Dec 20, 2023, 8:18 PM ET
The receiver has earned harsh criticism for the play in which he seemed to make minimal effort to block for Jaylen Warren on the goal line
PITTSBURGH — The wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers, George Pickenssaid he was trying to avoid an injury when he stopped blocking the team’s cornerback. Indianapolis Colts, Jaylon Jonesnear the goal line in the first period during a run Jaylen Warren last Saturday.
“I was just trying to avoid a situation like Tank Dellthe same thing happened to him,” he commented Pickens. “I don’t want to get any injuries. When you stay on the block too low, you can get hit easily,”
Dell, a wide receiver for the Houston Texans, He broke his leg during the season when he was rolled on a goal-line play. PickensHowever, he was one on one against Jones.
George Pickens does not see anything negative in his actions on the field or on the Pittsburgh sidelines. Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Pickens has earned harsh criticism for the play in which he seemed to make minimal effort to block Jonesresulting in Warren was knocked down at the 1 yard line. Pickens he even jumps over the outside linebacker E.J. Speedwho was rolling towards him after assisting in the tackle.
PickensHowever, he dismissed criticism of his effort.
“All those people who question my effort don’t play American football,” he said. Pickens. “They do what you do [los medios] do”.
Pickens He also added that external noise does not affect him.
“No, not really because like I said, again, they’re media guys on the surface,” he said. Pickens. “Guys who have never played a game, they get a job in the media… They’ll never be in the NFL. They’re just guys in the media.”
But, it wasn’t just members of the media pointing out the lack of effort by Pickens. After telling reporters a week ago that the emotions within the football game Pickens were a problem because they were not “solution-oriented,” the head coach of the Steelers, Mike Tomlin had a “great conversation” with Pickens prior to the match against the Coltsaccording to a question and answer session with the coach on the official portal of the Steelers.
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When asked how he responded Pickens to that conversation, Tomlin noted Monday that his wide receiver was “better” but still “obviously with room for continued improvement,” and that included his effort on the Warren.
“It’s one of the examples I talk about in terms of obvious room for improvement,” he noted. Tomlinwhen asked specifically about Pickens in that play.
In an unexpected turn, Pickens He initially denied that the head coach told him anything about managing his frustrations and emotions.
“He didn’t say anything about frustration or anything like that,” he said. Pickens. He added that, “Last week, we played against the Colts. I have never had a conversation with him Coach Texcept ‘We are going to improve, we are going to continue working.'”
Later, the public relations group of the Steelers clarified the words of Pickens despite the fact that the question referred to a meeting with the head coach in the days after the setback against the Colts.
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Pickens He has not hidden his frustrations in the campaign. After posting three 100-yard receiving games in the first six games of the season, Pickens has been an insignificant factor in the inconsistent offense of the Steelers. He’s on pace to finish just shy of 1,000 yards, but with just three touchdowns and 814 yards receiving to date, he hasn’t had the breakout season that seemed to be on the horizon after a promising rookie campaign and summer camp. Full of highlights.
Throughout the season, Pickens He has been caught on camera upset on the bench and yelling at teammates. Against the Patriots On December 7, a replay showed Pickens stop when no pass was directed to him in the end zone. At the beginning of the campaign, when Diontae Johnson caught his first touchdown pass in almost two years, Pickens He jogged off the field, not joining the celebrations on the field or on the sidelines.
In front of the Coltsa defensive back took Pickens a ball disputed from the hands, and later, Mitch Trubisky He threw his second interception of the game directing the pass to Pickenswith the receiver seemingly walking away from the action rather than reaching the Indianapolis player with the ball.
“Everyone is angry when they lose,” he said. Pickens. “A lot of the media wants to say it’s my frustrations, but we’re losing. I’m pretty sure the whole team is upset like me.”
Johnsonin its fifth season, understands the frustrations of Pickens and he dismissed the idea that his companion’s attitude was a distraction.
“It’s just a matter of how the game goes,” he described. Johnson. “Everyone’s emotions will be like this. My job, everyone’s job, is to come together around someone like that. Georgespecifically, just lifting his spirits, keeping his head in the game so that when the ball goes his way, he’s able to make a play and it’s part of the game.
“Emotions, it’s hard, but emotion is part of the game. I don’t want to just sit here and pretend that George It’s the problem with the offense. It is not the case”.
2023-12-21 01:18:00
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