The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen a lot out of George Pickens over the last few years, but they still want to see more. Zach Azzanni, the new wide receivers coach, has been pushing Pickens all throughout training camp to try and get everything that he has to offer on the field. Pickens has allegedly not taken that style of coaching well, which just led to more questions on if he can actually be the leader and the consistent playmaker that the Steelers need him to be.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' George Pickens lines up during training camp in 2024.
Azzanni spoke with the media after practice about his relationship with Pickens. He had nothing but praise for the Steelers' top receiver, and he talked about how the issues between the two aren't even really there.
"Everyone wants to make this ginormous thing of George [Pickens]. Me and George are great. Listen, it's football; it's hard. My job as a coach is to coach, critique, and correct, and sometimes, as players, that's not always a fun thing, and my job is also to push these guys to a place maybe they don't think they can go, and sometimes that's uncomfortable. George knows it, I know it, the players know it. We're all going to hold each other to a standard, and we're not going to fall below that standard, and that's why George has been getting better. Me and him are great. I love how everyone throws a big deal about it. George is awesome, he's been awesome, he continues to get better, and I'm pleased with where he's going."
As of now, the Steelers don't have another receiver that can compete with Pickens for the top spot on the depth chart. With that position possibly being handed to him on a silver platter, Pickens has to be a leader: not just vocally, but by example as well. Many receivers are looking up to him now, and he has to show them that he will continue to get better, eventually becoming the receiver that the Steelers drafted him to be.
#Steelers WR coach Zach Azzanni says he has a great relationship with Georgie Pickens, but is going to push him. Great answer to how he approaches it pic.twitter.com/O5owimxcdt
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) August 6, 2024
Pickens has a history with embarrassing his teammates day in and day out on the practice field, but so far in 2024, he has also been doing more of the little things. Along with making jaw-dropping catches that pop up on ESPN and NFL Network, he's doing more of the little things that he needs to do, and his team has been just as hype about that as they are when he makes a one-handed catch over a defender.
ESPN.com
Steelers' George Pickens secures 41-yard touchdown and the winning score against the Baltimore Ravens
Steelers May Give Pickens His Biggest Challenge Yet
Even though no one on the team can currently challenge Pickens for the top spot, that could change quickly. The Steelers are deep in negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers for their star receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. If he comes in, especially in the very near future, Pickens could easily lose his spot atop the depth chart. It will be great for the Steelers to have that sort of dynamic addition to the team, and the new quarterbacks will be excited as well.
The Mercury News
Steelers' trade candidate Brandon Aiyuk makes a spectacular hurdle over Eagles' defender.
At that point, the concern would be how Pickens handles that situation. Would he welcome Aiyuk with open arms? Would that drive him to be a better receiver? Would it result in him being angry due to getting the ball less? If Pickens wants to prove his maturity, handling a potential Aiyuk trade will be the perfect way to show it. If it happens or not is still to be determined, but if Pickens truly has no beef with his coach or his team, Steeler Nation will see it soon.
What do you think about Azzanni blowing off the alleged issues between him and Pickens? Will Pickens be a great receiver while also doing all the small things correctly? Let us know in the comments.
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