Steelers fans saw on Sunday what DK Metcalf brings to the offense when he broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown reception against the Minnesota Vikings, speeding down the sidelines for the score.
Receivers coach Zach Azzanni jokingly said he would like to take credit for Metcalf's yards after catch because they put so much focus on it every practice, but he said it was all Metcalf.
"We work on it a lot. We emphasize it a lot, every drill that we do, every route," said Azzanni. "I show film of it throughout the week, of other teams, of us. We talk about all of that.
"I would love to tell you that DK was all coaching, but that one, it was him. I got a lot teasing about that. But we do coach it, we emphasize it just like everyone else in the league does it, but those guys make it breathe."
And what Metcalf has brought to the offense, in the words of Azzanni is a breath of fresh air.
Metcalf, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, has a business-like approach to the game, wanting nothing more than to win every week.
"It's been a pleasure," said Azzanni of working with Metcalf. "It's a breath of fresh air. He's great to work with. He's a true pro. He does anything you ask him to do. He's a team guy, which is really cool.
"He gets as excited when other guys make plays as he does when he makes a play. And when you have a room like that with a lot of guys and your bell cow is wired like that, it's a pleasure to coach.
"It's fun to go in the meeting room. No one's too prideful to take corrections. So, it's been a really good addition having him there."
It's an attitude Azzanni said permeates not just with Metcalf, but throughout the entire receiver room, including Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek.
And their performance reflects that.
"These guys are just doing what they're asked to do, which is cool," said Azzanni. "The goal is to win football games. If they block 40 times, they block 40 times We throw 40 times, we throw 40 and none of them say a word.
"They're a very unselfish group. It's a really good room. So, I feel good about where they are."
Another player who epitomizes that unselfish approach is Skowronek. He might not get the numbers in the receiving game, but he contributes in ways that are hard to measure.
"Ben's the kind of guy that you don't want on other teams," said Azzanni. "You like it on your team. He's a guy that does all the dirty work. He is the goon, if you will. And he is a sneaky good receiver too.
"He is a talented kid. People don't give him enough credit for that because of the other things that he does so well on special teams and carrying the run fight for us. But he's also a very talented receiver, which he proved in college.
"He's great. He is a big personality. He's fun to have in the room.
"Between him and DK going at each other in fun and playful ways. It makes it a lot of fun having him. I'm glad he's on our team."
Another receiver who could be asked to step up in the near future with Austin now dealing with a shoulder injury is Wilson. The second-year receiver out of Michigan is emerging, even if he hasn't had a lot of opportunities yet.
"Roman's progressing," said Azzanni. "He's doing a good job. Roman's doing just fine. We just happen to be pretty good at tight end and wideout and what we're doing running the ball.
"But Roman, he's in the mix, just like all the other guys. Obviously, his role keeps elevating as the season goes on. It'll just start to happen, and I just tell him when it happens, be ready."
