Steelers Offense ‘Relies upon’ On George Pickens’ Huge-Play Skills, Making Him Most Vital Non-QB, Analyst Says

For the third straight sport, the Pittsburgh Steelers might be with out standout large receiver George Pickens. That creates a major gap offensively because the Black and Gold head to M&T Financial institution Stadium to tackle the Baltimore Ravens in a pivotal AFC North matchup Saturday.

With out Pickens, the Steelers’ offense has struggled within the final two video games. Pittsburgh went 1-1 in these two video games, beating the Cleveland Browns with 27 factors scored and shedding to the Philadelphia Eagles with simply 13 factors scored. Regardless of the 27 factors scored towards the Browns in Week 14, the offense has largely been a multitude, significantly within the passing sport.

All through the season, particularly since Week 7 when quarterback Russell Wilson was inserted into the beginning lineup, the deep ball and the explosive-play capacity has been current within the Steelers’ offense, significantly with Pickens. With out him, the Steelers have struggled to maneuver the soccer by means of the air.

That’s why Pickens is the Steelers’ most vital non-QB getting into the playoffs for The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen.

“Pickens isn’t a bona fide elite receiver but, and there are occasions when his effort stage isn’t the place you need it to be, however it’s exhausting to disclaim his expertise. He’s by far the Steelers’ most gifted receiver, and their passing sport is dramatically much less efficient with out him,” Nguyen writes by way of nytimes.com. “Since Russell Wilson took over as starter in Week 7, the Steelers’ passing sport has been probably the most environment friendly within the league. Wilson and Pickens have been made for one another.

“Pickens focuses on getting deep and making contested catches and Wilson throws probably the greatest ‘moon’ balls within the league.”

Collectively when on the sphere, Pickens and Wilson have made magic occur, significantly down the sphere. Time and time once more, Pickens has discovered a technique to provide you with the large play within the passing sport. With out him, although, there’s been a restrict on the large performs.

Ás Nguyễn specified by a chart, the Steelers’ explosive play price with out Pickens sits at simply 8.7%, which is twenty second within the NFL. With him, the explosive play price is 12.2%, which is 14th within the NFL.

Anticipated Factors Added per drop again with (0.31, 4th) and with out (0.08, twenty eighth) Pickens on the sphere is a dramatic distinction, too, as is the anticipated factors per drive with (2.33, thirteenth) and with out (1.74, twentieth). He’s an enormous element of the offense and attracts fairly a little bit of consideration, too, opening issues up for the remainder of the offensive weapons.

When Pickens isn’t on the sphere, the Steelers are a lot simpler to defend, and that’s an actual downside that they haven’t discovered in current weeks.

“The pattern is small, however with out Pickens, the Steelers’ offense struggled towards the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles,” Nguyen added. “Sure, the Eagles have probably the greatest defenses within the league, but when the Steelers take into account themselves Tremendous Bowl contenders, they will’t have performances as in Week 15 through which they solely scored 13 factors and had 163 yards earlier than the Eagles ran all the clock out after the getting the ball with 10:29 remaining within the sport.

“This offense is determined by Pickens’ big-play capacity and the stress he places on defenses.”

The offense actually does rely on Pickens’ big-play skills, particularly Wilson. When the Steelers want an enormous play or are in an enormous spot, chances are high they’re turning to No. 14. He’s come by means of usually this season, placing up 55 receptions for 850 yards and three touchdowns with 15.5 yards per reception.

The subsequent closest weapon within the passing sport for the Steelers from a manufacturing standpoint is TE Pat Freiermuth with 47 receptions. The subsequent closest large receiver is Calvin Austin III, who has simply 28 receptions. Pickens is the important thing cog within the engine offensively, and with out him the Steelers are sputtering, failing to fireplace.