Matt

Canada

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Week 11’s 13-10 loss to the Browns was the final straw for Canada, who took over as offensive coordinator in 2021 and never had an offense finish better than 21st in points per game (20.2). The Steelers are 6-4 on the season and boast a defense that’s allowing the seventh fewest points per game (19.5), Canada’s offense currently ranks 28th in points and yards per game and has been held to 10 points or fewer in four games. The development of quarterback Kenny Pickett has been close to non-existent, as Pickett ranks 32nd among 39 QBs (min. 400 plays) in EPA per play since entering the league last season. The Steelers currently rank 31st in passing yards per game (170.0). While Pickett’s struggles don’t fall solely at the feet of Canada, his dismissal was the obvious first step in trying to right the ship. With seven games left to go and the playoffs still in sight, head coach Mike Tomlin is expected to name running backs coach Eddie Faulkner as offensive coordinator, while quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan handles play-calling duties, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The Steelers “new-look” offense will make its debut in Week 12 against the Bengals.

It sounds like Schultz will be taking on some of the quarterback coach’s duties in addition to his offensive coordinator gig. Per Schultz, Canada will continue to call plays. Canada has been bemoaned by fans for his stagnant offense, so this may not be the news Steelers backers were hoping to read this morning. On the bright side, things can’t get worse for Pickett right now. He ranks last in the NFL in EPA per dropback and is averaging 4.7 adjusted yards per pass attempt. Something clearly needs to change in Pittsburgh, though putting more on Canada’s plate may not be the answer.

Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, this was confirmed by Steelers’ spokesperson Burt Lauten, so the news is official. The Steelers’ offense has struggled over the past two seasons, ranking outside the top 20 teams by points scored in consecutive years. However, Ben Roethlisberger was the team’s starter in 2021 while Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett split the starting reps this year. Canada will get one more chance to right the ship in 2023, though it’s fair to say he will be on a short leash.

Dulac notes that Canada’s status for 2023 “was never really in doubt after the offense continued to show signs of improvement late in the season.” He added that Canada has one more year on his contract. Generally looking unexplosive and lacking creativity, Pittsburgh’s offense has struggled mightily in the past two years. The Steelers have ranked outside the top 20 teams in points per game in each of the past two seasons. The team appears to be giving Canada one final shot to get his unit on track. If he and Kenny Pickett don’t both show signs of improvement in 2023, Pittsburgh could be forced to hit the reset button on the offense at this time next year.

The Steelers were widely expected to part ways with their offensive coordinator before winning their final four games of the season and just barely missing out on the playoffs. Kaboly says that Tomlin has not even finished conducting exit meetings with all of his players yet. It would be a big fantasy boost for George Pickens and company if the Steelers parted ways with Canada, but at this point it seems like that is more a theory than an actuality.

“You can read into that a number of different ways but right now, info is limited,” Kaboly said. The Steelers have been silent on Canada’s future with the team since they were booted from postseason contention in Week 18. On the hot seat since he got the job in 2020, Canada has been criticized for a lack of creativity and questionable play calling. Pittsburgh’s offense in 2022 ranked 14th in expected points added per play, and while their run game was among the most efficient in the league, their passing attack proved lackluster. If the team were to part ways with Canada, it likely would have happened by now.

Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Canada had to scale back his offensive plans due to personnel shortcomings (read: Ben Roethlisberger’s arm) over the course of the year, which will likely buy Canada another season with a different signal-caller. His use of pre-snap motion and other concepts never transpired beyond the preseason but a mobile quarterback could allow the Steelers to take the next step on offense. Recycling the same run-heavy offense behind one of the league’s worst o-lines won’t cut it.

“I’m optimistic about Matt and what he’s capable of doing,” Tomlin said. “I acknowledge we took a step back. There’s some obvious tangible reasons why that occurred... we got to be better. We intend to be.” Tomlin acknowledged Canada -- the team’s former quarterbacks coach -- had to scale back his offensive plans due to personnel shortcomings, most notably Ben Roethlisberger’s inability to throw downfield with any consistency. Canada’s use of pre-snap motion and other concepts foreign to the Steelers offense before 2021 might have created a more productive offense with a better QB. It’s hard to say if Canada will get an upgrade over Roethlisberger in 2022.

When asked about formations used in the Steelers’ loss, Roethlisberger said, “You’ll have to ask Coach Canada that. That’s what he’s calling, what we’re going with. We got some really good football players that you want to get on the football field. So, if you don’t have them out there, they’re sitting on the bench doing nothing.” Reporters asked Roethlisberger about no-huddle usage this season. “We don’t really have a no-huddle,” he said. Roethlisberger thrived in the no-huddle offense during his most productive seasons, raising questions about Canada’s handling of his veteran quarterback. The Steelers’ offense looks as stale and predictable as ever, even as Canada was supposed to bring Pittsburgh’s offense into the 21st century. Frustration will continue to mount unless the team’s offensive line can improve and Roethlisberger can deliver more accurate, on-time throws to his excellent wideouts.

Canada recently interviewed for the Dolphins’ coordinator role following his first full season in the league. A long-time coach in the college ranks, Canada, 48, at the very least offers a fresh perspective away from whatever the Steelers were attempting to create on offense with ex-OC Randy Fichtner calling the shots this past year. Even if JuJu Smith-Schuster signs elsewhere in free agency, Canada will still have Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and James Washington to work with in three-wide sets for the 2021 season.