Inside George Pickens' turnaround from Steelers to Cowboys

[America's Cowboy]

I usually seem to always agree with you bro. But...but...I think the talent disparity between Pickens and Blue is probably worlds apart.

I don't brother. I've seen what Blue can do. He just needs to be given chances. When the coaches admitted a few days ago that they specifically designed the play blocking design for when Malik Davis ran up the gut for 43 yards for a TD, I asked myself, "Then why in the heck haven't they done that for Blue???" It's Schotty. He's the one behind this crap coaching. He even admitted he likes big, tall, heavier, bruising types of RBs, so it's clear he didn't choose Blue during the draft. Clearly was a Jerry pick. Jerry needs to get after his head coach before they commit another Nayshon Wright stupidity.

 

[dupree89]

I don't brother. I've seen what Blue can do. He just needs to be given chances. When the coaches admitted a few days ago that they specifically designed the play blocking design for when Malik Davis ran up the gut for 43 yards for a TD, I asked myself, "Then why in the heck haven't they done that for Blue???" It's Schotty. He's the one behind this crap coaching. He even admitted he likes big, tall, heavier, bruising types of RBs, so it's clear he didn't choose Blue during the draft. Clearly was a Jerry pick. Jerry needs to get after his head coach before they commit another Nayshon Wright stupidity.

Okay, thats fair. Good discussion.

 

[MarcusRock]

This maturity thing is why I'm upset with Schotty for using it to keep Jaydon Blue inactive and what looks like inactive for the rest of the season. Hey, Schotty, get your head out of your bumpkuss and use your fastest player on the team in our offense. You're going to need him going forward the rest of this season. What are you doing sticking with slower RBs??? George Pickens just proved that immaturity is an excuse for dumb coaches to use simply because those coaches don't get it or refuse to work/improve the player(s) with his issues.

Mailk Davis is doing just fine. Has "take it to the house" ability too. Give Blue a year to figure it out.

 

[aikemirv]

He only fumbled 1 time due to the LB diving and planting his t-bar right on the football. Any RB would have fumbled the ball in that instance.

Honestly we have enough stupid players on the field with Sam Williams and Clowney (lining up offsides all the time). I don't want another who is not mature enough to warrant being active!

 

[RonnieT24]

This maturity thing is why I'm upset with Schotty for using it to keep Jaydon Blue inactive and what looks like inactive for the rest of the season. Hey, Schotty, get your head out of your bumpkuss and use your fastest player on the team in our offense. You're going to need him going forward the rest of this season. What are you doing sticking with slower RBs??? George Pickens just proved that immaturity is an excuse for dumb coaches to use simply because those coaches don't get it or refuse to work/improve the player(s) with his issues.

Sorry but Blue might be fast but Turpin ran sub 4.3 while training BY HIMSELF before being signed with the UFL. I know Blue ran 4.38 at the combine but I would offer that his time was achieved with far superior coaching and nutrition than Turpin got because of his being suspended from the team. But stopwatches aside if you watch the two of them on the football field there is no mistaking who PLAYS faster. It's Turpin by a country mile. Blue may eventually have the light go on for him and be able to capitalize on his speed too. And I can't wait to see it. You know me.. I'm a sucker for speed.. but it has to be accompanied with actual football ability.

 

[RonnieT24]

I don't brother. I've seen what Blue can do. He just needs to be given chances. When the coaches admitted a few days ago that they specifically designed the play blocking design for when Malik Davis ran up the gut for 43 yards for a TD, I asked myself, "Then why in the heck haven't they done that for Blue???" It's Schotty. He's the one behind this crap coaching. He even admitted he likes big, tall, heavier, bruising types of RBs, so it's clear he didn't choose Blue during the draft. Clearly was a Jerry pick. Jerry needs to get after his head coach before they commit another Nayshon Wright stupidity.

Would Blue have hit the hole with that same authority? The kid will be fine but right now he's not hitting it up in there with the same explosiveness we saw in college. His head is spinning and that makes you play slower. It's not anybody's fault. He just needs time to grow. Now that this team has battled its way back into playoff contention there's no place for a "project." It's gotta be all hands on deck. Blue's time will come... It just won't be this year. As for the size thing? I dunno about that... He's like 5 pounds lighter than Malik Davis. I can't go there with ya. Given that he's 2 inches shorter that means he's most likely a thicker frame than Davis with a lower center of gravity. He just needs to get his head right.

