OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: They Killed Kenny!

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Recently, the offensive linemen, running backs and tight ends began meeting together every Thursday to discuss the game plan on the ground. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer gets up on the whiteboard and details how each run should go and where the cuts are.

“It’s new the last couple of weeks, and I think it’s helpful,” center Mason Cole said.

Steelers' dormant run game has come alive at midseason (again), propelling win vs. Packers

Last year, the Steelers' running game powered a late-season revival. Now, it appears they've found that magic again, this time at 6-3.

theathletic.com

Maybe there's things I don't understand about pro sports, but I don't understand how it took half a season for this to happen

Geez!

Thanks for this update. I've wondered off and on about whether or not our offensive scheme is being properly taught across our position groups. Apparently it hasn't been.

 

[TimmyD]

They haven’t really played a soft schedule though. The couple of strength of schedule ratings I’ve seen have them at one of the harder schedulers so far this year.

Outside of the divisional games, their back half of the year is going to be easier than the first half.

Tennessee, Green Bay, Raiders, Rams. Those teams aren’t good. Houston and San Francisco are good and you saw what happened. The Browns are just the Steelers with a worse QB. I would say they have played 4 bad teams. I would say that’s pretty soft when you have 6 wins

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

In his 3 play wins he got a combined 3 tds from his QB he is preparing to run the ball not turn it over and play defense

How long ago were Tomlin's playoff wins? Yea it's a different era now. You cannot play smashmouth unless you have dynamic runners like CMC/ Deebo
Who is playing that role for the Steelers?

 

[JTG]

Recently, the offensive linemen, running backs and tight ends began meeting together every Thursday to discuss the game plan on the ground. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer gets up on the whiteboard and details how each run should go and where the cuts are.

“It’s new the last couple of weeks, and I think it’s helpful,” center Mason Cole said.

Steelers' dormant run game has come alive at midseason (again), propelling win vs. Packers

Last year, the Steelers' running game powered a late-season revival. Now, it appears they've found that magic again, this time at 6-3.

theathletic.com

Maybe there's things I don't understand about pro sports, but I don't understand how it took half a season for this to happen

I truly believe that this team with our coaches are woefully under prepared. Put a Shanahan or Lefleur here, and it's a wildly different team. We actually are ridiculously talented. You would never know though.

Jace Sternberger also showed how this offense doesn't allow guys to separate themselves with football intelligence. Sternberger said you basically have one read v. allowing a guy like Freiermuth to understand the defense and make decisions as he's running a route. From what Sterberger says, if a receiver is running a round, he just runs it regardless of what the defense is showing. It also lends credence to what we have heard in the past about these guys not being able to audible.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Totally agree. But they can't do anything about it in the middle of the season. This offseason will be very interesting.

In terms of coordinators coming in or players?
If it's players you're referencing, they STILL need to find if KP is the guy. And with this approach they never will; ergo they will never win a playoff game

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Recently, the offensive linemen, running backs and tight ends began meeting together every Thursday to discuss the game plan on the ground. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer gets up on the whiteboard and details how each run should go and where the cuts are.

“It’s new the last couple of weeks, and I think it’s helpful,” center Mason Cole said.

Steelers' dormant run game has come alive at midseason (again), propelling win vs. Packers

Last year, the Steelers' running game powered a late-season revival. Now, it appears they've found that magic again, this time at 6-3.

theathletic.com

Maybe there's things I don't understand about pro sports, but I don't understand how it took half a season for this to happen

This is absolutely insane. These are peoples' full time jobs (to coach the players). Are they working 40 hours a week and then Tomlin tells everyone to go home?

Considering the lack of detail in this organization, I guess it shouldn't surprise me that the players aren't on details either (Gunner dragging his feet inbounds on the KO).

Any other owner hearing this would fire their coach on the spot. Hilarious that all this enabling behavior and codependency is running amok in this once proud organization. And the Yinzers just sit there and whiff the Tomlin farts....

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Geez!

Thanks for this update. I've wondered off and on about whether or not our offensive scheme is being properly taught across our position groups. Apparently it hasn't been.

The o line and bell used to always get together at pouncey house to go over game plans according to foster. Bringing in the te group is new

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

The o line and bell used to always get together at pouncey house to go over game plans according to foster. Bringing in the te group is new

So?

 

[Goalie_Bob]

In terms of coordinators coming in or players?
If it's players you're referencing, they STILL need to find if KP is the guy. And with this approach they never will; ergo they will never win a playoff game

I'm talking about players. Especially a starting QB, they can't just go find one midseason. I think they know that KP is not the guy. He isn't accurate enough and he can't read the defense fast enough to make decisions. Thus they are running a simple offense to keep the mistakes as low as possible. KP is the best QB they have to run the offense and not make mistakes, thus they are just sticking with him.

