Zach Azzanni, the new wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, hasn’t held back when it comes to voicing his disapproval of the way his players are practicing.

George Pickens isn’t worried about receiving tough love from new Steelers position coach
Joe Rutter

New wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni hasn’t been shy about expressing his displeasure if he doesn’t like the way his Pittsburgh Steelers players are practicing.

That in-your-face approach doesn’t seem to bother third-year wide receiver George Pickens even if he and his position coach have disagreed at times. On the first day of training camp, Pickens and Azzanni had a verbal confrontation on the practice field at Saint Vincent.

“I welcome him,” Pickens said Saturday after the Steelers conducted their third workout of camp.

Pickens said Azzanni isn’t the first person who has challenged him outwardly on the practice field. He got a dose of it at Georgia with Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.

“I had a coach like that in college, so it’s not a huge change for me,” Pickens said. “That’s Coach Z’s personality.”

If there is any animosity between Pickens and his new position coach, Pickens isn’t sharing it.

“He’s a great guy,” Pickens said. “High energy, for sure.”

With the Steelers trading veteran Diontae Johnson to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pickens has become the most tenured receiver from the organization. He and Calvin Austin entered the NFL together in 2022, but Austin spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve.

Pickens’ development in his second year with the Steelers made it easier for the team to part ways with Johnson. Pickens led the NFL by averaging 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 when he totaled 1,140 yards on 63 receptions. He also set a career high with five touchdown catches.

“We’re all carving out our roles and developing our roles,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “From George’s perspective, he’s got some unique talent, and we want it to show up extremely consistently.”

In his first two seasons, Pickens displayed occasional maturity lapses on the field, the most noteworthy coming last year at Indianapolis when he stopped blocking on a play at the goal line for fear of injury.

Now, as the unquestioned No. 1 receiver on the team, Pickens is tasked with becoming a team leader, too.

“I lead by example,” Pickens said. “I let Coach Z still do his job and lead the room. Guys are going to naturally follow me by my play.”

The Steelers haven’t added a wide receiver with Johnson’s track record in the offseason. Johnson had three seasons with at least 85 catches during his five years with the Steelers. In his place, the Steelers have signed veterans Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, Quez Watkins and Marquez Callaway.

Unless the Steelers make a trade in the next six weeks, they will open the season with one of those players — or rookie third-rounder Roman Wilson — lined up alongside Pickens and potentially Austin as starters.

“I don’t even know about any of that,” Pickens said when asked whether the Steelers needed to add another receiver to the room. “I just come out and practice.”

Pickens also isn’t concerned about the extra attention he might receive from cornerbacks and safeties in double coverage that is sure to come in 2024.

“When Diontae was here, we were both double-teamed,” Pickens said. “It will be the same treatment. If you’re a good player, coordinators are going to pay attention to you.”