LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers receiver George Pickens admits he’s heard the rumors of Brandon Aiyuk coming to the Steelers, but he doesn’t indulge in them. Pickens said he’s locked in with his teammates.
Pickens said he’s never met Aiyuk and isn’t going to get into his business.
The third-year receiver said it was a productive camp at St. Vincent College, saying as a total group he felt like they did a great job. He said the offense is going to be explosive this year and a part of that is the work from the tight ends. He singled out all of them including newcomer MyCole Pruitt. After having Matt Canada as his offensive coordinator his first two seasons, he said of the Arthur Smith offense.
“The scheme of it is great,” Pickens said Wednesday. “There are a lot of schemed deep balls because you remember last year I was running only ‘go’s’. I was running deep balls last year too but I feel it’s a way better scheme vertically.”
“Defense is still going to play man in coverage. You are still going to have to beat a guy one-on-one. The scheme is for sure prolific vertically.”
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It’s also more prolific in Pickens words because they have mobility at quarterback. He called Justin Fields ‘an athletic freak’ and that is going to allow for more plays downfield. He’s had a lot more time with Fields due to Russell Wilson’s calf injury, but said Wilson has been motivating the team.
Pickens also is motivating the team, but he says he does that more by his actions. We’ve seen a number of not just one-handed catches, but leaping catches while getting his feet inbounds. Having the ability to make a special catch and then immediately turn upfield and finish the play and not just celebrate the grab.
“That’s the best I’m doing right now,” Pickens said. “I can kinda feel the guys rallying around. We get more excitement. Guys want to make bigger plays, which I like.”
Pickens is not just working the outside in the Smith offense, but also in the slot. He said that will set him up for more seam routes and the ability to not only potentially get mismatches on linebackers or safeties, but keep teams from double-teaming him.
He does throw in one qualifier as so many got excited about the Steelers offense in the preseason last year.
“Preseason is just pre-games and they really don’t count,” Pickens said.
Profound. Pickens hope is the foundation of this offense is going to result in better results when the games do count.
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