Steelers 2-a-days: Can Kenny Pickett take Year 2 leap? Will FB Monte Pottebaum make the team?

Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

QB KENNY PICKETT

Experience: 2nd season

Contract status: $3.197 million cap hit in 2023, signed through 2025 with team option for 2026

2023 outlook: The consensus locally is that Pickett as a rookie proved he is the Steelers’ longterm franchise quarterback. Nationally, the reviews haven’t been as high. Who is the real Pickett – and what level of NFL quarterback will he be in 2023? Or for the next five seasons? Or throughout his career?

The raw season-long 2022 numbers aren’t pretty. Among the 32 NFL quarterbacks who started more than half of their teams last season, Pickett was 28th in passing yards per game (184.9), second-to-last in touchdown passes (seven), second-to-last in passer rating (76.7). 20th in QBR (51.5), second-to-last in yards per attempt (6.2), fourth-to-last in net yards per attempt (5.34) and 19th in interception percentage (2.3%).

But despite Pickett making only 12 starts, only four quarterbacks last season had more “game-winning drives” (defined as leading a possession in the fourth quarter or overtime that gives his team the lead for the final time) and only seven had more “fourth-quarter comebacks.”

These are the stats most often cited in defense of Pickett, as is Pro Football Focus’ grades that show Pickett as the NFL quarterback with the best passing grade and second-best overall grade over the final seven weeks of the regular season. Over that timeframe (from Dec. 1 on), PFF determined that only Josh Allen had a higher rate of “big-time throws” and no QB in the league had a lower rate of “turnover-worthy plays.” Pickett threw only one interception over his final eight games.

Pickett also, by all indications, was immediately well-liked and respected by teammates and coaches. He has all the intangibles in regards to worth ethic, leadership and aptitude. Combine that with an upgraded offensive line and the addition of Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin and Darnell Washington to the skill corps and it’s easy to see why a case can be made to be bullish on Pickett for 2023 – and beyond.

“I just have an opportunity to be a glue guy. If the team needs somebody to give that physical edge or add another spot on special teams...

“I love this team, I want to play for this team, and really whatever the coaches ask of me I am ready to do.”https://t.co/TlAUiiwMHj

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 21, 2023

FB MONTE POTTEBAUM

Experience: Rookie

Contract status: $753,333 cap hit if he makes the team in 2023

2023 outlook: For obvious reasons, Pottebaum’s nickname is “Monte The Mullet.” Combining that with his old-school position, it’s safe to say Pottebaum has an opportunity to be pretty popular in Pittsburgh. With Derek Watt left unsigned, Pottebaum is the lone fullback on the roster – but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to make the team.

The Steelers, like most modern NFL teams, rarely deploy a fullback. Over his three seasons with the Steelers, Watt averaged 4.7 offensive snaps played per game. Four times, he didn’t play offense at all during a game; eight other times, Watt was on the field for two or fewer snaps. In other words, the Steelers might just decide to abandon fullback all together.

Then there’s the presence of Connor Heyward, who as a rookie last season showed promise as a tight end. But Heyward’s background is as a running back (he did not switch to tight end until late in his Michigan State career), and the Steelers have three other tight ends they like in Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry and rookie Darnell Washington. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada already has alluded to the opportunity available for Heyward at fullback. If so, that would seem to make Pottebaum expendable.

Showing he can excel at special teams (like he did in college) during training camp would dramatically help Pottebaum’s cause. And Pottebaum (6-1, 244) has all the tools to be a coaches’ favorite: He was a four-time all-academic Big Ten at Iowa, a team captain as a senior who was given the Hawkeyes program’s “Team Hustle Award” and “Coaches Appreciation Award” for special teams.

A path exists for Pottebaum to make the Steelers’ active roster merely via special teams. Seeing “The Mullet” on offense might bring down the house at Acrisure Stadium.

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