George Pickens fires back at critics, addresses lack of effort in run-blocking

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) receiver George Pickens ripped the media Tuesday for pointing out his lack of effort during the 30-13 Week 15 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) this past Saturday.

“All the people that’s questioning my effort, they don’t play football, they do what y’all [in the media] do… all that people that got opinions, they’re media, surface guys. None of them play football,” Pickens said, via Steelers Now.

The play in question occurred in the first quarter, one play after Pickens came down with a catch to put Pittsburgh in the red zone. Running back Jaylen Warren appeared to be headed to the end zone for six on a toss play, only needing Pickens to pick up a block on cornerback Jaylon Jones.

Pickens didn’t move.

Jones made the tackle easily and prevented Warren from scoring. Asked why he didn’t go all-in on blocking Jones, Pickens said he didn’t want to get injured.

George Pickens on why he didn’t block for Warren: “I was just trying to prevent the Tank Dell situation, the same thing that happened to (him). I ain't want to get an injury. When you stay on the block too low, you can get ran up on very easily.”

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— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 19, 2023

“I was just trying to prevent the Tank Dell situation, the same thing that happened to [him],” Pickens said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “I ain’t want to get an injury. When you stay on the block too low, you can get ran up on very easily.”

George Pickens, Mike Tomlin share honest conversation about handling frustrations

Lack of effort and outbursts of frustration have been two common themes from Pickens and other Steelers players this season. Pickens has been at the center of it, and even had a conversation with head coach Mike Tomlin last week to address his frequent outbursts.

“He and I had a great meeting this week,” Tomlin said. “We were just talking about the New England agenda. I’m familiar with the agenda because I’ve just been a component of it in the past. When you have a dynamic player, oftentimes from a game playing perspective, you’ll pick a block of time or block of plays where you’re just going to deny that guy the ball and make others beat you.

“And the agenda is to keep the ball out of the hands of a significant player, but also if it’s a significant player it’s to create angst within him and within that unit. The quarterback feels pressure to get him the ball and have him included. The player feels pressure because he wants his talents to be a part of moving the football…

“And so there’s an education component that comes with it in terms of managing frustration. Certainly it’s easy to say, ‘Be mature. Don’t get frustrated. It’s part of the game.’ But he needs to understand it is an agenda. It is a game plan. It is something that’s constructed to break him and the unit down. And that’s why it’s so important that he manages the frustration component of it.”