Steelers Fans Who Are Angry About Hiring Arthur Smith "Are Idiots" According To Tone Digz

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly made the decision to bring in Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator, as announced by Tom Pelissero. This news has stirred up mixed reactions among Steelers fans, with most expressing dissatisfaction over the hire. 

In the midst of this debate, Tone Digz, a prominent sports media personality featured on The Pat McAfee Show and a dedicated Steelers fan, has delivered a candid message to those who are skeptical about this move. 

Steelers Football Can Return Under Arthur Smith

Digz begins by addressing the irony in the situation. This season, in particular, saw a multitude of debates swirling around the Steelers, with many asserting that the team had lost its way. 

While these conversations primarily centered on the attitude and effort of the Steelers, they also delved into the style of football they were playing and the apparent departure from their storied ground and pound approach. 

“Those same Steelers fans were saying, ‘We need to get back to the Steeler way and run the football,’ ok. As an OC with the Titans, they were number two and number three in the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. They got the one seed one year and they went to the AFC Championship in the other year,” Digz mentioned.

Digz argues that hiring Smith aligns perfectly with the desire to revert to the iconic Steelers style of play. Pat McAfee was also very excited about the hire, but highlighted the fact that a lot of Steelers fans were upset with the decision to hire Smith.

“To your point right there about Steelers fans, some Steelers fans, it’s a majority of them and I don’t say this lightly... Those Steelers fans are idiots.”

Digz highlights Smith's successful tenure as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, where the team consistently ranked among the top in rushing yards. During Smith's tenure, the Titans even secured the number one seed and made an appearance in the AFC Championship. This performance echoes the sentiments of those Steelers fans who longed for a ground-focused approach.

Another point Digz emphasizes is the misconception that Smith failed to utilize star running back Bijan Robinson during his stint with the Atlanta Falcons. He dispels this myth by drawing a comparison to Christian McCaffrey's usage. 

Despite McCaffrey leading the NFL in touches, Robinson's usage still fell amongst the top 12 in the league in 2023. This illuminating comparison serves to underscore that Smith did not neglect the star running back, as some of his critics have suggested.

It's important to recognize the distinction between a head coach and an offensive coordinator when evaluating Smith's performance. While Smith struggled during his time as the head coach of the Falcons, he excelled in his role as the offensive coordinator for the Titans. It's unfair to judge Smith solely on his head coaching record, as the responsibilities and dynamics are vastly different.

Smith's ability to resurrect Ryan Tannehill's career in Tennessee is cited as a potential boon for the Steelers, who face a similar quarterback situation with Kenny Pickett. Smith's expertise should help the Steelers assess Pickett's potential as an NFL quarterback more accurately. The offensive coordinator is expected to bring a new dimension to the Steelers' passing game.

Digz anticipates that Smith will help the team establish a more effective ground game and set up a dynamic play-action passing attack. With the right personnel in place, this hire is seen as a substantial upgrade for the Steelers, and Digz firmly believes that the decision deserves support from the fan base.

Although it's a popular and simple choice to criticize the decision to hire Smith as the offensive coordinator, this move is arguably the best the Steelers could have made given their current circumstances. It's a massive upgrade to what they had in Matt Canada and the 2024 season is going to be an exciting one with Smith as the offensive coordinator.

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