2023 was a wild ride for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with ups and downs that left fans on the edge of their seats. The defense, as always, was a force to be reckoned with, but the offense fell short in many ways. One player who faced a lot of criticism throughout the season was Kenny Pickett. Despite reports of his improvement during the offseason, he failed to consistently deliver on the field. He did have a shining moment in his only game after the firing of Matt Canada, but unfortunately, an ankle injury cut his season short. Now, Pickett has the opportunity to work with Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who is now the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Smith expressed his excitement about building a relationship with Pickett, emphasizing the importance of a strong connection between the play caller and the quarterback. This news was shared by ProFootballTalk on Twitter.
It is important to note that Pickett’s position as the starting quarterback for the upcoming season is far from guaranteed. In the Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills, when Pickett was healthy, coach Mike Tomlin chose to stick with Mason Rudolph instead. However, Smith seems to have high expectations for Pickett and anticipates him being the team’s QB1. Smith had a successful run as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans before becoming the Falcons’ head coach, even with a less-than-ideal quarterback situation. Steelers fans are hopeful that Smith can bring that success to Pittsburgh and help Pickett thrive. While Pickett has yet to prove himself as a franchise-caliber quarterback, he is currently the best option on the team’s roster.
