CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less
I’ll say this: Mike McCarthy as de facto offensive coordinator is an upgrade on Arthur Smith.
Artie’s off to Ohio State. Maybe Jonnu Smith has eligibility and could help invigorate the Buckeyes’ tight-end run game.
Mike Tomlin never got the offense right in his later years. He went from his buddy Randy Fichtner to Matt Canada to Artie, a guy most of us had pegged as an average hire who’d built his resume on Derrick Henry’s back.
We were right. The Steelers finished 23rd and 26th in offense under Smith and scored a total of 20 points in two playoff games.
You’ll notice none of the aforementioned coordinators is working in the NFL. Tomlin’s coaching tree has been whittled to a twig.
So yes, McCarthy is an upgrade on Artie — and he’s starting with something no offense can thrive without: a good and maybe very good line.
McCarthy also has a potentially excellent backfield if Kenneth Gainwell rejoins Jaylen Warren. The top tight ends should be Mt. Washington and Pat Freiermuth (remember him?). DK Metcalf remains periodically productive, so long as he stays away from people with blue hair.
But all of that gets you only so far. You need a quarterback. McCarthy doesn’t have one. Will Aaron Rodgers return? Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said if Rodgers plays for another coach, it’d be McCarthy. But who can see that going beyond the wild-card round?
Which brings us to Will Howard, the fans’ choice, the sixth-round pick Pelissero says the Steelers “are really high on.”
He added, “My understanding is Mike McCarthy also is very intrigued by the upside on Will Howard.”
The 6-foot-4, 236-pound Howard is intriguing, but he lasted until the end of the draft for a reason. Maybe several.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller wrote, “Howard doesn’t project as a starting-level NFL quarterback due to his limited arm strength. He has good running ability and high-end toughness but he isn’t the starting-level quarterback the Steelers need.”
If McCarthy feels otherwise, that statement will be tested soon.
It won’t be boring.
