This is probably the biggest fear for Pittsburgh Steelers fans: Matt Canada.
The last two years, the only thing Steelers fans have pointed to in the "down years" is him. Are we maybe too spoiled seeing as our down year is a 9-8 season with a rookie QB? Today, I'll be going over the pros and cons of the Steelers offense and why Canada actually might be the Steelers OC for years to come.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett. | Photo credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers: The Good
Listen, I know yinz aren't very fond of the phrase Matt Canada, Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator. But, let me explain how he could turn into a Super Bowl-winning OC. Under Matt Canada's guidance as the Steelers QB coach, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was able to have one of his best seasons in his 18-year career with 33 TD passes and 3,800 yards in 15 games, (the 33 TD passes is the second highest of his career).
Before we completely bash Canada everywhere, let's look at some of the facts. He was thrown into some pretty tough situations. He had to deal with an aging Roethlisberger and a young, thrown-together, offensive line. In this past 2022 NFL season, he was given Mitch Trubisky as his day 1 starter and a running game that couldn't seem to get anything going in the first half of the season. Everyone quickly rushed to Canada after their 2-6 start, me included. Coming out of the bye week, the Steelers went 7-2 down the stretch, finishing their season 9-8, just missing the playoffs.
I know Pittsburgh fans were not happy with the season whatsoever, but after it was all said and done, I was able to look back at all the great things Canada and the offense accomplished towards the end of the year. The offense ended up finishing 3rd in rushing yards in the second half of the season. Canada's 3rd and 4th short-yardage plays were among the league's best using QB sneaks, FB dives, and jet sweeps to keep drives alive; putting the Steelers 3rd down conversion rate 7th in the league. I think Canada and the Steelers have something really good going in the run game with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren being a great 1-2 punch.
Steelers running back Najee Harris (#22) getting ready to catch a ball during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA |
Steelers: The Bad
We all heard the news from Pat Freiermuth, via the Footbahlin' with Ben Roethlisberger podcast. Canada did not have any checks or hot routes in his offense at all in the 2022 Steelers offense. Now as bad as that sounds, I don't view it as something shocking or that serious. The Steelers offense had zero identity at all last season with a rookie quarterback at the helm and the seasoned vet on the offense being a first-year QB with the team in Trubisky and a WR who just came off his rookie contract in Diontae Johnson.
The passing game of the Steelers is elementary to say the least. They finished the 2022 NFL season with a league-low 12 passing TD's. The offense won't stay like this. Week in and week out, we went through the tape and saw wide-open receivers running downfield, we saw running backs missing holes and we saw play-makers dropping passes. Is Canada at fault for lack of execution?
This will be Canada's and his young offense's first off-season together. We always talk about players making big jumps year to year, who's to say a coach can't grow alongside his players?
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, George Pickens. | Photo credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers: The Ugly?
Matt Canada's only problem in 2023 will be trying to keep all his play-makers happy. Johnson had a total of 0 total touchdowns last season. In Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns, we all saw Kenny Pickett desperately trying to get Johnson the ball in the end zone on their final game of the season. This isn't what you want from a receiver you just paid $18 million a year for. George Pickens is an up and coming superstar. He led all rookies in contested catches and was top 5 in catches 20+ yards downfield in his first year! Freiermuth ranked 6th among tight ends in total yards and Harris with yet another 1,000 rushing season ( a lot to handle). That being said, discovering this offense's identity will be crucial heading into the 2023 season, which will solely be up to Canada and Pickett's offense.
Will both Pickett and Canada improve in 2023? Let me know what y'all think in the comments down below.
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