Steelers Have Already Made Colossal Changes: 'The Endgame Is This Offense Is Going To Be Much Better'
Steelers Have Already Made Colossal Changes: 'The Endgame Is This Offense Is Going To Be Much Better'
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an exciting 2024 season ahead. After a pair of years of struggling on the offensive side of the ball, they have brought in a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith while signing an established quarterback in Russell Wilson. Smith was one of the best coordinators in the league during his time with the Tennessee Titans, and now he will have the opportunity to reclaim that throne with the Steelers. Pittsburgh ranked 28th in offensive points scored during the 2023 season, which is expected to improve dramatically in 2024.
Pittsburgh has introduced a ton of new faces throughout the 2024 offseason. Along with Smith, the Steelers hired a new wide receivers coach in Zach Azzanni along with a new quarterbacks coach, Tom Arth.
Smith will be implementing a new offense, which will take some time for the players that have been in Pittsburgh to adjust to. During a recent appearance on The Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan, Ray Fittipaldo was asked about what has stood out to him so far during Organized Team Activities. He brought up the offense, and the differences in how the Steelers are practicing.
"The new offense. You go to enough of these, you go to training camp, you get used to watching the same drills. Well, they're doing different drills now. The quarterbacks are being taught differently. The receivers are being taught different things. There's been a change there, there's going to be some change. There's going to be some growing that has to be done here. But do you want to watch an offense that's 32nd in the league again? Or do you want to see progress?"
It's unlikely the Steelers offense turns into the best unit in the league during a Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons. No matter how much the team practices, nothing will compare to game action. It will take some time for every player on that side of the ball to get used to the new offense being introduced to them.
Aside from the new offense being introduced, players on the offensive side of the ball will have to get used to having a new leader. Wilson did his best to get acclimated with his new targets ever since he was signed at the start of free agency.
He brought Pat Freiermuth and other targets out to the West Coast to have throwing sessions, and grow chemistry together. Regardless, Wilson will need to see game action with his new weapons in order to get used to throwing to them. Fittipaldo reiterated the growing this offense will have to do, but mentioned that it is for the best.
"We'll probably see some of these growing pains now and even deeper into the summer, but I think the endgame is this offense is going to be a lot better."
Wilson is entering his 13th season in the NFL, so he knows how to form beneficial relationships with new players. He is also a proven leader, who should be able to learn the new offense fast and help everyone else with it as well. The new offensive scheme, new drills, and new coaches are a great sign of better things to come from Pittsburgh's offense.
Steelers Rushing Attack Will Likely Carry The Offense
Smith has a clear staple in his offense going back to his time with the Titans, the running game. It was led by a work horse back in Derrick Henry while he was coaching in Tennessee, and now it will be led by another work horse back in Najee Harris. Jaylen Warren will also be a factor, as both backs eclipsed 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the Steelers in 2023.
Harris and Warren are expected to be running behind the best offensive line of their professional careers. Pittsburgh spent their first two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft on offensive linemen to fill crucial needs. Center, Zach Frazier and tackle, Troy Fautanu, should both be capable to start immediately and make a serious impact on Pittsburgh's offensive line and run game.
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