3 of the worst issues of Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett

Steelers issue #3

Pocket Presence

Starting off with the most correctable of his issues, one of Pickett’s major flaws as a prospect was his ability to stay in the pocket and make plays. While not a dynamic running quarterback, more often than not Pickett would roll out of the pocket. While this can help evade pressure, he was also known to do this even when the pockets were clean. This is something that you can get away with at the college level but could lead to a lot of sacks as a pro.

Behind an elite offensive line, this wouldn’t be the biggest issue in the world. There, Pickett would have better protection that would limit his need to roll out of the pocket, and even when he does, they will be able to protect him better. The Steelers don’t have this luxury though. Their line is nothing more than average. That means if Pickett tries to move around, it could cost him.

The only good aspect of this is that vision in the pocket and general pocket awareness can be improved upon as a pro. Early on though, this can be a limiting factor, as rolling to the outside with a mediocre line is risky. Pickett can get past this, but it will require some discipline on his end. If he tries to move around as he did in college though, it can lead to a heavy dosage of sacks early in his career though.