Mike Tomlin offered a quippy football adage about the Steelers slow starts. Meanwhile, former coach Bill Cowher had another suggestion as to what could jump start the play of Kenny Pickett and the rest of the offense.
Because this is an ugly stat. The last time the Steelers scored a touchdown in the first half of a game was Sept. 25 against the Raiders in Las Vegas. They’ve won two games since then, but managed only six points total in the opening halves of each contest.
Tomlin, in his weekly press conference, offered this coaching gem: “We just need to do routine things routinely at the early stages of games,” Tomlin told reporters.
But Cowher, who coached the Steelers from 1992-2006 and won a Super Bowl, thinks the issue can be resolved with getting Kenny Pickett and a handful of skill players playing together. Cowher made these observations during a Thursday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Cowher calls Kenny Pickett, Steelers offense ‘work in progress’
For what it’s worth, Cowher doesn’t think mid season is the time to reassign offensive coordinators. (So Matt Canada is a safe zone in this interview). But he does believe the Steelers should plan on fancier plays and get them in the game early,
“When you watch (the offense), as I said before, they’re work in progress,” Cowher said. “It seems like Kenny (Pickett) plays a lot better in the second half of these games. And they can’t get anything going early, which is ironic, because a lot of times you’re able to script your first 12 to 15 plays.
“So I think just in scripting this plays … get a little bit more creative. I think in getting (receiver) Diontae Johnson back, Jaylen Warren, these two guys give you a little bit of suddenness on the offensive side of the ball. Getting them into the game early. you gotta get these guys in the game. (Then) Pickens … get him into the game.”
Cowher offered other thoughts. “Get Diontae (involved) in the game. Jalen, give him a couple of carries. So you get those receivers in the game early and then they’re going to be blocking for you down the field. And a lot of times, a lot of the big runs come with those big blocks by the receivers.”
And Cowher isn’t just assuming Kenny Pickett is playing better in the second halves. The stats offer the proof. The second-year quarterback is completing 56.2 percent of his passes with a touchdown and three interceptions in the first quarters of the six Pittsburgh games. His passer rating is 45.8 in the first quarters. Now, compare that to the fourth quarters Pickett’s played. He’s completing 73 percent of his passes, with 374 yards, a touchdown and a pick. His QB rating is 102.8.
The Steelers play the Jaguars this Sunday.
More must-reads: