This week the Pittsburgh Steelers will usher in a new era with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett getting his first NFL start. Pickett came off the bench last week against the New York Jets and led the team to what should have been a comeback win if not for a defensive collapse.
Head coach Mike Tomlin talked about the spark that Pickett provided and went into great detail as to what he meant.
“The fluid movement of the ball, the winning of possession downs, the putting the ball in the end zone,” Tomlin said. “I’m specific when talking about a spark. I’m talking about lighting up the scoreboard, winning possession downs, maintaining possession of the ball. Those are the things that I think happened when we went to him in the second half.”
Everyone hopes Pickett is everything he was last week and can turn this season around. But based on Tomlin’s comments, it felt like this is what he expected Pickett to do. If this is the case, why did it take four games to get him on the field? If Pickett plays the way everyone expects but the team still falls a bit short at the end of the season, you have to wonder why Tomlin didn’t turn to him against the New England Patriots or Cleveland Browns.
