Steelers Hiring Arthur Smith as new OC

[jitter77]

Cousins is/ was a good QB, but look at the history of teams who broke the bank for past prime vet QBs. The history is not good. Bringing in someone like cousins might work for a year, but in the long run will handicap the franchise.

 

[Litos]

Look at what teams like the Chiefs, 9ers, Ratbirds, Eagles do with their TEs, They are super productive and move chains like it's nothing.

If Smith can get that production out of Muth + Mt. Washington + little heyward the offense can be really clock dominant given our current running game.

Just look at the roster, where's the depth? TE and RB, a coach that schemes around those guys and play action is just what the doctor ordered for this team. I also bet he designs better routes for the current WRs than we have seen in a long while

 

[Greg Lloyd]

In 2019, Tennesse had the #3 rushing offense, yet they still averaged almost 40 more yards passing per game than the Steelers did that year. And almost 50 more passing yards than everybody's favorite new savior Mason Rudolph averaged in his 8 games as a starter.

The Titans were very balanced offensively when Smith was their OC, and Henry had his two best seasons while Smith was calling the plays. And so did Tannehill. That's encouraging.

That is encouraging. One thought is that he was working with a very special, very skilled big, fast running back in his prime in Henry back then. And that everything flowed off the special skills that Henry brought to the table. It would be nice if it were the overall coordination and play calling that led to TN success, and that Harris and Warren could become their Henry and Pickens their Brown.

 

[Coryea]

Cousins is/ was a good QB, but look at the history of teams who broke the bank for past prime vet QBs. The history is not good. Bringing in someone like cousins might work for a year, but in the long run will handicap the franchise.

This is true as well, the idea is to win with your QB under their rookie deal, well that's not happening here either.

 

[topseed]

No, he's better than any QB we have on our roster and it's not even close. 3 out 9 seasons, but he's put up good numbers, great numbers compared to Pickett, for the most part his defenses have been pretty bad.
This is based on us keeping Tomlin, if it were my decision, Tomlin would've been gone already, but since Tomlin is staying and both him and Art says they are the business of winning now, then getting a better QB is a good place to start, not saying we're going to a Super Bowl or even winning a playoff game because Tomlin's defenses get killed in the playoffs, but Cousins is light years ahead of Pickett or Mason.

Sure, Cousins is better than Pickett has been. He'll also be 36 years old, coming off of an Achilles injury, and much more expensive.

You can't even say that the guy would be good enough to carry this team to even a single postseason win, and you'd want to hamstring the rest of the team with a huge cap hit at quarterback?

Yeah, again, thanks but no thanks.

 

[steelcan58]

No, he's better than any QB we have on our roster and it's not even close. 3 out 9 seasons, but he's put up good numbers, great numbers compared to Pickett, for the most part his defenses have been pretty bad.
This is based on us keeping Tomlin, if it were my decision, Tomlin would've been gone already, but since Tomlin is staying and both him and Art says they are the business of winning now, then getting a better QB is a good place to start, not saying we're going to a Super Bowl or even winning a playoff game because Tomlin's defenses get killed in the playoffs, but Cousins is light years ahead of Pickett or Mason.

I'm curious how much you're willing to pay a 36 year old QB who's rehabbing an Achilles heel injury? There's reports that Cousins is willing to extend his contract through 2025 if they pay him $90 million for 24 and 25.

Yes it's possible that is inaccurate but probably not wildly inaccurate.

 

[Coryea]

Sure, Cousins is better than Pickett has been. He'll also be 36 years old, coming off of an Achilles injury, and much more expensive.

You can't even say that the guy would be good enough to carry this team to even a single postseason win, and you'd want to hamstring the rest of the team with a huge cap hit at quarterback?

Yeah, again, thanks but no thanks.

I neve said give him a blank check.

 

[Coryea]

I'm curious how much you're willing to pay a 36 year old QB who's rehabbing an Achilles heel injury? There's reports that Cousins is willing to extend his contract through 2025 if they pay him $90 million for 24 and 25.

Yes it's possible that is inaccurate but probably not wildly inaccurate.

Hell no!!!!

 

[steelcan58]

Hell no!!!!

And we're giving up players/draft picks for the honor of paying Cousins that money.

Hell no!!!! is right!!!!