If they stick idly by and don't draft a QB, say in the top 3 rounds or pursue Fields then maybe I am wrong. But there are 7-8 QBs in the upcoming draft that would be drafted ahead of Pickett if he was in this draft.

People need to watch other games and see that Pickett is at best, extremely mediocre. Tyson Bagent looks equally as good and he played at a DII school. Dobbs looks way better. Sam Howell looks infinitely better. The dude for the Giants had 2 TD passes........

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I'm talking about players. Especially a starting QB, they can't just go find one midseason. I think they know that KP is not the guy. He isn't accurate enough and he can't read the defense fast enough to make decisions. Thus they are running a simple offense to keep the mistakes as low as possible. KP is the best QB they have to run the offense and not make mistakes, thus they are just sticking with him.

If they stick idly by and don't draft a QB, say in the top 3 rounds or pursue Fields then maybe I am wrong. But there are 7-8 QBs in the upcoming draft that would be drafted ahead of Pickett if he was in this draft.

People need to watch other games and see that Pickett is at best, extremely mediocre. Tyson Bagent looks equally as good and he played at a DII school. Dobbs looks way better. Sam Howell looks infinitely better. The dude for the Giants had 2 TD passes........

What they SHOULD do and what they WILL do are unfortunately two different things.

What will happen though is KP is likely to get a 5th year option because "we need to see if he'll develop" and they'll rationalize it because he's a 1st round pick. Even though both of those excuses are BS.

So while neither of us may not like it, we better get used to #8 being out there for the next few seasons...

 

[Goalie_Bob]

If KP is still playing this way after next season, there is zero chance they pick up the 5th year option.

The Rooney's are pretty stingy with money and I have a hard time believing they will sign up to pay 25mil to KP for his current performance. Maybe my faith is misguided, but I think Weidl and Khan will stop it from happening as well.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

What they SHOULD do and what they WILL do are unfortunately two different things.

What will happen though is KP is likely to get a 5th year option because "we need to see if he'll develop" and they'll rationalize it because he's a 1st round pick. Even though both of those excuses are BS.

So while neither of us may not like it, we better get used to #8 being out there for the next few seasons...

Kp is coming off tying his season low in attempts completed half his passes xith in 5 yards to his run backs and barely cracked 60 percent completion percentage. They aren’t even considering his 5th year option they are taking the ball from him

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

If KP is still playing this way after next season, there is zero chance they pick up the 5th year option.

The Rooney's are pretty stingy with money and I have a hard time believing they will sign up to pay 25mil to KP for his current performance. Maybe my faith is misguided, but I think Weidl and Khan will stop it from happening as well.

IDK...I'd happy to be wrong but this organization is about as nimble as an oil barge when it comes to stuff like this

 

[Peat]

I'd be surprised and worried if this team brought back Pickett for a 5th year if he's posting the same numbers, but at the same time, excessive loyalty and conservatism is definitely a thing with this team, so...

And they've got Pickett playing through injury and giving him the ball to throw on the biggest offensive play of the game, so I'm not sure they are losing faith in him.

 

[MrBrightside]

I seriously cannot recall another professional athlete in Pittsburgh who has been as bad/mediocre as Pickett has been for 1.5 seasons and for which more excuses were made. Literally not one. If he'd played college ball at Oregon State or Purdue or something he'd be viewed by this fan base the same way Pats fans view Mac Jones or Jets fans view Zach Wilson or Falcons fans view Desmond Ridder. It's truly a bizarre phenomenon.

 

[JTG]

I seriously cannot recall another professional athlete in Pittsburgh who has been as bad/mediocre as Pickett has been for 1.5 seasons and for which more excuses were made. Literally not one. If he'd played college ball at Oregon State or Purdue or something he'd be viewed by this fan base the same way Pats fans view Mac Jones or Jets fans view Zach Wilson or Falcons fans view Desmond Ridder. It's truly a bizarre phenomenon.

And yet he's 13-9. He has been average at best, but it's not like when he's playing we lose more than we win. It's quite the juxtaposition.

 

[MayorofWBS]

Kenny Pickett isn't the one. He needs to be upgraded but it's not like the Steelers don't have multiple holes to fill. When the opportunity comes they should draft someone else though...

 

[DanielPlainview]

I’m curious what magical QB people think they’re going to find who can make completions to bad routes with no one open and make throws with poor protection

 

[Factorial]

I seriously cannot recall another professional athlete in Pittsburgh who has been as bad/mediocre as Pickett has been for 1.5 seasons and for which more excuses were made. Literally not one. If he'd played college ball at Oregon State or Purdue or something he'd be viewed by this fan base the same way Pats fans view Mac Jones or Jets fans view Zach Wilson or Falcons fans view Desmond Ridder. It's truly a bizarre phenomenon.

