The Steelers are massive underdogs heading to Buffalo this Sunday to take on the Bills in what will be rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett’s first career start.
But despite being a two-touchdown underdog, Pickett has a quiet confidence to how he’s handling the whole situation.
Maybe that’s because he’s been in this situation before. The former Pitt quarterback and first-round pick of the Steelers this year was a double-digit underdog in his first collegiate start, as well, when the Panthers traveled to Miami to take on the 10-0 Hurricanes in late November of 2017.
Pickett threw for 193 yards and a touchdown as Pitt handed Miami its first loss of the season, 24-14.
“It’s the attitude with which you go about it,” Pickett said Wednesday at the UPMC-Rooney Sports Complex. “Everybody else thinks we’re underdogs. We don’t. We’re going to go in there with some confidence. We know how great we can be when we’re detailed and we execute at a high level. That’s something we need to take care of during the week or we won’t have a shot.
“It’s the details, the little things, guys running at the right depth, I’ve got to be on time, give them a great ball and they’ll make the plays. The line has been doing a great job all year, so I have a ton of confidence in those guys. It’s everyone doing their 1/11th and we’ll be OK.”
The firm belief in himself is one of the reasons why the Steelers made Pickett the 20th pick in this year’s draft and the only quarterback selected in the first round.
But it’s his confidence and demeanor in the huddle that gives head coach Mike Tomlin the confidence to turn things over to the 24-year-old rookie for his first start in what should be a very hostile environment.
As Tomlin said Tuesday at his press conference, Pickett won’t be graded on a curve because he’s a rookie making his first career start. Nor does Pickett expect that.
“We’re optimistic and thoughtful in our thought process,” Tomlin said. “We believe in Kenny. We’re getting ready to play this week and…
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