The Pittsburgh Steelers have improved offensively every week in 2023. Against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, they were truly awful. In Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, the offense managed 13 of the Steelers' 26 points and played poorly, except for a lightning bolt 71-yard touchdown by George Pickens. In Week 3, the Steelers offense struggled against the Las Vegas Raiders, but managed to score all 23 points in the victory that put them on top of the AFC North.
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Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada and quarterback Kenny Pickett are as far from a perfect match as you can get in 2023.
The popular Jersey Jerry and Kevin Adams' Steel Here podcast aired another episode Wednesday night. After discussing Kenny Pickett in depth with the foremost Pickett analyst on the planet, Andrew Fillipponi, the trio turned their attention to the Steelers offense. Specifically, Matt Canada and the lack of said offense.
“Even though Sunday night was his [Canada] best game that we’ve had this season from a play-calling standpoint, it was still not a great game that he called,” Adams observed. “He still ran, like Poni [Andrew Fillipponi] said, the dumb Connor Heyward draw on third and one. Instead of just sticking your head down and doing what the Eagles do. I don’t know why they don’t run that play. It’s nearly indefensible. Stick your head down, get the first down.”
Canada is the epitome of the old John McKay line about his hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they were in the midst of a 26-game losing streak to start their existence. A reporter asked Mckay how he thought his team was playing amid the losing streak.
“Well, we didn’t block, but we offset that by not tackling,” McKay quipped.
Steelers' Ramon Foster Is Disgusted At Matt Canada's Failure To Take Responsibility
Mercifully, the Steelers did not resort to a jet sweep on short yardage on Sunday Night Football. It isn’t the lousy scheme that annoys fans the most. It is the mind-numbingly dumb play calls at the worst possible time. Former Steelers guard Ramon Foster has recently attested to that.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Former Steelers OG Ramon Foster, now hosts a podcast on DK Pittsburgh Sports.
"That’s where it is so frustrating for me and Jerry,” Adams continued. “It’s so hard to evaluate what Kenny is right now. I don’t know if it’s Kenny or Canada, and that’s a problem. That’s what we didn’t know last year. At what point are we gonna see a better offensive output?”
Analysts and commentators have laid the blame at the feet of the Steelers offensive coordinator. Jersey Jerry suggested an alternate theory about the Steelers offense.
“The Steelers just don’t have the roster to really do that,” Jersey Jerry posited to an incredulous Adams. “I don’t think they have the roster to do that. You’re wrong. Eagles, go through their roster. AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert. I thought they were going to be a good offense. I still didn’t think they were going to be a 30-point offense. I think offensively, they are pretty weak.”
Fillipponi and Adams were much less critical of the talent on the offensive side of the ball, while rebutting Jersey Jerry’s points. The offensive line was the only part of the offense they were willing to suggest was substandard. The host of The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller eventually chimed in and asked about the Miami Dolphins' massive 70-point performance without the services of Jaylen Waddle.
“They also have one of the best offensive gurus in the whole world,” Jersey Jerry replied.
“That gets back to the coaching thing,” Fillipponi laughed.
The back and forth between Fillipponi, Adams, and Jersey Jerry was good-natured, and a knowing smile that he was cornered crept across his face. The Steelers have Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, and the running back tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Even with Johnson out for at least two more weeks, weapons are not the problem.
Steel Here Podcast
Steelers podcaster Jersey Jerry lets a knowing smile creep across his face as he corners himself on a key point.
Pickett and many Canada co-dependent players on the Steelers offense cite execution every week. They have to execute better. Pickett especially has been frank that his performance needs to improve. Canada preaches about the offensive execution needing to continue to improve.
What would improve the Steelers offense is if Mike Tomlin would channel Coach Mckay’s famous line about his team’s execution and apply it in 2023. When asked what he thought about his team’s execution amid a 26-game losing streak, he simply replied, “I’m in favor of it.”
Steelers fans don’t need to commission a Nate Silvers poll from FiveThirtyEight to answer their thoughts on applying the famous statement to Canada’s continued employment. Tomlin should not wait for the results of one either. Otherwise, he might find himself as the subject of the next poll for creating the situation in the first place.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you agree with the roster being the issue, or is it simply the worst offensive coordinator in Steelers history? Please comment below, or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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