Three teams from the prestigious AFC North competed for a spot in the Super Bowl, but none of them advanced. The Baltimore Ravens led the NFL with 13 wins, while the Cleveland Browns made the playoffs despite numerous injuries.
The Pittsburgh Steelers remained a stable organization despite an offense that was borderline terrible under Matt Canada and was not significantly improved after the offensive coordinator was fired.
Despite a terrible offense, Pittsburgh won 10 games and advanced to the playoffs.
The Steelers hope that Arthur Smith will help them have an offensive that matches the rest of the team in 2024.
Despite investing in the offensive line and skilled weapons, Pittsburgh averaged only 17.9 points per game last season (tied for fifth worst in the NFL). Despite a top-12 running assault, the squad struggled to average 300 yards per game on offense.
Smith’s Atlanta Falcons had a top-10 rushing offense but, like the Steelers, struggled to throw the ball, averaging slightly more than 200 yards per game in 2023. Smith’s failure to establish a passing game was one of the reasons he was ousted as Falcons head coach.
Smith’s units as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and 2020 were in the bottom half of the league in passing but top three on the ground, thanks to RB Derrick Henry.
With Pittsburgh, Smith may not see an upgrade as quarterback. Kenny Pickett, a first-round choice, has been below-average, Mitch Trubisky has not improved, and Mason Rudolph performed well at the conclusion of the season but has a limited ceiling. The Steelers do not have a high draft pick to select a top-tier quarterback, and they are now $20 million over the salary cap.
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Bills radio host says Ken Dorsey shouldn’t call plays for the Browns.
Kevin Stefanski has a new assistant to help run the Cleveland Browns offense.
Ken Dorsey replaces Alex Van Pelt, who left the Buffalo Bills prematurely in 2023.
Dorsey’s impact and role have been discussed and predicted extensively on social media and podcasts.
However, an NFL analyst familiar with the former Bills’ coordinator believes one Browns duty should not change.
Nate Geary, Bills radio presenter, stated the BIGPLAY Cleveland Show that Ken Dorsey should not call the plays this season (via Twitter).
Geary believes the Browns’ new offensive coordinator can learn a lot by watching Stefanski run games.
He admits that Dorsey’s fingerprints will be all over the offense.
Dorsey will be in charge of implementing the game plan over the week, but Stefanski should handle the play-calling.
Buffalo fired Dorsey during the season, when the team was struggling and finished 5-5.
Quarterback Josh Allen led the league in turnovers at the time, and it was believed that Dorsey had asked him to do too much.
To be fair, Allen led the NFL in touchdowns when the coach was let go.
Buffalo won six of their previous seven games, justifying the change in coordinators.
That’s despite the offense generating comparable stats, averaging only 0.8 more points per game down the stretch.
Dorsey’s lack of use of the running game would also raise some concerns in Cleveland.
And it gives validity to Stefanski’s determination to continue calling the plays every weekend.
