Steelers’ new OC Arthur Smith is 'more detailed, holding guys more accountable' than his predecessor
When people forecast what the Pittsburgh Steelers will look like in 2024, there is one aspect of the team's offseason re-modeling that is consistently forgotten about. That would be the change at OC, and how big of an upgrade that will be for the offense. Well, that hasn't slipped by the players in Pittsburgh, who […]
When people forecast what the Pittsburgh Steelers will look like in 2024, there is one aspect of the team's offseason re-modeling that is consistently forgotten about.
That would be the change at OC, and how big of an upgrade that will be for the offense.
Well, that hasn't slipped by the players in Pittsburgh, who just two weeks into their relationship with Arthur Smith, are already seeing significant changes compared to the past:
Arthur Smith Feeling the Love
“I think he’s made everyone super-accountable, which starts with the players, but it’s good to have from the coaches as well,” starting guard Isaac Seumalo told reporters earlier this week. “I think he’s been consistent in his message. He wants guys to take each day as it comes, be a pro and come in with an attitude of ‘what can I do today to improve myself and help my teammates get this thing going towards week one and training camp’.”
Being accountable starts from the top down. It's easy to say, "Oh well the coaches didn't prepare me, or we didn't expect to see that from the team," etc. But whatever you think about Smith's time in Atlanta, no one doubts his ability to design an offense and call plays with impressive attention to detail:
“It’s not a lot of lip service, not just saying something,” WR Calvin Austin told reporters on Tuesday. “We say something in meetings and we are going out on the field and coach is looking for that. He’s pushing for that. It’s not just that we are saying it to sound good. We are actually going out there and you can feel that we are pushing on offense. We are pushing for everybody to be perfect and detailed. It’s still early so not we are not going to be perfect, but the coaches are pushing for perfection.”
Most coaches are perfectionists. At times, we hear players push back against that, just asking for things to be simple so they can play fast and physical. Meaning, there is a fine line between pushing for perfection and keeping the main thing the main thing, a line Smith is towing well:
“The main thing he preaches is physicality,” new Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt, who played under Smith in Tennessee and Atlanta told reporters. “We are going to run that ball for sure. We have great backs here that can take advantage of the scheme which will lead to us getting shots in the pass game as well.”
Accountability, attention to detail, and physicality. Three things that were largely foreign to the Steelers' offense over the last three seasons, will now become staples on a team looking to get back to their winning ways.