 

[Sarge]

I'm curious how much you're willing to pay a 36 year old QB who's rehabbing an Achilles heel injury? There's reports that Cousins is willing to extend his contract through 2025 if they pay him $90 million for 24 and 25.

Yes it's possible that is inaccurate but probably not wildly inaccurate.

That's not horrible when you consider what Daniel Jones was paid after one semi-mediocre season. While I don't want Cousins or Jones, I'd rather pay Cousins than Jones.

 

[Coryea]

And we're giving up players/draft picks for the honor of paying Cousins that money.

Hell no!!!! is right!!!!

We're supposed to be winning with our 1st round QB on his rookie deal, and that's not happening, meanwhile one of the best defenders in team history is going to age out, along with our borderline HOF DE, and our all-pro safety, so we're basically giving up players anyways. That's why I'd be trying to make a change, but I'm not paying a 36 year old QB coming off of an injury 45 per.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Art on Kenny: "In terms of the next step, we need to make sure we do everything we can to get quality play out of our quarterback position going forward. We still feel good about Kenny Pickett and his future, but he knows he needs to work hard to take the next step. We've talked about that. One of the things we liked about Kenny and his career at Pitt was how hard he worked and how he took a step every year. We're looking for that to happen here."
And, “The things about Kenny that we’ve always liked were his toughness, his competitiveness, his desire to be a winner," Rooney'd reply when asked what he likes about Pickett and where he needs to improve. "He has all of those kinds of intangibles. What I think we need from him is to continue to develop to be a quarterback who can read a defense quickly and get the offense into the best play for a given situation when he comes out of the huddle. He’s learned and has got some experience with that, and he’ll continue to work on that.”

Art on Mason: "Mason Rudolph, came in and showed, I think, what we're capable of when we do get quality play at the quarterback position." And, “I think Mason really showed, No. 1, I think he did show what we’re capable of on offense with the personnel that we have here right now, That’s encouraging in terms of Mason’s ceiling, let’s say. I don’t know that we’ve seen his ceiling yet..."

Art on QB competition: "We still feel comfortable with Kenny, but with that being said, you can’t discount what Mason did and you can’t discount the fact that having competition will be good for everybody. I think Mike feels that way, and we all feel that way ..."

Taking the words that came out of Arts mouth at face value, I'm not seeing where Kenny has been anointed. To me it seems that Art has some questions about Kenny's play to date and whether he can bring that "quality NFL quarterbacking" that's needed. As such, while they've told Kenny what he needs to work on, and hope that he does work on those things, there will be competition for QB1 because right now, they feel it's necessary.

My ears have heard the same thing, while listening to his press conference. Kenny was NOT anointed and neither was Mason. Keep in mind that Mason has a great relationship with all the brass at STEELERS headquarters. It seems Coach Tomlin is the only sour-puss on that topic.

I’m still 50 / 50 on the fair competition aspect due to Tomlin’s negativity towards Mason.


Salute the nation

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

We're supposed to be winning with our 1st round QB on his rookie deal, and that's not happening, meanwhile one of the best defenders in team history is going to age out, along with our borderline HOF DE, and our all-pro safety, so we're basically giving up players anyways. That's why I'd be trying to make a change, but I'm not paying a 36 year old QB coming off of an injury 45 per.

It still could with Kenny or hell maybe even mason. But then I am ever the optimist. It will all depend on the new OC, the draft and free agency.

 

[steelcan58]

That's not horrible when you consider what Daniel Jones was paid after one semi-mediocre season. While I don't want Cousins or Jones, I'd rather pay Cousins than Jones.

Just because it's not as bad as Daniel Jones doesn't make it good by any means.

 

[Steelmann]

I neve said give him a blank check.

“Yes I would've hired a young offensive mind, and then brought in Kirk Cousins” Which is what you said.

Just like I commented to you before in here. It’s so easy to throw out these types of statements. Like Top said above. 36 years old coming off a major injury and will still sign for 40 million plus a season. And while he has always put up impressive stats when push comes to shove,rarely gets to the next level. This type of move is alright if he is the only missing piece. Everything else in place. We are very,very far from that.

Hey….i get the frustration…..we all do. But I believe that’s not the way to go.

