The Steelers are getting weird with tight ends, to Arthur Smith's delight: Takeaways

New York Times

3 days ago

LATROBE, Pa. — When Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan was asked about the acquisition of tight end Jonnu Smith, 'flexibility' was the first word that came to mind.
'We love his flexibility,' Khan said. 'If you look at where he played last year and even when Arthur (Smith) had him a couple years ago, he lines up at receiver. He has the ability to play outside receiver, inside receiver, tight end.'
Advertisement
After the past two days of practice, you can add one more position to the list: running back.
During Wednesday's early practice walk-through period, the Steelers had 04 personnel (no running backs and four tight ends) in the huddle. When they lined up, Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward were in positions you'd expect. Jonnu Smith, the joker in this deck of cards, lined up in the backfield. Aaron Rodgers completed a pass to Smith in the flat on one of the plays. On another, he handed it to the tight end-turned-running back.
Thursday, the Steelers continued to install more 04 personnel plays, including what appeared to be a wide-zone 'zorro' toss, with Heyward paving the way as a lead blocker for Smith.
'Everybody's got a different skill set, and so we gonna feed off each other,' Smith said. 'We can come together and see how we can put ourselves in the best advantageous position on Sundays. And I think that's the fun part about it.'
Though the 04 personnel package is new for the Steelers, the way Arthur Smith is embracing the tight end position is not. He spent five formative years from 2014 to 2018 working directly with tight ends as a position coach in Tennessee and continued to feature the tight end as the offensive coordinator for the Titans and later as a play-calling head coach in Atlanta.
Last season in Smith's first year as the Steelers' offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh led the NFL in 13 personnel (one back, three tight ends) with 177 plays, according to TruMedia. Add in the 275 plays in 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends), and they utilized multiple tight ends on more than 40 percent of snaps, making Smith perhaps the NFL's most tight-end-friendly coordinator.
The Steelers leaned into this philosophy even more when they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jonnu Smith and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Pittsburgh now employs two of the NFL's 10 highest-paid tight ends on a per-year average, per Over the Cap — Freiermuth is ninth ($12.1 million per year) and Smith, who signed a one-year extension through 2026 as part of the trade, is right behind him ($12 million).
Advertisement
'So much of the game has gotten into the sub defenses,' Arthur Smith said, referring to nickel and dime packages. '(The tight end) can give you unique matchups. If teams want to go small … in theory, you should have a leg up. They went small. We are big. … If they're in sub defense, making little DBs play two-back runs or play into heavy, condensed (formations), they might misfit a gap.'
Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator said he never treats tight ends as 'apples to apples.' In a crowded room, each of the Steelers' top options gives the team a little something different.
'We've got a guy like Darnell as a 'Y' that's as good as some tackles blocking, or even in some of the protection things you want to do,' Arthur Smith said. 'Pat's a very instinctive route runner. … Pat's our unique chess piece.
'Jonnu, I've just been with him so long (in Tennessee and Atlanta). He's a unique catch-and-run guy, some of the vertical stuff. He's taken screens to the house for 60 yards. And then Connor is another unique guy.'
A player like Jonnu Smith or Washington can be a mismatch on his own, but the Steelers can take things to another level when they put multiple tight ends in the huddle and then deploy them in various ways. For example, they might have three tight ends on the field, but all split out wide. They could have four tight ends, but Heyward is in the backfield as a blocker. They can also line up one way and motion into a completely different formation.
New TE Jonnu Smith hitting the sled pic.twitter.com/TDXKg49qaz
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 30, 2025
'That's the beauty of it, is just being able to move those pieces around so it can look like 10 personnel (one back, no tight ends),' Smith said. 'It can look like 12 (one back, two tight ends), look like 13. It can look like 22 (two backs, two tight ends). To be able to do that with those chess pieces, if you got the guys that could win in the passing game and are decent enough run blockers, that just gives you way more flexibility.'
Advertisement
