Mike Tomlin details Kenny Pickett's improvement, how he represents Steelers

With a full year under his belt, Kenny Pickett now becomes the guy for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The second-year quarterback will need to take a big step forward in order to get his team back into the playoffs this year, but head coach Mike Tomlin expressed plenty of faith in his leader.

Tomlin recently joined the Rich Eisen Show and praised Pickett for embracing Pittsburgh’s culture. He says the quarterback comes to work every day prepared to get better.

“I think he individually is a good representative of what I’ve been talking about. The dude comes to compete every day. He loves it,” Tomlin said. “He’s getting better, he’s getting more comfortable in his shoes.

“The quarterback is the heartbeat of a team. And he’s been that before but it’s the first time at this level and I think he’s more comfortable in those shoes. I think there’s more fluidity in his play because of all of the above.”

Pickett went through some ups and downs during his first NFL season as the team’s starter. He finished the year with a 7-5 record, throwing for 2,404 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Steelers closed out the season with a 9-8 record.

Tomlin also said Pickett is getting more comfortable becoming the emotional leader of the team.

“He is very vocal, emotional, fiery,” Tomlin said. “And it’s been fun to kinda watch that natural component of him come out. … It’s cool to see that come out of him at the professional level.”

Mike Tomlin explains what George Pickens needs to work on

How can George Pickens become a better player in his second season? Tomlin also addressed that during his interview with Eisen.

“I just want him to get really comfortable with what can be drudgery,” Tomlin said. “The high-volume things that come with being a professional. The things that you need to do on a routine basis. Making routine plays.

“We all know he is capable of the spectacular. And I love that about his game, but I want to see him make the routine plays all the time. … If he’s gonna be what we need him to be and what he aspires to be, he’s gonna have the spectacular component of his game but he’s gonna do the routine things, as well.”

Pickens appeared in all 17 games for the Steelers as a rookie last season, making 12 starts. He ended the campaign with 801 yards and four touchdowns on 52 receptions.