The Steelers have hired Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator. Seldom has a coaching hire been met with more disappointment in the fantasy community. With Smith an apparent negative for top-10 talents in Atlanta, what are the chances of him elevating the Steelers?
In two of Smith's three seasons in Atlanta, the Falcons ranked 26th in scoring; in two they ranked in the bottom 10 in total yards (17th in the third). He must interview really well, although the assembled media in Atlanta, regularly at odds with him, would be skeptical.
On Smith's behalf (since this isn't just a hit piece), he was pretty successful as Tennessee's offensive coordinator for two years (which earned him the Falcons job in the first place). They were top-12 in scoring offense in 2019 and 2020 and top 12 in yards. That was not a Titans team loaded with offensive talent -- although of course, they had Derrick Henry. In both years they were in the top 5 in rushing offense and outside the top 20 in passing offense.
So there's your hint as to what to expect from the Steelers under Smith: lots of running, and maybe not much in the way of passing. Seems like it might be another year to be frustrated by the usage of George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth. But at least Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will be busy.
In the last five years, Smith has overseen six players finishing in the top 10 at their positions. Four were running backs: Derrick Henry (twice), Cordarrelle Patterson and Bijan Robinson. I don't think anyone wants to give Smith all the credit for Henry, who had plenty of good seasons with different coordinators, or Robinson (who arguably could have been better if Smith had utilized him a little more). But at least there have been some productive running backs under him, so maybe Najee and Jaylen will fare well in Smith's offense.
Receivers haven't fared as well. A couple of top-15 TE seasons from Kyle Pitts (though again, the tight end drafted earliest in the history of the league should have done at least that well). A pair of top-25 seasons from A.J. Brown (he's been better in Philadelphia). Not much else.
| ARTHUR SMITH PLAYERS IN THE TOP 50 (PPR), 2019-2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Pass | TD | Run | No | Rec | TD | Rk |
| 2020 | Derrick Henry | 0 | 0 | 2027 | 19 | 114 | 17 | 3 |
| 2019 | Derrick Henry | 0 | 0 | 1540 | 18 | 206 | 18 | 5 |
| 2021 | Kyle Pitts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 1026 | 1 | 6 |
| 2023 | Bijan Robinson | 0 | 0 | 976 | 58 | 487 | 8 | 8 |
| 2020 | Ryan Tannehill | 3819 | 33 | 266 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021 | Cordarrelle Patterson | 0 | 0 | 618 | 52 | 548 | 11 | 10 |
| 2020 | A.J. Brown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 1075 | 12 | 11 |
| 2023 | Kyle Pitts | 0 | 0 | -4 | 53 | 667 | 3 | 13 |
| 2020 | Jonnu Smith | 0 | 0 | 4 | 41 | 448 | 9 | 16 |
| 2023 | Jonnu Smith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 582 | 3 | 17 |
| 2021 | Matt Ryan | 3968 | 20 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| 2022 | Marcus Mariota | 2219 | 15 | 438 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 |
| 2019 | Jonnu Smith | 0 | 0 | 78 | 35 | 439 | 3 | 20 |
| 2023 | Desmond Ridder | 2836 | 12 | 193 | 1 | -6 | 5 | 22 |
| 2019 | A.J. Brown | 0 | 0 | 60 | 52 | 1051 | 9 | 22 |
| 2019 | Ryan Tannehill | 2742 | 22 | 185 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 23 |
| 2020 | Anthony Firkser | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 387 | 1 | 25 |
| 2022 | Drake London | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 866 | 4 | 28 |
| 2020 | Corey Davis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 984 | 5 | 29 |
| 2022 | Tyler Allgeier | 0 | 0 | 1035 | 16 | 139 | 4 | 30 |
| 2022 | Cordarrelle Patterson | 0 | 0 | 695 | 21 | 122 | 9 | 31 |
| 2022 | Kyle Pitts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 356 | 2 | 34 |
| 2021 | Mike Davis | 0 | 0 | 503 | 44 | 259 | 4 | 34 |
| 2023 | Drake London | 22 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 905 | 2 | 36 |
| 2023 | Tyler Allgeier | 0 | 0 | 683 | 18 | 193 | 5 | 36 |
| 2021 | Hayden Hurst | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 221 | 3 | 36 |
| 2019 | Marcus Mariota | 1203 | 7 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2021 | Russell Gage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 770 | 4 | 37 |
| 2023 | Taylor Heinicke | 890 | 5 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 42 |
| 2019 | Delanie Walker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 215 | 2 | 43 |
| 2022 | MyCole Pruitt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 150 | 4 | 45 |
| 2022 | Desmond Ridder | 708 | 2 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| 2019 | Anthony Firkser | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 204 | 1 | 49 |
Best that can be said for Smith's passing games is that most of his quarterbacks have sucked. Desmond Ridder, a past-his-pull-date Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota in most of those years.
But he's making a lateral move to a Pittsburgh offense that will have Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph or somebody not yet on the roster at quarterback. Justin Fields? Couldn't hurt.
I don't imagine I'll be targeting any Steelers receivers next year, barring some sort of dramatic personnel move at quarterback between now and the start of the season.
--Andy Richardson