Hall of Famer Calls Out Steelers' George Pickens

[Shoes]

If I were in the FO, I’d consider trading GP, possibly during the draft.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17, adding a third game to their losing streak and bringing up plenty of questions about the outlook for this team.

https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news...george-pickens

[86WARD]

So why does it have to be about Pickens “effort” and maybe that he got confused and just made a mistake?

Immediately after that play he was on the sidelines with Azzanni looking at the Windows version of the iPad.

But all anyone wants to say is that it was his effort? Imagine if he put forth effort with those one handed catches or fighting through two tacklers on his way to a TD that was short whistled.

[Mojouw]

So why does it have to be about Pickens “effort” and maybe that he got confused and just made a mistake?

Immediately after that play he was on the sidelines with Azzanni looking at the Windows version of the iPad.

But all anyone wants to say is that it was his effort? Imagine if he put forth effort with those one handed catches or fighting through two tacklers on his way to a TD that was short whistled.

Because people like easy answers that fit clickbait narratives.

[EzraTank]

So why does it have to be about Pickens “effort” and maybe that he got confused and just made a mistake?

Immediately after that play he was on the sidelines with Azzanni looking at the Windows version of the iPad.

But all anyone wants to say is that it was his effort? Imagine if he put forth effort with those one handed catches or fighting through two tacklers on his way to a TD that was short whistled.

Or imagine if we ever hired a f'n offensive coordinator that knew how to draw up routes so guys didn't always have to make a circus catch or a catch in traffic. Imagine having an offense where guys actually got wide open like every team seems to have no problem doing against us.

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SI couldn't find any takes from other HoF WRs with a bit more credibility than TO, who was the prototypical team cancer and absolutely wrecked every locker room he was a part of?

Well in their defense Nate Burleson said the same thing TO said, right after the play happened.

[DesertSteel]

We’re listening to criticism from TO now? I closed the link as soon as I saw his name.

[fansince'76]

SI couldn't find any takes from other HoF WRs with a bit more credibility than TO, who was the prototypical team cancer and absolutely wrecked every locker room he was a part of?

[86WARD]

SI couldn't find any takes from other HoF WRs with a bit more credibility than TO, who was the prototypical team cancer and absolutely wrecked every locker room he was a part of?

Takes one to know one “take”???

[tube517]

SI couldn't find any takes from other HoF WRs with a bit more credibility than TO, who was the prototypical team cancer and absolutely wrecked every locker room he was a part of?

Yeah they should ask AB !!!

[fansince'76]

Yeah they should ask AB !!!

'Cause wreckin' locker rooms and tossing furniture off balconies is how you be great!

[Shoes]

Yeah they should ask AB !!!

Maybe they should! To AB's credit, he didn't start as a head case, we all know that. No one worked harder, played harder, or was as dependable as he was. When Ben passed the ball in his direction, you just expected a big play—and more often than not, that's exactly what happened. Then things took a turn for the worse. That’s the pattern to follow, minus the head stuff!

[86WARD]

Maybe they should! To AB's credit, he didn't start as a head case, we all know that. No one worked harder, played harder, or was as dependable as he was. When Ben passed the ball in his direction, you just expected a big play—and more often than not, that's exactly what happened. Then things took a turn for the worse. That’s the pattern to follow, minus the head stuff!

According to his father he has always been an asshole like that.

[tube517]

Maybe they should! To AB's credit, he didn't start as a head case, we all know that. No one worked harder, played harder, or was as dependable as he was. When Ben passed the ball in his direction, you just expected a big play—and more often than not, that's exactly what happened. Then things took a turn for the worse. That’s the pattern to follow, minus the head stuff!

He had issues in college. They just went under the radar until he got bashed in the head.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

[hawaiiansteeler]

We’re listening to criticism from TO now? I closed the link as soon as I saw his name.

That was my first thought also.

Dripping with irony...

[Shoes]

My feelings about GP have nothing to do with what TO said, though TO doesn’t seem far off based on RW’s comments. GP seems to struggle regardless of whether he’s playing well or if things are going south for him or the team. I don’t think he’ll last long in the NFL, which is why I would be looking for a trade come draft time.

[86WARD]

Pickens probably needs to watch more film, maybe study harder with Wilson and Azzinni in general. Probably wouldn’t hurt to step up his work ethic but I don’t know that for a fact. But this story about his “effort” on that route is just a narrative that just isn’t true and the evidence was right there on TV.

