The Pittsburgh Steelers recently announced the hiring of their new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith. Smith brings a wealth of offensive knowledge as a successful coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. He is best known for his punishing run game and his usage of play-action passing. There are concerns, however, that Smith will need help in implementing a strong passing game. This has led fans and analysts to name numerous possible passing game assistants. One name keeps coming up, Eric Bieniemy, and now one former Steelers offensive lineman is jumping on board.
Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith had success in Tennessee as the OC, with Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill leading the offense.
Those who are in favor of the Smith hire believe that he will be able to continue to build upon the "running back by committee" system the Steelers implemented with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. They also believe that Smith's usage of play-action will help whoever is at quarterback for the Steelers, whether it is Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, or someone new.
The Steelers Should Give Eric Bieniemy The Brian Flores Experience
Ramon Foster, who played offensive guard for Pittsburgh for 11 years, also co-hosts a podcast called The Ramon Foster Show, which airs on DK Pittsburgh Sports. On a recent episode, Foster and his co-host, Pittsburgh sports reporter Dejan Kovacevic, discussed the idea of hiring someone to help Smith with passing, specifically Bieniemy. Foster was all for it.
"I think he'd be good for Arthur Smith, especially if we're talking about expanding his ability to craft up passing routes. I would take all his ideas and clean him up and send him into the wild so he can go get a coordinator job somewhere else the same way that Brian Flores did. You daggone right. I've gotten all your secrets, we're good now, thank you, go into the wild and go make somebody else better," said Foster.
Bieniemy just spent one season with the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator with the hope of boosting his odds of getting a head coaching position. Before Washington, he spent five years as the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator helping them win two Super Bowls.
Associated Press
Former Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, Brian Flores.
Foster refers to the Steelers replicating the situation they had with former Senior Defensive Assistant and Linebackers Coach Brian Flores. Flores spent a single season with the Steelers in 2022 and is credited with helping the defense improve significantly.
Despite having a two-year contract with Washington, Bieniemy was fired after a single season when the Commanders went 4-13. While it might have been a worthwhile gamble if he could have replicated some of his success from the Chiefs with the Commanders, it is clear the problems in Washington run much deeper than just a coordinator. The team also let Head Coach Ron Rivera, who was also in charge of personnel, go after the disappointing 2023 season.
The Steelers will likely need to move quickly if they want to get Bieniemy on board in a unique kind of hybrid role as a passing game coordinator, or senior offensive assistant. There are still a couple of teams that are actively in the hunt for an offensive coordinator and of the big names available, he is one of the best.
Jay Biggerstaff / USA TODAY Sports
Eric Bieniemy, former Washington and Kansas City coordinator heads Brooke Pryor's list of candidates.
If the Steelers brought Bieniemy on board like they did with Flores, it could help give him the boost that he needs to get his career back on track towards a head coaching position. Before coming to Pittsburgh, Flores, who'd spent years working under Bill Belichick, had been the Miami Dolphins head coach. Despite having three decent seasons in Miami, Flores was fired by the Dolphins. It was revealed that the team had been trying to hire Sean Payton behind the scenes. Their subversive actions cost them $1.5 million and they had to forfeit their first-round pick in 2023 and a third-round pick in 2024.
The Steelers and Flores were able to help each other out. Flores had also sued the league for racial discrimination due to the lack of consideration he was given for the head coaching job. He needed a season where he could show he made a positive impact without having to take a huge step backward. The Steelers and Head Coach Mike Tomlin were able to help Flores get that fresh start. Flores not only lent them his experience, but the Miami debacle allowed the Steelers to move up a spot in the 2023 NFL Draft and nab Joey Porter Jr. Flores is now the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been heavily criticized, but sticking with his ways resulted in a playoff appearance in 2023 for the team.
The Steelers are a team that tends to maximize talent and give these second chances. In the case of Smith, he was an excellent offensive coordinator in Tennessee, but struggled the past three years as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. While Bieniemy does not have anything as dramatic as a lawsuit happening, he could benefit from that ability to show his impact on a team. Like Smith and Flores, Bieniemy would have the chance in Pittsburgh to learn behind one of the best coaches in the league in Tomlin, thus allowing them to hit the reset button.
What do you think about the Steelers hiring Bieniemy? Do you think they would consider him? Click to comment below.
#SteelerNation
