10 Thoughts: Mission accomplished in the preseason opener

Aug 11, 2023 at 10:45 PM

Dale Lolley

Contributing Writer/Editor

TAMPA, Fla. – It wasn't everything we've seen from the Steelers offense at Saint Vincent College, but Friday night's 27-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to open the preseason showed just what has people so excited about with this offense.

There was second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett going 6-of-7 for 70 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive, dissecting the Tampa Bay defense like a surgeon.

Diontae Johnson was his main target on that drive, catching three passes for 32 yards and moving the chains.

Then, on third-and-8, he found second-year receiver George Pickens over the middle for a gain that would have picked up the first-down yardage. Only Pickens wanted more.

He shook off a would-be tackler, faked another out of his shoes and scampered untouched the rest of the way for a 33-yard touchdown, picking up the final 20 on his own.

"We've got more stuff in store, for sure," said Pickens.

More stuff, indeed.

You can watch Friday's win over the Buccaneers on NFL+. Click here >>>

Najee Harris didn't run the ball at all on that possession – by design – though he did catch one pass. So did tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Veteran receiver Allen Robinson, brought in to be the top slot option, was out there, as well, but didn't draw a target. Second-year pro Calvin Austin finished with two catches for 73 yards – including a 63-yard touchdown – and two carries for 23 yards, but didn't do any of that damage on the opening possession when the first-team offense was out there.

There's plenty of meat on the bone for this offense.

"It's really just a sample of what's to come," said Johnson. "It's really just getting us on the move and allowing us to make plays after the catch. That's really what they've been harping on, not having us running the same patterns, just stretching the field and knowing certain plays to call when certain guys are in there."

There's a budding confidence with this offense in Pickett's second season. After working together for a large part of last season and now having an entire offseason to get a feel for each other, the little things are clicking.

"It's just knowing where to be at when he breaks the pocket," said Johnson. "And really, wherever he places the ball at, it's making the catch on it. You see it in training camp. We're moving fast. The o-line is moving with a purpose. Everybody is moving with a purpose out there. Everybody is hungry. The energy is different. We just want to win. You saw the first drive, how we came out applying pressure. That's what we're talking about, starting fast."

This was a good start to that.

"I thought we saw some things we wanted to see," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "The first-unit offense, Kenny spread the ball around, kept himself clean, moved the group. We were able to check that box and get them a quality rep in the process."

• That was not only a highly accurate throw that Pickett made to Pickens for the touchdown, fitting it into a tight window over the middle, it was an arm-strength throw, as well.

Throwing over the middle was supposed to be an issue for Pickett. It hasn't been in training camp and it wasn't in this game.

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker B.T. Potter (3) during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 in Tampa, FL. (Douglas DeFelice / Pittsburgh Steelers)