It’s been a frustrating and slow process getting George Pickens‘ usage in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense back to what he was last year, but things are finally looking up.
Give credit where credit is due.
“For all the bashing of [Matt] Canada and his concepts, the Steelers have done something over the last couple weeks that has finally turned receiver George Pickens into the matchup nightmare he’s designed to be,” The Xs and Os podcast hosts Doug Farrar (USA Today) and Greg Cosell (NFL Films/ESPN) wrote.
After four explosive plays in Pittsburgh’s first four games, he made seven in the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams matchups.
“He’s running more fade routes. The Steelers are stretching their formations horizontally, and he’s getting in more of those one-on-one matchups that take away from bracket coverage,” Farrar explained.
Formationally, it gives defenses fits.
“What they’re doing a ton of, and it makes it really hard on defenses, is they’re lining up in four-by-one sets,” added Cosell. “Depending on how the defense plays it, they’re either running slants or fades… That guy is freakish. He’s effortless.”
“Pickens is winning on deep fades and other boundary throws in which he’s able to negate any outside leverage advantage for the cornerback, and Canada is dialing up plays in which the Steelers are running four-strong to one side (four potential targets), and Pickens as the sole target to the other.”
If Canada can build on this and keep Pickens consistently involved — especially if Diontae Johnson is healthy and playing — he’ll continue to be a thorn in the side of defenses.
