The Pittsburgh Steelers had enough of the struggling, inept offense in 2023 and made a historic move by firing then-Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. Ahead of the 2024 season, the Steelers brought in former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Smith, to take charge of the offense. With former first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett’s future uncertain, it will be up to Smith to determine what role Pickett should play. The new coordinator is expected to shift the direction the offense has been going in and rediscover the kind of success the franchise is used to.
Smith will be tasked with turning around Pittsburgh’s offense, something Canada was unable to do. Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan spoke with Rich Walsh of KDKA about the coming season and the team’s goals. Khan admitted that Pittsburgh’s offense hasn’t been up to par, and he believes the beginning of that turnaround starts with Smith.
During the interview, Khan was asked his opinion on how long it takes to evaluate a quarterback taken in the first round, and Khan had some thinly veiled comments on why the offense needed to be fixed.
“It’s different, you know. There’s a lot of factors to it. Not only the player but the situation. Obviously, there’s been some issues with the offense the last couple years, and we’re excited about where we are with Arthur — Arthur Smith. There’s several factors, and it’s hard to pinpoint one thing.”
For anyone who watched the Steelers’ offense from 2021 to 2023, the lack of production was painfully apparent. Khan didn’t shy away from the lack of offensive success during those seasons, and the immediate pivot to Smith entering the picture spoke volumes. Not only does Khan recognize the chief reason for Pittsburgh’s inability to compete with the other NFL offenses, he also believes in the solution: Smith.
Walsh, however, didn’t miss a beat and pressed Khan on whether Pickett was close to taking that next step. For all the hometown storylines and high investment, the return on the former University of Pittsburgh quarterback hasn’t been much to talk about. Khan had Pickett’s back, even if the team has been completely transparent about their desire to bring in competition at the position.
“I feel confident in him and his abilities. I’m encouraged by, uh, just understanding what Arthur Smith’s vision is for this offense and encouraged by what could — what that could mean for Kenny and his growth.”
While Khan may want Pickett to feel supported, when the time comes, it will be about who can get the job done. Pickett has proven through two seasons that not only is he unable to navigate the complexities of an NFL offense, but he can’t stay healthy either. This could be Pickett’s last true chance to show what he can do in Pittsburgh. The question is whether it is already too late.
Steelers’ Khan Believes In Smith
Smith enjoyed offensive success behind a heavy rushing attack when he was the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator, and the hope is that he can replicate that with the Steelers. Khan knows that while there are certainly question marks around the roster, Smith will have plenty of weapons to utilize during this transition period.
Walsh was curious to know what aspects of Smith’s approach to an NFL offense grabbed the attention of Pittsburgh’s front office. After the Canada situation, the Steelers had to get their next coordinator choice right, and they already feel like they are off to a great start.
“He just brings that Steelers’ mentality that we like, the physicality, and he’s been great. Spent a lot of time getting to know him and him getting to know us and understanding his vision…and it’s exciting. I think he’s gonna be a really good addition.”
Entering the 2023 offseason, the Steelers wanted to get bigger, stronger, and add grit to the trenches. Smith will have Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, and James Daniels blocking for the dangerous Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Whoever eventually starts at quarterback for the 2024 Steelers will have weapons in George Pickens, Darnell Washington, and Diontae Johnson to move the ball in chunks. The question isn’t whether the Steelers have talent; it’s whether Smith can get it all headed in the right direction.
What kind of offensive production can the Steelers expect from Arthur Smith in 2024?
