13-06-2025
Five Takeaways from Steelers Minicamp Day 2: Pressure on Arthur Smith, Bishop Talking Again
PITTSBURGH — Arthur Smith really did not want Russell Wilson back with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his minicamp press conference on Wednesday, the Steelers offensive coordinator took a question about how much control new quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have in his ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage and things of that nature — something that has been a hot-button topic regarding Rodgers for a while — and took his answer all the way back to the end of last season, finally returning fire after an anonymously-sourced dart from January.
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If you don't recall, it was reported at the end of the 2024 season, after the Steelers lost their final five games, continuing a now-eight-year playoff losing streak, that Smith had reduced Wilson's ability to do things like make changes at the line of scrimmage over the stretch run of the season.
It wasn't directly stated, but the implication was that it was more the fault of Smith than Wilson that things went so poorly at the end of the season.
Steelers Now sources reported at the time that the story getting out in the fashion that it did led the Steelers coaching staff and locker room to turn on Wilson, and was a contributing factor to him not returning to the team in 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson at training camp on Aug. 14, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Asked about Rodgers on Wednesday, Smith took the opportunity to set the record straight.
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'We've got multiple things that evolve every year, depending on who the quarterback is, just like we did last year, and it didn't change,' Smith said. 'With Justin [Fields] or Russ, and the way we tried to evolve, it didn't change. Whether we're talking about cans, checks, alerts, signals, you want to put those in audibles, great, but we never fundamentally changed. I mean, we obviously schematically shifted to try to play a little bit differently with Justin than Russ, but the operation never changed. So, whatever the fantastical narrative was that we're just calling plays at the line, I don't know the history of the reference.'
Smith got his wish. Wilson is now with the New York Giants. In his place, is a quarterback that has been known to do things his own way.
In Enigma, the Rodgers-approved Netflix documentary about the quarterback that debuted last year, there's a clip from his college days telling teammate Marshawn Lynch to run the route he wants him to run instead of the one that was called.
Rodgers was criticized last year in New York for too frequently changing the play at the line of scrimmage and dominating the Jets' offensive scheme with his own personal preference.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 20, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Rodgers also pushed back on those allegations during his press conference on Tuesday.
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'The idea that somehow I need to, or have spent most of my career playing outside of an offensive system, is just not correct,' Rogers said. 'I'm going to learn the offense, and Arthur and I are going to talk a bunch this summer. If there's things that I like that I'd like to see in the offense, Arthur, I'm sure is going to put it in. He knows how to call a game. I know how to get us in the right spot based on what's called.'
So everyone is saying the right thing, but the pressure is on Smith, not Rodgers, to make this marriage work. If Rodgers washes out of Pittsburgh with another unsuccessful season like his last few, he's still going into the Hall of Fame.
The Steelers have done a large amount of catering to Smith's desires outside of the quarterback situation. There are a half-dozen players with previous ties to him on the offensive depth chart. Najee Harris, a poor fit for his preferred running scheme, was jettisoned instead of forcing Smith to change his plans. And now the quarterback situation has also been tailored to Smith's preference, at least somewhat.
Smith did a good job last year. The Steelers finished 16th in scoring after being 28th the year before under Matt Canada and making relatively minimal upgrades to the offensive personnel.
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But he's also inviting some pressure to perform in 2025. Smith and Rodgers are saying all the right things right now, but if a second straight quarterback relationship ends in divorce, Smith will be the only one that will have to answer those questions.
I'll Believe It When I See It
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren runs against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 8, 2204. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers are a franchise that was built on running the football and playing good defense. From president Art Rooney II down, there is an organization preference for those tenets to continue to be the building blocks of what makes up the team's personality.
The playing good defense part, well, with the NFL's highest-paid unit, they had better. The Steelers have generally lived up to that promise, as well. Despite a rough end to the 2024 campaign, they've been one of the best defensive squads in the NFL over the last six or seven years.
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The offensive identity has been more variable, though. When the Steelers had Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, they weren't shy about throwing ball as much or more than any other NFL team.
With much lesser talents in those slots the last few years, the Steelers have clammed up, reverting to being one of the most run-heavy teams in the league.
