PITTSBURGH — As a preacher traveling to a tent revival. Pittsburgh Steelers Matt Canada, offensive coordinator, addressed the media in Pittsburgh on Thursday morning. He delivered a fiery and fast-talking message to his congregation to show them that they all can be saved.
In this case, though, it’s the Steelers offense — not souls — that he believes can be salvaged despite low marks across the board.
“I’ll continue to say it and tell it: This gonna be a tremendous offense,” Canada said. “We got great talent. We gotta get balls down the field to ‘em. We gotta block a little better. We gotta get our run game. Although our run game efficiency has improved, it is not sufficient. … We gotta get a few more of those bigger plays. We had two last week, so we will keep trying. We still haven’t found the execution. We haven’t found the execution.”
For over 13 minutes Thursday morning, Canada was as candid as he’s been in his rocky two season tenure as the Steelers offensive coordinator. Canada’s offense, which he oversees, has had the second-lowest score output in the NFL as of Sunday’s date. Philadelphia Eagles 15.3 points per match — Better than the Denver Broncos. Steelers average 4.8 yards per game, the same league-low as they achieved in 2021 with Ben Roethlisberger as quarterback.
This scheme was partially built around presnap motion, short, methodical plays around a line of scrimmage to win time of possession battle. It has been as solid as a house of cards in a hurricane. Failures at deep shots and penalties at inopportune moments often put the Steelers behind them and knock them off their schedule, reducing the drive down to a field goal and a punt.
The Steelers (2-5) have averaged 5.07 yards per play for the first down in seven games — 27th best in the NFL. Only 33.3% have scored touchdowns in their red zone trips over the past three Steelers games.
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Canada and his players are confident that there are ways to improve the offense’s trajectory, even though it was not an inspiring start.
“We’re close,” running back Najee Harris said. “We’re really close. We’re very close. We have all the talent; we just need to fix some sh–.”
Not only should there be more chunk plays, but also the execution of those called.
In the aftermath of the Steelers’ 16-10 loss to the Miami DolphinsThird-year receiver Chase Claypool The offense was urged to increase vertical passes by lingering at his locker.
“We need more splash,” he said. “We need bigger plays. We must move down the field a bit. Sometimes defense stops us from doing so, but [we] Just gotta get down the field.
“… It is a lot harder to score when you have a 10-to-15 play drive. Everything has to be perfect. If you’re nickel-and-diming, you get five yards a play, which is fine for time of possession, but like, sometimes we just want to go score now.”
Claypool was critical of the inability to pass deep, but he pointed out that this is one way to increase the offense’s power.
“I just think we need more ‘go’ balls,” Claypool said after the Miami loss. “We’ve got playmakers that haven’t had a go ball all year. George [PickensMore is needed, [Diontae Johnson] More is needed. I’m not saying that’s on the playcalling, I’m just saying we need to try to find a way to scheme it up.”
Canada, the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, is often the victim of dysfunction and a convenient scapegoat. But the truth is that the problems with the Steelers offense go beyond Canada.
Claypool has officially run just three go routes all season, according to ESPN Stats & Information’s tracking, one each in Week 1, 3 and 5, and he wasn’t targeted on any of them. He’s been offered splash plays. In quarterback Kenny Pickett’s regular-season debut, he targeted Claypool on his very first attempt: a deep bomb over the middle that traveled more than 40 yards in the air. But instead of connecting for an exclamation point, Claypool couldn’t corral Pickett’s pass and it was intercepted.
Claypool is not the only player with offensive skill who has missed on big plays. Both Claypool and Johnson have two drops this season, according to Next Gen Stats, and there’s been a miscommunication between Pickett and his receivers a handful of times.
“Third play of the [Dolphins] game, we’ve got Diontae matched up on the guy we wanted to, it’s press coverage and we had a communication issue, and you can’t have those at that time,” Canada said. “The fifth play of the game, we’ve got Chase matched up on the guy we wanted to, and they were still challenging us before they saw how fast our guys could run by them, right?
“He got tangled up and it goes from a big play for us to maybe a pass interference to all of the sudden it’s an interception. That’s what happens. That’s the reality. But yeah, I think we’ve just got to get it done. We’ve got to find a way to get it done.”
Steelers vertical routes are run a league-high 32.2%. But often, the offense doesn’t utilize those downfield playmakers. And when the Steelers do target those vertical routes, they’re not having much success. Together, Mitch Trubisky and Pickett have a 13.8 raw QBR when targeting vertical routes — the second-worst mark in the league above Arizona’s 9.5.
“I don’t have a great answer,” Canada said. “I would say I think as I continue to try to give Kenny confidence in that, if you think about the situation that we’re in, Mitch was our No. All camp, Diontae was there for a while, but got hurt. Chase also got hurt. Pat [FreiermuthBut despite the fact that he was injured, all the reps who did go were with Mitch. Now Kenny is going and you’re starting to see those connections start to come.”
To coach Mike Tomlin, there’s not just one culprit preventing the Steelers from executing more splash plays down the field.
“You run go balls and vertical routes all the time,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes, you have to clear out underneath routes. Sometimes, it’s for critical one-on-one matchups which may not occur because of schematics. Sometimes, guys don’t physically win those one-on-one matchups. Sometimes, rushing can play a part. The variables are many when you’re talking about that.”
The Steelers are showing signs of a shift in their offensive consistency and splash on Sundays.
Pickett and Freiermuth connected for a 21-yard gain against the Dolphins on fourth-and-6, with a risky pass in the middle. Freiermuth was trusted by Pickett to make the play. The second-year tight end did exactly what he asked.
“We want to go down the field more,” Johnson said. “I believe that we’re going to go down the field more this week, and hopefully the rest of the season, because we got the guys that can make the plays down the field.
“We just gotta throw it up and give us a chance.”
The Steelers are closer to an offensive that is more complete, and to having an identity. Pickett has only thrown seven interceptions and two touchdowns. However, Pickett is getting more time in the offense. Harris’ injuries from training camp are finally under control.
Canada claimed that it would eventually come together. However, without a track record to back up his claims, Canada and the offense — as well as everyone else — will have blind faith.
“Do you think my office will be great?” I really, really do,” Canada said. “Are we there now? No. Is it enough? No. No.