George Pickens Is Becoming Uncoverable - And Defenses Know It
Right now, George Pickens is playing like a man who knows exactly where he wants to be - and how to get there. The Dallas Cowboys wideout is in peak form, and over the past two weeks, he’s made it clear: you can try to slow him down, but stopping him outright? Good luck with that.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, Pickens turned slant routes into a personal highlight reel. Time and again, Dak Prescott hit him in stride, moving the chains with surgical precision.
It was the same story the week before against the Philadelphia Eagles. Two playoff-caliber defenses, both left grasping at air as Pickens carved them up on one of the NFL’s most basic, yet brutally effective, routes.
And here’s the kicker - everyone knows it’s coming. Defensive coordinators are keying in on it.
Steve Spagnuolo, widely regarded as one of the sharpest minds in football, couldn’t stop it. That says something.
So what makes Pickens’ slant so unstoppable?
“Nah, it’s kind of inevitable,” Pickens said when asked if the route could be taken away. “It’s going to happen regardless.
Because I beat it against two-man, I beat it against man-three, four. So, it’s a window thing.”
What he’s saying, in essence, is that it’s not just about the route - it’s about timing, leverage, and trust. Prescott knows where Pickens is going to be, and Pickens knows how to get open no matter the coverage shell. Whether it’s man, zone, or some hybrid look, he’s finding the soft spot and exploiting it.
And even if defenses do manage to crowd the slant window? That’s just opening the door to the rest of Pickens’ arsenal.
“There's nothing they can do to win,” he said. “It’s hard to describe because I got the go-ball, got the stop route, slant.
Now they're focused on the slant. I still got the go-ball.
So, it’s a lot of stuff.”
That’s the problem for opposing secondaries - Pickens isn’t a one-trick pony. Take away the slant, and he’ll hit you over the top.
Sit back to prevent the deep shot, and he’ll break you off with a stop route. He’s not just running routes; he’s dictating terms.
The numbers back it up. Pickens has racked up 1,142 receiving yards on 73 catches with eight touchdowns this season.
That kind of production doesn’t come from leaning on just one route. It comes from mastering the entire route tree - and knowing when to pull the right arrow from the quiver.
And now, it’s the Detroit Lions’ turn to try and solve the Pickens puzzle. Realistically, their goal isn’t to shut him down - it’s to contain him.
If they can limit the damage, that’s a win in today’s NFL. But even that’s easier said than done.
Because right now, George Pickens isn’t just beating coverage - he’s controlling games. And when a receiver starts doing that, it’s not just about routes anymore. It’s about dominance.