Kenny Pickett APPRECIATION Thread

[Mojouw]

That's a good video. If I were to sum it up, it'd be: Pickett's doing pretty good, with some work and experience, he can do better and here's how. I would completely agree, and it's that next two years that will tell if he actually learns how. But again, I absolutely believe he's earned those next two years to prove himself.

Absolutely! I honestly didn't think that his game would translate to the NFL. The basics of it have. Hopefully he can now build off that surprisingly strong foundation.

I still think he is going to have to succeed long term in the NFL by being mentally several moves ahead. That will more than compensate for anything he physically doesn't have. Mahomes and Allen can win by their unique ability to throw the ball into orbit while doing a backflip. Brady and Burrow win on their ability to already know the answers before the ball is snapped. Hopefully KP can get to the Brady/Burrow side of the coin. That would likely produce a series of highlight reel plays weekly.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Absolutely! I honestly didn't think that his game would translate to the NFL. The basics of it have. Hopefully he can now build off that surprisingly strong foundation.

I still think he is going to have to succeed long term in the NFL by being mentally several moves ahead. That will more than compensate for anything he physically doesn't have. Mahomes and Allen can win by their unique ability to throw the ball into orbit while doing a backflip. Brady and Burrow win on their ability to already know the answers before the ball is snapped. Hopefully KP can get to the Brady/Burrow side of the coin. That would likely produce a series of highlight reel plays weekly.

Last season everyone was slobbering over Mac Jones and how productive he was. Pickett has more arm strength and ability to extend plays with his feet than Mac Jones does, by a long shot. He doesnt need to know the answers before the ball is snapped, but the reality is that most seasoned NFL QB's can do a good job of reading coverages pre snap.

I honestly think that Pickett reminds me of the mindset of Doug Flutie from his "football life" story on NFL network. "Football has always been simple to me...you find the open guy and you throw the football to the open guy".

Pickets going to be fine. Its still early, but at draft time I wasnt a fan of Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Carson Strong as QB prospects and so far that makes sense.

[Mojouw]

Last season everyone was slobbering over Mac Jones and how productive he was. Pickett has more arm strength and ability to extend plays with his feet than Mac Jones does, by a long shot. He doesnt need to know the answers before the ball is snapped, but the reality is that most seasoned NFL QB's can do a good job of reading coverages pre snap.

I honestly think that Pickett reminds me of the mindset of Doug Flutie from his "football life" story on NFL network. "Football has always been simple to me...you find the open guy and you throw the football to the open guy".

Pickets going to be fine. Its still early, but at draft time I wasnt a fan of Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Carson Strong as QB prospects and so far that makes sense.

Mac Jones is awful. I’ve never understood why anyone swooned over that dude. Lazy TV punditry?

[Craic]

Absolutely! I honestly didn't think that his game would translate to the NFL. The basics of it have. Hopefully he can now build off that surprisingly strong foundation.

I still think he is going to have to succeed long term in the NFL by being mentally several moves ahead. That will more than compensate for anything he physically doesn't have. Mahomes and Allen can win by their unique ability to throw the ball into orbit while doing a backflip. Brady and Burrow win on their ability to already know the answers before the ball is snapped. Hopefully KP can get to the Brady/Burrow side of the coin. That would likely produce a series of highlight reel plays weekly.

I agree. And, in truth, I'd rather have a guy with average raw talent (strength, speed, so on and so forth) but much better mental ability. Of course, the optimum is both. But that doesn't come around too often.

[Rotorhead]

Absolutely! I honestly didn't think that his game would translate to the NFL. The basics of it have. Hopefully he can now build off that surprisingly strong foundation.

I still think he is going to have to succeed long term in the NFL by being mentally several moves ahead. That will more than compensate for anything he physically doesn't have. Mahomes and Allen can win by their unique ability to throw the ball into orbit while doing a backflip. Brady and Burrow win on their ability to already know the answers before the ball is snapped. Hopefully KP can get to the Brady/Burrow side of the coin. That would likely produce a series of highlight reel plays weekly.

I am hopeful that if we can keep KP and GP together for 2 contracts they will become an elite tandem for the next many years.

[Mojouw]

I agree. And, in truth, I'd rather have a guy with average raw talent (strength, speed, so on and so forth) but much better mental ability. Of course, the optimum is both. But that doesn't come around too often.

Say analysts like O’Sullivan are correct and KP is “missing” reads or not seeing NFL windows. The POSITIVE is that unlike, say Rudolph, he doesn’t seem to “lock up” and not do anything. KP seems to be able to pivot and create or see another option for success on most plays. That’s great. Keep that and gain proficiency in processing and suddenly you’re carving defenses up and making them react to you rather than reacting to them.

And as was pointed out, if they can get on the same page, Pickett to Pickens could have almost limitless potential.

I’ve gone from pessimism to caution to really optimistic over the last month or so. It’s been a fun season on that front.

[DuckHodges]

I think a lot of people are underestimating Pickett's talent. Yeah he doesn't have Allen's arm, or Lamar's 40 time, but he's above average in about every category as far as QB talent goes

[polamalubeast]

If you trust PFF,this is a great news....I think he was much better that his numbers but I don't think he was the second best QB since week 12 but he still played very well

PFF PIT Steelers
@PFF_Steelers
Highest graded QBs since Week 12:

🥇 Josh Allen - 90.9
🥈 KENNY PICKETT - 90.1

[Craic]

I think a lot of people are underestimating Pickett's talent. Yeah he doesn't have Allen's arm, or Lamar's 40 time, but he's above average in about every category as far as QB talent goes

I think that's what everyone's saying. He's not in the top tier in any individual category but he is high enough in every category that paired with his football intelligence, he has the ability to be a very good QB. HoF level? I don't know if his ceiling extends that far. But right now I'd say it's 50/50.

