Arthur Smith Proving To Be An Excellent Hire By The Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers were in search of an offensive coordinator as Matt Canada was let go during the season last year.

They hired Arthur Smith to become the new offensive coordinator.

What he has done to improve the offense is not being discussed enough.

In 2022, the Steelers ranked 26th in points per game, averaging 18.1 PPG that season. Last season, the Steelers ranked 28th, averaging 17.8 PPG. However, this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers rank 16th in PPG, averaging 23.0 PPG in 2024.

Many will attribute it to Kenny Pickett being gone and Justin Fields and Russell Wilson being a significant improvement. While the QB room has improved this season over the last two years, what has improved the most is the offensive play calling and scheme.

Below we discuss Arthur Smith’s impact on improving the Steelers’ offense.

Arthur Smith Deserves A Lot Of Credit For Offensive Improvement

The Pittsburgh Steelers are averaging 5.2 more PPG than last season and 4.9 more PPG than two years ago.

Pittsburgh currently ranks top 10 in rushing yards per game. Najee Harris is coming off back to back 100+ rushing yard performances. Justin Fields was getting it done on the ground, recording 231 rushing yards in six starts. With Wilson now taking over under center, the rushing yards per game may go down but Pittsburgh’s passing attack will improve.

Another thing the Steelers are doing well is protecting the football. They rank fourth in giveaways per game. Justin Fields turned the ball over twice in six starts, one interception and one fumble. Russell Wilson did not turn the ball over in his first start of the season in week 7. George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth each committed one fumble this year. Four total giveaways in seven games are all the Steelers have committed.

The most glaring upgrade has been the play calling for the Steelers. The Steelers rank 16th in NFL team first downs per game (18.7). Last season, they ranked 29th (17.2). Pittsburgh is calling the right plays and moving the ball much more smoothly this season. With a top-10 defense, getting first downs and moving the ball will help keep key defensive players healthy, most notably TJ Watt. The offense being improved is the reason the Steelers sit 5-2 and look like a possible contender in the AFC.

Arthur Smith is not getting enough credit for the upgrade in Pittsburgh’s offense but he has done an excellent job in his first year calling plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.