No one would argue that the Cowboys struck gold when they made the deal with the Steelers this year for star receiver George Pickens, plucking him for a third-round pick and a late-round pick swap. Pickens has put up career-best numbers, with 81 catches for 1,212 yards and eight touchdowns. He is third in the league in yardage as a receiver and seventh in touchdowns.
But in the last two games, with the Cowboys desperate for wins to keep their playoff hopes alive, Pickens has had his two least-productive days since his Dallas debut in Week 1. Pickens went for five catches and 37 yards in Week 14 against the Lions, then put up three catches for 33 yards against the Vikings on Sunday night.
For a guy hoping to prove he is a No. 1 receiver before he hits free agency this offseason, those were very down weeks that almost certainly will affect his value.
Cowboys Foes Had ‘Specific’ Plans for George Pickens
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer credited the defenses of the Lions and Vikings for taking Pickens away. Still, he wants Pickens more involved.
“We’ll take a look at that. They’ve obviously had a very specific plan the last two weeks,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re seeing a lot of different coverages where they’re aware where George is. I think when you see that, that’s when CeeDee (Lamb) goes for whatever he went for yesterday, 120 yards or whatever it was.
“Again, that’s why it is important to have two guys. George has been superhuman almost, for most of this season. Two teams have kinda slowed him down. Does that mean we are going to stop throwing him the ball? No.”
CeeDee Lamb Thrived When George Pickens Gets Focus
Schottenheimer also pointed out that with a focus on Pickens, the Cowboys got 100-plus yards from fellow star receiver CeeDee Lamb in both games, including 111 on Sunday. Lamb had 121 yards against Detroit before suffering a concussion, and No. 3 receiver Ryan Flournoy had 115 yards in that game.
“Fortunately for us on offense is, if they do take George away or they take CeeDee away, that we have other people that we can attack with. That’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna attack,” Schottenheimer said.
“You’re not always going to go for six or eight for 130 yards every game. That doesn’t happen. But over the course of the season, the guy has been almost unguardable at times and we’ll hopefully get him back to that spot.”
GettyDallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is trying to get George Pickens more involved.
Cowboys Lacking in Execution Last 2 Weeks
In other words, not having Pickens producing big games has been tough for the Cowboys, but receiver production is just not the reason they lost those games. Schottenheimer pointed out that both the Lions and Vikings are good teams, and in the NFL–especially the NFC–the margins for error are very thin.
“Our team hasn’t done well enough in the last two weeks. We have lost two games,” Schottenheimer said. “I thought we played well at times but the execution wasn’t what it had been when we won three in a row. That’s what this league is about. I said to the guys in the locker room after the game that at the end of the day, there were opportunities for us to make plays at critical times and we didn’t make those plays.
“Unfortunately in a league where there is so much parity, if you don’t make those plays, you can’t gain momentum.”
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