The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't just mix up the roster throughout the 2024 offseason. While Head Coach Mike Tomlin recently signed a three-year extension, plenty of new faces were welcomed into the building prior. The most notable hire was former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith being brought in to be the permanent answer at offensive coordinator after Mike Sullivan and Eddie Faulkner stepped up after the Matt Canada firing in 2023. Smith isn't the only offseason addition, though, as Tom Arth will work with the quarterbacks and Zach Azzanni has the job of getting the best out of the wide receivers' room.
Tomlin's extension has brought out opinions from fans and the media alike, but now, with a revamped depth chart and so many new offensive coaches, he will have less excuses if the team isn't performing at a high level. The veteran head coach may need to give up some say in the offense if he trusts Smith to get the unit performing better than it has in some time.
When speaking to the media on Wednesday after a mandatory minicamp practice, Tomlin was asked a question from a reporter in relation to the hiring of Smith and if the former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator would have to change his personality after coming off a three-season stint as the top man in charge with the Falcons. Tomlin was very direct in his answer.
"I think different roles require different hats and I don't think that's a big deal. That's just a component of assistants make suggestions, head coaches make decisions," Tomlin said.
While the final part of his answer is true at the end of the day, the remark backs up theories of Tomlin having full say in all facets of the game. Canada was a clear scapegoat after the offense struggled mightily for the better part of three years, but as more information becomes known, it appears that Tomlin should be held responsible for a lot of the group's poor performances as well.
It remains to be seen what kind of approach the Steelers' offense will take with Smith leading the way, but it is expected to be an old school style of ground-and-pound football. Fans are likely hoping that Tomlin gives Smith full power, given the fact that he has a track record of succeeding as a offensive coordinator in the NFL based on his unit's numbers when he was with the Titans.
The pressure will be on both Tomlin and Smith if the offense doesn't look much better right off the bat in 2024. Fans will no longer fall for a strong preseason after Kenny Pickett's miraculous play last August, so everyone in the Steel City will anxiously await for when football games really matter. The additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields could help, but there are still many more questions than answers.
The NFL is a much different animal than it was when Tomlin received the head coaching job in Pittsburgh back in 2007. The premise remains that the head coach will always have final say, but there have been arguments made for years that Tomlin should focus on what he knows best, which is defense.
Steelers Have Expectations To Live Up To In 2024
After a playoff appearance in 2023, fans remained unhappy with the outcome. Tomlin and co. haven't won a postseason contest since the 2016 season, which has the fan base extremely uneasy. The new-look offensive staff, combined with the talent on the roster, leaves the team as a whole under a ton of pressure entering 2024. If Tomlin and Smith work well together and the offense is clicking, the Steelers could be a dangerous force in the AFC.
