Steelers OC Matt Canada Continues To Offer Minimal Answers For Incompetent Offense After First 4 Weeks

It's been more of the same for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense through four weeks of the 2023 season. Between the play-calling and lack of execution, there hasn't been one particular person to blame. For fans, Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada has been the main scapegoat. Ultimately, it's fair given the fact that Canada has had one of the worst offenses in the NFL for three consecutive seasons now.

Stability. It seems to be the main (only) reason that the Steelers brought back Canada for a third season. They wanted to provide a stable, consistent environment for quarterback Kenny Pickett, who has scuffled in his own right in 2023. When speaking to the media on Thursday, it was more of the same answers from Canada. Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review provided audio of Canada addressing the offense's ongoing struggles.

"We gotta get production. It's a bottom line business. Players are saying a lot [defending the coaching], that's great. Ultimately, we've got to score more points. We've lost two games, one scored seven, one scored six. That's not good enough, we all know that. It's gotta get better."

If you haven't been following along, well, this is what Canada's answers typically sound like. Things don't get easier for this Steelers offense, as they face the Baltimore Ravens just before the Week 6 bye. Sitting at 2-2, it feels like this is a true make-or-break point in the season. In the team's blowout loss to the Houston Texans, we saw a lot of those same old habits creep back in on both sides of the ball. 

The offense put up just six points in Week 4, as each of their above-average drives on the day ended in a disappointing field goal. That all but halted any momentum toward making a legitimate comeback in Houston. There was one play in particular that drew a ton of criticism, as the Steelers threw the ball from shotgun on a 4th-and-1 in the third quarter. Canada addressed that particular play with a minimal response.

"It was just a play we had at the time and you know, obviously didn't get the result that we wanted."

Retired NFL star JJ Watt was in attendance for the Week 4 matchup and even he was disgusted with the play call. Several former players have spoken out against the team's performances this season, particularly in Week 4, including Ben Roethlisberger, Ramon Foster, and Ryan Clark. Foster and Clark have been open about the incompetencies of the team's offensive coordinator. Along with everyone else, Roethlisberger "hated" the heavily criticized play call on 4th-and-1.

Will The Steelers Finally Move On From Canada In Week 6?

With the bye week coming up, it will be interesting to see if the Steelers are too stubborn to still change their ways. We saw a new, modernized approach this offseason from the front office, led by General Manager Omar Khan. Unfortunately, the team opted to hold onto Canada, which is already turning out to bite them this season. The Steelers never fire coaches in the middle of a regular season, but this situation has gotten too ugly to ignore.

If the team is to do it at all though, it would have to be during the Week 6 bye. Pittsburgh would likely promote from within for the temporary OC spot, likely either Mike Sullivan or a guy like Glenn Thomas. Regardless, it would give them time to prepare with their new guy. At this point, it's clear that Canada isn't the man for the position. 

What are your thoughts on these minimal responses from Canada? If the team does move on from Canada during the bye, who should they hire as the interim offensive coordinator? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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