The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has not been very good in 2023. Matt Canada has been ripped for having a simplistic scheme and as a lousy play-caller. Pittsburgh’s inept offense and schemes under Canada are so bad that Kenny Pickett is quickly becoming a target for pundits as a substandard NFL quarterback. The “Fire Canada” chants during Halloween trick-or-treating in Idaho may have jumped the shark and caused the media to look upon the Steelers offensive coordinator a little more favorably.
Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
Steelers' Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett share a moment on the bench against the Tennessee Titans in a 20-16 victory.
Pickett brought some of this on himself with below-average play in 2023. He seems to have regressed in every area except for the ice levels in his veins in the fourth quarter. On Thursday, Joe Starkey, during The Cook & Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan, after a mild defense of Pickett, said the words that Steelers fans should fear the most.
“Here’s a take for you. Are you guys sitting down for this,” Starkey asked. “If I had to bet right now, I would say that Matt Canada is coming back next year.
“I think I would agree with you,” Ron Cook said.
What in the wide world of sports is going on with this assertion by Starkey? The Steelers offensive coordinator has gotten a brief reprieve with his performance in Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, but a pardon? Few things would enrage Steeler Nation more than a Canada extension. Very few things, the zombie apocalypse arriving or the Cleveland Browns winning the Super Bowl, are the only ones that come to mind. The zombie Browns will be a formidable team post-apocalypse. After all, they have had over 50 years of practice.
“I just get that vibe,” Starkey continued. “I feel like things are going to improve enough where we’re living in that Steeler World. Whether it’s the head coach, the current plight of the quarterback, the coordinator, I think we will get to this point where it’s just good enough. Where it’s hard to make any change or put any real heat on people.”
Steelers' Retention Of Matt Canada Is A Dangerous Bet
The horror of this observation is that it has a ring of truth. The Steelers, Mike Tomlin, and Art Rooney II retained Canada under the guise of continuity. If Pittsburgh’s offense starts scoring 24 points consistently during the second half of the 2023 season, Starkey may have a point (yipe). Pittsburgh prides itself on not firing coaches and hovering around .500, lately.
“They go 10-7, the offense starts to get a little bit better, they make the playoffs,” Starkey explains the possible scenario a mailbag contributor suggested. “Maybe they even lose a close playoff game instead of getting blown out again. I don’t know, man. I just think that Tomlin is married to this guy. Unless Art steps in, which could obviously happen, I think he’s coming back right now if I had to bet.”
The scenario Starkey is describing might be the worst situation a fan of the black and gold could find themselves in at the end of the season. Steeler Nation would love to see the team make the playoffs and, with a little luck, win the AFC North. Six to seven wins are possible in the second half of 2023. However, if Starkey is correct, that success would come with a possibly longer commitment to the current coordinator.
-544x306.jpg "Pittsburgh Steelers Matt Canada")
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Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada benefited from a late-season offensive turnaround.
Ron Cook has covered the Steelers for almost 30 years and is Starkey's broadcast partner on the daily program. After pondering the comments and the reasoning, he was inclined to agree with his partner.
"They're five and three, and the offense showed some signs last week. At least they scored on the first drive," Cook agreed. "They ran the h*** out of the ball. I would think if it keeps going like this, little incremental progress, they make the playoffs, I would think he could be back."
One opening drive touchdown and a poor performance by Pickett are being spun as potentially a first step towards enough improvement to retain Canada. If the Steelers defy the fan base, which they are not afraid to do, and keep the worst offensive coordinator in the NFL, it could be a harbinger of things to come. It will at least be a fascinating window into the inner workings of the franchise.
AP Photo
Steelers Team President Art Rooney II and Head Coach Mike Tomlin oversee practice during the 2021 minicamp in Pittsburgh.
If Canada returns and the Steelers season finishes without a playoff win, Tomlin should not be extended. If he has chosen to die on the hill of the man who gave his son a scholarship to play football despite being brazenly incompetent, Omar Khan and Rooney can't go along with business as usual. The Steelers front office has to act.
The Steelers head coach's contract expires after the 2024 season. Tomlin's continued employment should immediately be tied to at least one playoff victory if he insists on keeping the current coaching staff intact. As fans, we hope it will work out, but enough is enough if this scenario unfolds. It may be the final straw that signals it is time for Tomlin to take his ball and go home.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is this meaningless speculation, or is there a morsel of truth in this prediction? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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