 

[blueblood70]

Great article about GP!!!

Inside George Pickens' turnaround from Steelers to Cowboys
Todd Archer - Jeremy Fowler
Dec 4, 2025

As Jourdan Lewis walked up the Acrisure Stadium hallway to the Dallas Cowboys' locker room after a 20-17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, the cornerback wasn't shy about his feelings toward George Pickens.

After the final play of the game and some trash-talking back and forth, Pickens yanked Lewis to the ground by his face mask. "Pittsburgh need a receiver," Lewis, now with the Jaguars, said loudly enough for anybody to hear. "George Pickens is weak."

It wasn't only opponents who had issues with Pickens. The Steelers, who made him a second-round pick in 2022, were growing tired of his apparent immaturity.

"He's a child," one Steelers source said bluntly about the team's problems with Pickens. "The playmaking is breathtaking. You can't take that away from him. He just really struggled with the maturity part [in Pittsburgh]. You didn't know what you were going to get day to day."

Seven months after Pickens' run-in with Lewis, the Cowboys acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick.

It could not have worked out better for Dallas.

Much more: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...rge-pickens-steelers-jerry-jones-dak-prescott

IMHO He's the same player He's on a contract year sometimes getting traded humbles you for a little bit especially when you're trying to be on your best behavior We're gonna find out what happens this offseason if they tag him and he doesn't get exactly what he wants money wise or the contract that he wants right away with this agent and everything I don't know if we've seen a changed man we've seen it here temporarily because the man really knows he wants something and has to prove to the Cowboys in the league that he deserves a big giant bag..

I'm not saying the guy will revert back to that i'm just saying be careful we all know what contract year means and if this is what subdued is be careful he still George Pickens the passionate player with the crazy celebrations and the taunting and all that again if this is subdued wait till we see an upset George..

But I'm happy at least for one year we have this guy balling out and helping our team...

 

[blueblood70]

Sorry but Blue might be fast but Turpin ran sub 4.3 while training BY HIMSELF before being signed with the UFL. I know Blue ran 4.38 at the combine but I would offer that his time was achieved with far superior coaching and nutrition than Turpin got because of his being suspended from the team. But stopwatches aside if you watch the two of them on the football field there is no mistaking who PLAYS faster. It's Turpin by a country mile. Blue may eventually have the light go on for him and be able to capitalize on his speed too. And I can't wait to see it. You know me.. I'm a sucker for speed.. but it has to be accompanied with actual football ability.

I'm not going to get into this again I don't know how we're talking about Blue again somewhere else he did run a 4.25 as his fastest time when he's been healthy he was not fully healthy at the combine.. I think the difference here is one is bigger that would be the running back he's built like a running back so he's a little heavier so we got a guy who's way more twitchy and fast but the stop go Stop go that kind of thing is definitely in favor of Turpin

I mean he's small obviously he's gonna look quicker..

Maybe at the end of the year they should do some of that with Parsons used to do with everyone else we should get our guys who claim to be the fastest on this team and let them race just for fun when there's nothing else to play for if they're all healthy that would be really fun for fans to see that, I would like to see it.....

 

[Rock423]

His agent works for him

His Agent does not care if he goes to Siberi

 

[Chasing6]

His agent works for him

Maybe someone should have explained that to Parsons.

You hear every year, players make the comment of, I leave that up to my Agent.

 

[aikemirv]

I don't brother. I've seen what Blue can do. He just needs to be given chances. When the coaches admitted a few days ago that they specifically designed the play blocking design for when Malik Davis ran up the gut for 43 yards for a TD, I asked myself, "Then why in the heck haven't they done that for Blue???" It's Schotty. He's the one behind this crap coaching. He even admitted he likes big, tall, heavier, bruising types of RBs, so it's clear he didn't choose Blue during the draft. Clearly was a Jerry pick. Jerry needs to get after his head coach before they commit another Nayshon Wright stupidity.

Williams - 5'10" - 220
Davis 5'11" 202
Blue - 5'9" 196

what the crap are you talking about??