Last season, the Steelers finished fourth in rushing attempts and 11th in yards. They weren't even particularly good at running the ball — landing 20th in years per carry. They just pounded the rock no matter, likely thanks to a lack of trust in Wilson, George Pickens and an underwhelming secondary passing offense. It probably didn't help that Wilson missed six games, Pickens three and they played only eight games together.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf at minicamp on June 10, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers replaced Pickens with DK Metcalf, and Wilson with Rodgers, but it still doesn't look like their passing offense should be one of the team's strengths on paper. Rodgers was mediocre last year with the Jets. Metcalf is a slight improvement on Pickens, but the second outside receiver remains a big question mark.
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Smith was asked the balance of his team in 2025 on Tuesday, and gave a hilarious quote about his intentions.
'We didn't bring Aaron in here, and sign DK for all that money, to go run the wishbone,' Smith said. 'So, you know, you try to play to the strengths of your team.'
I love it. I also can't help but look at an offensive line that is far better run blocking then pass blocking and the running back room of Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell, and think the strength of the team is still probably on the ground, despite the additions of Metcalf and Rodgers.
I'm not saying that Smith doesn't intend to throw the ball a lot more as things stand right now, but on this front, I'm not going to believe it until I see it.
Better the Second Time Around
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington at practice on June 5, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
I do expect the Steelers offense to be better overall in 2025. The personnel moves were not dramatic, but I do see improvement.
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The biggest thing I see is a more natural scheme fit, and more-defined roles for players in the second year under Smith.
When a new coordinator comes in and takes over a unit, they are outsiders to their own locker room, and I think a year under Smith's belt will help him do a better job of getting players like Calvin Austin III, Pat Freiermuth, Warren and Darnell Washington into positions to make plays.
'When new guys come in they have some ideas of how they want to do things and how they want to use people, and then they get a chance to see and know guys,' tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts said. 'Then they say, 'I didn't know this guy could do that.''
Austin and Washington have both turned heads so far this spring for looking like better weapons than they had this time last year. While both players deserve credit for making necessary improvements to their game, I also think Smith is just more aware of the particular strengths and weaknesses of his group and better-able to maximize their abilities with some shared experiences.
Beanie Still Talking — But Now For a Good Cause
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop at OTAs on June 3, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The biggest correctible issue for the Steelers secondary from the 2024 season was the near-constant examples of miscommunication and missed assignments from the stretch run.
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It's been a talking point all offseason, but to this point, it's also mostly been talk. Gerald Alexander has been stressing the unit during individual periods, but there hasn't been a ton of reps to show improvement. At Thursday's practice, the Steelers D did just that.
During the seven shots period at the start of practice, the Steelers offense started in one look, then shifted to a bunch formation the left. The Steelers defensive backs and linebackers communicated the shift, and as they were just looking like they had it sorted, Austin took off in motion back the other direction.
Beanie Bishop shadowed him, calling out changes while running across the formation at full speed, mirroring the Steelers' fastest player. Bishop carried Austin all the way to the far flat. The rest of the secondary locked everyone else down. Mason Rudolph looked one way, the other, back across the middle and then had a defensive lineman in his lap for a sack.
Bishop said that the play is similar to a lot of things teams did last year against the Steelers, and that the coaching staff specifically targets areas to attack that they think other teams will.
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As a second-year player, Bishop said he has a greater understanding of how those things have to be communicated, and has taken a greater responsibility for making sure everyone around him is in the right position.
Bishop has made some headlines for his trash-talk to the Steelers' South Side neighbors this offseason, but it might be his on-field talking that is the most important thing he does in 2025.
Slay a Solution in the Slot?
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay at OTAs on May 28, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
There have been rumors and suggestions about the Steelers looking to add a cornerback here late in the summer, but it's not immediately obvious where they have a need, outside of finding someone else to play in the slot alongside Bishop.
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It seemed like that might be Brandin Echols, who played in the slot with the Jets in 2024, but he said he's played outside so far with the Steelers.
Seventh-round rookie Donte Kent has gotten a look, but outside of that, it has seemed to be Bishop's position to hold onto.
One of the other options, should the Steelers add another outside corner, could be moving Darius Slay to the slot. He has played some there in the past, with a career high of 140 snaps in 2019 per Pro Football Focus.
I asked Slay about playing in the slot, and he said he'd be willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win, but it didn't sound like something that's imminent.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Five Takeaways from Steelers Minicamp Day 2: Pressure on Arthur Smith, Bishop Talking Again
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