What if Pickett has an above-average season for the Steelers?
ATT | COM | % | Yards | Y/G | TD | INT | Rush | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
459 | 296 | 64.5% | 3825 | 225 | 20 | 11 | 75 | 375 | 5 |
The above-average season is pretty in line with what my average expectation is for Pickett in year two. He averages a few more passes a game and healthier yards per game, but he is still lacking the sizzle of a typical elite quarterback.
Where Pickett really shines is in his efficiency. His completion percentage shoots up a little which makes all of his numbers look better. While he falls just short of 4000 passing yards, he looks the part of a starting quarterback. The offense still heavily relies on the ground game, but Pickett can make defenses pay on occasion with some big plays.
His scoring numbers are still low but are healthier than what they were as a rookie. His touchdown ratio is an average of some names I compare Pickett to (Derek Carr and Andy Dalton). Their second seasons yielded a healthy ratio of 4.35 percent, which in turn led Pickett to throw for 20 scores.
His interception ratio actually remains the same as the average number. While Pickett is a more effective thrower, it also leads to a more risky style of passing offense. There was a cleaning-up process for Pickett in the second half of his rookie season, but he still made some bad choices. The extra emphasis on the passing game leads to some more turnovers.
Finally, his rushing stats are more efficient, and he finds the endzone an additional time that way. What you see in this scenario is a more collected player that is relying on the run game to open up the passing game. He takes what is given, makes a few plays on his own, and continues to show growth where needed.