Was Steelers struggling QB Kenny Pickett rushed into starting too soon?

Steelers Kenny Pickett is experiencing rookie growing pains. With the mistakes he’s made, did the Steelers start him too soon?

Kenny Pickett has thrown 7 interceptions since making his rookie debut against the Jets when he replaced Mitch Trubisky. In the span of four games, Pickett is averaging almost 2 interceptions per game.

When you really get down to the details, Pickett only played the second half against the Jets, and really only played 2 quarters against the Buccaneers before leaving with an injury. So, that makes for 7 interceptions in the span of 12 quarters of play – not the kind of production you want to see from a quarterback drafted in the first round.

As fans looked at the schedule, it seemed like the team only had two realistic options. Either start Pickett immediately or wait until the bye week. The Steelers surprised everyone when they threw Pickett into the mix against the Jets in Week 4. The decision created a spark for the offense and the fans.

With Pickett under center, the offense began moving down the field consistently and aggressively. But being aggressive has come back to haunt the young quarterback. Learning to play the game in the NFL has a learning curve for rookies, but this is why the timing of Picketts’ debut should have been more carefully considered. Below I’ll discuss how the two scenarios could have played out.

Steelers should have started Pickett in Week 1

If the Steelers planned to throw in Pickett as early as Week 4, then they should have planned to start him in Week 1. Three additional games under his belt may have given him more experience to quickly grow into the position.

Seeing that Pickett is already 24 years old makes him an old rookie. With his age and after playing for five years in college, you can assume that he has the maturity and the skill to begin his professional career as a starter.

Anticipating the struggles a rookie faces in the NFL, it would have been convenient to get those lessons learned in the early weeks of the season. The Steelers elected to have the struggles play out in the middle of the season, during their toughest stretch of opponents. Pickett would have been better prepared for the Bills, Dolphins, and Eagles if he started in Week 1.

Steelers should have started Pickett after the bye week

In the four games following Pittsburgh’s Week 9 bye week, they will face the Saints, Bengals, Colts, and Falcons. Seeing your first NFL action against these teams would be a perfect way to build up a young quarterback’s confidence. That stretch of opponents looks much more manageable than the Bills, Dolphins, and Eagles.

After the bye, the Steelers have a strong chance of winning all four of those games. As a rookie, starting your career against those teams would be games where you can create a strong foundation. They are still going to be competitive opponents, but they are not as daunting as the teams Pickett is in the midst of facing.

Giving Pickett more time and reps to develop chemistry and practice being aggressive with the team in a practice setting could have accelerated his growth.

Be Patient with Pickett

Regardless of when Pickett started playing, it was evident that mistakes would be made. He needs time to grow, just like every other rookie. Did the Steelers throw him into the mix too soon? Only time will tell. But for now, it looks like he is making steps toward solidifying his role in the future of the franchise. So take a breath, buckle up, and give the rookie some time to get his game together.