Tag: Arthur smith

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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Will Steelers rein in Justin Fields package following Week 12 blunder?

Will the Steelers dial back their usage of Justin Fields’ rushing package to avoid mistakes in Week 13 against the Bengals?

In the always fun and never tiring game of ‘who to blame next for Week 12’s loss to Cleveland,’ there appears to be a common denominator in Steelers OC Arthur Smith’s usage of the Justin Fields package.

It is tough to decipher, but much of the shortcomings from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Cleveland Browns fall on Smith’s mishandling of Fields in Week 12.

In situations where QB Russell Wilson should have stayed in the game, he was subbed out for Fields. In scenarios where Fields could have better utilized his legs, the plays often completely fell apart.

Some fans may argue that the confusion and inconsistency behind the package is the primary reason why the Wilson-led offense fell flat, such as the awkward attempt to ice the game in fourth quarter.

With this in mind, should Smith be forced to dial back the designed runs for Fields? After all, the Pittsburgh Steelers face an extremely underrated Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 13 and could do without falling victim to another trap game.

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Is a Roman Wilson Week 13 return realistic for Steelers?

Roman Wilson could technically return from IR in Week 13, giving the Steelers a boost against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Roman Wilson potentially could have some positive news next week as the team gears up to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. Wilson, who was added to IR on October 28th, is finally eligible to return after sitting out the past four games.

Wilson being eligible to return and being healthy are two completely different factors that the Pittsburgh Steelers will consider when ultimately making their decision on the rookie third-round wide receiver.

While Wilson had seemingly caught the ire of HC Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith, WR coach Zach Azzanni spoke highly of Wilson only a few days after his addition to IR, stating that the young wideout asked Azzanni to create a plan during the four weeks away from action.

Will Azzanni’s plan for Wilson culminate in a Week 13 return? Only time will tell, but after the horrendous Steelers offensive display in Week 12, the team may need his talents sooner rather than later.

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Former Steelers All-Pro RB calls out fans over Mike Tomlin criticism

Former RB Le’Veon Bell defends Mike Tomlin amid rising calls for the Steelers’ head coach to be fired following the team’s Week 12 loss.

In what has resulted in a terrible Pittsburgh Steelers blame game, the team’s Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns has taken a toll on players and fans alike.

While much discussion over who is more directly responsible for the 24-19 loss to Cleveland has resulted in several prominent names being thrown under the bus, such as HC Mike Tomlin, OC Arthur Smith, QB Russell Wilson, and P Corliss Waitman, former Steelers All-Pro RB Le’Veon Bell is sick of hearing it.

This blame game has recently turned into a Tomlin witch hunt, with fans calling for the head coach to be fired. Bell, who spent the majority of his career under Tomlin’s leadership, recently made it clear on social media that any fans calling for the coach’s firing are “not real Steelers fans.”

Out of everything Bell touched on, the truest statement he made is that everyone is clearly overreacting to the Steelers’ Week 12 loss. Within a few weeks, fans will forget this stinging defeat, and the 8-3 Pittsburgh Steelers can prove why the 2024 season will finally lead to a deep playoff run.

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