Steelers’ Arthur Smith prefers to work on sideline, non-committal on Justin Fields play package

Last November, it was big news amongst fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers when then-offensive coordinator Matt Canada switched things up by calling plays from the sideline.

For new coordinator Arthur Smith, that’s been routine for several years.

During each of his previous five seasons as a play-caller in the NFL, Smith did so not from the coaches’ booth but while standing amongst the players on the sidelines. Yes, the most recent three of those seasons Smith was also head coach and therefore otherwise obligated to be present on the field. But unlike Canada — long a booth devotee — Smith believes in calling plays from field level, like he did in 2019-20 as coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

“You don’t want to overreact; all you’re doing is trying to problem-solve,” Smith said in explaining his preference. “You have got to get to know each other and try to stay as neutral as possible. It’s one thing at Tennessee, I thought we got in a good flow, (then-Titans starter Ryan Tannehill) and I did.”

Smith was on the field during the Steelers’ preseason-opening loss to the Houston Texans this past Friday at Acrisure Stadium. He embraced being able to chat, face-to-face, with the quarterbacks that got into that game, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen.

“This is a unique situation — (all the quarterbacks) are new to the Steelers, I’m new to them,” Smith said. “It’s important going into the preseason that you’re feeling each other out so when you get to Week 1, and that will grow as the season goes on, too. But I thought all those guys, Kyle and Justin — even (No. 4 QB John Rhys Plumlee), he didn’t play quarterback (during Fridays game), but the communication I thought was excellent.”

According to ESPN, during last season 16 of the 20 offensive coordinators in the NFL that call plays were doing so from the sidelines.

Package for Fields?

Smith was noncommittal on one of the most-discussed topics among Steelers fans: if the offense will have a special package of plays for Fields.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Smith said. “I respect the question, but we’ll see how this thing plays out.”

There has been a school of thought that if Russell Wilson remains the starter that the Steelers might try to leverage Fields’ running ability the best they can with a short-yardage menu of plays with him taking snaps.

Happy with the O-Line

Smith echoed what many observers have noted during camp: the Steelers have a deep offensive line. The entire second-team — often composed of three rookies and two second-year players — appears very NFL-caliber. At least one from that unit won’t make the season-opening 53-man roster, and at least two of those five cannot be in uniform for regular-season games.

“We’ve got good depth in the offensive line room, barring any more injuries,” Smith said.

“That’s a good problem to have when you’ve got good depth and it’s hard to pick who your eight are on gameday…. You’ve always got to develop the second and third lines, because the reality is you’d love to have everybody for 17-plus games — and that usually doesn’t happen.”