Those who watch the Pittsburgh Steelers each week probably think they can predict what plays are coming before they even happen. The offense underplay caller, Matt Canada has been more than underwhelming since he took over after the 2020 campaign.
After the best half of the season in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the unit came out extremely flat and unproductive in the second half. Aside from a touchdown in the final minute of the contest, the offense mustered up just three total points and never gave the defense a rest throughout the second part of the game. Bengals' linebacker, Germaine Pratt told the media after the game that the Steelers' offense was predictable.
Steelers offensive coordinator, Matt Canada takes a look at a play call sheet on the field at practice during the 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Following Cincinnati's 37-30 win in Pittsburgh, Pratt told CBS Sports that his defense relaxed a bit more during the last 30 minutes and realized that Pittsburgh continued to be repetitive on the offensive side.
"Just settling down,” Pratt said when asked about the difference between halves. “It was us giving them plays. We knew what they were going to do. They like to do the same plays over and over."
Head Coach for the Steelers, Mike Tomlin was asked in his weekly press conference about Pratt's comments and didn't seem too fond of them. The veteran coach was rather defensive of the offensive approach and called out the Bengals for something similar, even though his offense only scored three points in the first 29 points of the second half and his defense got absolutely torched late in the game.
"There were some repeats concepts, but Cincinnati was in some repeats concepts," Tomlin said hinting at the Bengals' predictability. "That's football. When it's good on good, particularly in the latter part of the season. There's very little secrets. It comes down to execution and that's where I like to keep our focus. We gotta execute better."
Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin roams the sidelines during a 2022 regular season matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA | Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin also hinted at the idea of Pratt not saying a word if Pittsburgh would have pulled out a victory.
"That's what they say when they're having success and they don't say it when they're not. I don't worry much about that."
Rookie Quarterback, Kenny Pickett was also questioned about the comments and instead of dodging the inquiry, said that tendencies may need to be evaluated. He did agree with Tomlin on execution.
"It's something you need to look at the tape and see what our tendencies are," Pickett said when asked about his group's predictable nature. "We've got to go out there and execute whatever is called."
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 20: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Pickett was asked about the mood in the locker room after falling to 3-7 on the year, and to no surprise, he said that morale is not through the roof after another divisional loss.
"Yeah, no one is happy, man," Pickett said. "Obviously no one wants to be in this situation. We're going to stick together and get back on track."
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