The Pittsburgh Steelers are putting the future development of their offense and young quarterback Kenny Pickett into the hands of Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh's newly-hired offensive coordinator. Many are hoping that Smith can be a real breath of fresh air for an offense that was struggling at the best of times and recreate what he was able to do as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Former Steelers' defensive back Bryant McFadden sees nowhere else for the offense to go but up, considering how bleak the Matt Canada years were.
Steelers' Offense Ready To Get Back On Track Under Arthur Smith
McFadden, who played for the Steelers from 2005 to 2008 and then again from 2010 to 2011, was on the Dukes & Bell Podcast on Friday, and the subject of Smith and the Steelers came up. Considering that McFadden brings both his playing experience and time in Pittsburgh to the conversation, it was an opinion worth paying attention to.
Before McFadden talked about what Smith could potentially bring to Pittsburgh's offensive attack starting in 2024, he made sure to let the podcast know just how awful he thought the previous version of the Steelers' offense was to watch. Under Canada, McFadden paints a rather blunt picture of what it was like as a former player seeing that play out week after week.
"I mean, considering what we've had in years past...it's an upgrade! I gotta keep it real with you. [The] offensive coordinator was, I don't wanna say bad, but it just didn't look good, yo. You know, watching our offense was like watching a Lifetime movie, bruh! Man, you watch a Lifetime movie, you know it's gonna be sad, it's gonna be cloudy, it's gonna be dreary-looking, and you're gonna walk away feeling some type of way - mostly upset and depressed! That's how our offense was...and I hated watching our offense!"
As for Smith, McFadden has real hope for what he can do in Pittsburgh, and it is based on his track record while with the Titans. According to McFadden, if the Steelers get the same Smith who coached the offense in Tennessee for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, then things will be just fine. There are no guarantees when it comes to finding competent NFL coordinators, but the Steelers wanted to bring in someone with experience, and that is precisely what they got in Smith.
"I love it! I love it...So, you're telling me we get Arthur Smith, who, yeah, he didn't really live up to the expectations of a head coach. Head coaching positions are not for everybody. You gotta be a leader of men for 365 days out of the year, but one thing we do know, Arthur Smith, when he was an OC, when he was just only dedicated to working on the offense, he excelled as a coach. So, hopefully, we can get that same Arthur Smith that we saw in Tennessee up in the 'Burgh because we need it."
Najee Harris has shown shades of Derrick Henry in his short career, but there is a positive in that Smith already knows how to run an offense through a bruising, powerful running back. The biggest question mark regarding what Smith will be able to do offensively in Pittsburgh is the person under center.
Steelers Have To Challenge Pickett With Legitimate Quarterback Competition
McFadden saw what happened when the Steelers made it seem like there was a real quarterback competition going on in the 2022 offseason, but Pickett had already been anointed. Considering what every one has seen from the former first-round pick, the lack of a real challenge for the job could have ended up hurting Pickett. If the Steelers make the same mistake again just because of Pickett's draft pedigree, it will set them back and also make the hiring of Smith a lateral move, if anything.
"That's what we did with Kenny Pickett; we just handed him a job! When you talk about being a young quarterback and not having any experience, any reps, you gotta show that you can lead. You gotta show that you can handle everything that comes from being a starting quarterback in the NFL. So, if I'm Arthur Smith, if I'm Mike Tomlin, it has to be a competition. We're not just saying, 'You're our guy,' because no one else is there."
Mason Rudolph might not be back, and it would be wise to cut ties with Mitch Trubisky, so the specifics as to who will challenge Pickett won't be determined for some time. However, as long as the Steelers go into the 2024 offseason with the firm stance that Pickett must earn it this time around, it will be starting off on a very positive foot.
Injuries and Canada have made it incredibly difficult to assess Pickett's development, but 2024 is the year Pittsburgh can determine whether he is someone to build around or cut loose. McFadden already knows how important it is for Pickett not to be handed the job; the question is whether the Steelers can get out of their own way. If they create real competition under center for 2024, then it would go a long way to giving Smith a big leg up right off the bat.
Who will be the Steelers quarterbacks in 2024?
More must-reads: