PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Arthur Smith has dealt with some personalities over his career in the NFL. He recalled AJ Brown having some mood swings over his time in Tennessee, joking he tried to win the Ray Guy Award punting the ball.
Now it's George Pickens. The extremely talented and productive receiver who picked up a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Bengals. He's trying to reach him the best way possible acknowledging there is a limit with how patient you can be.
"Every player I've had is wired differently, so it's different with every player," the Steelers offensive coordinator said Thursday. "But ultimately anybody that's out there, you can't do things to hurt the team. That's what it comes down to."
Smith said there have been private conversations between Pickens and head coach Mike Tomlin. They understand the impact he has on their success. He's eighth in the NFL in receiving yards this year, third in plays of 20-plus yards and ranked as the fourth best receiver in the AFC according to Pro Football Focus ahead of Ja'Marr Chase, Zay Flowers, Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin in the NFC.
What the Steelers OC did say that is different between Pickens and some others who have had emotional reactions, is the care factor.
"When you have a guy that likes to work and loves football, those are different issues," Smith said. "The biggest problem I've ever had with guys are those who are cursed with a lot of ability and played because they are good at it. They don't have the same passion."
Passion isn't the issue, maybe it would be kindly worded as an overabundance of passion. Smith said Pickens work the last few weeks have been as good as any December practices he's been around. He knows Pickens love to play the game and compete. But it's eliminating those time when it hurts the team.
There are no outward or public issues with his teammates, not with the coaching staff. WR coach Zach Azzanni pushes him every day and in practice, Pickens responds. Can he learn how to respond better when defenders get under his skin? You know that's plan A for opposing corners. Only one person can change it. Will he?
