The Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to trade away their star wide receiver, Diontae Johnson, at the beginning of the 2024 offseason. The move indicated the team's confidence in George Pickens. Johnson was reportedly traded partly due to the issues he was causing within the organization and locker room.
Pickens also had his own challenges during the 2023 season. The most notable incident occurred when he refused to block for teammate Jaylen Warren on a potential touchdown play, citing concerns about injury. This decision frustrated both the Steelers and their fans.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media that week, expressing his disappointment with Pickens' comments. In response, Pickens delivered an outstanding performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, catching four passes for 195 receiving yards and two touchdowns. While some fans called for him to be benched or traded, Pickens reminded everyone of his talent.
If Pickens can maintain a positive attitude and consistent effort, he has the potential to become one of the all-time great wide receivers in Pittsburgh history. The Steelers replaced Wide Receivers Coach Frisman Jackson after the 2023 season with the fiery and no-nonsense Zach Azzanni. Reports surfaced of a heated exchange between Azzanni and Pickens early in training camp. Pickens later spoke with Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo about his feelings towards his new coach following the incident.
“He’s a great guy; high energy for sure,” Pickens said of Azzanni. “Kirby Smart is kind of like that, so I had a coach like that in college. It’s not a huge change for me. That’s just coach Z’s personality.”
During his time at Georgia, Pickens played under one of the toughest head coaches in college football, Kirby Smart. While there, Pickens showed flashes of brilliance that made some pundits consider him the best wide receiver in his draft class. However, concerns about his attitude surfaced, which contributed to him falling to the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Steelers selected him.
Fittipaldo wrote that Azzanni's coaching style might be exactly what Pickens needs. There's no denying Pickens' talent, but his attitude and effort have occasionally concerned fans.
“Azzanni challenged Pickens in a way that Frisman Jackson, the Steelers’ receivers coach the past two seasons, never did — at least on the practice field,” Fittipaldo wrote. “Azzanni’s in-your-face style might be a change from what Pickens has been used to as a professional, but he said he has had tough coaching in the past.”
The Steelers have an important decision to make regarding Pickens, who will become a free agent after the 2025 season. They must determine whether to invest heavily in him as their star wide receiver. The team has a history of not tolerating "diva" receivers, so it will be interesting to see how they handle Pickens' future.
Steelers' Pickens Is Going To Be Challenged For The Better In 2024
While the heated exchange between Pickens and Azzanni could be seen as a negative, Pickens' response was encouraging. He said the right things and showed a noticeable improvement in attitude towards the end of the 2023 season. If Pickens can carry this positive attitude into the 2024 season and continue to respond well to Azzanni's coaching, the future looks bright for both him and the Steelers.
Steeler Nation will closely watch Pickens' development under Azzanni. Both are highly competitive, and their challenging each other could be exactly what Pickens needs. With a new offense in place, Pickens will have the opportunity to be the focal point and receive all the targets he desires.
The 2024 season will be a crucial indicator of Pickens' future in Pittsburgh. His positive response to Azzanni's coaching style gives Steelers fans hope that the two can work well together. Being challenged by a coach is essential for improvement, and Azzanni is not afraid to push Pickens, who seems receptive to the challenge.
