Difference between Steelers new OC Arthur Smith and Matt Canada is night-and-day

Before even knowing who Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator was going to be during the 2024 season, it was a safe bet to assume that the new hire was going to be a step up from Matt Canada. Under Canada's direction, the Steelers never finished 20th or better in points per game or yards per game in all three seasons as offensive coordinator.

In 2023, before Canada was fired late in the season, his offense ranked 25th in yards per game and 28th in points per game, per Pro Football Reference. Fans were not surprised to see he didn't finish out the year before being put on the chopping block.

Not long after, the Steelers hired Arthur Smith to be their new OC. Smith was the head coach and offensive play-caller of the Atlanta Falcons over the past three seasons. While his offense struggled during the same three-year span, there was reason to believe that he would bring notable changes to Pittburgh's offense.

These changes were on full display during the first Steelers training camp practice of 2024.

Though we are very early in training camp, Smith's offense is already riddled with play-fakes, bootlegs, slants, wide-zone running, and loads of tight ends.

Steelers have a completely new offense under Arthur Smith

This isn't some re-branded offense of what we saw over the past three seasons or even over the past six years (through Randy Fichtner's tenure). Arthur Smith is bringing an entirely new offense to Pittsburgh and is tearing every last page out of Matt Canada's playbook.

Smith is staying true to form with the offense that brought him success during his time as the Titans' offensive coordinator. In 2020, his offense ranked 2nd in the NFL in yards and 4th in points. Now he will attempt to replicate this success on a Steelers team with a revamped offensive line and an excellent running back duo.

Smith's offensive style shows traces of Kyle Shanahan. The heavy mix of play-action and bootlegs it looks like he intends to run in 2024 will keep defenses on their heels. This is the opposite of what we saw with Canada, who would routinely tip his hat to whether the play was a run or pass.

Perhaps the biggest change Smith will have going from Atlanta to Pittsburgh is a competent quarterback. Neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields is guaranteed to be a long-term option, but both players are unquestionably better than the league's worst pairing of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke that he had to work with in 2023.

Arthur Smith could fall flat on his face with the Steelers in 2024, and his offense isn't guaranteed to take this team where it needs to be. But at the very least, it looks nothing like the astoundingly uncreative offense we've witnessed with Matt Canada calling the shots over the past three years.

There's already a night-and-day difference between the two offensive coordinators, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a better offense by default.