ESPN Panel Discusses Steelers Coordinator Change and Possibility of Saving Kenny Pickett’s Season
A good ten minutes of Sunday’s ESPN NFL countdown were devoted to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As expected, it was about the midseason release of franchise-first OC Matt Canada and whether QB Kenny Pickett and this passing offense could find a solution over the next seven games.
It was agreed that a decision was probably necessary, particularly given the growing frustration in the community, but that Pickett no longer has a “shield” in Canada that could cushion the worst criticism.“When you turn on the tape, you see what you saw, the malfunction, the communication problem. “It wasn’t an NFL offense,” said former NFL quarterback and current analyst Alex Smith.
Relatively speaking, it’s hard to find a worse offense across the board. Per drives, the Steelers rank 29th in points, 30th in yards, 31st in plays and 31st in possession.
Their offense hasn’t scored more than 23 points all season (the 26 they scored against Cleveland in Week 2 were aided by a pair of defensive scores) and they haven’t scored 30 points in a game since last November, now more than a whole year ago.
Smith urged the Steelers to use more play-action, citing that Pittsburgh has used it third-highest among all football teams.
His goal was to get Pickett moving, change the launch point and get him in a groove. Former coach Rex Ryan was dismayed by Pickett’s poor production.”[Sam Ponder] put a stat line up there at 13 touchdowns in 23 games.
As a starter, you’d have to go back 20 years to have a quarterback with a lower touchdown completion percentage in that many games,” Ryan said. “Twenty years. So for me it’s this. Are you the right man or not?”In 23 games (22 starts), Pickett threw just 13 touchdown passes. To dig deeper into Ryan’s comments:
According to Pro Football Reference, among quarterbacks with at least 500 pass attempts in their first 23 games, only Trent Dilfer has a touchdown percentage below ‘s 1.9 mark. Pickett.
Dilfer had a 0.9 rating and threw an incredible five touchdowns and 30 interceptions during that span. In Pickett’s favor, it must be said that while he doesn’t turn the ball over as quickly, he doesn’t make many plays either.
With frustration still palpable after the team’s 10-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns, former NFL rookie Tedy Bruschi knew the time had come for Mike Tomlin to act, even though everything the blame did not rest on Canada’s shoulders.“What was the final straw?” asked Bruschi. “These players are starting to complain publicly in the locker room.
And the locker room fights.”This refers to postgame comments from RB Najee Harris and others who expressed almost all of their frustration with yet another lethargic performance.
And yesterday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that WR Diontae Johnson chirped at the coaches in the locker room, leading to a confrontation with FS Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Pittsburgh was reaching a tipping point, and Tomlin had to shake things up to ease that tension. Randy Moss wants the interim staff of Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan to get the ball into the hands of their directors.
“Last week they forced the ball on Diontae Johnson,” Moss said. “Eight goals, only two catches. Well, there’s also a wide stud receiver there. With this new change on offense, I want to see if Mike Sullivan can get everyone involved.
Moss was referring to WR George Pickens, the team’s leading receiver but who has been limited to fewer than five catches and 50 yards in each game last month.
With the Cincinnati Bengals without top CB Cam Taylor-Britt, there is an opportunity for big plays. But Pittsburgh has missed these opportunities before.
Moss also urged the Steelers to use RB Jaylen Warren more often, who was outplayed and outclassed by RB Najee Harris last week, despite Warren being the team’s best source of offense.
The jury agreed that if matters were not resolved quickly, Pickett would draw most of the fire. Today he starts the comeback against the Cincinnati Bengals.
