Steelers QB1 Kenny Pickett Scoffs At Rumors About Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada

Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada's system has been under fire since he made the move up from quarterbacks coach in 2021 to his current role. The longtime college coach had some built-in excuses for his "college level" offense in his first two seasons, dealing with an immobile 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger and then the back and forth between Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett. Canada has said that not all that much is changing, but his starting quarterback came to his defense on the speculation that there won't be any unleashing of the offense. 

Pickett joined teammate Cameron Heyward on his podcast Not Just Football during the festivities of the annual Three Rivers Celebrity Softball game. Pickett showed off his skills with a pair of home runs and took home the MVP award. Heyward asked his locker mate what he thinks of all the 'Canada isn't opening up the playbook' talk. 

"Where'd you get that from," Pickett replied with a laugh and a big smile on his face. "I'm excited with how the offense was this spring. So, I think it'll be a good year."    

Heyward wondered if Pickett had a preference for being under center or in the shotgun, and he said he's a fan of having different looks the team can go to. 

"I think it’s good to have both," Pickett said. "Being in the gun and being under center and working that stuff. Adding play-action to it can get me on the move from both. I think that with the versatility of it, I can do it. With what the team around me can do, I think it’s a good fit for us."   

Steelers QB1 Pickett Says The Run Game Is Going To Be Crucial In 2023

Running back Najee Harris said earlier in the offseason that the focal point on the offense is going to be running the ball efficiently like he was able to do after his injury. Pickett told Heyward that's going to be crucial to opening up the play-action game. 

Pickett said he loves play-action, especially with a back like Harris beside him. Heyward mentioned that a lot of quarterbacks aren't a fan of it because it can result in having your back to the defense. The former Pitt Panthers QB said he understands those concerns other signal-callers have, but a dominant rushing attack eases that pressure. 

"There's a give and take to it," he said. "If you have a really good run game, you can trust that the fake is going to do what it needs to do to set up everything else. If the run game isn't so good and those guys don't step up, I can see some problems."   

Both Canada and Pickett are facing a pivotal year in 2023. Patrick Peterson, one of Pickett's newest teammates, said the success of the team lies firmly on his shoulders even though he's only got 12 starts in the league. The former Interim Head Coach at the University of Maryland is in a different kind of make-or-break year entering his third year as the offensive play-caller. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Canada is trying to prove he deserves an extension in Pittsburgh. He needs to prove this year that his scheme works at the pro level to even have a chance of sniffing another opportunity in the league. 

Whether it be opening up the offense for more deep throws which Pickett had some success with in 2022 according to PFF, or allowing him the freedom to change things up on the field, there's been a ton of outside noise on what Canada needs to do. Pickett seems comfortable with the way the game plan has evolved this summer and that's what matters. While Steeler Nation might not have the highest opinion of Canada, as long as Pickett trusts him to put him in positions to win this year, the narrative could change. 

Do you think Canada and Pickett can get the Steelers to the playoffs this year? What do you think Canada would have to do to get an extension in Pittsburgh? Comment below!

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