Steelers Rumors: Ben Roethlisberger calls out Matt Canada for strategic flaw
The Pittsburgh Steelers' exciting preseason rammed headlong into a brick wall in Week 1 of the regular season. Their first 'real' game featured the visiting San Francisco 49ers, who tore the Steelers' defense to shreds while holding Kenny Pickett's offense to a deflating 239 total yards.
A lot of the blame has naturally been laid at the feet of Matt Canada, Pittsburgh's most thoroughly disliked coach. The offensive coordinator couldn't get Pickett into much of a rhythm on Sunday, as the young QB completed 31 of 46 passes for 232 yards, one touchdown, and two costly interceptions.
In a new episode of his 'Footbahlin' podcast, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger threw some thinly-veiled shade at Canada.
"I remember with Coach Randy [Fichtner], we always had like a go-to play," Roethlisberger said. "It's just like man, I'm a little off today. Maybe it was going no-huddle where like I was calling plays that I felt comfortable with or like two or three plays that are just like a ball out of your hand. Maybe it's a screen or where I throw a ball to a wide receiver, and he breaks a 10-yarder. Let your playmakers make plays."
While one could view Roethlisberger's comments as good-natured praise for a former OC and a general strategy note, it's difficult to not read his comments as an indirect indictment of the Steelers' current play-caller. Roethlisberger has never been afraid to criticize members of his former team in purposefully circumlocutory fashion.
Roethlisberger then cited specific examples from Sunday's loss.
"Like today, I thought Kenny was a little bit off. A little bit late, a little behind, whatever it is. At some point, it's like, don't keep trying to make the plays. Let your playmakers make the play. Sometimes, that can get you into a rhythm. I completed two, three, four in a row. Now you're feeling it."
Canada would be wise to heed Big Ben's advice. Whatever the strategy has been with Pickett, it's not working. There's no denying the young QB's talent, but he has more career interceptions (11) than touchdowns (8) and the game has not fully slowed down for him. If Pittsburgh wants to get the offense into second gear, getting Pickett into a more efficient mode needs to be the primary goal.
Steelers Rumors: Mike Tomlin garners blame for Matt Canada disaster
Mike Tomlin's reputation is as good as gold in Pittsburgh and he is widely — and rightfully — considered one of the best coaches in football. That said, even the best coaches have weak points and Tomlin's resilience to change is his.
Matt Canada has been in the OC chair since 2021, overseeing the transition from Big Ben to Kenny Pickett. In that span, the Steelers are the only NFL team never to accumulate 400 total yards in a game. Every other NFL team has done it at least three times.
Most Pittsburgh fans assumed last season was Canada's final straw, but Tomlin has remained steadfast in his commitment to Canada and the Steelers' current offensive scheme. That's a huge mistake. The proof is in the pudding: Pittsburgh's offense doesn't put up the yardage necessary to consistently compete with the NFL's heavyhitters, especially when the defense falters.
Tomlin and Canada aren't the only forces worthy of blame here — Pickett has to play better, the offensive line has to give Pickett more time in the pocket, the receiving corps has to get healthy — but generally, it's a coach's job to manage his personnel and put the pieces on the field in the best possible position. Canada has not done so, yet Tomlin continues to empower him in the OC role.
Change is inevitable, but Tomlin and the Steelers front office would be wise to move with haste. There's no point in wasting a season of Pickett's prime developmental years on a shoddy offense with no real forward momentum.
Steelers Rumors: Finally, some good injury news about Pat Freiermuth
Mike Tomlin has expressed optimism about tight end Pat Freiermuth's availability for the Steelers' Week 2 game against the Cleveland Browns. The 24-year-old exited Sunday's loss with a chest injury but it doesn't appear to have been anything serious. Before the injury, Freiermuth caught one of four targets for three yards and a touchdown.
This is a good bit of injury news for the Steelers, with OT Chuks Okorafor, C James Daniels, and DT Larry Ogunjobi also being roped into Tomlin's optimistic outlook. Pittsburgh has been bludgeoned with terrible injury news over the last few days, so this burst of positive updates is a welcomed reprieve.
Of course, it's not all sunshine and rainbows for the Steelers. Star WR Diontae Johnson is expected to miss a few more weeks with a hamstring injury and six-time Pro Bowl DT Cameron Hayward will need surgery to repair a groin injury he suffered during Sunday's loss.
Pittsburgh already appeared to be running on fumes in the 49ers game and it's only Week 1. The fanbase can lob valid complaints about Tomlin and Canada all it wants, but unless the roster gets healthier, it's going to be hard for Pickett and company to chart a path to consistent success.
The Steelers' season has gotten off to a rotten start. Let's see if Week 2 offers a faint glimmer of hope.