We'll see as the season progresses. No need to agonize over what happens in the future.

If he doesn't work out they'll get someone else.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Kenny Pickett isn't the one. He needs to be upgraded but it's not like the Steelers don't have multiple holes to fill. When the opportunity comes they should draft someone else though...

Pickett right now reminds me of Rudolph in 2019. And a large part of me in 2019 wanted to just build a fantastic team around a cheap QB and see how far we could get that way.

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Get $15M of savings on Heyward through a 2-year extension.
$10M on restructures to Watt/Minkah
$10M on Robinson
$9M on Chuks
$7M on Pat Pete
$4.5M on Cole

That gives us >$60M to work with.

Grab a C, T, 2 defensive backs between free agency and the draft.
Obviously we wouldn't be the only ones vying for those spots, but we are 2 OL and 2 DBs away from having a great team (except QB).

The only likely-available QB that gives me pause is Jayden Daniels from LSU. Great arm strength and athleticism. He gives me Lamar Jackson vibes.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't think the Steelers will pick up Pickett's 5th year option because it would be like $30 million, which is downright asinine to pay Pickett. He'll either get an extension at a more reasonable AAV (think Garapolo type of deal) or they'll let him walk.

The main advantage this team has with playing Pickett during his rookie deal is that he's insanely cheap during his rookie deal. His rookie deal was only something like 4 years and $14 million, so they still have 2 extremely cheap years with him left. Trubisky is actually making more than him. After his rookie deal, I think it will become substantially more important to question his fit and decide where to go.

But in the next 2 years, they're not even paying backup prices for Pickett. They're paying less for Pickett than the Eagles are paying Mariota to be a backup for Hurts or the Dolphins are paying White to be the backup for Tua. Not only that, but I think this team isn't a new QB away from winning anything in the next 2 years, so I don't really see much of a justification to move on from Pickett during his rookie deal.

 

[ChaosAgent]

But in the next 2 years, they're not even paying backup prices for Pickett. They're paying less for Pickett than the Eagles are paying Mariota to be a backup for Hurts or the Dolphins are paying White to be the backup for Tua. Not only that, but I think this team isn't a new QB away from winning anything in the next 2 years, so I don't really see much of a justification to move on from Pickett during his rookie deal.

I think the reason you'd do it is if you get a new franchise QB and you feel that having the old franchise QB would be a distraction if he stuck around.
But I don't think that's in Pickett's DNA. And he'd be a pretty damn good backup QB if I were to bet.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think the reason you'd do it is if you get a new franchise QB and you feel that having the old franchise QB would be a distraction if he stuck around.
But I don't think that's in Pickett's DNA. And he'd be a pretty damn good backup QB if I were to bet.

I think Pickett is going to have a long career even if he doesn't cut it as a starter as a journeyman starter/backup hybrid. If he doesn't cut it as a starter, he'll be the new Mariota I think.

But even then, I don't think this team will be bad enough to luck into getting a great QB in the draft. They need to truly stink and finish with a top-10 pick to get a super-bowl winning caliber QB and I just don't see that happening anytime soon.

 

[Peat]

I seriously cannot recall another professional athlete in Pittsburgh who has been as bad/mediocre as Pickett has been for 1.5 seasons and for which more excuses were made. Literally not one. If he'd played college ball at Oregon State or Purdue or something he'd be viewed by this fan base the same way Pats fans view Mac Jones or Jets fans view Zach Wilson or Falcons fans view Desmond Ridder. It's truly a bizarre phenomenon.

And I can't think of any professional athlete in Pittsburgh who has had as many excuse worthy things happen to them in 1.5 seasons.

And the bizarre phenomenon to me is so many people want to point at Pickett for not turning coal into diamonds then point at the people who gave him coal for Christmas. And then get all cranky when others don't join them in for blaming Pickett for failing to overcome what has been, by and large, a deeply below average OL, an immature/injury hit Receiver corps, a very conservative QB plan, and an OC who was being utterly lambasted for his many and obvious failings long before Pickett even hit the field.

I don't even have a huge brief for Pickett. I'm just bamboozled by the idea people expect him to give anything like his best in these circs.

 

[MrBrightside]

Pickett right now reminds me of Rudolph in 2019. And a large part of me in 2019 wanted to just build a fantastic team around a cheap QB and see how far we could get that way.

Rudolph in 2019 was better than Pickett has been the last 2 years, and Rudolph got benched repeatedly and almost no one thought "hey, he could be the guy if we just had a better OC and if WR got open."

With all this said, for as convinced as I am that Pickett is not a legitimate NFL starter, there are about 15 teams out there that can say the same thing. QB play hasn't been this bad across the league in a long time.