When you trade Pickens, where that 1000 yards of production coming from? Van Jefferson? Calvin Austin?

Just another case of people praising and loving the hell out of a young Steelers receiver and then turning 180 and saying how bad they are. Been happening for yeeeeeeears…

Emmanuel Sanders
Mike Wallace
Martavis Bryant
Antonio Brown
Markus Wheaton
Plaxico Burress (x2)
Diontae Johnson
George Pickens

And it goes well before Sanders too.

The only one that survived it through the up and down and then back up again was Hines Ward.

[DesertSteel]

Pickens probably needs to watch more film, maybe study harder with Wilson and Azzinni in general. Probably wouldn’t hurt to step up his work ethic but I don’t know that for a fact. But this story about his “effort” on that route is just a narrative that just isn’t true and the evidence was right there on TV.

When you trade Pickens, where that 1000 yards of production coming from? Van Jefferson? Calvin Austin?

Just another case of people praising and loving the hell out of a young Steelers receiver and then turning 180 and saying how bad they are. Been happening for yeeeeeeears…

Emmanuel Sanders
Mike Wallace
Martavis Bryant
Antonio Brown
Markus Wheaton
Plaxico Burress (x2)
Diontae Johnson
George Pickens

And it goes well before Sanders too.

The only one that survived it through the up and down and then back up again was Hines Ward.

Goes all the way back to when Al Gore invented the internet. You make a very valid point. That said, this team needs to take at least 2 receivers in the draft. With the first one being in round one.

[Shoes]

Goes all the way back to when Al Gore invented the internet. You make a very valid point. That said, this team needs to take at least 2 receivers in the draft. With the first one being in round one.

It will be interesting to see how they address the quarterback situation. However, a wide receiver is indeed a major need.

[El Kabong]

Emmanuel Sanders
Mike Wallace
Martavis Bryant
Antonio Brown
Markus Wheaton
Plaxico Burress (x2)
Diontae Johnson
George Pickens

There were reasons for criticizing each of these guys.

[DesertSteel]

There were reasons for criticizing each of these guys.

It goes with the position. There are very few Larry Fitzgerald’s.

[86WARD]

There were reasons for criticizing each of these guys.

All guys the fans were loving and couldn’t care less about the last guy, until that changed…lol

[Steeldude]

When you trade Pickens, where that 1000 yards of production coming from? Van Jefferson? Calvin Austin?

Draft, free agency, trade.

[Shoes]

Draft, free agency, trade.

I agree, but for a #1, my focus would be on the draft. The Steelers have consistently proven they’re very good at drafting WRs.

[86WARD]

I agree, but for a #1, my focus would be on the draft. The Steelers have consistently proven they’re very good at drafting WRs.

Are they though?

Go back 18 years worth to 2006:

Santonio Holmes - Hit
Willie Reid - Miss
Dallas Baker - Miss
Limas Swede - Miss
Mike Wallace - Hit
Emmanuel Sanders - Hit
Antonio Brown - Hit
Toney Clemons - Miss
Justin Brown - Miss
Markus Wheaton - Miss
Dri Archer - Miss
Martavis Bryant - Hit*
Sammie Coates - Miss
Demarcus Ayers - Miss
Juju Smith-Schuster - Hit*
James Washington - Miss
Diontae Johnson - Hit*
Chase Claypool - Miss
George Pickens - Hit
Calvin Austin - Hit

Basically less than 50/50. Guys with * we’re only good when with Pittsburgh so are they really a “Hit”? Counting them as a hit for the Steelers though. So they hit on 9/20. Wouldn’t say they are very good at it. The 9 that they found were pretty good in Pittsburgh for multiple years and replaced one another.

[Shoes]

Are they though?

Go back 18 years worth to 2006:

Santonio Holmes - Hit
Willie Reid - Miss
Dallas Baker - Miss
Limas Swede - Miss
Mike Wallace - Hit
Emmanuel Sanders - Hit
Antonio Brown - Hit
Toney Clemons - Miss
Justin Brown - Miss
Markus Wheaton - Miss
Dri Archer - Miss
Martavis Bryant - Hit*
Sammie Coates - Miss
Demarcus Ayers - Miss
Juju Smith-Schuster - Hit*
James Washington - Miss
Diontae Johnson - Hit*
Chase Claypool - Miss
George Pickens - Hit
Calvin Austin - Hit

Basically less than 50/50. Guys with * we’re only good when with Pittsburgh so are they really a “Hit”? Counting them as a hit for the Steelers though. So they hit on 9/20. Wouldn’t say they are very good at it. The 9 that they found were pretty good in Pittsburgh for multiple years and replaced one another.

