Who wants to give A. Smith a midseason Grade?

[DesertSteel]

Okay so we’re 8 games in and have played two quarterbacks. I could give you the stats, but you can look them up for yourself. You’ve watched every game up to this point. What is your midseason grade for Arthur Smith’s offense? Also, where do you project the grade to be at the end of the season?

Mine:

Midseason: B
Final grade: A-

[Mojouw]

Midseason: B+
Final: C

[hawaiiansteeler]

In Arthur Smith's defense, he never had the opportunity to work with Kenny Pickett or these would both be A+.

[DesertSteel]

Midseason: B+
Final: C

Is that because you think he’s trending in the wrong direction?

[hawaiiansteeler]

Is that because you think he’s trending in the wrong direction?

His arrow apparently is not pointing up.

[polamalubeast]

Is that because you think he’s trending in the wrong direction?

I think they are trending in the right direction....They are better and better.In the second half,the steelers offense will face some weak defense,so this is a chance they become even better.....Of course the steelers will also play against stronger offense(7 of the final 9 games are against top 11 offense in point per drive)

[ALLD]

The O looks more organized and polished when Wilson is QB. No knock on Fields who should become the understudy and work on his skillset. He could start for at least 10 teams in 2 years if he learns how to complete passes at the edge and put a better touch on the passes.

[Mojouw]

Is that because you think he’s trending in the wrong direction?

I do not think their past two game success is really sustainable once they enter the "playoff caliber" team portion of the schedule.

Smith did an amazing job to get more out of Fields than ever before in the NFL. And then to switch midstream to Wilson. Excellent.

But the offense is inefficient/ineffective inside the 20. Dependent on low percentage contested throws. And I do not see anything that disguises intentions. I believe that better teams and rosters will frustrate this offense. Steelers will lose some ballgames and everyone will sour on the situation.

They are still going to make the playoffs but I still don't see much beyond a feisty exit on Wildcard weekend.

IF they start putting 25-30+ points on teams over the next several weeks....well then I will need to revise the grade.

[oneforthetoe]

I do not think their past two game success is really sustainable once they enter the "playoff caliber" team portion of the schedule.

Smith did an amazing job to get more out of Fields than ever before in the NFL. And then to switch midstream to Wilson. Excellent.

But the offense is inefficient/ineffective inside the 20. Dependent on low percentage contested throws. And I do not see anything that disguises intentions. I believe that better teams and rosters will frustrate this offense. Steelers will lose some ballgames and everyone will sour on the situation.

They are still going to make the playoffs but I still don't see much beyond a feisty exit on Wildcard weekend.

IF they start putting 25-30+ points on teams over the next several weeks....well then I will need to revise the grade.

I understand where you are coming from but not sure the defenses they will face over the next 9 weeks are as daunting as some of the offenses. Really, out of the last nine games who has a great defense? Cleveland (2), certainly, Chiefs yes., Eagles, not sure. I haven't watched the Eagles enough to know how their defense is playing. However, the Bengals and Ravens defense really is not that good this year. Washington is another team I am not sure of. I guess the point I am making is that I don't see most of the defenses we face the rest of the year as being all that much better than the Jets and Giants D.

One thing I do think is we are going to have to start games faster on offense than we have at times in the past. We can't struggle to score, or kick just field goals, for the first couple of quarters. We will find ourselves down big by half-time.

[Mojouw]

I understand where you are coming from but not sure the defenses they will face over the next 9 weeks are as daunting as some of the offenses. Really, out of the last nine games who has a great defense? Cleveland (2), certainly, Chiefs yes., Eagles, not sure. I haven't watched the Eagles enough to know how their defense is playing. However, the Bengals and Ravens defense really is not that good this year. Washington is another team I am not sure of. I guess the point I am making is that I don't see most of the defenses we face the rest of the year as being all that much better than the Jets and Giants D.

One thing I do think is we are going to have to start games faster on offense than we have at times in the past. We can't struggle to score, or kick just field goals, for the first couple of quarters. We will find ourselves down big by half-time.

That’s likely accurate.

I just don’t see the Giants and Jets as “winning” teams, much less “playoff” teams. The. Chargers might be the best team the Steelers have played so far.

Basically the Steelers can churn up yards between the 30’s. Then they get stalled out and kick field goals. Not gonna cut it against better teams.

Specifically for Smith, can you guess most of the plays from your couch? I suspect most of us can. I’m gonna go ahead and guess that NFL defensive players are not confused.

For me, they’ve got to be far more efficient finishing drives and demonstrate they can move the ball when/if someone takes away the moonball.