Somewhat along the same lines, the Steelers also showed a 'tackle-over' formation this week in which right tackle Troy Fautanu and the other offensive tackle (Calvin Anderson, filling in for Broderick Jones) aligned next to each other on the right side. Washington lined up next to the guard on the left side. With this tactic, the Steelers can create an extra gap, outnumber defenders on the front side, disguise where eligible receivers are aligned (which is especially useful against man coverage) and trick defenses by rushing to the line. It doesn't hurt that Washington is as big as a tackle and can hold up in pass protection, if needed.
Now, it's important to address that just because the Steelers want to feature the tight end in all these ways doesn't mean it's always productive. In fact, some stats suggest that every time the Steelers put an additional tight end on the field last year, they became less efficient, according to metrics from TruMedia.
Overall:
If EPA is your preferred metric, the Steelers produced a positive total EPA out of only 11 personnel (0.51), according to TruMedia. In 12 personnel, they were at -6.14, and in 13, they accumulated -54.73. Those numbers don't materially improve when isolated to first and second downs, when runs are more likely
Only three teams ran 13 personnel more than 100 times last year. The Arizona Cardinals (162 plays) were twice as efficient as the Steelers, averaging 6.0 yards per play and 4.3 yards per carry. The Chiefs, meanwhile, ran 13 personnel 110 plays, averaging 4.5 yards per play and 3.6 yards per rush.
If you're looking for reasons the Steelers' stats could improve this year, there are a couple of things to consider. Using Jonnu Smith, a Pro Bowler, as the second or third tight end instead of Heyward could make a major difference. When Heyward was on the field in 13 personnel last season, the production dipped to 2.5 yards per play and 2.4 yards per rush.
Upgrades at running back could lead to better rushing production in general. A quarterback more capable of completing intermediate passes should help tight ends. And, if the offensive coordinator does in fact tap into his tight ends' versatility to expand or condense sets — essentially making the defense wrong no matter which personnel package it sends onto the field — the efficiency could improve.
'The guys that we have in the tight end room, we have a lot of skill sets in there,' Freiermuth said. 'I think Art does a great job of getting us in looks that we want to be in. If the defense is going to play something that we don't feel comfortable matchup-wise, then we're not going to do it. But if we can get in four tight ends, three tight ends, and we have an advantage schematically, then we're going to go out there and we're going to run it.'
Advertisement
• After practicing in pads on Wednesday, the Steelers had a much lighter workout in helmets and shoulder pads Thursday. That didn't stop tempers from flaring. During one-on-one coverage drills, Smith caught a pass over safety Juan Thornhill, then spiked the ball at the DB's feet. Thornhill took exception, and the two players started wrestling. Smith ended up ripping Thornhill's helmet off. In a rematch, Thornhill got physical with Smith at the line of scrimmage, giving him no room to create separation. After the pass fell incomplete, Thornhill picked up the ball and handed it to Smith, causing more barking. 'I loved the energy and competitive spirit on display,' coach Mike Tomlin said. 'I think you can learn and develop skills while competing. I'd rather say whoa than sic 'em. This is a football team we're putting together.'
• In other one-on-one drills, Roman Wilson beat Joey Porter Jr. on a deep ball. It's been a quiet camp for Wilson to this point, making the go route one of his flashiest plays.
• The Payton Wilson-Kenneth Gainwell matchup continued. The speedy running back won on a whip route early. On another rep, Gainwell used a skip-step to gain separation. The ball from Mason Rudolph was a bit underthrown. Wilson raced to close the gap and break up the play.
• In Seven Shots, the defense won the day 4-3. During Rodgers' three reps to start the drill, the QB just missed DK Metcalf on a fade route with Darius Slay in coverage. Rodgers came right back to Metcalf on the next play, throwing a slant low where only the receiver could get it. On Rodgers' third rep, he looked for Wilson on an out route, but Slay again was in good position to force an incompletion.
• Injuries are adding up at defensive tackle. Dean Lowry, Jacob Slade and Esezi Otomewo all sustained knee injuries Wednesday and did not practice Thursday. Tomlin said they're being evaluated.
• Isaac Seuamalo was activated from the non-football injury list ahead of practice. He worked out only during individual periods. Broderick Jones, who is recovering from a groin injury, also competed only in individual drills.
(Photo of Jonnu Smith: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)