Newest Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith may be looking for another place to live. He’s new at work. But his hiring sparked all kinds of backlash.But it’s not coming from all over Steelers country. Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward said Smith should be given a chance.”Arthur Smith talked to Tennessee (Titans) a couple of years ago,”
Heyward said on the Not Just Football podcast this week. “I know he didn’t have much success in Atlanta and everybody’s talking about it. … But I’m happy to let him go.”January On the 8th, the Falcons parted ways with head coach Smith after three straight 7-10 seasons. But before the Falcons, Smith served in a number of assistant roles with the Titans in 2019, completing his final season there. That year, Smith replaced the departed Matt LaFleur as coach of the Green Bay Packers. Smith’s play made the Titans one of the best scoring teams in Tennessee history. Smith, 41, has spent his entire NFL coaching career.”It’s great to have an experienced OC,” Hayward says. .
“What I loved about what he said was that it was about relationships. You can have all the X’s and O’s, but if you don’t have an OC that the players trust, it’s not going to work.”Hayward doesn’t like criticism before new Steelers OC startsSteelers coach Mike Tomlin fired former offensive coordinator Matt Canada last November. It is the first time in over 80 years that the Steelers have changed their coaching staff in the offseason..
Unlike Smith, Canada had no NFL experience before Tomlin brought him to Pittsburgh. Hayward said he has heard and read criticism of Smith. That’s not how Hayward works. “I don’t want to judge somebody before they’re hired,” Hayward said. “I know he’s had success somewhere (at Tennessee), but not at his last job (as head coach in Atlanta). Let’s calm down. Let’s hit the brakes. You can be in a hurry, positive and optimistic.”The Steelers, who finished the regular season with a 10-7 record, lost in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
Tomlin also received criticism. As he was leaving a post-playoff press conference, a reporter asked him about job security.Hayward then took to his social media platform to show his support for the Steelers head coach.
