NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
“Let Russ Cook” is a thing of the past, but the Steelers offense will be improved in 2024 after a number of changes, including the addition of Russell Wilson.
The QB room was completely overhauled after Pittsburgh also traded for Justin Fields and shipped Kenny Pickett to the Eagles. WR Diontae Johnson was traded to the Panthers, while the Steelers took OG Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier and WR Roman Wilson with their first three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Matt Canada era is long gone, and former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith takes over as the offensive coordinator. Got all that?
Wilson and Smith haven’t exactly made a lot of positive headlines in recent years, but they are certainly an upgrade for an offense that ranked 27th in EPA per play last year. Pittsburgh’s 17.9 points per game were the fewest by a 10-win team since the 2005 Bears. Ouch.
Steelers fans should be delighted to hear that the new offense will be a blend of the smashmouth football they know and love, with the big-play ability they’ve desperately needed.
The staples of Smith’s offenses during his tenure with the Titans (offensive coordinator from 2019-20) and the Falcons (2021-23) were running the ball with play-action shots downfield. The Falcons and Titans both ranked top five in run-call rate and play-action with Smith, similar to the numbers from Wilson’s time with the Seahawks.
NFL ranks with Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith
Falcons with Arthur Smith
5th
3rd
Titans with Arthur Smith
2nd
3rd
Seahawks with Russell Wilson
1st
6th
Pittsburgh was still living in the stone age with Canada, sporting the lowest play-action rate (10.4%) in the entire NFL during his three seasons. It also had the ninth-shortest average pass (7.4 yards), a far cry from the rate the Falcons posted with Smith (8.2 yards), which was the sixth-longest in the NFL.
Wilson may not be as fleet of foot as he used to be, but he still has one of…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/how-much-will-steelers-offense-improve-with-russell-wilson-and-arthur-smith-it-cant-get-worse-can-it/
Author : Douglas Clawson
Publish date : 2024-05-24 12:13:43
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
