Fans and analysts continue to wonder how new Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get along with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith through Week 18 of the upcoming season.
During a recent appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, former Steelers running back and current NFL analyst Merril Hoge offered Smith some advice regarding what Rodgers should be allowed to do on the field during games.
“I’m gonna come at you from experience as a player, and a coach, and a head coach and a coordinator at every level,” Hoge said, as shared by Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. “When you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers, I personally believe it’s insanity not to give the reins and trust the guy who’s inside those white lines, who understands and feels the game, knows the game and is gonna get us in the best possible position.”
Multiple stories from this past winter claimed that Smith and former Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson “did not have a very good working relationship” last season, in part because “Smith did not want Wilson changing plays at the line of scrimmage … and deviating from the game plan.” Meanwhile, Rodgers is known for being an on-the-field general who constantly changes receiver routes and other aspects of plays while at the line.
For a piece published on Thursday, Steelers reporter Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wrote that he believes “Smith has enough respect for Rodgers that he’ll afford the four-time MVP a bit more freedom, especially with hand signals to make route adjustments without changing the entire play.” Hoge indicated that Smith would do well to trust Rodgers’ judgment this coming fall.
“That’s a massive advantage for your team, that your quarterback knows, ‘Hey, this ain’t gonna work. We’ve got to get into this,'” Hoge added during his comments.
Earlier in the week, Steelers cornerback Darius Slay noted that Rodgers has “seen everything” a defense can throw at a quarterback during the 41-year-old’s Hall of Fame career. Rodgers may not physically be what he was when in his prime, but he may know more about facing defensive schemes than any other active player. Thus, it makes sense that Smith and head coach Mike Tomlin would trust Rodgers to make on-the-field in-game adjustments as needed.
