Ben Roethlisberger impressed with Pickett’s touch: ‘You like to see that, especially from a young man’

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett attempted 13 passes in his NFL debut on Sunday, completing all of them, although three were caught by the defense. In the 10 passes completed to teammates, however, there were a few standout moments, highlighted by a ball pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth at 3rd and long at the 20-yard line to set up a touchdown at fourth. quarter.

Facing a 3rd and an 8, Pickett felt pressure from Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, who landed a clean shot on the rookie after an offensive line communication breakdown left him free. Although he knew from the start that he was going to shoot, he held the ball until the last moment. and delivered the ball to an open Freiermuth in a soft area. And it caught the attention of its predecessor.

“I think he did some really good things,” former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said yesterday on his Footbahlin podcast, by Pickett. “Obviously, he showed tenacity. He threw a ball in the middle to Pat and he got hit right in the chin and stood there and took it. It seems really difficult, like he kind of jumped out laughing about it. You like to see that, especially from a young man, to stand there and take that.”

It was the most talked about play he made, although his scrambles and stealth were also outstanding, and he also hit some fine throws at fellow rookie George Pickens, including a trick back shoulder who also converted on the third try just a few coins. before that of Freiermuth.

It’s no surprise that Roethlisberger was among the many who liked it, of course. He built a reputation for standing in the pocket and taking shots when needed, if not throwing defenders off him, to deliver the ball. At least, that’s how he played for most of his career before taking a conservative approach more often than not in his later seasons.

But you better be ready to hang in there if you’re a young man who hasn’t proven anything, if that’s the throw that needs to be done. That he came on a third and long just at the dawn of the red zone is only more remarkable.

And the thing is, it wasn’t out of place. He did those kinds of plays in college, and then he did them during preseason as well. The guy was smiling at Williams while he was still on the ground after seeing that he had completed the pass. He got up looking like a maniac.

You like to see it. As long as he doesn’t get hurt.