The devil works hard, but the folks in the NFL offices work far harder, as evident in the Falcons season opener against the Steelers. Not even a calendar year after being fired, Arthur Smith will make his highly anticipated return to Atlanta as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator. That wasn’t by accident.
Falcons fans will obviously be looking to get their taste of revenge, but they shouldn’t count their chickens before they’re hatched. Mike Tomlin’s teams are notoriously well coached and the man hasn’t overseen a single sub-.500 record. It won’t be easy for the Falcons in Week 1.
Kirk Cousins, Zac Robinson, and Atlanta’s new-look offense won’t have to wait very long to put their stuff to the test. The Steelers, led by T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, have one of the best defenses in the league.
On the flip side of things, the Falcons with their new coordinator Jimmy Lake will be tasked to defend Arthur Smith and the new-look Pittsburgh offense. Much like Atlanta, the Steelers will be breaking in a veteran quarterback with a new system.
Russell Wilson is expected to start for the Steel City this season, and he’ll have an impressive crop of talent around him, headlined by Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth. However, guys like Roman Wilson, Darnell Washington, and Cordarrelle Patterson should contribute in supporting roles.
Smith has more than enough talent to improve upon his predecessor. Not only will Falcons fans want revenge, but their former head coach probably does too. Who wouldn’t want to show their former employer up? And you know who will be fighting hard for him? Steelers players, who want to see Smith beat his former team as badly as anyone.
There are already positive vibes coming out of the Steel City too; Steelers players “love” Smith’s “unreal” offense, according to beat reporter Matt Kaboly.
“What I hear coming out of the Steelers is that players absolutely love Arthur Smith’s offense,” Kaboly said. “One told me that it is unreal. Going to be interesting to put eyes on it.”
What I hear coming out of the Steelers is that players absolutely love Arthur Smith's offense. One told me that it is unreal.
Going to be interesting to put eyes on it. First day of OTAs start on Tuesday. The Steelers will be on the field for practices for the next 4 weeks.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 20, 2024
Arthur Smith was liked in Atlanta by Falcons players, so this isn’t that surprising, but a lot can change when things don’t go your way. That’s the true test of a team.
However, Falcons fans shouldn’t be caught off guard when Smith’s offense resonates in Pittsburgh with their blue-collar-esque fan base and the way Mike Tomlin wants to play football. I think it’s going to be one of the better units in the league if Russell Wilson can run it effectively.
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Photographer: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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