It's time to have a conversation about Arthur Smith

Perfect summary

 

You notice how KC used Worthy? They didn’t throw a bubble screen to him where he is standing flat footed. That puts him at a disadvantage because he is slight but quick. So you neutralize the guys speed by having him stationary. They hit him on short routes into the flat while he is on the move and his speed is an asset. But we throw it to Austin while he is standing still. It makes no sense. The blocking has to be excellent for it to work because he is so slight he certainly won’t break any tackles. It is like trying to run Najee outside. It works occasionally but more often than not it doesn’t, but we keep doing it. Nothing like designing plays to your players strengths.

I swear if I see Heyward in on offense one more time and have a bone headed penalty to kill a drive. The guy adds nothing and actually detracts from the play but we keep putting him in there.

 

Smith needs a better OL. I think he's a better overall OC than Haley.... but Haley had Munchak to help with O line. Smith needs a modern "Munchak" on staff.

 

Tomlin made the mistake of keeping Pat Meyer around

that will one of the first offseason firings

 

I’d be happy with the old school Munchak

 

I would like to see them run some slants instead of Wilson holding the ball too long and getting sacked.

 

How hard is it to draw up the opening series and say…we will throw the ball to George Pickens on first or second down….every. Single. Game. Get him involved from the very first series. No questions ask. Just throw him the ball. Honestly, this is not rocket science.

 

Opponents will never figure that master plan out. Shear genius

 

Yep, and again a year too late, same old story.

 

Well, we don't seem to be able to figure out anyone throwing to the TE over the middle, so feeding Pickens might just work us...

 

I get it our line sucks we need to fix that or nothing will happen. Even Big Ben’s crappy line days were better than what we have now.

 

This is the 3rd year in a row where Warren has less overall touches but a higher average. Could be other factors but now this is the 3rd year in a row. (Well 2022 Warren only had 77 carries)

The excuses before were oh less carries he's fresher or everybody stacked the box only for Harris.

And that might still be true for all I know. And probably other factors involved.

But I can't resolve these stats and at some point just make Warren the #1 with more carries over a good amount of games.



2024 Carries/ Yards / AVG

Harris 251 / 1,007 / 4.0
Warren 114 / 490 / 4.3

2023

Harris 255 / 1,035 /4.1
Warren 149 / 784 /5.3

2022

Harris 272 / 1,034 / 3.8
Warren 77 / 379 / 4.9

 

hey Einstein…. they’ve already figured out the opening off tackle run by Najee to start every game. And, you’re just dead wrong. Get George involved in the first series every single game. Get His head into the game. Throw the best player on your team the ball. Every ball you throw his way is a 75/25 or better. So yes, it is freaking sheer genius.

 

You have to put players in position to be successful, not enough of this has been
done for years. Be creative, creativity is lacking along with fundamentals.

 

Maybe Warren being the 3rd down back has something to do with it, defenses are playing the pass more than the run on 3rd downs.

 

Some eye-opening comments from Chris Carter's Locked On Steelers podcast regarding Smith's offense.

• Steelers 3rd in the NFL in 1st down runs = ~17 per game
• Steelers 30th in the NFL on yds/att on 1st downs = 3.6
• Steelers 29th in the NFL on 1st down passes per game = 9.4
• Steelers 30th in the NFL on 1st down yds/pass att = 6 yds

Folks, this ain't cutting it against top teams. You either trust your QB to throw on first downs, or you find a new QB.

 

You also need a QB who can throw to the middle of the field. Pickett couldn't throw to the middle, or anywhere else on the field for that matter. And Wilson almost never throws in the middle of the field. Not just with us. Look at his spray chart from last year on the Broncos. There weren't many in the middle.

 

I agree completely. Our play calling is predictable because we run on first down so often. It doesn’t position us well for 2nd and 3rd down.

 

But, what better guy to return kickoffs? I mean, WTF?!!! Every time he tries to jog one out of the endzone I lose my mind.

 

STD and others have explained this on multiple threads. Harris is far more durable, which we have seen as a big factor this season. Harris is also less likely to fumble. It is also easier to maintain a higher average as the third down and change of pace back than it is as the primary ball carrier. Most importantly, their averages per carry are comparable on first and second down, but Warren is averaging 6.0 yards per carry on third down. The times Harris does get a carry on third down, it is almost always a short-yardage situation. Harris may do exactly what the team needs while only gaining a yard.

 

I don't know why some feel the need to compare the two then base it as who to keep or who to start.
This is a very good 1, 2 combo. That's what you're rooting for.
I imagine there might be a Barkley somewhere out in one of the drafts... but a lot of teams are using the rotations and reducing wear and tear by allowing 2 RB's bear the load.

 

you are confusing the mouth breathers with solid ....... DATA

get ready for the Harris Defense Team to show up.....

 

New coordinators haven't changed anything that matters. Need a new HC who is competent and confident enough to hire great coordinators.