Steelers Great Preseason Results Have One Reporter Calling Matt Canada A "Competent" Play-Caller

Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada is under pressure to prove that he can take his offense, which has been heavily criticized as college level, to bigger heights in 2023. In two preseason contests, the first-team offense has been cooking. It's a small sample size with one drive against mostly backups versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the starters played two series against the Buffalo Bills. So far, Kenny Pickett has a pair of touchdown throws to George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth while Jaylen Warren added a 62-yard run for a score. 

Josh Rowntree covers the Steelers for 93.7 The Fan and, during his breakdown of Saturday's preseason contest against the Bills, had some complimentary things to say about the coordinator from what he's seen so far this offseason. Overall, he's very encouraged by what Canada and the first-team offense have shown leading into the preseason finale on Thursday night when Pittsburgh visits the Atlanta Falcons. 

"His offense last night, last week, and from all we’ve heard in camp looks not only competent, which is a step up from last year, but it might actually be pretty good," Rowntree said. "If Canada can find a way to look at least competent, this offense can do really good things and this team can do really good things." 

Rowntree said that if Canada can figure out how to be an adequate play-caller in his third season, that "would be the biggest win" for the organization in 2023. He would not say what exactly that would look like. In contrast, other writers Ron Cook and Joe Starkey, laid out specific expectations for a Canada extension beyond the 2023 season earlier in the offseason.  

Rowntree made sure to note that it's still only preseason tape so there's only so much stock you can put into. Still, he's seeing the long-time college coach start to figure out what's needed to successfully call games at the pro level. 

Steelers' Pickett's Growth A Major Key To Success in 2023

Team President, Art Rooney II said that one of the prominent reasons for bringing back Canada after two very poor seasons was to ensure continuity with Pickett. He said the two had developed a strong working relationship and was worried that by changing the coordinator the organization would set their young quarterback back having to learn a new offense going into his second year.  

Rowntree was steadfast in his belief that if Pickett had been brought up to speed in the 2022 offseason, instead of slotted behind Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, the team would've made the playoffs. The reporter said Pickett's impressive second half would've come earlier because he'd have been able to iron out the kinks. 

He said that the growth Pickett has shown him throughout the offseason, and especially against the Bills on Saturday night, gives him hope that the offense will be less predictable in 2023. He said now the team can throw the ball on first down or second down. He added that the team can take shots down the field, which they didn't do a lot of in 2022. 

As much as this is Canada's offense, it might even be Pickett's to a larger extent. The 25-year-old said that he was heavily involved in developing the game plan for 2023 and that's a very good sign. If Pittsburgh is going to be a playoff team in 2023, Canada and Pickett being on the same page is vital. 

Competent is not a word that most of Steeler Nation would use to describe Canada. If he can show a higher level of it in 2023 and Pickett can continue to show his maturation into a good NFL-level quarterback, a playoff berth in 2023 is certainly an attainable goal.    

What would you need to see in the regular season to call Canada a competent coordinator? What would it take for you to be comfortable with him as the play-caller beyond this year? Comment below!

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