Saturday, October 30, 1999
Missed camp costing Pickens
Receiver on pace for worst year since 1993
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Carl Pickens, on the verge of a great career milestone, is having one of his least productive seasons.
Pickens needs one catch Sunday against Jacksonville to reach 500 for his career and is already the Bengals' all-time leading receiver. But at age 29, he may be at a career crossroads.
Pickens held out of training camp and did not rejoin the team until Sept. 9, three days before the season
opener. He has only two touchdowns this season and is on pace for 59 receptions, after averaging 79 per year since 1994.
Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham said Pickens, at his age, cannot afford to miss offseason work. Recovery time increases each year, and Pickens has already absorbed a physical pounding from 499 career catches.
“When you're 29 years old and miss a training camp, I think it's going to affect you,” said Lapham, a former Bengals offensive lineman. “I'm sure he worked out while he was away, but I'm not sure how diligently he did work out, to be honest with you.”
Lapham, echoing Bengals coach Bruce Coslet's remarks this week, said the lanky, 6-foot-2 Pickens was “never a speed guy.” Lapham also said Pickens was never a great route-runner and needs to work harder on getting in and out of his cuts and getting “separation” against defensive backs.
Pickens' forte, Lapham said, is his “explosion” and leaping ability to go up and catch the football, as he has made a career of beating smaller defenders.
But now, in layman's terms, Pickens just does not appear to be getting open as consistently as he once did.
“Even if Carl did work out while he was gone, there's nothing like working out in a helmet and shoulder pads and running routes against NFL-caliber cornerbacks,” La pham said.
In Pickens' defense, he is the main reason the Bengals have their only victory this year. He caught two touchdown passes vs. Cleveland, including the game-winner with five seconds left.
But he is also averaging a career-low 9.9 yards per catch, and is adjusting to the quarterback switch from old friend Jeff Blake to rookie Akili Smith.
Pickens, known for his adversarial relations with the media, has not spoken to The Cincinnati Enquirer for most of this season. He declined comment for this story.
However, Pickens did speak to Florida writers in a conference call this week. He admitted he is having a tough season.
“I'm struggling right now,” Pickens said, in a story that appeared Friday in the Florida Times-Union. “I'm not really a big part of the offense. A lot of the focus has been taken off me. Defenses are having to key on other people right now.
“I'm not catching as many balls and I'm not making as many plays as this time last year, or even years before.”
The Bengals are concerned about Pickens' inability to get behind defensive backs on long routes and run away from them on shorter patterns. His longest catch this season is just 22 yards, after having caught at least one 50-yarder in each of the past five years.
Bengals President Mike Brown, who gave Pickens a five-year, $23 million contract the day before the season opener, wants more out of his franchise player.
“He isn't quite at the point he needs to reach, but he'll get there,” Brown said. “The problem was he arrived late, and he's struggling to get his career back on track. That is not uncommon with players who hold out.”
Veteran Bengals say Pickens is starting to look more like his old self.
“He plays hard and he plays hurt,” tight end Tony McGee said. “I don't know if everyone realizes that. I've seen him play on swollen ankles and have a big game. He's made a lot of big plays for us over the years.”
Blake, the quarterback for more than half of Pickens' 499 receptions, said Pickens has succeeded in difficult circumstances. The Bengals have not had a winning season since Pickens joined the team in 1992, going 37-82 in that span.
“I commend him for his perseverance,” Blake said, “especially with all the losing, it's tough to keep going. He's always had a knack for making big plays. His thing is that he just wants to win.”
Brown puts Pickens in the pantheon of great Bengal receivers, but hesitates to proclaim anyone the best. Cris Col linsworth (1981-88) ranks second behind Pickens with 417 career catches. Isaac Curtis (1973-84), another favorite of the Brown family, ranks No.3 with 416 catches.
“I don't like to rank them, but Carl has caught more balls than anyone, and that has to mean something,” Brown said.
Yet, can Pickens ever return to the 99- and 100-catch levels of 1995 and '96? Lapham said that Minnesota's Cris Carter, who stands No.4 on the all-time NFL receptions list with 872 entering Sunday's games, could be a model for Pickens.
“Cris Carter is not a speed guy either, but he has that offseason acceleration program he works on in Florida,” Lapham said. “That could help you get in and out of your cuts better, and help with your ability to separate (from cornerbacks). I think that's the kind of thing Carl needs to emphasize at this point in his career.”
Pickens won't reach Jerry Rice's NFL record of 1,169 receptions, which continues to grow. But three of the game's top five all-time receivers (No.1 Rice, No.3 Andre Reed, No.4 Carter) still flourish well past age 30, and Pickens won't reach that age until March.
Once Smith gets in sync with Pickens, the Bengals believe more big numbers could come.
“I think what Akili has to realize,” Lapham said, “is that even though it looks like there might be decent coverage, he can still throw it because Carl's very, very strong and can go up and get it. I don't think he has lost that much in power and explosion. He can still go up and get it, like he did in Cleveland to win that football game.”
Bengals Stories
Reds face Indians twice in 2000
2000 Reds schedule
Xavier guards best friends
UC-Miami brings out best in rivals
PREP FOOTBALL PAGE
New blood invigorates OSU defense
Avon not just for running elite
CYCLONES 3, LONG BEACH 2
Stuff sign Louisville's Sanders
Notre Dame ousted in Kentucky volleyball
