Is OC Arthur Smith wasting Russell Wilson's talent?

Is OC Arthur Smith wasting Russell Wilson's talent?
Steelers Wire Steelers Wire

Are the fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers experiencing their own rendition of a Matt Canada-esque Groundhog Day with OC Arthur Smith? While Smith’s offense is schematically better than anything Canada did for the Steel City, his playcalling in recent weeks has left much to be desired.

From failed gadget plays with Justin Fields to obvious and predictable run calls, it appears Smith is wasting the talented arm of QB Russell Wilson.

It is understandable that Smith would attempt to run the ball in large quantities behind an offensive line that struggles with pass protection. However, Wilson has proven time and time again that when defenses are forced to respect his ‘moon ball,’ the Steelers win football games.

While the blame game has recently focused on Wilson’s red zone struggles, it is Smith’s ineptitude in calling proper scoring plays that is truly at fault.

Arthur Smith can’t help himself pic.twitter.com/7MdgRHBk78

— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) November 22, 2024

Smith will need to reevaluate his playsheet moving forward, or the Steelers are in for a long six weeks to close out the 2024 season.