The dialogue about Pittsburgh Steelers second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett begins and ends with one factor at this level: he is successful.
In his first 22 video games (21 begins), Pickett is 13-8, together with 6-3 this season. That is a successful share of .619 by his first season and a half as a starter for the Black and Gold.
For a lot of, that is ok, as a result of successful is crucial factor in skilled sports activities. However contextualizing these wins and the way the Steelers win is necessary. Granted, Pickett is taking part in exceptionally nicely within the closing quarter of his profession, main the Steelers to 6 fourth-quarter comebacks and 7 game-winning drives within the NFL. However the first three quarters are troublesome.
He additionally seems to have regressed in some key areas this season, notably accuracy.
Whereas the wins are extra frequent than the losses, for Fox Sports activities head Colin Cowherd, the wins and losses cannot be the one factor a quarterback is judged on in as we speak’s NFL.
A day after Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin declared that he and Pickett are judged on wins and losses and that is all that issues within the enterprise, Cowherd went sturdy.
“Mike Tomlin says, ‘Hey, Kenny Pickett is successful, and he ought to be measured by his wins.’ Nicely, Tim Tebow received seven video games in a row. Tim Tebow has an NFL file over .500. He’s dangerous. He received on nice protection and Matt Prater’s nice foot over largely dangerous groups,” Cowherd stated in response to Tomlin’s feedback about Pickett’s game-winning performs. “You do not signal Tim Tebow to an enormous five-year contract. “Nicely, we have received seven in a row.” You contextualize why he was successful.”
“…It might probably’t simply be wins and losses or outcomes,” Cowherd added.
Whereas the Steelers could also be taking a look at Pickett based mostly on his wins or losses, the remainder of the league actually is not. At this level in his profession, whereas he isn’t turning the soccer over, he isn’t doing a lot within the passing sport. He has one of many lowest landing charges in NFL historical past by his first 22 video games at simply 2.0%. That is fairly discouraging.
His accuracy is a multitude, staying underneath 60% for the primary three quarters of the sport earlier than skyrocketing within the fourth quarter, making magic occur within the closing quarter-hour of video games and pulling the Steelers again from the brink. The late sport exploits are nice and all, however you possibly can’t depend on them. Pickett hasn’t proven a lot development in 12 months two and seems to be regressing in sure areas.
Subsequently, you possibly can’t decide Pickett based mostly on the wins and losses alone. There’s a lot extra to the sport today than simply the quarterback place.
“So identical to the Kenny Pickett factor, the Steelers are actually making NFL historical past by successful and successful each week. They’ve a shedding factors distinction. If it was all about successful: CJ Stroud’s 5-4, Kenny Pickett, 6-3. No GM within the league would beat Kenny Pickett at 6-3,” Cowherd stated. “Is he higher than Justin Herbert at 4-5? It’s important to contextualize the Chargers. They aren’t very nicely coached. CJ Stroud, that is a rebuilding roster. The Steelers have an incredible roster. Joe Burrow, 5-4, Josh Allen, 5-5. Worse data than Kenny Pickett.
“I perceive you are judged on that, however in case you simply have a look at Kenny Pickett and say, ‘Hey, he is successful video games, that is not ok, proper?’ It isn’t ok. That is why you pay GMs seven figures for context and discretion. It might probably’t be about wins. Tim Tebow obtained on the heater and John Elway obtained on the market. He left that firm.”
Cowherd makes some good factors, harking back to the meme a few man you do not like making a great level.
Pickett is 6-3 to start out this season. That is necessary, as a result of the Steelers are firmly within the AFC playoffs and are discovering methods to win. It might not look good, but it surely will get the job executed. What does that say about his future? That will probably be mentioned at a later date after he completes his second season.
For now, he is doing precisely what’s requested of him: defending the soccer, making simply sufficient performs and doing nothing to lose the sport, because the Steelers depend on a star-studded protection and a run sport that continues to enhance.
Will Pickett in the end be judged on a win-loss foundation? Sure. However there can even be debate about how he obtained there, based mostly on his manufacturing and total skills. Proper now, that manufacturing and total capabilities do not match that file, for higher or worse.
