I admit it; I really thought this was going to be something different.
I truly believed the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to finally join the rest of the National Football League and find an offensive coordinator that was creative, unique and willing to think outside the box. There is literally so much of this kind of talent out there regardless of whatever ‘tree’ they come from… The point being is that Mike Tomlin had his choice of any of these up and coming coaches like Klint Kubiak, Zac Robinson or Brian Griese for instance and instead they did the most Steelers-thing ever and went with Arthur Smith.
Smith is the guy in Atlanta who went 7-10 in three straight seasons and couldn’t figure out how to use talent like Bijan Robinson or Kyle Pitts. He couldn’t develop Marcus Mariotta or Desmond Ridder either but now he’s suddenly going to resurrect the career of Kenny Pickett? Let me be very, very clear here my Black and Gold friends… This hire says, “we know our quarterbacks and their limitations so we need to run the ball and play defense.” Art Rooney II said just yesterday that Mike Tomlin would be 100% responsible for the hiring of the new O.C. and this one couldn’t be more in Tomlin’s mold.
To say I’m disappointed in this hire is an understatement. But I’m willing to see what Smith can do. He’s a guy that has coached offensive lines and tight ends with solid success and he should be given every opportunity to prove what he can do. There is talent on this offense after all at running back and wide receiver but the tight ends need to be better and the offensive line is still in need of upgrades. What can Smith do with it? I’m optimistic but I’m also realistic.
Diontae Johnson and George Pickens have probably already asked to be traded. If they had frustrations with Matt Canada and his offense then this could get ugly fast. The difference of course is that if Smith can run the ball effectively as he did in Tennessee with Derrick Henry then it does create opportunities for the play-makers. And then there’s the quarterback. It will be curious to see how tied to Pickett that Smith will be. His hiring after all is a shot across Pickett’s bow that says, “you’ve got this year in this offense to prove yourself.” After that? Forget it.
Smith’s success was not as a head coach, but as the coordinator in Tennessee. Twice Derrick Henry led the league in rushing and that included a 2,000 yard season in 2020. While his units were excellent at running the ball finishing second and third in both years as the Titans’ OC, passing was rather average. Both years saw them finish 21st and 23rd respectively. To be fair, when you run the ball well, you pass less so that has to be considered.
But while the offense in general is the major issue, can Smith be the ‘quarterback whisperer’ that Kenny Pickett needs? This was the direction I really thought – and hoped – Mike Tomlin would go. Everything seemed to line up that way and it still may but unfortunately this hire doesn’t inspire much in the way of excitement.
I guess I was fooled into thinking it would.
