Biggest issues facing each Steelers receiver in 2022
By Tommy Jaggi
George Pickens may need an attitude adjustment
Every player has something they can work on to get better. For rookie WR George Pickens, he needs more refinement in the mental part of the game than anything else. Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13, we got our first real taste of extreme frustration from the talented rookie as his body language told us everything we need to know.
There are going to be games when Pickens isn’t targeted often. But that’s just part of football. I know wide receivers feel like they are open on every play, but Pickens has to understand that he’s not going to get every look.
When he doesn’t he can’t hang his head as he did against the Falcons. Releasing his frustration the way he did is a bad look, as it makes it seem like he cares more about his own production than the outcome of the game.
The Steelers have dealt with their share of drama at the wide receiver position in the past, and we don’t want to go through anything like that again. Pickens could certainly become the WR1 for this team in due time, but he needs to be patient and he can’t allow his emotions to get to him like they already have. He could be the future of this receiving corps if he keeps his head on straight.