Steelers Reportedly Add Anti-Mentoring Veteran To Help Kenny Pickett
Smith will now return to calling plays for the Steelers after being fired from his position as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after three seasons. Early in February, the club hired him to serve as the offensive coordinator.
“Working for an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers is such a unique opportunity,” Smith remarked. “It seems like a perfect cultural fit to me, given the history and culture of this place and the chance to work with Mike Tomlin.”
In Smith’s two seasons as coordinator, Tennessee finished 10th and 4th in scoring, and the play caller thinks Tannehill had a significant role in both results.
The veteran quarterback seems eager to join the Steelers quarterback room shortly after being hired by Pittsburgh.
With Tannehill joining, the position would immediately gain experience as he would presumably take on a mentoring role for third-year starter Kenny Pickett.
Regretfully, the passer may not be really adept at tutelage.
In the same class that Pittsburgh enrolled Pickett, the Titans selected Malik Willis, and Tannehill had little interest in teaching the young player.
Regarding Willis’s arrival to the team, he stated, “That (competition) is part of being in the quarterback room, the same room.” We’re practicing the same drills, seeing the same footage, and competing against one another. Although I don’t think it’s my role to mentor him, it would be wonderful if he picked up some knowledge from me along the road.
Would he view things the same if the Steelers were involved?
Despite having a 14-10 record as a starter, Pickett’s career in the NFL has been up and down. Although he has demonstrated his dual threat potential, Throughout his tenure under center, he has thrown 13 interceptions in addition to touchdowns.
In order to continue increasing competition at quarterback, the Steelers may find it advantageous to have an experienced presence in the QB room. But based on their earlier remarks, it appears like Tannehill is more concerned with moving up the depth chart than assisting Pickett in improving his performance.