Steelers fans shouldn’t worry if Hue Jackson is the new OC

Steelers fans shouldn’t be afraid if the team opts to bring in Jackson as an offensive coordinator

It is quickly becoming the “curious case of the Steelers offensive coordinator” early in this offseason, as the team doesn’t seem to be settled over who should take over this offense next year. In a year that will undoubtedly have a lot of roster turnover, finding a quality offensive coordinator would be a solid step in getting this offense back on track. That said, the Steelers can’t seem to decide who best fits the role.

Not renewing Randy Fichtner’s contract was certainly best for the team, and early reports seemed like current quarterback’s coach Matt Canada was going to be promoted. This came off the heels of an interview he had with the Dolphins for their vacant offensive coordinator spot. The move made sense: Canada seemingly had a lot of influence on aspects of the offense and he had a good track record of success with college offenses.

Reports then surfaced that he wasn’t set in stone though, and the Steelers were still interviewing for the spot. Announced almost simultaneously with the Dwayne Haskins signing, the Steelers were interviewing former Browns head coach Hue Jackson for the role. This set the fanbase into a tirade, as images of a 1-31 record were being thought of as a definite if the team opted for the more established Jackson.

If Jackson is hired, the Steelers don’t have much to fear

In reality, while it would be a more conservative hire, Jackson wouldn’t make a horrible offensive coordinator. He had a lot of success with the Bengals between 2014-2015 and made the most of an objectively horrible Raiders offense in 2010. While he has shown to be an inept head coach, he clearly has some talent when crafting an offense.

Honestly, if Ben Roethlisberger is truly set to return next year, Jackson may make the most sense of the coordinator options that the team has brought in. His offense will be more based around older tactics that the team has used before. It won’t turn into one of those dynamic play action/move based offenses that a lot of teams employ. That may sound like a bad thing, but if the Steelers are set to roll with Roethlisberger, a more traditional offense would suit him better.

As well, a staple of Jackson’s offense is a good power running game. Considering the Steelers have failed over the past two years to do anything on the ground, getting a coach that had success with Jeremy Hill and Darren McFadden could be just what this team needs. With a new running back likely coming to the Steelers, having a coach that has fielded successful rushing attacks wouldn’t be a horrible idea.

Finally, while not his best suit, Andy Dalton was on pace for his best season in 2015 before he got injured. His numbers weren’t gaudy by any means, but he was easily playing some of the best football of his career that year. While he isn’t as quarterback centric as a Canada would be, it would be wrong to write him off in terms of quarterback development.

While it would be far from a bold hire, if the Steelers ultimately go with Jackson as their offensive coordinator, it won’t be the end of the world. He has proven to be an efficient offensive coordinator despite his obvious struggles as a head coach. While Canada seems like the move with higher potential, Jackson would certainly be safe. To be frank, as long as Fichtner isn’t the offensive coordinator for the Steelers, improvements should be seen on the offense.