Kenny Pickett showed signs of a franchise QB in Steelers loss vs Bengals
By Tommy Jaggi
Pickett took some shots vs Bengals, but stood tough
Kenny Pickett isn’t perfect when it comes to this (no rookie is). He still needs to be a bit more patient in the pocket before looking to bail. However, we saw some very promising signs from him in Week 11 that showcased his ability to deliver some nice footballs under pressure.
The best example of this came on a corner route when Pickett connected with George Pickens for a deep touchdown. As the Bengals sent the blitz, the pressure barreled down on Pickett and he took a lick in the chops immediately after delivering the ball, but he didn’t let the pressure in his face affect the pass.
We witnessed a few of these plays against Cincinnati. Instead of ducking for cover or trying to find an escape route, I was encouraged by Pickett standing tough in the pocket. Not only that, but after some of these plays, he would get up smiling and chatting with the defender that hit him.
Pickett doesn’t seem to be phased or rattled when he gets flattened by a big defensive tackle or a blitzing linebacker. This is a great sign that he has the moxie and grit to be a franchise quarterback.
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The reality is it could be another year or so before we really know if Kenny Pickett will be the long-term franchise quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though the results weren’t perfect against the Bengals in Week 11. We certainly saw some very encouraging signs that he could be ‘the guy.’