Steelers Now
With the Pittsburgh Steelers nearing the conclusion of their offseason program, it feels like the appropriate time to knock out this month’s mailbag article. There have been noteworthy storylines that have kept us busy in recent weeks, but the most important thing is that football’s arrival is getting closer. For that, we are all thankful.
As always, I sincerely appreciate all of the readers that brought forth thoughtful questions and interesting topics on various social media platforms.
Q: Why are the Steelers dead set on signing Aaron Rodgers if they aren’t Super Bowl contenders anyways?
A: Even at 41-years old, Aaron Rodgers is still a better quarterback than anyone else that they could currently employ. That really isn’t a debate either. He’s already publicly stated that he isn’t looking for another hefty contract on his one-year deal, so there won’t be notable financial ramifications either. Pittsburgh’s not going to intentionally tank and while it’s obvious that they aren’t necessarily “all-in” on competing for a championship this season, they’re still trying to win games. With so many youngsters on the offensive side of the ball, it’s pertinent to get competent play under center to properly evaluate the surrounding talent. Even at this stage of his career, he should be able to provide baseline quarterback play. And if this is the year that his talent completely deteriorates, at least they’ll be in position to grab one of the top passers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Q: Why doesn’t Arthur Smith use more motion to help our wide receivers?
A: This was one of the primary concerns that I had when the hiring was announced last offseason, and 2024 was unfortunately more of the same. The Steelers used motion on less than half of their passing plays, ranking 30th in the NFL in usage. Van Jefferson led the team with five catches for 30 yards off motion last season. Motion for the sake of movement is silly, but clever play callers are able to gain consistent advantages with this tactic. In my opinion, this is one of the areas that makes Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay one of the best in the business. Whether it’s Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, or a late-offseason acquisition, it’s unrealistic to expect those guys to transcend the scheme and regularly win in isolated situations. Smith’s ability (or lack thereof) to pivot and continually grow as a play caller will ultimately define this act of his NFL coaching career.
Q: In recent drafts, the Steelers have invested heavily in the offensive line. Do they have the right skill set for their outside-zone scheme or are they better suited for gap concepts?
A: This is a good question with plenty of layers worth diving into. I personally think that Zach Frazier, Darnell Washington, and a healthy Troy Fautanu are very scheme-versatile pieces that can do pretty much anything in the run game. The issues with Broderick Jones and Mason McCormick last season weren’t really scheme-related; instead, they...
