The Pittsburgh Steelers made several significant decisions during the offseason, beginning in the 2023 season when they made the surprising move to fire Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada midseason. This was uncharacteristic for the Steelers, who typically avoid midseason firings, but the offense's poor performance necessitated the change.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith answers questions from the media.
In the offseason, the Steelers hired Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, bringing high hopes of revitalizing their struggling offense. Smith's strategy includes incorporating a lot of play-action pass plays and focusing on the running game with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Nearly every positional group has seen improvements this offseason, except for the wide receiver room.
Smith recently sat down with Missi Matthews to discuss the offseason and his new role with the team. When Matthews asked about the urgent need for a wide receiver number two on the roster, Smith appeared to avoid the question.
"Things change year to year. You see it every year in this league, guys that may be fifth-round picks end up being the Rookie of the Year. Guys get another opportunity, they step up. It's constantly changing. And then, unfortunately, guys get injured. You have to have depth.”
Smith skillfully avoided directly answering the question. While the Steelers have depth at the wide receiver position, George Pickens stands out as the only consistently reliable option. The rest of the group lacks the reliability typically expected from a solid number two receiver.
"You're working all those contingency plans all up and down the offense. It's no different than the offensive line. We have good competition there. On game day, you usually have eight. You gotta have guys that have some position flexibility. There's all these contingency plans. As we're building this offense, we're working as well.”
Concerns about the Steelers' wide receiver corps stem from the decision to trade away Diontae Johnson. Many expected the Steelers to make a move to fill the void left by Johnson. Despite reports that the team attempted to acquire a true number two receiver, they were unable to make any significant moves. Some insiders believe the Steelers are still actively pursuing a trade to address this position.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson makes a catch during a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Nevertheless, the Steelers have made efforts to add depth at wide receiver. They brought in Quez Watkins, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, and drafted Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. All of these players will have the opportunity to carve out significant roles in the offense in 2024, with Jefferson and Wilson having the best chances to make a substantial impact.
Steelers' George Pickens Is Going To See New Coverages In 2024
The Steelers also have Calvin Austin III, a speedy young wide receiver who welcomes the competition and could surprise fans in 2024 with his performance. The Steelers will need their wide receiver group to alleviate some of the pressure on Pickens.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens points in celebration after a big play.
It's no secret that Pickens is one of the most talented wide receivers in the league. However, in the upcoming season, he will be heavily targeted by defenses. He will face coverages he has never seen before, and while he is skilled enough to thrive and have a big year, the Steelers will need someone to support him. With several fast wide receivers who have the potential to make an impact, it will be interesting to see how Smith plans to feature all the new offensive players.
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