Steelers’ Arthur Smith Rolling Out Bold And Risky New Offensive Strategy

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense in the 2023 season was a tough watch. Under former Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada, the unit reached historically poor levels, leading to his midseason dismissal. The trio of quarterbacks—Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky—combined for just 13 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Throughout the season, the offense played it overly safe, which resulted in frequent stalls and a lack of scoring. With Canada at the helm, the team struggled to take any significant risks.

This offseason, the Steelers hired Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator, hoping he can turn things around. After Monday's practice, Smith addressed the media and was asked about his approach to aggression on offense. Given the previous season's conservative play, fans are eager for a more dynamic strategy that balances calculated risks with avoiding costly turnovers. Smith hinted that his 2024 offense will embrace a much more aggressive style.

"Those are things we try to be aggressive [with] in practice. We want to be smarter, but not reckless. We have a lot of team speed, so we try and push the ball down the field."

In football, winning the turnover battle is essential for success. Last season, the Steelers, led by Pickett, played it safe to avoid turnovers, but this conservative strategy backfired, resulting in frequent stalled drives and minimal scoring.

Smith, the new man in charge of the Steelers offense, is hinting at a major shift in approach. While he’s keeping the full details of his strategy under wraps, Smith has emphasized that the Steelers offense will be much more aggressive in 2024. 

This change is expected to create more opportunities for playmakers like George Pickens, allowing him to showcase his skills on high-risk, high-reward plays. Steeler Nation can look forward to a more dynamic and exciting offensive strategy this season.

"When we’ve got 50/50 balls, especially with the certain guys we have, we want to see them give them a chance. There’s risk in every play. We have the speed we have and certainly guys like George who can go get the ball. There are definitely times we are going to air on being more aggressive."

Smith made a name for himself as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, known for his powerful and physical ground-and-pound attack. However, he wasn’t afraid to let the ball fly when necessary, and he’s set to bring that same aggressive style to Pittsburgh. Given that the Titans’ offense under Smith was among the best in the NFL, his arrival is an exciting development for the Steelers.

Smith’s tenure as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons was less successful, with a record of 21 wins and 30 losses over three seasons. Despite this, his impressive resume as an offensive coordinator suggests he has the potential to excel in Pittsburgh.

Steelers Offense Set To Be Much More Exciting For Fans In 2024

The Steelers’ offense was a tough watch for fans in 2023. With the addition of new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who are both known for their strong deep throws and willingness to take risks, Smith has the tools to transform the Pittsburgh offense in 2024.

Whether it’s Wilson or Fields leading the charge, Smith's system promises to be bold and aggressive. This approach will undoubtedly excite Steelers fans, though it comes with the inherent risk of interceptions and costly turnovers. Smith acknowledges that risk is part of every play and believes that playing it safe won’t bring success in the league. To win, he says, you need to embrace the risk of airing it out and making bold plays.

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