The Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada has endured almost endless criticism from virtually everyone outside of Acrisure Stadium. Canada may be one of the most despised figures in modern Steelers' history. The decision by Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan to retain him for his third and potentially final season has been widely hailed as doomsday for the 2023 season.
Photo Credit: Chris Adamski/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Greg Cosell, who is an NFL film guru, joined the Ross Tucker Football Podcast to discuss the retention of Canada and the state of the Pittsburgh offense. Unlike his famous father, Cosell is not bombastic but is pointed when he feels he needs to be critical of deficiencies that he sees on film. He is one of the most respected analysts in NFL circles.
“They’re kind of an interesting offense to watch,” Cosell began. “I always watch them and again without knowing the process and feel like there’s more there from a schematic standpoint. I feel like their vertical concepts are just one-on-one on the outside and then a lot is the short passing game. I feel like there is more to do there in terms of schematics and route concepts and combinations.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 04: Pittsburgh Steelers offensive Coordinator Todd Haley during the NFL Football game between the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 4, 2016, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
The Steelers' offense has relied on talent and beating your man ever since Todd Haley was run out of town on a rail. Haley was not popular with Ben Roethlisberger who always felt like he was better reacting to what he was seeing on the field, rather than scripting structured routes. He is going to the Hall of Fame, but Roethlisberger may have cost himself in the second half of his career by his insistence on reacting rather than planning.
“I felt that way even when Ben Roethlisberger was there,” Cosell continued. “There’s just like I said, I feel more that can be done and this just watching tape. Like I said, when you don’t know the process and how it’s coached it’s hard to make these universal statements. It’s very easy to rip people, you know me Ross, that’s not my game.”
Pickett has some talent to freelance, but it is possible that the Steelers were anxious to move on from Roethlisberger precisely because of his willingness to improvise. Pittsburgh can’t rely on a Hall of Fame quarterback to make it up as he goes along, and that missing component may be why they struggled so much during this season without him. It was fun to watch but it covered some pretty severe deficiencies in play design.
“When you have a young quarterback and he’s going into his second year,” Cosell said. “He showed enough this year where you believe that Kenny Pickett can be a quality NFL starter. You can line up and play with Kenny Pickett without question. What are they doing to give a quarterback easier reads and easier throws. It’s the NFL so nothing is easy. How are you giving him pre-snap information, so that he’s not dropping back and trying figure everything out. There is more that can be done.”
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 1st, 2023. Photo Credit - Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
During the first half of the season, Mitch Trubisky and Pickett only threw two types of passes. Go-ball shots down the field and short throws to the sidelines. As the season went on, and the running game became more established, they began to open up the middle of the field, but the concepts are still very simple, and as the NFL Network’s Steve Smith observed “Saturday-ish”.
Cosell does a phenomenal job pointing out that Canada’s offense on tape seems to be heavily reliant on Pickett instead of pre-snap reads. Nothing is easy for the Steelers' offense and receivers like George Pickens are counted on to win contested catches, fortunately, he was the best in the NFL at doing just that. The Steelers have two of the most talented receivers in the NFL and when you count Pat Freiermuth as deep a well of passing game weapons as you can realistically hope for in the salary cap era.
The return of Canada is an especially bitter pill to swallow with playoff teams replacing offensive coordinators after the wild card round. The much-maligned offensive coordinator has to grow in his play design and his personnel package decisions. Pickens and Freiermuth have to be on the field point blank and period. Canada is getting a third chance to prove what he can do, nobody is expecting much at this point outside of the Steelers organization. Maybe that’s a good thing?
What do you think Steeler Nation? Do you feel like Cosell pointed out a fundamental weakness or just the game plan in Pittsburgh? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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