Arthur Smith Eyed for OC on Mike Tomlin’s Staff After Falcons Firing
The Pittsburgh Steelers are interviewing former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith on Sunday in an attempt to find a new offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Before joining the Falcons, Smith spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Under his leadership, Derrick Henry ran for 2,027 yards in 2020 and Ryan Tannehill, the quarterback for the Titans, won Comeback Player of the Year in 2019.
At least seven clubs have expressed interest in Smith as an OC candidate, according to a Tuesday article from Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Although the 41-year-old’s tenure in Atlanta did little to improve his standing, his expertise will help him stand out from some of the other contenders.
In terms of offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value above average), the Falcons placed 27th, 8th, and 24th starting in 2021, according to FTN Fantasy. The team’s decline this year greatly eclipsed the advancements they achieved in 2022.
Bijan Robinson’s utilization as a running back was occasionally a little confusing. After two seasons, wide receiver Drake London has not yet reached his potential. Additionally, tight end Kyle Pitts hasn’t yet surpassed his 2021 output, which was good enough to get him a Pro Bowl nomination (68 receptions for 1,026 yards and a score).
Smith would make a valuable addition to Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff.
However, Smith’s inability to get the most out of the young players on his team begs the issue of whether he could turn around quarterback Kenny Pickett’s progress or improve wide receiver George Pickens’ ability to be a reliable and accurate pass-catcher.
The Steelers are considering other candidates besides Smith. They verified on Friday that they had conversations with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown of the Carolina Panthers and coach Jerrod Johnson of the Houston Texans quarterbacks.
However, one expected target for Pittsburgh did not materialize as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that Zac Robinson has joined the Falcons as an offensive coordinator.
About The Author
Leave a Reply