Pat Freiermuth makes admission about offense with Kenny Pickett

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers' Pat Freiermuth makes big admission about offense with Kenny Pickett

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/1/23

A learning curve was to be expected when the Pittsburgh Steelers made the switch from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to rookie Kenny Pickett in Week 4 against the New York Jets.

What wasn’t expected, however, is just how simple of an offense the Steelers would run with Pickett under center. Tight end Pat Freiermuth shed some light on the matter during a recent appearance on the “Footbahlin” podcast hosted by former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, stating Pittsburgh didn’t use hot routes once Pickett took over the offense.

"It's so different because we didn't have hots," Freiermuth said. "With you (Roethlisberger), how many times did we have a concept, and you looked (at Diontae Johnson) and gave a signal, and it'd be a 12-yard completion. We didn't have that this year. So, we were looking at the coverage and were just kind of like, ‘OK, like, I know what I’m supposed to do.’ It was almost like too slow at first because we weren’t anticipating.”

So, the Steelers apparently went with Kenny Pickett because he was the most pro-ready QB in the 2022 class.

Then they gave him an offense that was so simple it didn’t even have hot routes.

The more we hear about the offense, the worse it gets.
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) January 31, 2023

Freiermuth’s admission is just the latest knock against much-maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who come under fire this season for his uninspiring system and predictable play-calling.

Despite Canada’s limitations on Pickett, the rookie QB came on strong down the stretch, leading the Steelers to seven wins in the 13 games he played, throwing for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions.

"He was just so much more confident (down the stretch) and so much more urgent and knew what he was going to do," Freiermuth added. "So it took him a little bit to get going, but he showed that he's the real deal."

"He's the kind of player that his work ethic and his attention to detail, I expect that's going to allow him to continue to improve and take a jump in Year 2, and probably beyond that."

Art Rooney II gave Kenny Pickett a vote of confidence today. pic.twitter.com/ulM5kEdzb7
— Jenna Harner (@JennaHarner11) January 31, 2023