It has been three days since news leaked that the Pittsburgh Steelers want to employ Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. You’ve undoubtedly read a lot about what went wrong when he was Atlanta’s head coach from 2021 to 2023.
Those clubs never made the playoffs, finishing 7-10 each season. In the previous two years, they were 31st (2022) and 22nd (2023) in passing offense. This year, they were 26th in scoring (18.9 points per game) and 30th in red zone touchdown percentage (46.8). Smith was also chastised for failing to develop quarterback Desmond Ridder and not capitalizing on the potential of young skill position players such as Bijan Robinson (RB), Drake London (WR), and Kyle Pitts (TE).
However, when he was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee from 2019 to 2020, such offenses were quite successful. In 2019, the Titans were tenth in the NFL for points per game. With standout running back Derrick Henry handling the weight, Tennessee averaged 138.9 rushing yards per game, ranking third in the NFL.
In 2020, only the Baltimore Ravens had a greater running attack, with the Titans averaging 168.1 yards per game. The club ranked fourth in points with 30.7. Henry rushed for 3,567 yards over two seasons. Over those two years, quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a passer rating of 110.6 and an 18-8 record. He had a 55:13 touchdown-interception ratio. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019.
On what Smith expects from his linemen: “They had (center) JonBen es (6-foot-3, 308 pounds), (tackle)Taylor Lewan (6-foot-7, 315 pounds), and (guard) Roger Saffold (6-foot-5, 325 pounds). Big, powerful, muscular, cruel, and unpleasant men. I believe Arthur has the ability to make any offensive line or rushing game work, depending on the players. But while he was here, he had big, powerful road graders up front, and a huge hoss in the backfield like Derrick Henry.”
When the air attack was working well with Ryan Tannehill, what made it click?: “A rhythmic and timing passing game. Under Art’s system, the quarterbacks are taught to throw to a spot and expect the receiver to be there. If they’re not there, that’s on them. That’s not on you. And Ryan Tannehill got really comfortable with that,” Burton said. “A lot of short passes. But the biggest thing they had going was with the threat of (Henry) in the backfield. You couldn’t just walk your safeties up because it was a run/play-action offense. Tannehill was really good with his ball fakes, and he was able to play with play-action due to Derrick Henry.
“The next thing you know, you’ve got A.J. Brown hitting an over route or a crossing route and taking it 75 yards to the house. So it really made you, as a defensive coordinator, unsure about how to line up to stop them.”
Quick editorial note here: It’s great that play-action may be a big part of Pickett’s game. I think he needs that. But the idea of Pickett standing in the pocket long enough to let the play develop and the Steelers’ two erratic receivers — Diontae Johnson and George Pickens — constantly getting to the right spot at the right time to catch a well-placed ball for lots of yards after the catch sounds like fairy tale stuff to me.
We saw some of that last year with Mason Rudolph at QB, but nowhere near enough with Pickett.
Was Smith’s run game really that well-designed? Or was he just lucky to have Henry: “I would say yes to both,” Burton said. “I think his running game has a good design to it. It’s more of a power attack, but I think he’s versatile enough as an OC that if he has to go to more of a zone running scheme, he can do that. He’ll do a good job of evaluating what talent he has. But, yeah, if you have Derrick Henry back there, that’s going to help any offense. There’s no question.”
Can Smith rediscover Pat Freiermuth?: “A lot of use of the tight ends as well. Jonnu Smith and Anthony Frisker were the two tight ends who also were highly productive in Arthur Smith’s offense,” Burton said.
In 2020, Frisker and Smith totaled 80 receptions for 835 yards and nine touchdowns.
Freiermuth had just 32 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns last year. Granted, he played just 12 games, but keep in mind, nine of those catches and 120 of those yards came in one game at Cincinnati.
Why did Smith fail as a head coach in Atlanta? “He didn’t do a very good job developing (quarterback) Desmond Ridder. So it’ll be intriguing to see what he can do with a rookie quarterback, provided Kenny Pickett returns as the starter next season,” Burton said.
“When Ryan Tannehill arrived (in Nashville), he was a veteran. He had played several games. He guided the Miami Dolphins to the playoffs one season (against the Steelers in 2016-17, but did not participate). So the most important factor will be how effectively the receivers adapt to his timing strategy in the passing game, as well as how well and fast he can develop a young quarterback like Kenny Pickett.”Why