Steelers George Pickens throws shade at Jaguars pass defense of ‘hope’

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a golden opportunity on Sunday to throw the football against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cornerback Tyson Campbell is allowing a passer rating well over 100 in coverage this season and fellow cornerback Darious Williams is allowing more than 14 yards per reception despite leading the team with three interceptions.

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens talked about the struggling Jaguars secondary and roasted them a little in the process. Pickens notes correctly that this secondary feeds heavily off the team’s pass rush and when they play well, the secondary does too.

“I think it’s their defensive line. They depend on their defensive line a lot. With their team, you know having a lot of first-round guys on that defensive line, that’s what they depend on a lot. They kind of you know, hope. Hope the guys hold up long enough. It’s kind of a hope defense for sure.”

It is interesting that Pickens pokes fun at the Jacksonville defense when he could have easily been describing the Steelers defense. When the pass rush is working, the Steelers secondary is exponentially better. When T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are kept in check, the back end of the defense gets torched.