I like what Terry Bradshaw said about him. He's not "A" level talent. He's very upper echelon B level. Speaking earlier in the season about him, Terry said, "He almost has the 'it' thing. . . . [But] if you can not have the 'it' thing and get the 'it' thing, he's the guy that can get it." Towards the end of the season, Pickett started proving him right.

[DuckHodges]

I think that's what everyone's saying. He's not in the top tier in any individual category but he is high enough in every category that paired with his football intelligence, he has the ability to be a very good QB. HoF level? I don't know if his ceiling extends that far. But right now I'd say it's 50/50.

I like what Terry Bradshaw said about him. He's not "A" level talent. He's very upper echelon B level. Speaking earlier in the season about him, Terry said, "He almost has the 'it' thing. . . . [But] if you can not have the 'it' thing and get the 'it' thing, he's the guy that can get it." Towards the end of the season, Pickett started proving him right.

He definitely can get to that level talent wise. I mean Brady is an overused example, but he's a guy who had basically below average - average talent when he was drafted, but he mainly had that clutch gene. As much as I dislike Brady, that guy never choked under pressure, actually thrived under it. Kenny's sample size is small but he seems to be cut from a similar cloth. He's faced many situations this year where a rookie QB would fold, but he never has.

[RunNGun]

I think a lot of people are underestimating Pickett's talent. Yeah he doesn't have Allen's arm, or Lamar's 40 time, but he's above average in about every category as far as QB talent goes

Agreed. He also looks to have the respect of his teammates and he is showing he can be a leader. The arrow is definitely pointing in the right direction for KP and I'm excited to see what he can do in year 2.

[Craic]

He definitely can get to that level talent wise. I mean Brady is an overused example, but he's a guy who had basically below average - average talent when he was drafted, but he mainly had that clutch gene. As much as I dislike Brady, that guy never choked under pressure, actually thrived under it. Kenny's sample size is small but he seems to be cut from a similar cloth. He's faced many situations this year where a rookie QB would fold, but he never has.

Brady is a bad example. His learning curve was almost flat because of cheating. Flutie talks about hearing voices in the QB helmets right up to the snap (and perhaps even after).

[polamalubeast]

Brady is a bad example. His learning curve was almost flat because of cheating. Flutie talks about hearing voices in the QB helmets right up to the snap (and perhaps even after).

What about Kurt Warner....

[Craic]

What about Kurt Warner....

Warner might be a better example. But I think Warner had good talent that just had to be developed. As for Pickett, he's made throws that have made me literally say "Wow!" out loud. He's made great comebacks. I just don't yet have the confidence that he can elevate players around him or that he can take over a game (the main difference between him and Warner, or any other QB that was top tier at some point in his career). The key word here is yet. As I've said in several posts now, he needs time to develop, and he's earned that time with his play this year.

[tube517]

Just like they do on Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. I mean the proof is right there on the TV screen. Funny how no QB can make a perfect throw every single time.

Ben on his podcast pointed out Kenny's throws were sailing early and said he himself had that issue when he dropped his elbow.

But what would Ben know he doesn't practice enough or study the playbook enough.

[86WARD]

Ben on his podcast pointed out Kenny's throws were sailing early and said he himself had that issue when he dropped his elbow.

But what would Ben know he doesn't practice enough or study the playbook enough.

Still doesn’t mean other great QBs don’t make the same type of throws at times.

[DesertSteel]

Question: Was the Pickett of the last 5 or so games better than the 2020 Ben?

[Craic]

Question: Was the Pickett of the last 5 or so games better than the 2020 Ben?

I'm getting old. It's hard to think that far back. But he was better than the 2021 Ben.

[cubanstogie]

I'm getting old. It's hard to think that far back. But he was better than the 2021 Ben.

I agree, my memory sucks but statistically Ben had a good year in 2020. 2021 was painful to watch.

[DuckHodges]

Question: Was the Pickett of the last 5 or so games better than the 2020 Ben?

Yes

Trubisky wasn't though

[Steeler-in-west]

That small hands issue seems like it worked in our favor - it might’ve helped keep KP available for the Steelers to get him.

and it’s turned out to be a total non factor - that’s how you get a steal in the draft

[polamalubeast]

Question: Was the Pickett of the last 5 or so games better than the 2020 Ben?

First half of 2020 Ben,I don't think Kenny was better but in the second half,yes

[DuckHodges]

That small hands issue seems like it worked in our favor - it might’ve helped keep KP available for the Steelers to get him.

and it’s turned out to be a total non factor - that’s how you get a steal in the draft

Kenny, Burrow, and Mahomes are gonna make new QBs get hand reduction surgery

[polamalubeast]

[ETL]

Davante Adams

[DuckHodges]

Which is why I won't complain if they used their R1 pick on Addison if he drops to them

[DesertSteel]

I wouldn't mind seeing one of the first three picks go to a WR.

[86WARD]

Seems to be a good recipe for getting a QB over the hump and into the playoffs. Even Carr was pretty decent at the beginning of the season. If Carr EVER had a defense, he’d still be in Oakland and maybe in the playoffs.

[DuckHodges]

Seems to be a good recipe for getting a QB over the hump and into the playoffs. Even Carr was pretty decent at the beginning of the season. If Carr EVER had a defense, he’d still be in Oakland and maybe in the playoffs.

Defense let them down, I think Oakland had to have led the league in the number of blown leads they had. That's mostly on the defense if they're losing that way.

[Edman]

Today we are reminded why guys like Kenny Pickett go in the first round and why dudes like Skylar Thompson are afterthoughts.

Some dudes have it and others do not.