[86WARD]

I’d be more concerned with the defense stopping the so called good teams more so than the offense scoring points.

[Mojouw]

I’d be more concerned with the defense stopping the so called good teams more so than the offense scoring points.

I am. That’s why the offense needs lots of touchdowns.

[polamalubeast]

I am. That’s why the offense needs lots of touchdowns.

True but the defense need to do their part too....Gave up 30 points against every good offense is not a receipe for success

[Dwinsgames]

I am going to say B- because I do not feel as though he made enough of an effort to get all the WRs involved in the passing game early on and I still do not believe he is utilizing Muuuth to the best of his ability .... We just spent big money on Muuuth if this is all the utilization he is going to get we could easily have saved that money and plugged almost anyone into that spot and got that amount of production out of him and likely better blocking on top of it because you do not need a pass catching TE to snag 3 balls a game for an average somewhere around 35 yards ....

as for the next 9 weeks ... man thats gonna be hard to say the schedule is getting more difficult but we are on a roll of 3 weeks in a row over 30 points even if you shave 3 points per game off the recent totals that is pretty good production esp when considering the normal lower scoring division games are involved .... IMO just to hard to predict

what I do know if we need to pound the football this week Washington's run D is pretty poor so we need to attack the weaknesses of teams not try and force them to suck at what they are best at like we have done in the past ...

[Born2Steel]

Offensive grade so far is a 'C+'

ST has scored nearly half of our points. We are winning games but not by putting up TDs.


My future prediction grade is an 'A'.

I think Smith's offense and Russ are a very good match. I think the offense can and will continue to open the playbook and become more efficient. The addition of another big WR on the outside is only going to help the 'run first/play action deep' philosophy.

[Mojouw]

I am going to say B- because I do not feel as though he made enough of an effort to get all the WRs involved in the passing game early on and I still do not believe he is utilizing Muuuth to the best of his ability .... We just spent big money on Muuuth if this is all the utilization he is going to get we could easily have saved that money and plugged almost anyone into that spot and got that amount of production out of him and likely better blocking on top of it because you do not need a pass catching TE to snag 3 balls a game for an average somewhere around 35 yards ....

as for the next 9 weeks ... man thats gonna be hard to say the schedule is getting more difficult but we are on a roll of 3 weeks in a row over 30 points even if you shave 3 points per game off the recent totals that is pretty good production esp when considering the normal lower scoring division games are involved .... IMO just to hard to predict

what I do know if we need to pound the football this week Washington's run D is pretty poor so we need to attack the weaknesses of teams not try and force them to suck at what they are best at like we have done in the past ...

My hope is that PF hasn't been featured because Fields was avoiding the middle. And Wilson is still knocking the rust off.

My fear is that PF will always be a better prospect than player. He's got some of the best hands in the league but that's it. He doesn't seem to impact games. At least not in line with what they just paid him. And they've totally outsourced his blocking to Washington and Pruitt.

Smith has a track record of featuring TEs. But that hasn't happened so far. Despite there being 5 on the roster until recently.

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[Dwinsgames]

My hope is that PF hasn't been featured because Fields was avoiding the middle. And Wilson is still knocking the rust off.

My fear is that PF will always be a better prospect than player. He's got some of the best hands in the league but that's it. He doesn't seem to impact games. At least not in line with what they just paid him. And they've totally outsourced his blocking to Washington and Pruitt.

Smith has a track record of featuring TEs. But that hasn't happened so far. Despite there being 5 on the roster until recently.

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I can maybe get most of that with exception of the knocking off the rust part because a good TE is supposed to be the QBs best friend so to speak ... its almost an intentional avoidance ...I just dont get it

[Mojouw]

I can maybe get most of that with exception of the knocking off the rust part because a good TE is supposed to be the QBs best friend so to speak ... its almost an intentional avoidance ...I just dont get it

I guess we will get 8 more games or whatever to see which of the following options is true:

1. The current Steelers QBs are not going to attack between the hash marks and other areas TEs usually make their livings.
2. Smith has decided to not feature the TE in his play calling.
3. PF has been severely over-rated by fans and Steelers management.

I have no idea what is the case...but I feel like we get to find out.

[Dwinsgames]

I guess we will get 8 more games or whatever to see which of the following options is true:

1. The current Steelers QBs are not going to attack between the hash marks and other areas TEs usually make their livings.
2. Smith has decided to not feature the TE in his play calling.
3. PF has been severely over-rated by fans and Steelers management.

I have no idea what is the case...but I feel like we get to find out.

I'll drink to the finding out part (or maybe until I find out LOL) cause currently its almost driving me nuts