Tag: Arthur smith

George Pickens’ injury proves Steelers made Roman Wilson-sized mistake

George Pickens’ absence in Week 16 argues that the Steelers must reconsider giving rookie Roman Wilson a chance in the WR room.

The worries of Steelers fans have been confirmed: George Pickens has been ruled OUT for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 16 AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

However, his absence from last week’s and this week’s games provides ammunition to the season-long argument regarding the Steelers’ wide receiver room: HC Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith need to give rookie WR Roman Wilson a chance.

It was recently argued by Steelers insider Gerry Dulac that Wilson’s inability to stay healthy during training camp and practices early on in 2024 forced the team to move on from his contributions this year. However, Pickens’ absence should force the team to reconsider.

In the past two games Pickens has missed, QB Russell Wilson struggled to find production out of his receivers and threw for a combined 286 yards in Weeks 14 and 15.

Regardless of Tomlin claiming to have “moved on,” or any insiders believing the rookie receiver will get his chance in 2025, one thing remains certain—the Wilson-to-Wilson connection could be the much-needed medicine for this dying Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

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Arthur Smith compares Steelers offense to an ‘old pickup truck’

Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith calls offense an “old pickup truck”—gritty, relatable, slow to start, but capable of explosive drives.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith described the team’s offense in a way that fans might find both relatable and amusing, yet disappointing at the same time: As an “old pickup truck.” It’s a metaphor that captures the gritty, hard-working nature of the Steelers’ approach, along with its occasional challenges.

“We’re towards the top of the league in rushing,” Smith said in a Wednesday press conference. “Sometimes it’s not as efficient as you want, but I think the biggest thing, if you watched us closely, it’s really all the way around. We’ve got to do a better job—we’re like an old pickup truck.”

The analogy is accurate and not really one to be proud of. That slow start has been a recurring theme, something we’ve witnessed lose games. Smith admitted the team needs to start faster, but unless they figure out how, these last three games of the regular season — let alone the postseason — won’t be kind to them.

For Smith, the pickup truck analogy reflects the team’s ability to plod along and eventually find its rhythm. “We’ll run well. We’re pretty damn good, and the longer you get the thing in drive, sometimes it just takes a little while to crank the engine,” he said.

Smith humorously admitted, “We’ve got to get some jumper cables or whatever we got to do. I’m not a mechanic; maybe somebody around here is.” Still, despite the bumps, the offense has powered the Steelers to 10 wins, proving their durability and ability to grind through challenges, just like that old truck he referenced.

Like an old truck, the Steelers’ offense has heart, durability, and promise to get the job done when it matters.

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Steelers OC Arthur Smith ‘fired up’ about Bill Belichick named UNC head coach

Pittsburgh Steelers Arthur Smith was named a top candidate for the head coach job at North Carolina, but withdrew his name.

Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was considered a top candidate for the head coach vacancy at North Carolina, where Smith played and served as a graduate assistant.

However, Smith quickly withdrew his name from consideration, and the university ultimately chose former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for the role. 

Here’s what Smith had to say about Belichick in a press conference today:

He’s a teacher of the game, and he’s got a lot of wisdom, and that should carry over. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to go learn the game of football from him. Like any great coach, he’s a teacher first and still really a student.

Smith signed a three-year contract with the Steelers in January.

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Steelers WR Mike Williams faces pressure to step up as team adjusts without George Pickens

Mike Williams must step up as Steelers adjust without George Pickens, who’s doubtful with a hamstring injury. Can he deliver in Week 15?

It’s been five weeks since wide receiver Mike Williams joined the Pittsburgh Steelers via the New York Jets at the trade deadline. Of course, there’s a period of acclimation to a new system, but Steelers Nation fans has been eager to see more from Williams, especially given the team’s lack of depth behind George Pickens.

So far, through five games, Williams has caught four of five targets for 68 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are not reflective of the No. 2 wide receiver fans thought Williams would be.

Perhaps with a full week of preparation without Pickens — doubtful for the Philadelphia Eagles matchup with a “significant” hamstring injury — Williams will play a more prominent role in Week 15.

Williams has a golden opportunity to step into a larger role. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin noted Williams’ progress in practice but remained cautious about his fit in the offense.

Keep watching. Very much in development. We’ve seen some quality play-making in practice. I thought last weekend was a significant step in seeing some more. Let’s hope that continues.

With Pickens likely sidelined for an undetermined period, there’s no better time for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to lean on Williams’ playmaking ability as the team faces the nine-game win streak Eagles. Can Williams seize the moment and deliver when the Steelers need him most?

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Is the ‘Justin Fields package’ experiment over after Week 14 absence?

After Justin Fields’ absence in Week 14, questions arise about the future his rushing package and whether it was overused by Arthur Smith.

Oh, what a difference a week makes. It appears Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith and HC Mike Tomlin were tired of explaining their strange decision-making regarding when to utilize QB Justin Fields’ mobility over QB Russell Wilson’s arm, as Fields played zero snaps in Week 14.

Inconsistency and poor execution are the only fitting descriptions for the ‘Fields rushing package.’ It seemed that the plays were either creating huge scoring opportunities or game-changing scenarios for the Black and Gold, or were costing Pittsburgh the contests entirely—there is seemingly no middle ground.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense did look stagnant in terms of yardage in the Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns, but the ball security and scoring prowess under Wilson’s leadership made up for it.

