Steelers OC Matt Canada's Best Game Of 2023 Rewarded With Vicious Conspiracy Theory

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a real issue on their hands with Matt Canada. The embattled offensive coordinator, for the first time in his career, called plays from the sideline. The Steelers scored their first offensive touchdown on their opening possession in 2023 and just the third one in 32 games. It was not perfect, but it was better.

The afterglow did not last long for Canada. He has alienated his best offensive weapon. Canada still had to endure a smattering of “Fire Canada” chants during the Thursday Night Football game. That is par for the course for the Steelers offensive coordinator at this point in his tenure. However, a new conspiracy has emerged on social media with his move to the sidelines.

The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Friday delved into a conspiracy theory that was making the rounds on social media that Glenn Thomas, who worked closely with Matt Rhule, was calling the plays. Dunlap did not start that particular rumor, but his speculation about Thomas's role in the booth may have added fuel to the fire. The Steelers hired Thomas before the season as a special assistant, but his influence has been murky at best through the first eight weeks. Andrew Fillipponi refuted the rumor on Twitter/X.

Fillipponi, who is not a fan of the Steelers OC, went further on Friday during the radio broadcast on 93.7 The Fan. The bombastic host has come under fire for unflinching support for Kenny Pickett over the last two seasons and has been highly critical of Canada's performance. However, even he could not get behind this rumor. 

"The change from Canada going to the sideline, I thought he called a much better game," Fillipponi stated. "I'm going to emphasize called the game because I can tell you that at least one person I talked to from the Steelers is adamant that Canada was still calling plays. The conspiracy that Canada was not calling the plays absolutely ridiculous. There is some of that going around. If I post a Twitter poll question, do you believe Matt Canada called the plays last night? At least 25 percent are going to say 'No.'"

Chris Mueller's co-host is no stranger to hyperbole, but either because of the unfolding George Pickens story or other pressing business, he did not post the poll on his Twitter/X feed. Fillipponi did, however, share more about his encounter with his unnamed Steelers source. 

"Maybe it's a doth protest too much thing," Fillipponi continued. "But that's not how I came away from the exchange. [Colin] Dunlap said yesterday he thought Glenn Thomas was going to have a lot of ownership over the play calls. He was going to be up there, maybe calling the plays, and Canada was just going to be on the sidelines doing other stuff.  The Steelers source I talked to was my god, do people invent ways to hate this guy." 

Steelers' Kenny Pickett Brutally Ripped As Worst Quarterback In The NFL

Mueller, after hearing Fillipponi's source dismissing the rumor that Canada had somehow been relieved of the play-calling duties, advanced his theory on the rumor. He has been much more demanding on Kenny Pickett's play because of the offensive struggles. He even resorted to calling him the worst quarterback in the NFL earlier this week on the program.

"I also think, and I hate intangibles, but I'm going to bring something like this up," Mueller stated. "I think one of the things about Canada being in the booth that was bad is that when things are going badly, he's a man apart. Najee [Harris] runs in that opening touchdown. He's getting right in there with [James] Daniels, fist-bumping, bumping chests. Football is an emotional game. I do think there is something to the idea that is easier to want to go to battle for a guy like that and not want to disappoint a guy like that."

Mueller makes a salient point. It is one thing to sit in a meeting room and face your failure on film after the game. It is quite another to have your coach look you in the eye when you walk off the field after a bad series. Mike Tomlin deserves kudos for the change. The Steelers' real-time adjustments have been heavily criticized, but Canada's presence on the sideline helped tremendously. 

"That's why people just can't wrap their heads around that he called the game," Fillipponi concluded. "They think someone else up there called it, because of the sequencing was better, the rhythm was better, the timing, the commitment to the run was better. Didn't get overly cute, just things that are not really calling cards of the Canada offense."

The Steelers did gain 324 yards, and if Pickens dragged his toe, Pittsburgh would have scored another touchdown. The much-ballyhooed 400-yard drought would have continued, but Pickett would have had at least two touchdown passes, and they could have pulled away against the Tennessee Titans in the second half. 

The Steelers put together four scoring drives on offense and, at times, looked like a competent NFL offense on Thursday Night Football. Canada has not suddenly become the long-term solution because of a one-game improvement in the flow of the offense. He has potentially discovered a formula with his presence that could lead to a dramatic improvement in the second half of the 2023 season. It will be interesting to hear what the opposite of the viral "Fire Canada" chant is if the team finds a way to make it to the postseason and win a playoff game. As fans of the black and gold, let's sincerely hope we find out. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you think Pittsburgh's offense can build on the performance against the Titans? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.

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