Pickett has offense rolling

Published August 19th, 713PM EDT
by Bo Marchionte

Pittsburgh – The Steelers first-team offense is sizzling this preseason. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Kenny Pickett orchestrated an 83-yard drive on 10 plays leading to a 33-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens.

The group sat the rest of the night before taking the field at Acrisure Stadium against the Buffalo Bills in their rehearsal call before hosting the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Needless to say, the once maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada might be adhering to some admiration from Steelers Nation after the way his first team offense has performed in three series. Pittsburgh ended each drive with a touchdown with the first unit on the field.

Pickett is a combined 9-for-11 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns covering 25 and 33 yards. A passer rating over two games at 148.4 is the truth serum needed to know Pickett is playing terrific football in August. The stretch from September to January is when it counts, but tonight’s game provided a glimpse of the potential. 

He looked poised in the pocket and quickly surveyed the open man and pulled the trigger. It’s hard to imagine the offense looked so dysfunctional last season with it looking so crisp this summer. With back-to-back opening drive scores, Pittsburgh is firing on all cylinders.

Jaylen Warren scampered down the sidelines for 62-yards. The Steelers defense forced the Bills to punt. Second-year man Calvin Austin took the return 54-yards that set up the Pickett 25-yard touchdown strike to tight end Pat Freiermuth.

With a 14-0 lead, Pickett took to the sideline as back-up Mithcell Trubisky went under center. This type of performance in back-to-back games is going to put the season expectations through the roof. Canada should use the next couple of weeks to bask in the glory.

If this offense is shut down by the 49ers this bright moment of hope in the preseason will be quickly washed away, under Canada will be under fire again.

Unless this is the new reality offensively in Pittsburgh. 

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com