Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens does not seem impressed with the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ secondary.
When asked about the Jaguars’ shaky pass defense this week, Pickens called it a “hope” defense, saying that Jacksonville’s defensive backfield depends an awful lot on the defensive line to hold up.
Pickens actually has somewhat of a point.
The Jaguars rank 31st in the NFL in pass defense this season, allowing 273.9 passing yards per game. It marks the second straight season Jacksonville has struggled mightily in guarding against the aerial attack, as it ranked 28th in that category a year ago.
Contrast that with the Jags’ run defense, which ranks a very solid 12th in the league in 2023.
Still, in spite of the Jaguars’ struggles, they have rattled off four straight wins and sit atop the AFC South at 5-2.
Pickens, who played his collegiate football at the University of Georgia, was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a very impressive rookie campaign, catching 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns. This season, Pickens has flashed considerable big-play ability, hauling in 27 receptions for 500 yards and a couple of scores. That’s good for an average of 18.5 yards per reception.
The 22-year-old has put together three 100-yard performances in six games this season and has done it in back-to-back contests. Most recently, George Pickens logged five catches for 107 yards in Pittsburgh’s Week 7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. His best performance of the season to date came in Week 5, when he totaled six grabs for 130 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers had a bye in Week 6.
Pittsburgh has been one of the NFL’s most pleasant surprises in 2023, as it is 4-2 and sits a half-game behind the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.
The Steelers will attempt to win their third straight game when they battle the Jaguars this Sunday.
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