Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields clearly has a “kind” in terms of passing targets; his identify is George Pickens. Of his 43 passing makes an attempt, 10 have gone to Pickens, and that doesn’t embody negated performs resulting from penalty. To get a real image of precisely that dynamic, you must issue these performs into the equation.
“George is an elite receiver on this league”, Fields mentioned of Pickens after yesterday’s sport, through the Steelers’ web site. “I like him versus anyone. I’m not gonna draw back from a specific DB as a result of that DB is aware of how good George is, too. I’m gonna hold feeding George irrespective of who’s guarding him except it’s double protection. But when they’re double-covering him, another person is open”.
Formally, George Pickens solely caught two of 4 passes from Justin Fields or 29 yards within the Steelers’ 13-6 win over the Denver Broncos, however boy does that not inform the story. That leaves out some essential particulars, like an attractive 51-yard connection negated by an unrelated penalty on Broderick Jones. His additionally doesn’t embody a six-yard landing negated by a questionable name on a choose play. And it doesn’t embody a 37-yard defensive move interference penalty he drew towards CB Patrick Surtain II. That’s 94 yards of hidden yardage, plus a landing once they in any other case settled for a subject aim.
That’s why guys like Justin Fields say of Pickens issues like, “I don’t suppose there’s too many guys on this league that may guard him”. And Surtain overlaying him was an enormous story main as much as the sport. Even when the stat sheet doesn’t seem like it, the sport tape tells you who gained.
Fields even acknowledged that the Steelers attacked the Broncos deep partially due to the officiating crew but in addition partially due to their scheme. They wish to play man, and the Steelers like Pickens’ possibilities towards man. “When you will have a deep risk like George who has DBs scared getting beat deep, it’s simply us or no one”.
George Pickens, who caught six passes for 85 yards within the opener, additionally misplaced out on a 36-yard reception within the season opener on a questionable offensive move interference penalty. Take away simply the 2 questionable flags and that’s one other 87 yards he has on the season from Justin Fields.
And it’s certainly obtained to be irritating for each Pickens and Fields. It’s all of the extra credit score to Pickens that he has seemingly maintained his composure all through his unlucky officiating luck. Maybe in his third season he’s maturing. Or maybe he simply doesn’t care as a lot when the Steelers are literally successful, which at all times helps.
Both means, he nonetheless is aware of that he’s the Steelers’ No. 1 goal, and it isn’t shut. Pickens is the one actually dynamic receiving risk on this roster, even when they’ve some complementary items. Pat Freiermuth can do some work, and one hopes Van Jefferson begins catching passes. However this passing offense is George Pickens and whoever is throwing to him, which for now could be Justin Fields.
