The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for a new wide receivers coach after Frisman Jackson was let go after two seasons. The team was reportedly unhappy with the discipline level of the group in the 2023 season, highlighted by immaturity shown at points in the campaign by George Pickens and Diontae Johnson. The young and talented group needs a new leader that will hold them accountable. Former Steelers star receiver Hines Ward has been a popular name in the rumor mill, but 93.7 The Fan's Dorin Dickerson proposed another prolific receiver from the early 2000s that he thinks makes sense for the job.
Ann Heisenfelt / AP Photo
Carolina Panthers' all-time leading receiver, Steve Smith crosses his arms after making a touchdown catch against the Minnesota Vikings.
On The Fan Morning Show on Tuesday, Dickerson, station Sports Director Jeff Hathorne, and The Athletic's Mark Kaboly, spent some time breaking down the criteria of what the Steelers should be looking for in Jackson's replacement and floated some ideas of potential candidates. Hathorne said he liked the idea of bringing in Ward, but was all ears as Dickerson made the case for former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens receiver, Steve Smith Sr.
"He’s to the point," Dickerson said of Smith. "He played that way and he still acts that way when you see him on NFL Network. He’s a no-nonsense type of wide receiver. You wouldn’t ask him to be an Xs and Os, 'You need to be running those routes better.' No, he would go in there and be a culture, no-nonsense builder."
Kaboly wasn't totally against the idea of bringing Smith in, but he cautioned that these former star players have already made their money and probably don't want to work the crazy hours required by a position coach. In 18 seasons in the NFL, according to Spotrac, Smith made just over $81 million dollars. He likened it to people calling for former superstar quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to return to the organization in some capacity. While he might do a good job, with all the money he's made in his career, why would he commit the hours needed to perform the role?
Smith doesn't have much formal coaching experience as he transitioned from his playing career into broadcasting. He did attend Pittsburgh's training camp before the 2023 season. He shared some of his observations on the receivers from camp on his podcast Cut To It. Hathorne said that he is good buddies with Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
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Steve Smith interacts with members of the Steelers during the 2023 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Kaboly said he thinks that the team already has Jackson's successor picked out. Otherwise, they wouldn't have parted ways with him in the first place. He posited that the organization just doesn't want to announce it so soon after the news of Jackson's departure to give the semblance that they are doing some kind of a big search for their new wide receivers coach.
Tomlin said the team would be casting a wide net in its search for a new offensive coordinator and then hired Arthur Smith after just three interviews. The team might be trying to avoid the optics of a quick search for a new wide receivers coach.
Criteria For A Steelers New Wide Receivers Coach
Dickerson opened the segment by stating that the next hire needs to bring a better level of discipline to the room and demand the respect of the players. That's what led them to talk about Ward and Smith as prime candidates. Both were stars in their own right during their playing careers and carried a level of no-nonsense on the field that could translate to coaching.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A8754-544x306.jpg "Steelers Diontae Johnson George Pickens")
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Steelers receivers Diontae Johnson (18) and George Pickens (14) are on the field at the team's 2023 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Hathorne said that one of the biggest things for the new coach to have is a good working relationship with Tomlin. Part of the reason that Ward didn't end up coaching in Pittsburgh back in 2018 when he was rumored to be in the mix for a position is that he didn't think he'd have full control over disciplinary measures, which wasn't going to happen with Antonio Brown still on the roster.
Hathorne said Tomlin has got to have the back of whoever gets the job and needs to let them do their job. He explained that players can't be going behind the new coach's back to try and weasel out of whatever their position coach has asked.
What do you think the Steelers need in a new wide receivers coach? Comment below!
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