When I started covering the Pittsburgh Steelers more than 20 years ago, I learned two things very quickly.

1. Steelers fans bask in criticizing the quarterback and offensive coordinator.

2. The only thing Steelers fans enjoy more than criticizing the quarterback and the offensive coordinator is criticizing the media for how the media criticizes the quarterback and offensive coordinator.

With that in mind, I present to you this week’s “U mad, bro?” on the heels of yet another Steelers loss, featuring yet another horrific offensive performance.

We start with a tweet from “DaWatchman.” He believes some of the coach and media handling of Kenny Pickett has been too delicate.

Sick of hearing about Kenny needing kid's glove treatment, as if his wearing of kid's gloves wasn't enough.

— DaWatchman (@dawatchman) October 26, 2022

I see what he did there. “Kid gloves” = Small hands.

Get it??!!

Oh, the next five years of tiny-hands puns are going to make his first season so worthwhile.

To that guy’s point of handling Pickett gently, Dennis sent me an email defending Pickett’s three-interception game Sunday in Miami. He’d prefer we focus more on the four interceptions dropped by the defense.

“4 dropped interceptions lost the game. And everybody forgets Peyton Manning threw 25 INT’s his rookie year.”

Dennis, I’m with you on the dropped interceptions. But how could that Peyton Manning comparison possibly be forgotten?

Any time I comment on his interceptions, Steelers (and Pitt) fans reply to me with a torrent of emails and tweets referencing that exact stat.

Except that it was 28 picks. But I get your point. Trust me. I get your point.

I also get it when people send me the same emails about Terry Bradshaw’s rookie year (24 interceptions). Or Josh Allen’s (52% completion rate, 12 interceptions). Or Troy Aikman’s (18 interceptions).

Discussing how — or why — Pickett managed to throw any given interception is not a condemnation of him overall as a quarterback or a refusal to acknowledge the other faults on the team.

It’s usually just a discussion of that one play. Please, let’s leave the Pitt-fan paranoia to matters specifically dealing with Pitt, OK?

Speaking of which, how about that game against Louisville, huh?

More from Tim Benz:

• Tim Benz: Mike Sullivan points out must-fix flaws after Penguins' losses in western Canada • First Call: Steelers allegedly 'shot down' trade inquiry about Cameron Heyward; Eagles add piece before Steelers game • Tim Benz: Steelers need to get over fear of change at offensive coordinator

On that topic, our old friend “Scarps” is clearly getting fed up with how Pickett is being evaluated by fans and media.

All I’m asking for re: Pickett is to be objective. An observation of his play, or heaven forbid, a critique of his play, doesn’t mean you’re giving up on him or hating. There’s also no need to go out of your way to make excuses for him. This is the big leagues now.

— ???????????????????????? (@scarpizio) October 25, 2022

Pfft! What? This is the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers we are talking about, pal.

Reason and balance??!! Who do you think you are?

Gail has some thoughts on former NFL linebacker Bart Scott second guessing the drafting of Pickett.

“Bart Scott is absolutely correct. The Steelers should have selected an offensive lineman with their first pick in the draft. It’s their most pressing need no matter who the quarterback is. Where do you think Kenny Pickett would have been selected in the draft had the Steelers not selected him, considering that no other quarterback was selected until the third round? Doubt if the Steelers would have selected him if he were not from Pitt. He may yet be a reasonable pick for the Steelers, but waiting until the next draft could have yielded a much better result.”

Yup. Maybe Pickett would have hung around on the draft board for a while. And maybe the Pitt factor did play into things. But I don’t have a problem when a team drafts a quarterback that they think can be a franchise player at the position, especially after a future Hall of Famer just retired.

I do question the wisdom, though, of doing so after signing a perceived starter that same offseason (Mitch Trubisky) and extending a previous starter the year before (Mason Rudolph).

I also wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised if the Steelers had drafted Malik Willis if Pickett was gone. The only difference is that the QB competition aspect would have been significantly dampened, and Trubisky may still be starting. That’s because Willis was always viewed as being more of a long term project for no earlier than 2023 anyway.

I got this tweet from @Yinz-Dono about Mike Tomlin’s quotes indicating his desire to keep the offensive coaching staff together.

“With continuity, it raises your floor. When you raise your floor and minimize negativity, you increase the potential for positivity.” Good god, I’m getting sick of these one-liners that say jack (expletive deleted).”

Indeed. The floor can be raised. I’m just worried that it’s also rotted out and about to collapse.

Finally, here’s a tweet from Pittsburgh comedian and big-time Steelers fan Matt Light.

Fun Fact: My Uber just driver told me the world is going to end November 8th..

— Matt Light (@MattLight) October 25, 2022

Good. Not sure I could’ve handled watching the Steelers lose to the Saints at home on the 13th.

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