Just with the production of H. Ward (R3) and A. B. (R6), I’d say they’ve done exceptionally well and truly got great value for their picks. Then there are Burress and Holmes, the only two WRs taken in R1 since 2000, Randle El in R2, and Sanders R3. All these players ended up with one or more rings.

Here's a link about K Colbert being the best at drafting WRs, lots of charts. I paraphrased some of what he said below because you can't copy and paste anything from SD longer, and the site slows my computer down to a crawl—it’s frustrating! The stats for the study were taken from PFR. The first two charts are of all 32 teams on receptions, yards, TDs, and picks. After looking over the first two charts Davis said...

This narrative is based on some pretty solid reality. Over those 22 drafts, the Steelers have selected WRs who rank second in total receptions, first in total yards, and second in total TDs. Steelers' drafted WRs totaled 4,665 receptions for 63,937 yards and 403 TDs. That alone pretty much verifies that the Steelers have been great at drafting WRs. A couple of other commonly "known" facts are that the Ravens and Patriots struggle to draft wide receivers, and here you have evidence to back that up, with both teams at the bottom of the rankings, with the Ravens 30th in yards and the Patriots 31st. The difference here isn't small either; the Steelers total over three times the yardage as last-place Washington.
https://steelersdepot.com/2022/05/st...ide-receivers/

[Born2Steel]

Are they though?

Go back 18 years worth to 2006:

Santonio Holmes - Hit
Willie Reid - Miss
Dallas Baker - Miss
Limas Swede - Miss
Mike Wallace - Hit
Emmanuel Sanders - Hit
Antonio Brown - Hit
Toney Clemons - Miss
Justin Brown - Miss
Markus Wheaton - Miss
Dri Archer - Miss
Martavis Bryant - Hit*
Sammie Coates - Miss
Demarcus Ayers - Miss
Juju Smith-Schuster - Hit*
James Washington - Miss
Diontae Johnson - Hit*
Chase Claypool - Miss
George Pickens - Hit
Calvin Austin - Hit

Basically less than 50/50. Guys with * we’re only good when with Pittsburgh so are they really a “Hit”? Counting them as a hit for the Steelers though. So they hit on 9/20. Wouldn’t say they are very good at it. The 9 that they found were pretty good in Pittsburgh for multiple years and replaced one another.

Then Santonio needs an * as well.

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I would not be trading George Pickens ....

he IMO is a top 5 wr in this league if in a system that gives him the consistent target numbers as a Jefferson , Puca , in his prime Kupp .... that requires a system that will throw him the ball 8-10 times a game consistently .... he is averaging 6 targets a game and that simply is not enough


we need to stop confusing Passion and desire to be great and to win with being a malcontent

I completely agree. Throw George Pickens the damn ball!!!!

[86WARD]

Draft, free agency, trade.

Roman Wilson, Van Jefferson, Mike Williams.

How’s that working out for you?

[Steeldude]

Roman Wilson, Van Jefferson, Mike Williams.

How’s that working out for you?

So no longer look for players via draft, free agency, trade?


Those WRs are already on the team. So your view is it is literally impossible to ever replace Pickens.

[86WARD]

So no longer look for players via draft, free agency, trade?


Those WRs are already on the team. So your view is it is literally impossible to ever replace Pickens.

lol. maybe read between the lines and stop taking everything so literal? The point is, you have a top WR on the team. It's not as easy as saying draft, free agency, trade to find one to replace him.

[Mojouw]

People like to use Canada to excuse some things and then ignore it for others.

If Canada didn’t design NFL level plays and did no teaching on overall concepts as multiple former Steelers have alleged, then Pickens is basically starting his NFL education this year.

I don’t think it was lack of effort, I think he just blew an assignment.

George Pickens, this year, seems to play harder than anyone save Harris and Frazier on offense.

[86WARD]

People like to use Canada to excuse some things and then ignore it for others.

If Canada didn’t design NFL level plays and did no teaching on overall concepts as multiple former Steelers have alleged, then Pickens is basically starting his NFL education this year.

I don’t think it was lack of effort, I think he just blew an assignment.

George Pickens, this year, seems to play harder than anyone save Harris and Frazier on offense.

Good points.