While it’s highly unlikely we’ve seen the last of the ‘Fields package,’ an argument can be made that Smith was incorporating it too heavily into every offensive gameplan since its debut in Week 11, instead of treating it as a last-resort gadget play, or red zone tool from week to week.

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Steelers should scoop up Eric Beieniemy to help the offense

Pittsburgh should make the call to see about adding Eric Beieniemy to the staff.

There was a time when former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Beieniemy was the hottest name in NFL head coaching circles. However, interviews came and went and Beieniemy couldn’t land a job. There was plenty of speculation as to why but he finally landed with UCLA as their offensive coordinator.

However, after only one season, Bieniemy and the Bruins have parted ways. He might seem like damaged goods at this point but we don’t see it that way. If I am the Pittsburgh Steelers, I make the call to Beieniemy to have a conversation about bringing him in as an offensive consultant similar to what the Steelers did with Brian Flores on defense.

There are two reasons for this. First, the Steelers have the Kansas City Chiefs coming up on Christmas Day and any edge they could glean from having Bieniemy on the staff would help their cause.

Second and perhaps more important is it might be a plan for the future. Given the success offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has had this season running the Steelers offense, he will have opportunities at the end of the season. Should Smith leave, Bieniemy might be a potential replacement.

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Fans react to Steelers’ dominant Week 13 offensive performance

Steelers fans flooded social media with reactions after the team’s dominant Week 13 performance, fueled by a 500+ yard offensive explosion.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers were understandably nervous heading into the team’s Week 13 matchup against the underrated offensive force of the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh’s Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns certainly didn’t inspire confidence.

However, the Black and Gold offense came alive, all but dismantling the Bengals’ defense with over 500 total yards in the contest.

Leading the offensive explosion was none other than QB Russell Wilson, who threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns, complemented by RB Najee Harris’ 129 all-purpose yards. This performance showcased just how formidable this unit can be.

With a challenging five-game stretch remaining, the Steelers will aim to make Week 13’s offensive dominance the new standard rather than a one-hit wonder.

Steelers fans are still buzzing days after the team improved to 9-3 in the 2024 season, with their excitement palpable across social media. Here are some of the best fan reactions to the Steelers’ offensive showcase in Week 13.

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Steelers OC honest in his comments about UNC coaching job

The Steelers could lose their offensive coordinator at the end of the season.

After struggling as an NFL head coach with the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Smith has found his way again as the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his tenure with the Steelers could be short-lived as Smith has been named as one of the coaches the University of North Carolina is interested in as their new head coach for the 2025 season.

It only makes sense as UNC is Smith’s alma mater. Smith addressed the rumors and situation and was candid about his feelings on the idea of returning to UNC as the head coach and where things stand.

“Obviously, that’s my alma mater,” Smith said. “That’s not something I’ve thought about. I know in today’s media things can blow up out of control. The reality is they reached out with a preliminary call. I appreciate it and love that place, but that’s not my focus. I have one of the best jobs in football right now.”

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Former Tar Heel and current NFL coach floated as a possible Mack Brown replacement

A former UNC football player is amongst the top candidates to replace Mack Brown as head coach…

The 2025 college football season in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is going to look extremely different.

On Tuesday, Nov. 26, UNC announced that it was firing head football coach Mack Brown. Mack will still coach the Tar Heels against NC State and possibly the bowl game, but he won’t return for 2025.

Mack led the Tar Heels back to bowl eligibility with a victory against Wake Forest, giving fans and the North Carolina athletic department some hope for his future, but an embarrassing loss at Boston College changed the tone once again.

With Mack soon-to-be gone, a national coaching search is underway. A possible replacement for Mack – one that would make perfect sense, if you ask me – is Arthur Smith, the former Tar Heel and current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator.

Smith played at UNC from 2001-2005 under John Bunting, but dealt with a foot issue that forced him to miss all of 2002 and 2003. Upon graduating, Smith was a graduate assistant for North Carolina in 2006.

You might better recognize Smith’s name from his NFL coaching gigs. He was the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach from 2021-2023 – and had former North Carolina standout Mack Hollins on his roster in 2023. Before that, Smith spent 10 seasons with the Tennessee Titans, most notably when he coached an electric offense – led by NFL star Derrick Henry – to the 2020 AFC Championship.

While I think the Tar Heels should look outside former player/coach connections for their next head coach, I also think Smith would be a tremendous hire. He’s young (42 years old), knows how to win and is passionate on the sidelines.

Who will UNC tab for its next head coach? Make sure to follow along with our Coaching Big Board.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Steelers QB disappointed in one particular play from Week 12

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields reflects on a missed scoring opportunity during Week 12’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.

It’s safe to say that Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields is upset about more than just his team’s loss in Week 12 to the Cleveland Browns. Steelers OC Arthur Smith implemented Fields’ rushing package early and often against the Browns, with little success to show for it.

Perhaps the only meaningful rushing attempt worth mentioning was Fields’ 30-yard run that almost resulted in a touchdown. The keyword here is “almost,” as instead of rushing for 65 yards to the end zone, Fields was pushed out at the Browns’ 35-yard line.

Ultimately, according to ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor, Fields claimed his inability to score on the play made him “sick” and blamed it on being on the sideline for too long.

It is clear that Fields is referencing his time on the bench, while starting QB Russell Wilson handled the majority of the offensive duties. Should the Pittsburgh Steelers allow Fields to get more reps with his rushing package to stay loose, or will his presence only hinder the Wilson-led Steelers offense?

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