Under new OC Arthur Smith, Steelers seek consistency, early returns in running game

Since the Pittsburgh Steelers took steps toward remaking their offensive line before the 2022 season, they sought to become one of the NFL’s top rushing teams.

Thanks to slow starts the past two seasons, they couldn’t crack the top 10.

The Steelers continued to add pieces along their line this offseason, using draft picks on a tackle, center and guard. It was done to make the Steelers more physical up front and establish a running game from the start of the season under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

“We’re a run-first offense,” left tackle Dan Moore said. “As an offensive line, we love it. It’s O-line friendly.”

In what ways?

“No offensive line likes to drop back into pass protections 45 times a game,” Moore said. “Those guys on the other side of the ball get paid millions to (disrupt the quarterback). We want to keep them from doing that, so we want to be aggressive and attack teams on the ground.”

The Steelers had a similar emphasis under former offensive coordinator Matt Canada. They just had difficulty establishing a run-first identity until the midpoint of the season.

When Canada took over in 2021, the Steelers were coming off a season in which they finished last in the NFL in rushing. They made a modest improvement to a No. 29 ranking in Canada’s first season calling plays. They improved to No. 16 in 2022 after right guard James Daniels and center Mason Cole came aboard as free agents. After adding free agent Isaac Seumalo and drafting tackle Broderick Jones in the first round, they Steelers had a No. 16 ranking when Canada was fired last season after 10 games, and they improved to No. 13 by the end of the year.

Still, it took a strong second-half push for the Steelers to finish in the middle of the NFL pack. In each of the past two seasons, they ranked No. 25 after eight games.

Enter Smith, whose offenses thrived on running the ball dating to the 2019-20 seasons when he was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. Those Titans teams finished third and second in rushing. When Smith moved on to Atlanta as head coach, the Falcons ranked No. 31 in his first season but improved to No. 3 and No. 9, respectively.

Running back Jaylen Warren has noticed the commitment to running the ball in offseason workouts.

“I would say the intensity (is different),” Warren said. “Everybody has bought into one thing. There is nobody wondering how we are trying to run our offense. Everyone is on the same page, and you can tell a huge difference from that.”

Players say Smith has set the tone with his message in team meetings.

“He wants us to be the most physical offense in the NFL,” Moore said.

It is difficult at this point of the NFL calendar for teams to display such toughness on the field. Pads remain in storage, and hitting doesn’t take place until training camp begins in late July. Still, Smith has placed an emphasis on intensity and technique in individual work that takes place daily during organized team activities.

“That’s his big emphasis,” tight end/fullback Connor Heyward said. “Bringing the force and not having the defense dictate the line of scrimmage. Take the fight to them. We can do that. When we get into those personnel (groups), we’re going to use that to our strengths.”

Those groupings have involved multiple tight ends on the field, which plays to the strengths of two members of that position who are known for their blocking: 6-foot-7, 264-pound Darnell Washington and 6-2, 258-pound MyCole Pruitt, who played for Smith in Tennessee and Atlanta.

“We know we’re going to run the ball and definitely have made it an emphasis,” tight end/fullback Connor Heyward said. “We’re going to run the ball because it opens everything else up. If we do that, we’re going to be able to untap a lot of potential.”

And perhaps even do it before the second half of the season begins, which would be a departure from recent seasons. That would be a welcome change for the Steelers, who, despite the slow start last year, had Najee Harris finish with 1,035 rushing yards and Warren set a career high with 784.

“I don’t want to say any numbers,” Moore said, “but it could be special, for sure.”