Offensive coordinator Matt Canada is Pittsburgh’s Nice Devil as per “Hearth Canada” chants at Acrisure Stadium Monday after a botched third-and-1 play.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett ran proper out of the shotgun and went down lamely, dropping 3 yards.
Possibly that was the play name: “Shotgun, run proper, go down lamely. On two.”
That fourth-quarter failure gave Cleveland the ball for one final possession. Rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. confirmed expertise past his years by getting away with move interference on the Browns’ remaining play. The child is prepared!
Canada has performed a poor job.
Past any single play name, Canada’s offense has zero rhythm. It not often builds momentum. The odd play will hit like a bolt from the blue — Pickett’s 71-yard landing move to George Pickens, for instance — however there’s nothing cumulative.
However there are different issues, not all the results of Canada’s perceived idiocy.
The place does unhealthy coordinating finish and unhealthy execution start?
The residents are predisposed responsible Canada. It’s simpler and extra enjoyable responsible someone you don’t like.
Versus someone you do. Extra on Pickett in only a bit.
There isn’t a operating recreation. The Steelers had 55 dashing yards on 21 carries Monday. That’s a lusty common of two.6 yards per carry. Najee Harris was meh, posting 43 yards on 10 carries. A foul offensive line appears extra responsible than the operating backs.
Tight finish Pat Freiermuth has disappeared: One catch Monday, two on the 12 months, simply 5 targets complete.
The offense has two touchdowns in two video games. At the very least Pickens had a great outing Monday, delaying his inevitable diva blowup for an additional week. (When it occurs, most gained’t maintain Pickens culpable. It’s not an offense for a gifted wideout.)
Monday’s recreation spawned loopy stats: The Steelers had minus-6 yards within the fourth quarter, but got here from behind to win. They didn’t have a primary down within the first quarter. They by no means ran a play within the pink zone. They’d the ball for beneath 25 minutes.
If Canada is responsible, so is Pickett. They rank 1-2 within the hierarchy of woe. It’s an in depth race for the highest spot.
Irrespective of how unhealthy Canada is, the disagreeable reality is that Pickett hasn’t improved greater than minimally over his NFL tenure. Except for two game-winning drives on the finish of final season, Pickett has been principally poor. It’s 15 video games, not a small pattern.
Pickett confirmed a lot of his vaunted moxie and swagger towards unhealthy foes and vanilla defenses on this 12 months’s preseason. However as soon as the massive children confirmed up on the playground and actual bullets began to fly, Pickett acquired panicky toes and his passing is wildly inaccurate.
Canada is a journeyman coach who in all probability ought to by no means have had his current job.
Pickett is a first-round decide who is meant to be a franchise quarterback.
Each are failing. However Pickett is by far the extra disappointing.
The protection did probably the most to win Monday’s recreation. Duh. Then punter Pressley Harvin III, who nailed second-half punts to Cleveland’s 6- and 1-yard traces.
When your punter helped greater than your quarterback, that’s an issue.
The Steelers gained’t hearth Canada. Even when they did, the alternative can be quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan. Promoted like Canada earlier than him, and Randy Fichtner earlier than him. The playbook wouldn’t change. Nothing can be solved.
The actual downside is head coach Mike Tomlin, not least his casual coverage of hiring inferior assistants. Absolute energy corrupts completely.
If logical choices are to be made relating to the offensive coordinator place, it shouldn’t be with an eye fixed towards the quick time period. This season’s Steelers are going nowhere moreover mediocre. They’re removed from a playoff win, not to mention a Tremendous Bowl.
Selections should be made that can hasten and enhance Pickett’s improvement. That’s what’s most essential. Pickett ought to be quite a bit higher by now.
Exchange Canada, then discover out if Pickett is what you hope he’s. That’s what issues. Don’t let Canada’s failure be a crutch for Pickett.
Pickett has performed 15 NFL video games, by no means thrown two landing passes in any of them, and never appeared higher than mediocre for greater than a handful of moments. That’s a variety of video games, and he’s a first-round decide.
Canada is small potatoes.
If Pickett’s the issue, that’s an actual downside.
