It is completely understandable to feel disappointed, angry, or bothered -- or a combination of the three -- as a result of the Steelers' performance in Week 1 that resulted in a 23-point beatdown at the hands of the 49ers.
What ever that feeling or those feelings might be, the Steelers' quarterback shares that or those sentiments.
Kenny Pickett knows he did not play well on Sunday. It would be beating a dead horse by this point to continue to explain the details why, other than to just note the lack of ability for the offense to gain rhythm, seize any form of momentum or, outside of a successful two-minute drill to close the first half, and muster a meaningful drive until the 49ers quit playing defense in the fourth quarter.
The tone of the Steelers' locker room after Wednesday's practice was all about business. Nobody is intent on feeling this way again, and especially since this disaster of a performance came in Week 1. Yes, the team is banged up, including Pickett's top two targets in Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth, and yes, that will force adjustments into an AFC North matchup against the Browns come Monday.
No excuses, right?
He felt good about the game plan. He felt good about the means of attacking the 49ers. He is bothered by the lack of execution. However, as quarterbacks tend to try to avoid saying a loss, there were a lot more of "we's" than there were "me's" coming from the ownership standpoint during Wednesday's open locker room session on the South Side.
"I wouldn't say it was too much about adjustment," Pickett said. "We just didn't play well. We didn't execute. It was nowhere where it needed to be. Keep the preparation the same. I thought the preparation throughout the week was good. It's just about going out there and executing."
It was his slow start that began a slow afternoon for a slow-moving offense. The first five drives of the game resulted in four punts as results of three and outs and a Pickett interception when Johnson slipped on the field turf at the top of his route. Up until Pickett led a 12-play, 95-yard scoring drive in the two-minute offense, the Steelers had compiled 1 yard of total offense.
"We didn't play nearly as well as we've been playing or how know we can play. So it is what it is," Pickett said. "It's (the) 24-hour rule. Same as if you win. You can't celebrate too long, you can't dwell on the loss too long and let it beat you twice. So that's the main takeaway."
In a game where nearly the entirely of starting offense was bad, Pickett was the worst of the bunch. Pickett is not going to point any direct fingers at any specific person, and that is not what he did Wednesday. He also is not incorrect about the offense not playing well as a collective.
But, he also shouldn't feel so compelled to say the quiet part out loud.
Even in the moment where Pickett was asked about throws he missed, it some how found a way to circle back to the collective.
"A couple back early on, especially I think it's a different game," Pickett said. "We had some early on to put points up and just kind of keep the pressure going back and forth. But I need to definitely be a lot better. We as an offense need to be better."
Again, he is correct in principle. But he should have stopped the thought after "I need to definitely be a lot better." The part to follow that is not wrong, but it also doesn't need to be said out loud by the staring quarterback.
Picket is no stranger to having to push through some adversity, and that dates from his high school days when he was ranked relatively low as a prospect and committed to Temple before, ironically, Matt Canada came calling him to play at Pitt. He had to wait his turn then, and he eventually had to wait his turn as the Steelers were set on trotting out Mitch Trubisky out for four weeks before Pickett was given the keys to the car.
He was thrust into the second half in Week 4 last year and was given the keys to drive the Steelers' offense. But, there were growing pains attached. Those same growing pains appeared to be smoothed away over the preseason, but they surely showed back up on Sunday.
"I believe you've got to go get it," Pickett said. "No one's going to hand it to you. It's not going to be easy. I don't think you just kind of roll out there and hope it happens. We like to say, 'you go put the work in and make it happen' and go and execute plays. That's all I want to do. Have fun, go out there and play, cut loose, and see what happens."
That car is on the road, and it is still on the same pathway as it should be. But, as a contrary to the preseason, there are some more bumps and twists in the road to navigate compared to what was originally perceived.
Pickett has the license to drive the Steelers. He will have to venture down the road once traveled to begin to figure it out, again.
This time, before it's too late.
"The confidence in myself, the team, the guys around me," Pickett said of how he could bounce back. "I know everyone's going to answer the bell and we're going to come out and play on Monday. Love the energy we have around here, love the practice that we had today, everyone's putting their best foot forward, and now it's just about going out there Monday night and competing and winning."
