Last November, it was big news for Pittsburgh Steelers fans when then-Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada brought some variety and called the plays from the sidelines.

For the new coordinator Arthur Smith, this has been routine for several years.

In each of his five previous seasons as a playmaker in the NFL, Smith did not do so from the coach’s booth, but rather stood among the players on the sideline. Yes, for the last three of those seasons, Smith was also a head coach and therefore otherwise obligated to be present on the field. But unlike Canada – a longtime devotee of the coach’s booth – Smith believes in calling plays from the field, as he did in 2019-20 as a coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

“You don’t want to overreact, you just try to solve the problem,” Smith explained his preference. “You have to get to know each other and try to remain as neutral as possible. In Tennessee, that’s one thing, I thought we (then-Titans starter Ryan Tannehill) got into a good groove, and that was the case for me, too.”

Smith was on the field for the Steelers’ season-opening loss to the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium last Friday and was happy to speak in person with the quarterbacks who played in the game, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen.

“It’s a unique situation – (all the quarterbacks) are new to the Steelers, I’m new to them,” Smith said. “It’s important to get a feel for the preseason when you get to Week 1, and that will improve as the season goes on. But I thought all of those guys, Kyle and Justin – even (No. 4 QB John Rhys Plumlee), he didn’t play quarterback (in Friday’s game), but the communication was excellent, in my opinion.”

According to ESPN, last season, 16 of the NFL’s 20 offensive coordinators who called plays did so from the sidelines.

Package for fields?

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

“We still have a long way to go,” Smith said. “I respect the question, but we’ll see how things develop.”

There was a school of thought that if Russell Wilson remained the starter, the Steelers might try to make the most of Fields’ running ability with a series of short-yardage plays where he takes the snaps.

Satisfied with the O-Line

Smith reiterated what many observers have noted during training camp: The Steelers have a strong offensive line. The entire second team – often consisting of three rookies and two second-year players – appears to have very NFL qualities. At least one of that unit will not make the season-opening 53-man roster, and at least two of those five will not be able to play in uniform in regular-season games.

“We have good depth on the offensive line, barring more injuries,” Smith said.

“It’s a good problem to have when you have good depth and it’s difficult to select your eight players on game day… You always have to develop the second and third lines, because the reality is you want everyone there for 17 or more games – and that doesn’t usually happen.”