Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Weighs In On Arthur Smith's Impressive Rushing Attack

The Pittsburgh Steelers are starting to find their groove on offense. Four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is coming off another four-touchdown performance after helping the Steelers' offense record 31 points in their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Despite the loss and not only is Rodgers playing well, but the Pittsburgh rushing attack is starting to take shape. Led by starting running back Jaylen Warren, this rushing attack has been able to record over 100 rushing yards in three consecutive weeks. That is a fantastic sign if you are a Steelers fan, especially when you consider the struggles of Head Coach Mike Tomlin's defense.

Steelers' legendary quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger recently spoke about his impressions of Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's running game at this point in the season via Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger this week.

"Yeah, that jumbo package is something else right now," Roethlisberger explained. "It's really working. I think Arthur Smith is doing a great job of getting us in (good) situations. Right now, the run game is there, [Pittsburgh's defense] is kind of in a little bit of a lull right now. How can we possess the ball longer?"  

Roethlisberger also mentioned that opposing defenses will start to try to figure out how to stop the Steelers' ground game, which is why Smith and co. need to continue adding more wrinkles to the scheme. However, thanks to the blocking job done up front by the offensive line and the tight end group, led by big Darnell Washington, it is hard to stop this team when they are running the football successfully. By the way, not only can Washington and his fellow tight ends block at a high level, but they can also catch touchdowns. 

The position group caught all four of Rodgers' touchdown passes last Thursday night in Cincinnati. So, if Tomlin and his staff are ahead in the fourth quarter, it could be lights out for teams that either struggle to stop the run or have issues defending tight ends. This is why it is so crucial that the Steelers' defense, which is ranked 28th in total defense currently (374.7 yards allowed per game), improves immediately.

Steelers Will Know More About Their Rushing Attack In the Coming Weeks

While the Steelers are hitting their stride on the ground, they will soon find out what that part of the offense is truly made of. This is the case because they will be facing some stout run defenses over the next two weeks. The NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers are coming to town for Sunday Night Football this week. While the fact that they are facing Rodgers for the first time since he was traded in 2023 will likely garner the most headlines, this is also one of the best defenses in football. It currently ranks second in the league in rushing defense (76.5 yards allowed per game). After Green Bay comes the Indianapolis Colts. The AFC South leaders currently possess the seventh-best run defense in the league (90.3 yards allowed per game).

If Pittsburgh can find away way to establish its presence on the ground against these teams, it should have a great shot to win. This is especially true when you consider who the quarterback is. With Rodgers (105.0 passer rating) really starting to find his groove at the age of 41, the ceiling of the offense in the Steel City could be quite high. In his 21st NFL season, he is on pace to throw 40 touchdown passes, which is almost unheard of. So, despite coming off a tough divisional loss on a short week, this team is still in good shape as its offense continues to flourish. However, in order to stay ahead in the AFC North, their defense has to come alive.

Do you agree with Roethlisberger about Smith's offense so far in 2025? Comment below!

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