The Pittsburgh Steelers recently signed Aaron Rodgers to a one-year contract, knowing they’ll get the four-time NFL MVP and everything that comes with that. He’s become one of the most polarizing stars in the league, for more reasons than one. Regardless, after a two-year stint in New York, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback is looking to end his career on a high note in Pittsburgh.
Steelers WR Coach Opens Up About Aaron Rodgers’ Approach and Leadership
While it may not be for everyone, Rodgers has been notoriously tough on wide receivers during his career. Knowing that one drop could change the course of the game makes all the sense in the world as he’s had to put up with a less-than-stellar receiving core on more than one occasion. He’ll be without his favorite target, Davante Adams, whom he was able to bring to the Jets, and instead has an interesting-looking WR room in Pittsburgh.
Steelers WR Coach Zach Azzanni likes that Aaron Rodgers is hard on the WRs: “I love that challenge. I like that. I’d rather have someone that’s dialed into the detail in the perimeter, and those guys ultimately have to be on the same page. I understand that he’s hard on…
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“I love that challenge. I like that,” Zach Azzanni said. “I’d rather have someone that’s dialed into the detail in the perimeter, and those guys ultimately have to be on the same page. I understand that he’s hard on receivers, and I like that because I’m hard on receivers.”
Robert Woods enters his fourth team in five seasons, as he described the wide receiver room, “From top to bottom, everybody is kind of grimy.” To which Calvin Austin III responded, “We have to be grimy.”
Austin and Pat Freiermuth are the two main receivers on this Steelers team who have been there for quite some time. Recently, the team acquired the likes of DK Metcalf to go along with Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller, who were in Pittsburgh last season. On paper, this doesn’t jump out as a top WR group in the league, but there’s much potential for Rodgers to work with.
A few years ago, Christian Watson had a sure 75-yard touchdown that marked the first drop of his career. As a rookie, Rodgers didn’t treat Watson any differently, giving him the cold shoulder, and it took him quite a bit of time to earn Rodgers’ trust back. Not every quarterback has that mentality, but it’s been a common theme in Rodgers’ career, as he shows that respect and trust are earned, not given.
Rodgers and Azzanni are already getting along, which is an excellent sign for the team. Rodgers is simply the quarterback, but he will need to have a tight relationship with this receiving core if they look to make the postseason once again.