Arthur Smith's Play Action Passing Game: A Detailed Analysis

Introduction

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been known for their powerful running game for decades, but in recent years, their play-action passing game has been somewhat lacking. That all changed in 2023 when Arthur Smith was hired as the team's offensive coordinator. Smith is a disciple of the West Coast offense, which emphasizes short, quick passes and play-action. In this blog post, we'll take a detailed look at Smith's play-action passing game and how it has benefited the Steelers.

The Basics of Play Action

Play action is a type of deception in which the offense fakes a run play in order to get the defense to react. This can create open receivers downfield, as the defense is expecting the ball to be handed off to the running back. Play action can be used in a variety of ways, but it is most commonly used on first and second down.

Smith's Play Action Passing Game

Smith's play-action passing game is based on the West Coast offense, which emphasizes short, quick passes. This type of passing game is designed to keep the defense off balance and create open receivers. Smith also uses a variety of different formations and motions to confuse the defense and create mismatches. Overall, Smith's play-action passing game is a well-oiled machine that has been very effective for the Steelers.

The Benefits of Play Action

There are a number of benefits to using play action, including:

• It can create open receivers. When the defense is expecting a run play, they are less likely to be prepared for a pass. This can create open receivers downfield, as the defense is not expecting the ball to be thrown.
• It can keep the defense off balance. Play action can be used to keep the defense guessing, as they never know when the ball is going to be handed off or thrown. This can make it difficult for the defense to adjust and react to the offense's play calls.
• It can create big plays. Play action can be used to create big plays, as it can get the defense to overcommit to the run. This can leave receivers open downfield for big gains.

Conclusion

Arthur Smith's play-action passing game has been a major factor in the Steelers' success in recent years. Smith's offense is designed to keep the defense off balance and create open receivers, and his play-action passing game is a key part of that. The Steelers are one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL, and Smith's play-action passing game is a big reason why.