Dave Wannstedt Claims Steelers' Great Ben Roethlisberger 'Did Not Play At The Level Kenny Pickett Did For 4 Years'

Recently, former University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt sat down with Colin Cowherd to discuss Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, and the excitement surrounding the Steelers. The former coach had nothing but good words for the second-year QB, and with the NFL season quickly approaching, we can hope that the strong words from Wannstedt on Pickett and the Steelers turns out to be true.

As the Steelers enter their second year under the lead of quarterback Pickett, many believe this year could prove just how good of a career Pickett could have. Former coach Wannstedt believes the future is bright for the second-year quarterback, even going as far as comparing him to retired great Ben Roethlisberger. Wannstedt recently made an appearance on Colin Cowherd's, The Colin Cowherd Podcast. During his time on the podcast, Wannstedt was asked how he believes the Steelers view Pickett in the locker room. 

The former coach had nothing but praise for Pickett and goes on to explain how much confidence he has in the young quarterback. 

"He's got all his guys around him, and he's just such a winner and competitor."

But the praise for Pickett didn't stop there. Wannstedt would continue on and begin to compare Pickett's raw talent to Roethlisberger's talent. Wannstedt believes the difference of college football experience between the two quarterbacks can make the biggest difference in how Pickett is able to adjust faster to the NFL. 

"[Pickett] played in more big games at this point than Ben did. Coming out of college, Ben did not play at the level that Kenny Pickett did for four years."

Wannstedt believes Pickett's college experience could play a vital role in how fast he is able to unlock his full potential. Pickett played his college career right next door to the Steelers at the University of Pittsburgh. At Pitt is where Pickett would prove to be one of, if not THE best quarterback in his draft class. During his time at Pitt, Pickett would also win ACC Offensive Player of The Year, as well as ACC Player of The Year in 2021. 

Pickett would explode during his senior season. He would go for a total of 4,319 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. Pickett would also be a Heisman finalist in 2021. His great college career leads many fans and analysts to believe that Pickett could be the next Steelers great. 

"Excitement" Is In The Air For The Steelers

Wannstedt was not done talking about the Steelers quite yet. He would continue on to talk about the overall excitement in the air regarding Pickett leading the offense. 

"I tell you it's a lot of excitement. I talked to a guy this morning and they're expecting championships. They see Kenny Pickett as a Super Bowl type quarterback"

The hype for Pickett from Wannstedt and Steeler Nation is one that will be very difficult to live up to. But, with the Steelers returning all of their offensive playmakers, along with the front office giving the defense a much-needed boost, the 2023 Steelers could be very exciting. 

Steelers Offense Looks To Be More Explosive 

As Pickett enters his second year, we expect to see the offense take a big leap. We are already seeing this leap in full effect during training camp, as the Steelers look more comfortable with Pickett taking deep shots. Not only has the young quarterback been looking downfield more, he's also been able to be more flexible when it comes to changes at the line of scrimmage. 

During Pickett's rookie season, the Steelers believed it was best to try to simplify the game for the young quarterback. This would of course allow Pickett to be able to adjust to the NFL game speed easier, but it also came at the expense of the offense. Due to this simplified offense, the Steelers ranked #26 in total points per game, averaging just 18.6 points per contest. 

The NFL season is just around the corner now, and with all of the excitement surrounding the Steelers, it will be interesting to see how the players are able to react. Former Pitt coach Wannstedt believes that Pickett's experience is what can play the biggest role in the Steelers success. 

Can Pickett become the next Steelers great and lead the team to multiple Super Bowls?