The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a brutal and demoralizing loss to the Arizona Cardinals during Week 13. The game brought the 2-10 Cardinals into play the 7-4 Steelers and most everyone felt that Pittsburgh was facing an easy victory. Instead, that easy win came for Arizona. The Steelers appeared to take several steps back from the progress we felt we saw against the Cincinnati Bengals the week before. Quarterback Kenny Pickett was injured during the game shortly before halftime and despite not finishing the game, fans and media are becoming increasingly concerned that Pickett isn't the answer for this team. That now includes one former player, offensive lineman Ramon Foster, who thinks the team might need to look at the upcoming NFL Draft.
Before Pickett got injured, he wasn't having a terrible game on paper. However, Pickett has struggled all season with consistently moving the ball up and down the field. The offense stalls out in the red zone, and on third and fourth downs. It was so bad that after the loss to the Cleveland Browns, the team considered benching Pickett, but chose to fire Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada instead.
Then Pickett and the offense seemed to improve somewhat against the Bengals. While they were far from perfect, it was much better than anything else we had seen so far this season. They utilized the middle of the field, Pickett threw to numerous receivers, and the run game got going. It was a solid balanced offensive outing.
The game against the Cardinals was the exact opposite and that has everyone frustrated again. Including Foster who now co-hosts a podcast on DK Pittsburgh Sports with reporter Dejan Kovacevic called The Ramon Foster Show. Foster was asked on a recent episode if the Steelers need to consider drafting a new quarterback in 2024 because Pickett hasn't been very good. In addition to that, is Pickett injury prone, or is he being put in positions that get him injured?
"Yes is the answer [to the injury questions], to both of them. As for the first [NFL Draft] part of your question, my answer is yeah, I'm not opposed to saying yeah," said Foster.
Pickett has always had his detractors, those who believe the Steelers inflated his draft stock by taking him in the first round when he was better suited for a later round. His inconsistent performance has only added to the criticism. Now even those who believed in Pickett are starting to doubt if he is the face of the franchise.
It has opened the door for people to start to look at the quarterbacks coming out in the 2024 draft and wonder if the organization needs to figure out how to draft one. Kovacevic added that he believes it is good practice to continue to look at young quarterbacks unless you are 100% positive you've got an exceptional player on your hands.
Steelers Fans Need To Stop Comparing Kenny Pickett To Ben Roethlisberger
Foster added that he is tired of the constant comparison of Pickett to former Steelers great, Ben Roethlisberger. When Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004, the NFL was a very different place according to Foster who protected Roethlisberger during his career. Foster said that Pickett is asked to do things that Roethlisberger wasn't.
He also has concerns regarding Pickett's development when he is constantly getting injured. This inconsistent playing time and the way injuries force him to work on recovery rather than game planning slows his progress. If the team doesn't look to draft a new quarterback, then they will have some choices to make when Pickett's contract is up.
"The fact that he is continuously in and out of the lineup does not help his development whatsoever. We gotta start side-eyeing that and looking at the option that comes up in a year or two and say, 'I don't know if this is gonna be our answer to a franchise quarterback,'" added Foster.
Foster also said that Pickett didn't come on to the same team that Roethlisberger did, he has a struggling and young offensive line. When Roethlisberger was drafted, he joined a team with an excellent veteran offense.
"This team isn't that good. When you're talking about Kenny being developed, Ben was supported by a lot of really good players around him. We can't state that enough when we talk about the differences. Simply put, Kenny ain't 7. You know what special quarterbacks look like."
Foster said that Roethlisberger would admit that those veteran linemen helped him settle in and find his footing. The result was that the team was able to support Roethlisberger enough, giving him time to complete plays, that they were successful. They won a Super Bowl during his second year.
It is normal to compare quarterbacks, but in this case, Foster doesn't think it is fair. You can believe that Pickett is not the answer to the quarterback question without comparing him to another player. The biggest hindrance right now to Pickett's success, according to Foster, is his inability to stay healthy.
"How can you develop Kenny when Kenny can't stay in the lineup," questions Foster.
Steelers former starting quarterback, Mitch Trubisky will be under center against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Trubisky's career as a starter was cut short in 2022 when he was benched in favor of Pickett during their Week 4 game. Now he has a real opportunity to help the Steelers find success and thus return himself to the starting lineup as the season draws to a close.
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