Sources revealed to ESPN that the Steelers are expected to hire Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers hire former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smithas your next offensive coordinator, league sources confirmed to ESPN.
Arthur Smith. ANP
“We hope to have someone come and take a new approach that can help our young players to grow and perform and make the offense perform at a consistently high level,” Steelers owner Art Rooney II said Monday about an imminent hire at the position, saying the hire would be made more sooner rather than later.
Smith was fired by the Falcons earlier this month after compiling a 21-30 record in three straight 7-10 seasons without a playoff berth. Prior to his time in Atlanta, Smith was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2020. Smith initially joined Tennessee’s staff in 2011 as a defensive quality control coach and also worked as an offensive quality control coach, coach offensive line, assistant tight ends coach and tight ends coach before his promotion to offensive coordinator.
“I think Mike identified that we want someone who has some experience and someone who has, let’s say, a track record that we can look at and feel comfortable with,” Rooney said Monday when describing what coach Mike Tomlin is looking for in an offensive coordinator.
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Smith’s Falcons offense was inconsistent and often earned criticism in Atlanta for his use of the running back Sesame Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts, and handling the quarterback situation. Smith and Falcons selected quarterback Desmond Ridder two rounds after the Steelers will select the quarterback Kenny Pickett in the 2022 draft. Ridder became a starter in 2023 after starting four games as a rookie, but was benched twice this season, throwing 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Smith, however, has experience leading an offense with a strong running attack. The Falcons had the third-most rushing yards in 2022, and in Smith’s final season in Tennessee, the Titans ranked second in rushing yards.
On Monday, Rooney expressed his desire to return to the running game and improve the quality of quarterback play and Pickett’s development.
“I think we have two high-performance riders, Najee [Harris] y Jaylen [Warren]and they, along with an improved offensive line, They can be the basis of success in the future“said Rooney II.
With that running back tandem, the Steelers rushed for 2,010 yards in the regular season, including a late two-game 100-yard rushing surge by Harris in the final two games of the regular season.
“I think we have an idea of what we want the Steeler offense to be,” Rooney added Monday. “It starts with that and we have a certain roster mix that leads to the fact that you can’t completely change your roster overnight, so you have to have a coordinator that you feel can work with this roster and be successful with it. “So, someone who believes in that and comes in and can work with this roster, do what’s already built here in terms of the roster and some of the skills that we have. I think that’s what we’re looking for.”
2024-01-31 00:52:26
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