Former Steelers CB Ahkello Witherspoon Detailed How He Purposely Tried To Attack George Pickens To Make Him Lose Composure

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a huge comeback during the second half of their Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, winning 24-17. There was a lot of talk headed into this game about how the Steelers were going to be facing off against two former teammates in Ahkello Witherspoon and Kevin Dotson. 

Witherspoon, a cornerback, was cut by the Steelers because they were concerned about his history of injuries. Los Angeles picked him up as a free agent with the intention of being depth for them. However, he has performed well out west, and after seven games this season, he has 16 total tackles and two interceptions. 

Now one former Steelers offensive lineman, Ramon Foster, said that this game was the perfect example of how teams use former players to their advantage. While fans always think that players will share plays or organizational secrets, that isn't really possible. What really has an impact is the ability to "know" the players. 

In this case, Foster believes that Witherspoon told his Rams teammates that they should target young wide receiver George Pickens. He said he doesn't mean in the sense that they should try to make plays against him, but rather they should try to get in his head by talking trash.    

Foster now co-hosts a podcast called The Ramon Foster Show with reporter Dejan Kovacevic on DK Pittsburgh Sports. Kovacevic was at the game and then in the locker room with the players afterward. He said he spoke with wide receiver George Pickens about the penalty. Pickens told him that the Rams secondary was intentionally trying to get under his skin. 

"I love that you said that, it was somewhat confirmed too because people ask all the time, 'Hey, how does a player that used to play for the Steelers going to affect player B now on another team?' All the hidden tips, oh they are gonna know the playbook. No, what you said - Ahkello said he was trying to find ways to get George Pickens to tick, to get a penalty," agreed Foster.

And get a penalty he did. The one that Foster is speaking about was actually Pickens' second of the game. The first one came from a blindside block. But the one that had a bigger potential impact came early in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 17 and Pickens made an incredible 18-yard catch off a pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett, giving the Steelers a first down. Pickens was a little over-exuberant in his celebration, getting in the face of a Rams defender. This 15-yard penalty nearly negated his entire pick-up, thankfully the first down still stood. 

Foster also added that just before the Week 7 games, the NFL gave everybody a new "no fighting, no taunting" warning. He said they tweaked the rules so it wasn't just an "overreaction" by the referees, they are trying to prevent some of the fights that have been breaking out. 

Pickens wasn't the only player to take the bait that Witherspoon was laying out. Fellow wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who is playing in his first game since Week 1 after suffering a hamstring injury, bit too. Johnson got flagged for what seemed to be a pretty minor infraction. After a big catch, he got up and made a "shushing" motion with his finger to his lips at Witherspoon as if to tell him to be quiet. 

Kovacevic said that Johnson told him after the game he didn't even mean it as a taunt. He told the reporter that he and Witherspoon are really good friends in real life and the corner had been talking smack leading up to the game and then on the field. So when Johnson was able to make a big catch at his expense, he responded. 

Of course, it is not the referee's job to figure out who are pals off the field and determine what gesture is taunting compared to which one isn't. Johnson said as soon as he saw the flag, he was crestfallen, it wasn't his intention. 

How Does Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Handle These Penalties?

Recently, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on his podcast that when you win, it is easy to sweep these penalties under the rug. Foster was asked the same question and he agreed. 

"We are in the business to win games. That is by far one of the biggest things he [Mike Tomlin] always says. If you are taking away from us winning games, you can't help us. Moving forward, learn from it because now you're going to be caught not just by me, but others."

By others, he is referring to other players who will have limited patience for these kinds of mistakes on a regular basis. The veteran players will step up, especially with younger players, and coach them or give them feedback about the mistakes they are making.