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Saunders: Pickett Comes Through When it Matters in Top QB Showdown

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PITTSBURGH — Sam Howell had the better of the statistics, completing more of his passes, with a better rating, with a higher yards per attempt.

But it was Kenny Pickett that made the play when the game was on the line, in the worst possible conditions.

The Thursday night battle between Pitt and North Carolina was billed as a showdown between two of the top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft in Pitt’s Pickett and North Carolina’s Howell.

There were 39 NFL general managers and scouts from 21 different NFL teams in the Heinz Field press box to see the showdown.

The high-powered battle between the prodigious passers never really developed the way many thought. Pickett knifed through the North Carolina defense in the first half, but scuffled in the second and nearly threw the game away with an intercepted screen pass in the fourth quarter.

Howell was harried from the start by Pitt’s defense, was sacked five times, and — outside of a 76-yard touchdown where the Pitt defender fell down — was forced to to run nearly as often as he threw for much of the game.

But Howell’s talent shined through, making a 46-yard completion to Josh Downs to get North Carolina into scoring range in the fourth quarter, keeping it himself to score than touchdown, then leading the Tar Heels back inside the 5-yard line before settling for a game-tying field goal.

“He’s one of the best in the country, no doubt,” Pickett said. “He’s a heck of a player.”

The conditions were not exactly conducive to high-scoring offense. The rain started in the fourth quarter and by the end of the game, the wind was whipping the cold rain in swirls through Heinz Field.

In those conditions, Howell had the ball twice and got a field goal. Pickett had it once and scored a touchdown. That was the ballgame.

“It definitely does make it harder, but I can make any excuse,” Howell said. “At the end of the day, the game is on the line, we’ve got to execute. … We had a lot of chances to win the game.”

When comparing the two quarterbacks, the physical traits are similar. Howell is listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. Pickett stands 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. They’re both mobile and athletic but neither is outright fast.

Howell has a slightly stronger arm, and perhaps a better deep ball, which are things that NFL teams value. Pickett has something else that they value just as much, but is harder to evaluate. He’s tough as nails, and performs no matter what, under pressure, under adverse conditions, even after having failed his last time out.

“That’s Kenny Pickett.” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Nobody’s perfect. That tells you what kind of competitor he is. He made a mistake … But Kenny Pickett comes right back and does what he does.”

Pitt fans have known that for a while now, but the NFL found out in a big way on Thursday, too. There’s a long way to go before Pickett’s draft day, and a lot of things yet to come will impact the way he’s evaluated at the next level.

There will be a Senior Bowl, an NFL Combine, a Pro Day, countless interviews, dinners, phone calls, and a hundred other things that will influence each of the NFL executives.

But some things — the things Pickett possesses — can only truly be shown when playing with your team, when the game matters, and everything is on the line.

Pickett came through.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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mugrad_89
mugrad_89
2 years ago

Pickett bailed out Whipple and his cluelessness, plain and simple.

Terrence
Terrence
2 years ago
Reply to  mugrad_89

He sure did

Rusty Shackelford
Rusty Shackelford
2 years ago

Kenny is the man.

Pittband
Pittband
2 years ago

Pure and simple, the offense sputtered in the second half after losing the two linchpins on the offensive line, Kradel and Warren. The offensive woes had nothing to do with Whipple’s play calling. Losing Kradel on the third play of the game didn’t slow down the offense but combining that with Warren’s loss surely did. UNC’s defensive line started to impose its will after Warren’s departure. Minor moved over to left tackle and Goncalves moved into right and Zubovic replaced Kradel. Three position changes in a top notch line. That’s a lot to absorb. 10 days until UVA, that’s a… Read more »

TMG
TMG
2 years ago

It’s been a pleasure watching KP mature as a Quarterback. 1st round material. He making MW the OC look good. Improved every year, Def 1st rounder, no doubt. He’s got the right support base with the Coaches and family. Aligned himself with the Manning bros football camp. He’s making all the right decisions and is an awesome representative of this city and its University.

Go ahead Kenny, lead the way. H2P

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