 

[acr731]

He has an actual QB throwing him the ball here instead of Pickett and Trubisky and whoever else Pittsburgh had there.

Also Pittsburgh’s offensive playcalling is horrifically outdated. They were primarily having Pickens run straight every route.

Knew that was coming, and it only took until post #11.....

My rebuttal would be that great receivers make the QB look better, not the other way. Want proof? Go back to the 2018 season before Amari Cooper came on board. It was Amari that instantly improved the offense, not the QB.

Pickens has made some outstanding plays on balls that weren't thrown all that great. CeeDee has turned into a frog after getting paid.

 

[Nav22]

"B-b-but Dak doesn't elevate players around him!"

 

[Chasing6]

Williams - 5'10" - 220
Davis 5'11" 202
Blue - 5'9" 196

what the crap are you talking about??

Turpin - 5'8 - 150

 

[VaqueroTD]

Same reason we lost Antonio Bryant when we were going through Quincy, Hutchinson, Stoerner, etc... No alpha at QB. Pickens had Dak here, and CeeDee as his big bro. Sounds like Schotty has a great relationship with him too. Great move.

 

[acr731]

"B-b-but Dak doesn't elevate players around him!"

2018 before Cooper was added to the roster..... Dak wasn't elevating anyone that year, not until Coop was signed

 

[VaqueroTD]

"B-b-but Dak doesn't elevate players around him!"

Not to get into the Dak Wars, but yeah, you'll never EVER see one of the Super Dak Critics come out and admit they were wrong on something like this. Quick to get on him when he does wrong, but never half that speed when he does something right.

 

[Chasing6]

Sorry but Blue might be fast but Turpin ran sub 4.3 while training BY HIMSELF before being signed with the UFL. I know Blue ran 4.38 at the combine but I would offer that his time was achieved with far superior coaching and nutrition than Turpin got because of his being suspended from the team. But stopwatches aside if you watch the two of them on the football field there is no mistaking who PLAYS faster. It's Turpin by a country mile. Blue may eventually have the light go on for him and be able to capitalize on his speed too. And I can't wait to see it. You know me.. I'm a sucker for speed.. but it has to be accompanied with actual football ability.

Turpin was not even drafted. So who's light took longer to turn on?

 

[RonnieT24]

I'm not going to get into this again I don't know how we're talking about Blue again somewhere else he did run a 4.25 as his fastest time when he's been healthy he was not fully healthy at the combine.. I think the difference here is one is bigger that would be the running back he's built like a running back so he's a little heavier so we got a guy who's way more twitchy and fast but the stop go Stop go that kind of thing is definitely in favor of Turpin

I mean he's small obviously he's gonna look quicker..

Maybe at the end of the year they should do some of that with Parsons used to do with everyone else we should get our guys who claim to be the fastest on this team and let them race just for fun when there's nothing else to play for if they're all healthy that would be really fun for fans to see that, I would like to see it.....

It may not be fair but I pretty much always discount what guys run at their school's pro day. It's almost always set up to make the player look good. In contrast I believe Turpin had to basically stage his own "pro day" at a local high school because of being suspended from the team at TCU. He was also not allowed access to the TCU facilities, training staff et al during his suspension. So when he ran what he did he did so training like you and me. Going out to the track and basically coaching himself and eating at the school cafeteria instead of the athletic training table. That's why I give more weight to HIS time than I do Blue's. Though I agree if Blue was hurt at the combine that would be a problem. What cannot be argued is that has yet to play to his timed speed. He is not the first guy to suffer that and he won't be the last. Hopefully when he gets his head on straight we will get to see that speed on display ..

 

[Chasing6]

I'm not going to get into this again I don't know how we're talking about Blue again somewhere else he did run a 4.25 as his fastest time when he's been healthy he was not fully healthy at the combine.. I think the difference here is one is bigger that would be the running back he's built like a running back so he's a little heavier so we got a guy who's way more twitchy and fast but the stop go Stop go that kind of thing is definitely in favor of Turpin

I mean he's small obviously he's gonna look quicker..

Maybe at the end of the year they should do some of that with Parsons used to do with everyone else we should get our guys who claim to be the fastest on this team and let them race just for fun when there's nothing else to play for if they're all healthy that would be really fun for fans to see that, I would like to see it.....

It sounds like you got into it again.