 

[jitter77]

We're supposed to be winning with our 1st round QB on his rookie deal, and that's not happening, meanwhile one of the best defenders in team history is going to age out, along with our borderline HOF DE, and our all-pro safety, so we're basically giving up players anyways. That's why I'd be trying to make a change, but I'm not paying a 36 year old QB coming off of an injury 45 per.

I do not get why everyone is blaming the QB for not winning? We have had stacked offensive teams and not won. People act like it is common for 1st or 2nd year QBs to go out and win a SB especially with bad coaching. It stinks Heyward and Watts careers are being wasted, but the defense is not all world with them. The coaching schemes are just too basic and we give teams so many free yards.

 

[bigben]

Yeah, bring in Kirk Cousins. He'd be a perfect fit -- he's got 1 playoff win in 12 seasons.

Add the fact that he had the Best WR in the game and a top 5 RB.

 

[bigben]

I do not get why everyone is blaming the QB for not winning? We have had stacked offensive teams and not won. People act like it is common for 1st or 2nd year QBs to go out and win a SB especially with bad coaching. It stinks Heyward and Watts careers are being wasted, but the defense is not all world with them. The coaching schemes are just too basic and we give teams so many free yards.

A QB winning a superbowl in his first 2 years isn't very common, but its more common than keeping the starting QB who averages a TD every other game and still has a starting job after 2 seasons of showing nothing.

 

[bigben]

i KNEW Tannehill would be mentioned in this. Their passing offense was OK in TN, something that a truly punishing rushing attack helps to establish. But we won't have that level of a rushing attack. Why? Well,, because we don't have a Dereck Henry in his prime rushing the ball nor do we have the OL that TN had.

Woa, wait, Smith will make Harris into Henry, right? Ummm, no, that's not gonna happen, hate to break that to everyone. Henry was a freak of nature, way more than Najee ever thought of being. Henry had immense size combined with blistering speed. He could take an off-tackle handoff to the house for 80 yards. Think Najee has them kinds of jets? Not even close. I'm sure Rooney thought he was getting a Dereck Henry when he drafted Najee, but he just didn't turn out to be that.

Najee JUST got over a 4 YPC average this year and it looks like that is probably his high end for his career. Henry hit over 5 YPC twice and 4.9 in another. Having the speed to rip off 40 and 60 yards at a rip will do that. Najee is ever gonna see over 5 YPC. It doesn't matter who his OC is.

To further put this into perspective. 2023 Henry had the worst efficiency of his career, Yet still more efficient than Harris, he also managed 50% more rushing TD's than Najee, double the amount of 100+ yard rushing performances, Behind the worst graded O-Line in the league.
Moats and deke were on youtube saying how a 30 year old Henry is still lightyears Better runner than a prime Harris.
Harris is much closer to Trent Richardson than Derrick Henry. Stats don't lie

 

[steelhurt]

Look, this organization is not going to sign Kirk Cousins who is going to want one last pay day to cash out for his career and the Steelers are not going to do that.
They also will not trade a first or second round pick for Justin Fields. They have far too many holes to plug than to be giving up premium picks.
What I could see them doing is sign Russell Wilson who when Denver releases him, will be on the hook to continue paying him so could be very affordable for the Steelers and upgrade the position.

 

[stillerfaninfl]

I expect Tannehill to come to town.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

To further put this into perspective. 2023 Henry had the worst efficiency of his career, Yet still more efficient than Harris, he also managed 50% more rushing TD's than Najee, double the amount of 100+ yard rushing performances, Behind the worst graded O-Line in the league.
Moats and deke were on youtube saying how a 30 year old Henry is still lightyears Better runner than a prime Harris.
Harris is much closer to Trent Richardson than Derrick Henry. Stats don't lie

I won't worry about any of those numbers AT ALL until we see Kenny and Najee play with even a halfway competent OC. Until then any of these judgements are entirely worthless. We should have a far better idea next season. I bet some people eat their words.

 

[steel dino]

I expect Tannehill to come to town.

interesting take

 

[slashsteel]

interesting take

He is a free agent and the new OC got the best out of him. It wouldn't shock me if he was brought in .

 

[SteelBuckeye]

He is a free agent and the new OC got the best out of him. It wouldn't shock me if he was brought in .

Was he injured this year? I ask because the stats say this was his worse performance since his rookie year. If he wasn't playing injured, I'd pause and take a deep dive into his game film before bringing him in. Otherwise, it's just a move because the OC is familiar with the QB.