Arthur Smith’s work week included a notable phone call from his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, who called the Steelers’ offensive coordinator about the team’s new head coaching vacancy.
Smith, who was an offensive lineman for the Tar Heels, began coaching as a graduate assistant on UNC’s coaching staff. He summarized the conversation as a “preliminary call” with the Tar Heels, who recently fired longtime coach Mack Brown.
“I appreciate it, I love that place,” Smith said of UNC, via ESPN. “But that’s not my focus. I mean, I have one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s also a lot to say about [how you] “I can’t put a price on the personal and professional happiness I have here.”
Smith is in the middle of his first season with the Steelers, who are currently 8-3 and atop the AFC North division. Pittsburgh’s improved offense has played a considerable role in the Steelers’ success thus far.
The Steelers currently rank 14th in the NFL in scoring, up from 28th in the league a year ago. They are currently in position to rank in the top 10 in rushing for the first time since 2007.
“I have an amazing job here,” said Smith, who came to Pittsburgh after coaching the Falcons the previous three years. “I love being here in Pittsburgh. [I] probably [have] A different mentality than I had five or four years ago, where I probably would have walked there to accept any top job.
“Now my perspective is different, and when you get something good like I got here in Pittsburgh, my family loves it here. I like the work environment, I love being a Steeler.”
Most Steelers fans also loved Smith, after Pittsburgh’s offense averaged nearly 31 points per game during a recent four-game stretch. But the offense has cooled since then; Pittsburgh scored 18 points against Baltimore in Week 11 and scored just 19 points in last Thursday night’s loss at Cleveland.
Over the past two weeks, the Steelers have begun to infuse backup quarterback Justin Fields into the game for a handful of plays. On Thursday, in addition to talking about his call with UNC, Smith talked about the challenge associated with playing two quarterbacks.
“There’s certainly a plan and sometimes you adapt to more,” Smith said, via the team’s website. “So, would you like to see Justin more or less? And how do you evaluate that? Maybe, there’s a breakdown issue with Russ. These are all conversations. So the guys certainly know that. Every player is different. Nobody wants “Coming out of a game, but you have a guy who can help you, and he’s an explosive player. “There is a very fine line.”
