Traditionally unhealthy stat has some Steelers followers out on Kenny Pickett already

Kenny Pickett’s terrible begin for the Pittsburgh Steelers ought to be a large trigger for concern.

It’s a small pattern dimension, however Pittsburgh Steelers followers aren’t going to like what it means for rookie beginning quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Pittsburgh enters its bye week with a disastrous 2-6 report. They’re tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 14th place within the AFC. Solely the Houston Texans are worse than them at 1-5-1.

Merely put, it’s going to take a contemporary miracle for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to keep away from his first shedding season on the helm. Much more troubling, Pickett is exhibiting indicators that he’s not the man…

Pickett’s landing to interception ratio (2:8) is the worst of any former first-round quarterback in his first 5 NFL video games relationship again to 2010.

In fact, there may be greater than meets the attention. Right here is why that is so particularly troubling for him.

Kenny Pickett appears to be like like complete bust in his first 5 video games with Pittsburgh Steelers

Pickett was the primary, and solely, quarterback taken within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft. He fell to his new hometown Steelers at No. 20. No different famous signal-caller got here off the board till the third spherical. Whereas Malik Willis is the one different rookie quarterback to see significant snaps of observe, the Tennessee Titans put him right into a scenario the place he may very well be profitable in his first begin.

Clearly, there’s a lot to unpack right here. Pickett looks as if a likable man, a participant you wish to pull for. Sadly, it is probably not within the playing cards for the ole Faux Slide King. Though he had an absurd quantity of begins at Pitt, it was not till his tremendous senior season that he set the ACC on hearth. His nice closing school season elevated a mid-tier prospect all the best way as much as a low-end, first-rounder.

Two-glove nonsense apart, there are 4 different issues that Steelers followers ought to be involved about.

Pickett’s greatest attribute popping out was his means to begin and play straight away. He performed his school ball on the identical area because the Steelers. Matt Canada was a big part of his recruitment to flip from Temple to Pitt. We additionally can not overlook the actual fact Pickett has to interchange a legend….

And it’s not just like the Steelers are devoid of expertise. Najee Harris gained the Doak Walker at Alabama within the Crimson Tide backfield. Pat Freiermuth was a stud at Penn State. Chase Claypool could make performs at receiver and George Pickens had a lot untapped potential popping out of Georgia. Whereas the offensive line is various shades of horrible, there are groups with far worse weaponry.

Briefly, Pickett was solely going to be nearly as good within the NFL as his scenario would enable for him to be. Many thought the Steelers’ tradition would elevate him and assist offset a few of his deficiencies. Sadly, lots of them have been uncovered since taking up for Mitchell Trubisky. Whereas it’s comprehensible why Tomlin made the transfer when he did, he picked between two unhealthy alternate options.

Plenty of quarterbacks have unhealthy rookie years, however Pickett is wanting extra bust than growth proper now.