Through the first two games of the 2023 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense is underperforming to a disturbing degree — especially after a preseason in which offensive coordinator Matt Canada and quarterback Kenny Pickett seemed to be on the same page regarding the creation of explosives plays.
Well… don’t look NOW, because this offense is really, really bad. Pittsburgh ranks dead last in Offensive DVOA. The Steelers’ Passing EPA of -30.99 is also the league’s worst. They rank 27th in Net Yards per Attempt. And Pickett has attempted six passes of 20 or more yards… completing just one for 23 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 3.5.
Suboptimal, to say the least. Canada has been a convenient scapegoat, but head coach Mike Tomlin said this week that there will be no changes to the coaching staff… but there was a warning in his words.
“We’ve got to put them in really good circumstances,” Tomlin said about the broken offense. “They have to recognize those circumstances and perform. And so, you can say it in a small number of words, but really, it’s a procedure. It’s a procedure that transpires over the course of six days. It’s planning from a coaching perspective. It’s teaching and learning from a player and coach perspective in a classroom setting, walkthrough setting. There’s an execution component of it, it’s played out in reps in practice, you have a limited number of those.
“And so, you better be thoughtful and intentional about how you utilize them, not only what you’re run, but the schematics that you’re presenting to them on the other side and their ability to absorb it and learn and understand and gain confidence and thus individually and collectively play fast and fluid and make the type of splash plays that we’re talking about. And so, you can say it in a small number of words but it’s a procedure that’s played out over the course of a week or so. It has many layers to it and I’m excited about getting back to work this week.”
On Sunday, it was revealed that there is a new plan in place.
Sources: The #Steelers are moving
OC Matt Canada to a more prominent role working with QB Kenny Pickett.Canada will continue calling plays, but will also be working directly with Pickett on a daily basis.
The 51-year-old was hired in 2020 as QBs coach, and then promoted to… pic.twitter.com/5eWIQI4T6P
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 24, 2023
Needless to say, Steelers observers were NOT happy about this development.
Matt Canada on the “Fire Canada” chants at Acrisure on Monday: “There’s nothing wrong with their passion.” pic.twitter.com/pRgrufjkQR
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) September 21, 2023
@SharpFootball says 1/23 drives from PIT's own territory resulted in points 🫣
Are the inmates running the asylum? pic.twitter.com/3akuojEPBX
— Kirsten Tanis (@kct2020) September 24, 2023
Yes. Working with Kenny more. That’s going to help.
Much better strategy than employing an OC that can call plays anywhere near as well as 31 other OCs in the National Football League on their worst days pic.twitter.com/CLkHmzw9Lb
— Kirsten Tanis (@kct2020) September 24, 2023
— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) September 24, 2023
— Billy Hartford (@BudDupreeFan) September 24, 2023
Nooooooooooooooo… pic.twitter.com/xj08Rg8YY4
— Jason Thomas (@DHH_Skinman) September 24, 2023
— dp (@drewpalmer278) September 24, 2023
Do they say this stuff just to provoke me?
— Natalie Verardi (@NattieVThatsMe) September 24, 2023
*Jet sweep intensifies* https://t.co/WA86xqJefK
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 24, 2023
Idk if more responsibility is the route I’d take here but sure man https://t.co/fiIWTb3BwW
— JP Acosta (Pug Dederson Stan Acct) (@acosta32_jp) September 24, 2023
this is going to be a Seinfeld bit where they promote someone to such a high position that he ends up doing nothing but kissing babies and looking important https://t.co/g55Ki3VntL
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 24, 2023
The beatings will continue until morale improves https://t.co/Zuvvkc26bm
— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) September 24, 2023
I think it was Lawrence J Peter who first came up with the theory that the best way to get someone you can't fire to stop cocking up the job is to keep promoting them till they can't hurt anyone anymore https://t.co/XV2Uhxz1xx
— Shiv Ramdas Official Boye Mafia Spokesman (@nameshiv) September 24, 2023
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) September 24, 2023
What in the hell did Kenny do to deserve that https://t.co/Rc3znEMXMv
— Jane Coaston (@janecoaston) September 24, 2023
What exactly is a "more prominent role" for an offensive coach than…offensive coordinator?
Wouldn't the OC have previously been "working directly" with the effing QB on a daily basis? https://t.co/ZumF7ob69V
— Luke Easterling (@LukeEasterling) September 24, 2023
😂😂😂
🗣🗣 YES @ToneDigz, @nickmaraldo, @everysteelersfan… This might be the solution https://t.co/75B6e6TTM7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 24, 2023
Mike Tomlin trying to figure out what's wrong with the offense: https://t.co/Wmr4IGFpej pic.twitter.com/SLDb99Xg3m
— Nate Geary (@NateGearySports) September 24, 2023
