Mark Madden: Reward is worth the risk downfield with Steelers' George Pickens

When Cincinnati plays, at some point a lot gets decided by Joe Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase.

The same applies with Kansas City: Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Buffalo has Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Baltimore’s go-to is Lamar Jackson getting funky. Cleveland pounds the ball with Nick Chubb (perhaps not enough).

All these teams have versatility in their attack. But certain things are counted on more than others, and appropriately exploited.

What do the Pittsburgh Steelers rely on most?

Kenny Pickett talks about “balance.” That’s a Steelers watchword dating to Chuck Noll.

But that’s not how the NFL is now. Last season, the Steelers’ “balance” added up to a whole lot of nothing.

That brings us to second-year wideout George Pickens.

Pickens made a scintillating catch in Tuesday’s practice. It went viral by Yinzer standards, which means they were talking about it in Beltzhoover.

GEORGE PICKENS UNREAL ONE-HAND SNAG ????????

(via @Mazursky8895) pic.twitter.com/4eQjHe0Ky8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 1, 2023

Thanks to social media, a catch in practice got darn near Immaculate Reception-type buzz. We talkin’ ’bout practice. Not a game.

Previously in this space, I discussed the need for Najee Harris to finish top five among NFL rushers. Make him your go-to, outdated as that notion may be.

Harris is a former first-round draft pick. It’s something he should be capable of. That would give the Steelers offense some identity.

A secondary priority should be elevating Pickens. He’s got the chops. Put him in a position to be spectacular. Let him have a chance to do, repeatedly, what he did in Tuesday’s practice.

Not just via those speculative, safe, simple go routes down the sideline that the Steelers use too often. Let Pickett and Pickens use the whole field. Give the opposing defense something to worry about.

Right now, the opposing defense isn’t too concerned.

But here’s betting Pickens is. He’s wound up like a spring. Look at his volatility in practice. If Pickens doesn’t get the ball more and deeper, he won’t be happy. (I can’t wait.)

Things like these need to be established early, not turned to later in desperation. Just like Broderick Jones, this year’s first-round pick, should start Week 1 at left tackle.

Risk can translate to reward. Playing it safe hasn’t served the Steelers well. (They think it has.)

Consider the last five seasons.

Excluding 2020, when the Steelers were the worst 11-0 team in NFL history and proved it by losing five of their last six, the Steelers have otherwise started poorly each year: 2-6 last year, 1-3 in 2021, 1-4 in 2019 and 0-1-1 in 2018.

The Steelers always rally to post a winning record — did you know Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season? — but it ends bad because the hole was too deep, such as just missing the playoffs last season and narrowly making it in 2021 only to get curb-stomped by Kansas City in the wild-card round.

Why have Tomlin’s Steelers made a habit of starting poorly?

Refusing to make bold decisions at season’s start might be a factor.

Such moves are something retreated to after the rot sets in, like not starting Pickett until Week 5 of last season.

Ride Harris. Elevate Pickens. Start Jones. Establish identity, especially on offense.

Because the Steelers’ first four games are against one of the NFC’s favorites, then three decent teams that are very easily underestimated and not necessarily much worse than the Steelers. A bad start could happen again.

But that’s OK. The players love playing for Coach T.