CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kenny Pickett embodies the quintessential quarterback that teams can win with, though not necessarily because of him. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, the 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist wrapped up his senior season at Pittsburgh with an impressive tally of over 4,000 passing yards and 42 touchdowns.
However, the **big question** loomed: Would Pickett rise to stardom, or was he merely a one-year wonder propelled by the pass-happy system of Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple? The Pittsburgh Steelers took a gamble, believing he could replace the legendary Ben Roethlisberger and help keep the team among the NFL elite.
Unfortunately, for both parties, this vision never materialized. Over two seasons with the Steelers, Pickett amassed **4,765 passing yards**, along with **15 touchdowns** and **14 interceptions**. His journey took a turn last season when he was traded to Philadelphia, where he backed up star Jalen Hurts and even earned a Super Bowl ring.
What Went Wrong with the Steelers
The narrative surrounding quarterbacks often vacillates between **overindulgent praise** and **unjustified blame**. For Pickett, this was especially true during his time in Pittsburgh.
While his performance certainly had its ups and downs, he wasn’t solely to blame for the team’s struggles. Film analysis reveals that Matt Canada’s offense suffered from significant issues, particularly in **spacing** during passing plays and **inconsistency** in the run game.
Consider this example of poor spacing, accompanied by a decision from Pickett that led to an interception. The inability to stretch the field either vertically or horizontally with multiple skill players was a critical misstep.
This spatial bottleneck, paired with the elite speed of linebackers and defensive backs, rendered passing disruptively difficult. Defensive players could close gaps that were fleeting in previous situations, leaving quarterbacks like Pickett scrambling for limited options.
Tighter coverage on receivers exacerbated the issue, necessitating an uptick in route precision. In addition, Pickett struggled with his pocket awareness, missing crucial opportunities to exploit passing lanes.
As with the Browns last season, a failure to effectively run the ball on first downs left Pickett in suboptimal long-yardage situations, allowing defenses to unleash complex blitzes.
However, it’s worth noting that Pickett often failed to assist his offensive line with timely pocket movement that could have provided him better visibility on the field.
The Stefanski Connection: Why He Believes in Pickett
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski has a history of thriving with quarterbacks who excel within his system.
For Stefanski, his passing schemes focus primarily on **play design** as opposed to crafting plays for specific players. This system pushes quarterbacks to quickly decipher defensive structures and utilize open receivers, independent of their names.
Illustrated below is one of the Browns’ signature level concepts arising from play action. The clever design stretches defenses horizontally while providing numerous options for the quarterback.
Lance Reisland, special to cleveland.com
By selling a counter run to the left, the offense effectively lures defenders into biting on the play-action fake, thus opening up critical passing lanes.
Lance Reisland, special to cleveland.com
The interplay of David Njoku’s block-and-release at the first level with Jordan Akins’ drag route across the formation provides quick, reliable options for the quarterback, enhancing his ability to connect.
Further, Donovan Peoples-Jones executes a deep comeback route, drawing coverage deep and expanding the space available underneath.
Lance Reisland, special to cleveland.com
The elegance of this system lies in its development: quarterbacks are always presented with clear reads, progressively moving from straightforward, short throws to deeper challenges based on defensive reactions.
This philosophy aligns perfectly with a quarterback you can win with but not because of. Stefanski is keen on cultivating a robust run game alongside play action, primarily focused on early downs. His strategy often involves formations with two or three tight ends, enabling him to dictate the defensive personnel on the field.
If opposing defensive coordinators opt for three linebackers to counter heavy tight end sets, Stefanski can exploit advantageous mismatches with athletic tight ends. Conversely, smaller defensive backs can be targeted with a power run game.
With his impressive physical attributes—size, athleticism, and an ability to throw from various launch points—Pickett possesses the traits to thrive within Stefanski’s system. The head coach sees a quarterback who could effectively exploit mismatches to elevate the Browns’ game.
Watch below for highlights showcasing Pickett skillfully locating mismatches against linebackers for seamless completions.
What We Learned
For Kenny Pickett to pave a successful path as the Browns’ starting quarterback, he must synergize effectively within Kevin Stefanski‘s intricate system, prioritizing play action and a robust run game.
Utilizing play action to forge passing lanes will allow Pickett to execute rapid, decisive throws, particularly in short-to-medium-range situations. Building rapport with key offensive players like Jerry Jeudy, tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr., will be pivotal in capitalizing on defensive mismatches.
Moreover, protecting the ball and minimizing turnovers is essential, especially to safeguard the elite Browns defense. Ending each drive with a productive outcome—be it a punt, field goal, or extra point—will ensure that the Browns avoid any detrimental short-field situations facing Jim Schwartz’s unit.
Lance Reisland is a former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he dedicated 18 seasons as an assistant under his father, Chuck, and served four seasons as head coach between 2014 and 2018. In 2018, his team achieved an 11-1 season, making a mark in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. The same year marked history for Garfield Heights, as it became the first team in 41 years to enjoy an undefeated regular season, along with a playoff victory against Warren G. Harding.
