Aaron Rodgers-Arthur Smith Combo Poised to be a Perfect Match
Aaron Rodgers-Arthur Smith Combo Poised to be a Perfect Match originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't won a playoff game since January 2017, but Aaron Rodgers is looking to change that.
Advertisement
The four-time MVP winner has made a career of completing impressive throws at a routine rate. Whether it be on the run, with a defender in his face, or with a unique arm angle, Rodgers' arm is still dangerous, even at age 41.
He threw for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the New York Jets last season. Although throwing to star wide receivers Davante Adams and Garret Wilson played a huge role in that production, he might be able to do something similar in a much different offense.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith brings a run-heavy style, prioritizing a physical offense with a strong ground game. It sets up opportunities for play-action and bootleg schemes, emphasizing big passing plays.
Misdirection, tight end engagement, and quarterback reads are key components of his system, which enable him to exploit defenses who are looking to stop the run.
Advertisement
According to Steelers analyst Derrick Bell, Arthur Smith's offense ran the sixth most designed bootleg plays in 2024, something Rodgers excelled at, throwing for 283 yards and four touchdowns on those concepts.
Rodgers' elite accuracy and quick decision-making should make for a strong connection under this scheme. His ability to read defenses and extend plays with strong pocket movement complements Smith's approach.
The Steelers playmakers might not be as potent as New York's last year, but throwing to DK Metcalf and relying on Jaylen Warren and rookie Kaleb Johnson in the run game are great options to have.
Advertisement
It's a massive season for the Steelers, and the duo of Rodgers and Smith could potentially give Pittsburgh their best offense in multiple seasons.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
30 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Nina Kuscsik, pioneer in long-distance running and first woman to win the Boston Marathon, has died
BOSTON (AP) — Nina Kuscsik, who campaigned for women's inclusion in long-distance running and then won the Boston Marathon the first year that they were officially allowed to enter into the race, has died. She was 86. An obituary for the A.L. Jacobsen Funeral Home in Huntington Station, New York, said Kuscsik died June 8 of respiratory failure after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. 'Nina was more than a pioneer, determined women's running advocate, and celebrated icon within the sport. To us, she was a friend who will always be remembered for her kindness, joyful laugh and smile,' the Boston Athletic Association said on Instagram. 'Nina held the distinct honor of winning the 1972 Boston Marathon, and recognized the platform that came with that triumphant moment, inspiring thousands of women to reach their own goals and finish lines in the decades since. The BAA extends heartfelt condolences to Nina's family, friends, and all in the running community who were touched by her grace.' According to the obituary, Kuscsik graduated from high school at 16, studied nursing for two years and received her license at 18 after petitioning to change a New York law that required nurses to be 21. She won state championships in speed skating, roller skating and cycling – all in the same year -- before turning to running when her bicycle broke. She ran the Boston Marathon four times from 1968-71 — before women were officially welcomed, a period retroactively recognized as the Pioneer Era — and then won the first official women's race in 1972. She was also the first woman to enter the New York race, in 1970, and was one of the 'Six who Sat' – six women who refused to start the '72 New York City Marathon for 10 minutes to protest an Amateur Athletic Union rule that the women's race had to be separate from the men's. She won that year and the next year as well. She later served on AAU and USA Track and Field committees drafting rules for women's running. Kathrine Switzer, who entered the 1971 Boston Marathon using her initials and became the first woman to official compete, called Kuscsik 'one of our greatest leaders.' 'Nina was not only a champion runner, but was instrumental in the official acceptance of women and distance running because she did years of tough work of changing rules, regulations and submitting medical evidence to prove women's capability,' said Switzer, who started alongside Kuscsik and six other women who met the qualifying time for the the 1972 Boston race. 'Eight of us registered, eight of us showed up, and all eight of us finished,' she said. 'It was a stunning moment — and a blistering hot day — but appropriately enough, Nina won.' In addition to the more than 80 marathons she ran over her lifetime, Kuscsik set the American record for the 50-mile run in 1977 and won the Empire State Building Run-Up three straight years from 1979–81. She was inducted into the Long Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1999. ___ AP sports:
USA Today
36 minutes ago
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Walter Nolen already learning veteran health habits
Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Walter Nolen already learning veteran health habits The Cardinals' first-round pick hasn't been around the veterans long but is already doing veteran things for his health Defensive lineman Walter Nolen, the Arizona Cardinals' first-round pick of the 2025 NFL, is only 21 years old and is the youngest player in a defensive line room full of veterans — newcomers Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell and returners Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols. Nolen has only been in the building with the veterans for a few weeks and they haven't practiced in pads yet, and only one week of the offseason was mandatory for the veterans, but Nolen is already soaking in veteran knowledge, although it isn't as much about what is happening on the field as it is about what he does off of it. What has he learned from the guys like Campbell and Tomlinson? "Really just how to take care of your body," he told reporters on Monday. "That's your money maker, so just make sure your body is prepared every day to handle what's going on." He has even started doing things like old guys do. One way is focusing on his nutrition. "I never really focused on the eating part of it," he explained. "So, they say you're supposed to have two fists of color (when you eat). So, I get some broccoli or some fruit or something every day. So, I just going to keep that going and see what it takes me to." He is also doing more to care of his body, doing "some of the things like they do inside the building," nothing he is usually "one of the first people in the building." "I started going extra cold tub time and, getting in the sun every day and "Usually I'm one of the first people in the building, but uh, really just some of the things like they do inside the building. I done start doing like the extra cold tub time and you know, um, just getting in the sun every day and staying in the training room." The extra attention to his body will hopefully prepare him for the long NFL season and help him avoid injuries, as the Cardinals have had issues with injuries on the defensive line for many seasons. And by using old veteran habits as a youngster, he is preparing himself for a long, successful NFL career. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Way-too-early fantasy football mock draft
Way-too-early fantasy football mock draft This is the USA TODAY Sports NFL newsletter, 4th and Monday. If this newsletter isn't already getting conveniently delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe. USA TODAY Sports is now on Bluesky! Give us a follow for more of our NFL content. 🚨 Before we dig into SERIOUS FOOTBALL STUFF, please spare a moment of your time to take our reader survey. Tell us what you think. We want to hear from you! 🚨 It's mid-June and OTAs and minicamps are coming to a close as teams will head into a break before training camps open in more than a month. So what better time than now to answer some VERY IMPORTANT fantasy football questions? It's never too early to devise a plan for fantasy football domination. Right? 🤷🏼 It's not! Here are some things to seriously consider .... Who should be the No. 1 overall pick? Who's the top wide receiver? Which quarterback will be the first to come off the board, and where should he be picked? Where might rookie Ashton Jeanty get picked? How about Travis Hunter? Is new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers even draftable? A team of 10 carefully selected USA TODAY Sports experts conducted a mock draft, providing some very early clues for fantasy football success this fall. Hot reads 🎯 🏈 Worst to first? Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranks the eight teams' chances to jump to the top of their respective divisions in 2025. 🔮 🏈 The UFL held its 2025 championship game this weekend in St. Louis. The DC Defenders steamrolled the Michigan Panthers en route to a 59-34 win. The league experienced attendance and TV ratings declines this season, so what is next for this latest attempt at pro football in the spring? 🏈 A player moving on from a disappointing, season-ending performance is a classic minicamp/OTA trope. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is the latest player to try to turn the page, in his case from a four-interception meltdown in a wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans. 🏈 If you're of the mindset that Shedeur Sanders landed in the right spot, you might be right. Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has a history of success with quarterbacks. 🏈 It's a Cincinnati Bengals tradition unlike any other: The team has yet another disgruntled player. 😡 🏈 "This brotha had muscles in his breath": Bo Jackson tells a story you need to hear. 💪🏾 8️⃣0️⃣ days until kickoff of 2025 NFL season ⏳ Yes, we're counting! There are 80 days until the 2025 NFL season opens with the Kickoff Game between the Dallas Cowboys and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. Today, we're going to rank players from the '80s who wore No. 80: NFL classics: Straight from the YouTube algorithm 🏈🎞️ This is where we reprise some NFL lore and recall classic, memorable moments from yesteryear. We're going to stick to the 1980s, which was quite the decade in pro football ... Joe Montana led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories. Let's name some quarterbacks who played in the '80s: John Elway, Dan Marino, Dan Fouts, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon, Joe Theismann, Phil Simms, Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, "The Punky QB" Jim McMahon, Lynn Dickey. Let's name some running backs who played in the '80s: Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, John Riggins, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Billy Sims, Curt Warner, Gerald Riggs. Let's name some defensive stars who played in the '80s: Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Mike Singletary, Ronnie Lott, Howie Long, Kenny Easley, Mike Haynes, Joey Browner, Andre Tippett, Dave Butz. The '85 Bears won Super Bowl 20 after releasing "The Super Bowl Shuffle." It was arguably the last time the Raiders were really truly relevant. Barefoot kickers roamed the gridiron. It was the best uniform era in pro football history, IMHO. Last, but certainly not least, the athletic powerhouse that was Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson was a sporting sensation. If you enjoy reading 4th and Monday 📰, encourage your football fan friends to subscribe 📱. Follow the delightfully diabolical writer of this newsletter on social media @jimreineking.
