Was discipline behind Steelers WR George Pickens’ “managed” snaps versus the Cowboys?
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will meet the media today, and you know reporters will ask him about George Pickens. Despite being the team’s clear No. 1 WR, he spent more than 40 percent of the game on the bench. Reporters asked him about that after the Cowboys game already, and his answer didn’t convince many.
Tomlin claimed that he was just managing George Pickens’ snaps in an effort to maximize his efficiency. He claimed that it was no different than rotating Cameron Heyward along the defensive line, which, of course, it is. But why start managing Pickens’ snaps two-and-a-quarter years into his career when he never had before?
From his very first game, he typically played 80-plus percent of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. Tomlin didn’t feel the need to manage the snaps of Van Jefferson or Calvin Austin III. Is George Pickens just so good that they only want him on the field when he’s going to make a big play? Is that the argument Tomlin is trying to sell? Because pretty much nobody actually bought it, and now the “no underlying story” is a story.
And because nobody really believes Mike Tomlin gave an honest answer, we’re still wondering why George Pickens played so few snaps. We noted that he wore a certain rebellious message on his eye black, for which he’ll get fined. Was he trying to send a message or protest what he knew was coming? Did he have a bad week of practice?
At his lowest moments last year, Pickens resorted to attacking reporters when they questioned him about his lack of effort. Mike Tomlin had no qualms calling out his immaturity at that time, but so far this year, the Steelers have spent more time protecting him.
He has, for the most part, behaved through the first month of the season, but we saw Pickens at a low moment on Sunday night. Even at the very end of the game, he allowed a Cowboy to get to him, pulling at his facemask. So with Tomlin’s questionable answer and everything we’ve seen, it’s far to ask: was Pickens being disciplined? I think if even Ben Roethlisberger is questioning it, we can question it.
The Steelers’ 2024 season is underway, following another disappointing year ending in a first-round playoff loss. They have had a long offseason since the Buffalo Bills stamped them out of their misery back in January. There are positive signs, but things could jump off the rails any moment.
The biggest question hanging over the team is the quarterback question. Will Russell Wilson regain his job when he is healthy, or is Justin Fields stealing it? How will the team continue to address the depth chart, which is surprisingly still in flux?
The regular season is here, following weeks of camp and preseason games. The Steelers made numerous moves through signings and trade—and release. More than usual, they seemed comfortable creating holes, confident they can fill them. Some they managed to fill, others not so much. Now that we have so many pieces of the puzzle, however, we merely have a new set of questions to ask.
