yards came in the previous pair of games. Tomlin says Pickett is learning how to do so without getting hammered.
"Every time I say quarterback mobility, I always say the prudent use of quarterback mobility," Tomlin said. "I do so intentionally because there is risk associated with that. Risk is something that we all weigh. Any of us that have mobility at the quarterback position, I think that's a component of the equation each and every week."
"Mobility is a good thing, but when and how to use it while managing the risk component of it is also an element of the equation and will always be."
It was the first game Pickett won as a starter where he completed the game. He got the win starting against Tampa Bay before leaving due to concussion symptoms.
"We are just trying to win football games and he's a component of it," Tomlin said. "He's got to get better and play better each and every week. We expect that. He expects that. There's a lot of meat on the bone in all areas of his game. That's not a wild statement because he is a young guy."
