A battle of offensive philosophies is unfolding in Pittsburgh. Arthur Smith arrived with a reputation for relying on the running game, a formula he tried to solidify last year with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. In fact, the Steelers’ offense ranked fourth in rushing attempts, although with little real efficiency.
But now the landscape has changed. With Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback, expectations are shifting. The future Hall of Famer, at 41 years old, is coming off a season where he ranked second in pass attempts across the NFL. The question is clear: will Smith adapt to Rodgers’ aerial style or try to impose his ground-based scheme once again?
Steelers seek balance
For analysts like Emory Hunt, the offensive coordinator must be flexible. On CBS Sports HQ, he stated that the key will be whether Rodgers accepts Smith’s philosophy or if Smith adjusts his system to the quarterback’s talent. “It’s Aaron Rodgers, a historic quarterback. If he asks to throw more, the logical thing is to adapt,” he said.
The immediate reference is not encouraging: with Russell Wilson, Smith failed to find rhythm and there were frictions during the 2024 season. Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette recalled that Wilson tried to stretch the field with deep passes, while Smith insisted on running. The clash of styles was so evident that, in Week 13 against the Bengals, Wilson changed plays at the line of scrimmage-something the OC did not tolerate.
Mike Tomlin evaluates the competition
Beyond the offensive adjustment with Rodgers, Mike Tomlin faces another tough decision in the quarterback room. Pittsburgh started camp with four quarterbacks: Rodgers confirmed as QB1, followed by Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie Will Howard. However, preseason performances have shifted the pieces.
The most notable case is Thompson. In the finale against the Panthers, he completed 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown, showing confidence and experience. Tomlin didn’t hesitate to praise him: “He’s been a starter in Miami and you can see his experience in regular season games.”
Skylar Thompson pushes for a spot
His numbers back him up. In the preseason debut against the Jaguars, he posted 233 yards and three touchdowns, while against the Buccaneers he had a more discreet but solid performance. At 28 years old, the quarterback seemed destined to be left off the final roster, but now he’s complicated the decision.
The dilemma is clear: the Steelers need to define who will back up Rodgers in the 2025 season. Will they keep Thompson after his surprising exhibition performances, or bet on Rudolph’s reliability and Howard’s development? Tomlin has the final word, but the pressure grows each day.
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