Former Steelers OC Matt Canada Ripped: "Last Season Was An Absolute Joke"

The fan base of the Pittsburgh Steelers still has nightmares in the evenings due to former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada's two-and-a-half season stint as the team's play-caller. The organization put out one of the league's worst offenses and pretty much wasted some prime years of defenders such as TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick. The franchise made the decision to make a rare in-season firing and relieved Canada of his duties in November of 2023. The move had everyone in the Steel City ecstatic. In 2024, former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith will officially take over.

There were several players on the offensive side for the Steelers that weren't productive as they should have been based on talent. Canada's unit was consistently both predictable and awful. It will be up to Smith to restore faith in the group behind new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Other players will get a chance to prove that they are much better than Canada allowed them to be.

A key name to keep an eye on in 2024 will be tight end Pat Freiermuth. The 2021 second-round pick could ink a contract extension prior to the season kicking off, and he will have the chance to earn every penny with Smith calling the plays. He was severely underutilized in 2023, and while he had injury issues, only hauled in 32 catches for 308 yards.

Steelers inside for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo, joined The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday and discussed Freiermuth's potential while ripping into Canada and his offensive approach.

"I want to believe in Pat Freiermuth. I go back to his season with Ben Roethlisberger and how much of a red zone weapon he was. Seven touchdowns, most of those coming in the red zone. Last season was an absolute joke. There were no targets. The first game without Matt Canada, Mike Sullivan and Eddie Faulkner draw it up. Pat Freiermuth has over 100 yards in that game."

It's pretty crazy to look at it and see that 120 of Freiermuth's 308 yards in 2023 came during the first game without Canada in charge. A Week 12 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals was the tight end's best of the season.

The Steelers currently don't have a proven and dynamic receiving option outside of George Pickens. While a trade could still commence, Freiermuth might end up being one of the quarterbacks' top targets. If he can perform in the red zone like he did during his rookie season, it will be extremely advantageous for Pittsburgh inside the 20-yard line.

Canada deserves all the criticism that he received during his time in the Steel City as well as the disapprovals he has gotten after. The final year of Ben Roethlisberger's career could have had a much different ending and Head Coach Mike Tomlin should also be held accountable for keeping Canada around as long as he did.

The new regime under Smith can't be much worse and given his track record as an offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, fans should be very excited about what is to come for the unit. Freiermuth should immediately see the positive effects of having a play-caller such as Smith, compared to having Canada on the sidelines (or in the booth) calling the shots.

Steelers Setting Up To Run Smith And Wilson's Ideal Style Of Offense

Run first, play-action second. That is the formula that will lead to success for Pittsburgh's offense under Smith. Wilson was at the peak of his career when the Seattle Seahawks used the same approach while also having a stout defense. If all the right pieces fall into place, Freiermuth could have a massive season, and the Steelers' offense will no longer be looked at as a joke.

Do you think Freiermuth was the most negatively affected by Canada's offense? Let us know in the comments below!

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