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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is already tinkering with the Pittsburgh Steelers offense after signing a one-year, $13.65M deal with them on Saturday.
On a Sunday episode of “SportsCenter,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Rodgers have been “on the phone” about changing the team’s offense. This includes finding a “sweet spot” where Rodgers can audible at the line of scrimmage but still stay true to the team’s system.
While four-time MVP Rodgers is coming off a disappointing 5-12 season with the New York Jets, the Steelers feel a player of his stature deserves to have a say in the team’s offense.
“Teams I’ve talked to believe that Rodgers at this stage is a middle-of-the-pack quarterback,” Fowler said (h/t Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp). “He’s probably ranked 15-17 among the top 32. He’s not that top-10 guy anymore, but the Steelers do believe he has the best field vision from the pocket since they’ve had Ben Roethlisberger. They believe he’s still got plenty of arm strength and the New York Jets coaches I’ve talked to think he was a lot better than the stats showed last year. It’s just simply a mobility issue. It’s also how he is going to coalesce with Smith?”
Since tearing his left Achilles tendon during Week 1 of the 2023 season, Rodgers has seemingly lost the ability to extend plays with his legs. In 17 games during the 2024 season, he took 40 sacks.
Smith, meanwhile, has coached mobile QBs throughout his career. When he was Atlanta Falcons HC from 2021-23, he started QBs Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder. Last season, the Steelers played QBs Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
Perhaps Rodgers is contacting Smith to help tailor his playbook for a traditional pocket passer.
Even if Smith and Rodgers click, reigniting the Steelers’ dreadful offense could still be challenging. Last season, Pittsburgh ranked 27th in passing yards (192 YPG) per game and 16th in points scored (22.4) per contest.
This offseason, they acquired wide receiver DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks but subsequently dealt wideout George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.
Unless 41-year-old Rodgers recaptures his elite form, it would be a surprise if the offensive changes work.
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