The Pittsburgh Steelers are expecting big things in 2023. The franchise has only had one losing season this century, but they did not make the playoffs last season. The Steelers have engaged in a very aggressive approach to this offseason and have brought in a significant number of new faces through free agency and the NFL Draft. Omar Khan has given Mike Tomlin a lot of new tools on both offense and defense.
Emily Matthews / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers DC Teryl Austin will be able to move a lot of pieces around the defense in 2023.
The one thing the Steelers did not do is change the coordinators. Teryl Austin did a good job in 2022 with TJ Watt and an average job without him. A healthy Watt makes the Steelers an elite defense. Keeping Austin in place makes perfect sense. The offensive side of the ball is another story entirely.
Matt Canada’s offense averaged 18.1 points per game in 2022. That ranked the Steelers 26 out of 32 teams on offense. They were 11 points per game behind the league-leading Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers’ young offense has to improve in 2023.
Jordan Schofield / Steeler Nation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Despite the optimism for the 2023 Steelers, there is still room for concern with Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator.
Steelers' Kenny Pickett Celebrates Wedding In Grand Fashion
The team has taken steps to augment the offensive line and receiving corps through the draft and free agency. The newly married Kenny Pickett has taken a step forward according to many observers of the team. Steven Ruiz is a co-host of The Ringer NFL Show with Nora Princiotti and recently broke down the Steelers offense. Despite the upgrades on that side of the ball by Khan, he is not sure the numbers will improve.
“I have questions about Matt Canada,” said Ruiz. “Even if the line is better, it’s nowhere near the offensive lines around the league and I don’t think that Canada is good enough to get the most out of this offense.”
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers' Isaac Seumalo (#73) takes part in drills during the team's OTA sessions in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Steelers brought in Isaac Seumalo in free agency and drafted Broderick Jones in the first round to repair the left side of the offensive line. Seumalo is a clear upgrade at guard over Kevin Dotson, so it is easy to disagree with his assumption about the trenches. Sadly, the point about Canada based on what fans have seen over two seasons is accurate.
“His stuff is very basic,” Ruiz continued. "His scheme is very complex with a lot of shifts and motions before the ball's snapped, but after that, it’s pretty basic stuff that’s easy to catch on to. I think that works at the college level, which is where he’s been for the most part of his career.”
Photo Credit: Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) and offensive coordinator, Matt Canada (left) laugh with one another at a practice during training camp.
Canada spent his entire career at the college level. Amazingly his tenure with the Steelers is his second-longest stint as a coach. He was at the University of Indiana for seven seasons from 2004-2010 in various positions, but since that time, only Tomlin has employed him for more than three years.
"NFL players and coaches are smart,” Ruiz concludes. “They study the film and are ready for all that stuff. There is a point of diminishing returns and I think that Canada is way past that point.”
The 2021 Steelers offense with an aging Ben Roethlisberger averaged 20.1 points under Canada, which was nearly a touchdown less than they averaged in 2020 with Randy Fichtner. It is easy to blame Pickett as a rookie for the struggles, but what is clear to everyone but Tomlin is that the rest of the NFL understands the schemes and is prepared to defend them.
Don Wright | Credit: AP
Steelers' Najee Harris.
The Steelers are going to combat this predictability by essentially becoming more predictable in a ball control power running approach on offense. The new offense is designed to maul defenses and build on the winning streak to close the 2022 season. If Pittsburgh runs the ball effectively with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren it will open up deeper play-action throws down the field for Pickett.
If that sounds familiar, it is. The Steelers won a Super Bowl in 2005 with a very similar approach in Roethlisberger’s second season. The big difference was that Ken Whisenhunt, Mark Whipple, and Bruce Arians were helping design that offense under Bill Cowher. Tomlin is betting big that Canada can orchestrate a similar offense effectively.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Is the back to the future approach on offense going to work in 2023? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbbasq.
#SteelerNation
