The Pittsburgh Steelers are making their way through the 2024 offseason and making some changes along the way. Yet another season that didn't involve a deep playoff run with a chance to hoist another Lombardi Trophy has started to make some people a little impatient. That feeling starts at the top with Art Rooney II.
Last week, Rooney II made it clear during his media session that the results they have been getting, including this season which was a first round loss to the Buffalo Bills, isn't acceptable and that it needs to change rather quickly. The team is definitely making changes to attempt to change the results, as Head Coach Mike Tomlin brought in former Atlanta Falcons head coach and Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith to be the Steelers' next OC and likely play-caller.
There have been some other changes as well, as former Wide Receivers Coach Frisman Jackson is not returning to the team for 2024, and the team may be changing some other members of the offensive staff as well with the future of current Quarterbacks Coach Mike Sullivan being undetermined.
Steelers' Arthur Smith Must Pan Out For Offseason Changes To Matter
Regardless of all the other changes, the biggest and most talked about change will remain Smith and deservedly so. Smith was viewed as one of the fastest rising candidates during the 2020 and 2021 head coaching cycles after he helped the Titans offense become one of the top units across the NFL.
Smith helped Ryan Tannehill take his game to the next level, as before Smith became Tannehill's offensive coordinator, Tannehill was viewed as a below average quarterback that wasn't capable of leading a top level offense. That perception hasn't totally changed in everyone's eyes, but there is no doubt Tannehill had two of his best seasons of his career under Smith.
In order to please Steeler Nation, and more importantly Rooney II, Smith is going to have to have a similar impact with the Steelers' 2022 first round draft pick, Kenny Pickett. Pickett has struggled mightily to this point in his career, but Rooney II expects Smith to help all of the quarterbacks on the roster next season, which currently revolves around Pickett.
Rooney II sat down with Bob Pompeani of KDKA for an interview recently, and below is what he said about how Smith can make his biggest impact on the offense and team as a whole.
"I think Arthur, number one, is going to have to impact the quarterback, and Kenny in particular. You know look, he has been around a lot of football over the years, and has great experience. He'll make a decision on where the emphasis needs to be and how to put our personnel in the best situations to be successful."
It makes perfect sense that the main focus for Smith coming in is going to be getting the most out of the quarterback position. This is especially with a young quarterback that has yet to prove on a consistent basis he can lead this Steelers' offense at the level Rooney II expects it to.
Smith has been heavily criticized for his usage of certain personnel during his time with the Falcons, as he did not appear to maximize the capabilities of all the high draft picks that the Falcons selected over the past couple seasons. The Steelers also have several players that have high draft picks invested in them, and if that perceived lack of proper utilization continues, you'll hear the fans chanting "Fire Smith" just like they chanted "Fire [Matt] Canada" all across the country.
Luckily, the Steelers have a roster that heavily resembles the Titans team that Smith had his highest level of success with. With the Titans, Smith heavily leaned on his running game and his bruising running back in Derrick Henry, something the Steelers resemble with their desire to commit to the run game and the physical running style of Najee Harris. That paired with big, physical receivers on the outside on both teams with AJ Brown on the Titans and George Pickens on the Steelers, really should play well into the offense and success Smith had as an offensive coordinator.
Overall, the hiring of Smith will only be able to be judged by success or failures over the next season or two, and that likely hinges on the ability for him to maximize Pickett's talents like Rooney II mentioned.
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