In 2020, when the Pittsburgh Steelers hired former LSU and Maryland offensive coordinator Matt Canada, many Black and Gold fans hoped that this brought a new dawn for life post-Big Ben.
However, it never worked out. Canada became predictable in his play-calling and he never put his weapons or his quarterbacks in advantageous positions. Despite this, the jury is out as to whether all the blame is on Matt or his first round quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Canada was known for spread out formations, pre-snap motions and invention in the running game. His most successful year in college was the 2016 Pittsburgh Panthers where they scored, on average, 42 points per game spearheaded by future Buffalo Bills draft pick Nathan Peterman at quarterback and future Steelers running back James Conner.
He had a couple of shaky seasons at LSU and Maryland (including a stint as temporary head coach with Maryland) before being hired as quarterbacks coach with the Steelers in the coronavirus-hit 2020 season. It was Ben Roethlisberger’s first season back after having elbow surgery during the 2019 season. Canada and OC Randy Fichtner utilised his lessened arm strength into a quick passing offense. It caught teams by surprise early on but teams soon adapted and shut it down with Ben not having the arm strength to sit in the pocket and throw deep or the running game to keep balanced.
Fichtner was fired after a disappointing playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns in the playoffs in which the Steelers fell behind by multiple scores early on and never recovered. Canada then took on the OC role for what would be Big Ben’s final year.
Off the back of a solid pass defense and steady game-managing from their retiring future hall-of-fame passer, the Steelers struggled over the line to 9-7-1 and a playoff berth against the Kansas City Chiefs. Canada’s unit ranked 24th overall but there was cause for optimism in the upcoming draft where the team would target their future franchise quarterback.
At 20th overall, Kenny Pickett became Ben Roethlisberger’s successor under center. In the second and fourth rounds, two key weapons were chosen. Physical Georgia wideout George Pickens and speedy deep threat Calvin Austin III.
A new dawn in the Steel City created cause for optimism and Kenny played impressively down the stretch with wins versus Baltimore, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Cleveland, New Orleans and Carolina. He finished with 2400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Steelers ranked 28th in total offense but showed improvement down the stretch, especially Kenny.
This season started with optimism, especially after a very impressive pre-season by Canada’s unit. They soon hit a roadblock in one of the best teams in the league in the San Francisco 49ers, and they never really recovered offensively. Kenny struggled all year behind a porous offensive line and weapons that were under-utilised and, bar Diontae Johnson, couldn’t get open. They only scored more than 25 points once, and that was a game against the Browns where the defense scored two touchdowns, a pick six from edge rusher Alex Highsmith and a scoop and score from TJ Watt.
A big issue with Canada’s plays has been not utilising his weapons and putting them in advantageous positions. In the modern NFL, motions are heavily used during the snap, especially in West Coast systems, of which the Steelers system is heavily influenced by. The Steelers, per Brett Kollmann, are bottom of the league in motions during the snap and this allows defenses to set against the formation and gives them the upper hand against static offenses.
Infamously, they also rarely utilise the middle of the field, which often gives Kenny impossible reads outside in enclosed windows.
In recent weeks, since Canada moved from the booth to on the sideline, they have also changed from a zone run scheme to a traditional man scheme, and have found success with undrafted back Jaylen Warren who hits gaps hard and can outrun second level defenders unlike the starter Najee Harris. Warren has averaged nine yards per carry over the last three games but the passing game has still shown a lot of issues with Pickett looking indecisive and inaccurate. They also have potentially found a gem in this year’s first round draft pick, tackle Broderick Jones. He has replaced Chuckwuma Okorafor since the bye week and has slotted in seamlessly at right tackle, posing a dangerous threat in the run game and flashing potential in pass protection.
Time will only tell whether the blame falls all on Matt Canada or whether Kenny has to shoulder some of it. However, something had to change and, more often than not, the coach goes before the young quarterback. The Steelers face Cincinnati in a must-win game away from home in which the new co-OCs Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan hope to create a much needed spark in the push for a playoff spot.
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