You know it doesn’t have to be like this right? You don’t have to be on one side or the other. It’s OK to look at the issue objectively and find that there are numerous issues, some positive and some negative. To take a side in this really doesn’t make a lot of sense but then again, fans don’t make a lot of sense in most cases anyway. They are passionate, overly passionate in many cases and it clouds their judgment. This… is the Kenny Pickett conundrum.
Kenny Pickett is now 1-3 as a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The one victory he was credited with came when he left the Tampa Bay game due to a concussion. He has rushed for two scores, thrown for two and has committed nine turnovers. Like with all quarterbacks, not every turnover was his fault. There were balls that should have been caught that ended up being intercepted and there was poor blocking that led to Pickett being stripped of the ball. But there were also really poor throws and decisions that were just as questionable.
The fact there have been both good and bad moments have created factions within Steelers Nation. There are those who believe that Pickett has been a victim. He’s been thrown to the wolves with no running game, an average offensive line and receivers that don’t do enough for him. And he’s also been saddled with an offensive coordinator that has been less than stellar. In other words, no matter what Pickett does, this group will defend him with almost cult-like fervor.
The other side however is just as passionate but doesn’t see things the same way. They view Pickett as in over his head… His arm isn’t strong enough… He’s missing open receivers… His pocket presence has deteriorated and he won’t throw a deep ball anywhere let alone the middle of the field. This group also defends its position with tremendous passion and enthusiasm but from a totally different angle.
What I don’t understand is why can’t there be a middle ground? Why can’t there be an objective viewpoint that admits that Pickett has struggled and hasn’t played like a first round pick while at the same time admitting he’s done some really positive things? It’s almost as if fans have taken their political and social opinions, which are currently quite extreme and have applied them to their favorite team. It doesn’t have to be this way.
If you find yourself on either end of the Pickett spectrum, I have to ask why? Is it because your loyalty to PITT won’t let you be critical of Pickett? Or is that you wanted someone else at 20 in the first round of the draft? Maybe it’s something else altogether but personally I don’t get it. I can admit that Pickett has made some great plays and I can admit he’s made some really bad ones too. It’s called being an objective evaluator and it has nothing to do with how Pickett’s career will ultimately end or what it was in college.
This team has a plethora of issues and Pickett’s overall play has been one of them but let’s not act like he hasn’t done some quality things too with both his arms and legs. There’s no need to be extreme here unless it fits your own personal narrative, which from what I’ve seen this week may be exactly what this is all about. But it doesn’t have to be.
Feature image courtesy atozsports.com
