Kenny Pickett says his execution was problem in lopsided loss to 49ers

First we heard Mike Tomlin take the blame for the Steelers lifeless season opener. Now it’s Kenny Pickett with the mea culpa.

The quarterback met with the media to talk about Pittsburgh’s next game against the Browns. And he also looked back on the Steelers 30-7 loss at home against the 49ers. The Steelers looked lifeless at Acrisure Stadium. Through their first five offensive possessions, Pittsburgh gained only one net yard, with four punts and an interception.

So what happened?

“I was good with my decisions,” Kenny Pickett told reporters. “It was just throwing and the execution.” So, in other words, he didn’t blame the game plan created by offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

“I wouldn’t say it was too much (a need for) adjusting; we just didn’t play well,” he said. “We didn’t execute it near what we need to be. So, you know, keep the preparation the same. I thought the preparation for the week was good. Just about going out there, playing well and executing. 

Kenny Pickett’s performance in preseason suggested anything but what happened against the 49ers. He didn’t play a ton in the exhibition games. However, in his five possessions in the preseason, the Steelers scored five touchdowns. On Sunday, Pickett and the Steelers scored all of one touchdown, which came in the second quarter.

Pickett was 31 of 46 for 232 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers sacked him five times. To think, Nick Bosa, San Fran’s star pass rusher, still was rusty after his long contract holdout. And Pickett received no help from the rushing game. The Steelers ran the ball only 10 times, with Najee Harris picking up a paltry 31 yards on six carries.

Like Kenny Pickett, Mike Tomlin took blame for loss

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made no excuses.

“Obviously, it was a stinker; we stunk up the joint, myself included,” Tomlin said. “San Fran got their agenda done; we didn’t get our agenda done.”

And the assignments don’t get any easier in week two. The Steelers will reconvene at Acrisure Stadium for a Monday Night Football outing against the Browns. Surprisingly, Cleveland had an easy time with Cincinnati in their opener, winning 24-3. The defense held Joe Burrow to 82 yards passing.

Myles Garrett, who sacked Burrow one time, will set his sights on Kenny Pickett. And the Browns offense, led by Deshaun Watson, will hope for some ground-and-pound with running back Nick Chubb.

Kenny Pickett is looking forward to the Browns, if only to get the yuck of the 49ers out of his brain.

“It was just off a little bit,” Pickett said of last Sunday’s performance. “Can’t explain why. You know, felt good going into it. It happens when you’re playing in the NFL. I’m itching to get back out there on Monday and play.”