Film Room: Matt Canada’s Coaching Philosophy

[Shoes]

When Matt Canada was hired to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterbacks coach in 2020, we wrote an offseason post detailing some of his ideals (https://steelersdepot.com/2020/01/film-room-how-matt-canada-will-impact-the-steelers-offense/) from a 2012 coaching clinic after being named Wisconsin’s QB coach/offensive coordinator. Now that Canada has been promoted to OC in Pittsburgh, it’s time to take a deeper dive into what to expect from him.
There’s two clinics we’re learning from. That 2012 clinic and an appearance at a 2017 LSU High School coaching clinic after being named OC there. We don’t have access to all his notes from the clinic but there’s still plenty of information.
Let’s break down what kind of coach Matt Canada is.


https://steelersdepot.com/2021/02/film-room-matt-canadas-coaching-philosophy/

[pczach]

That's a great link.

I know it's not Canada himself speaking, and I know that there aren't specifics to the offense. But I like the way they lay it out as a coach would, with the philosophical approach to the game. It helps to explain the reasoning of what they do and why.

I love how they talk about how the routes run will work as a whole against the defense. IMO, this has been the biggest issue with the passing game for years now going back to Haley. Routes need to work off of each other and create separation to help the receivers, confuse defenders, and give the QB easy throws. You see other great offenses in the league that always have receivers running wide-open. Those are simple throws for quarterbacks to make, while providing big plays for the offense that lead to points. Making your quarterback always have to make perfect throws against tight coverage is much more difficult to execute, harder to consistently move the ball through the air, and the more dependent you are on dominant WR's that can quickly defeat coverage and win individual battles.

His system also makes it easier for the quarterback to read the defense to help simplify what they need to see to make the throws. This will certainly help any QB, but especially less experienced QBs.

Play action also simplifies the reads QBs have to make, and helps give the offense the advantage by making the defense take a wrong step to honor the run. Of course this only works if the running game can do some damage, but the overall concepts work if executed properly without always needing elite weapons all over the field to have successful plays.

A balanced offense will always be what I am striving for, and his philosophies work when fully implemented, executed, and bought into by quality players and coaches. Of course, the offensive line play needs to improve, while the blocking schemes and techniques need adjustments IMO.

I can't wait to see the offense next year to see what changes are made.

[DesertSteel]

That's a great link.
Play action also simplifies the reads QBs have to make, and helps give the offense the advantage by making the defense take a wrong step to honor the run.
Play action? What’s that?

[Mojouw]

That's a great link.

I know it's not Canada himself speaking, and I know that there aren't specifics to the offense. But I like the way they lay it out as a coach would, with the philosophical approach to the game. It helps to explain the reasoning of what they do and why.

I love how they talk about how the routes run will work as a whole against the defense. IMO, this has been the biggest issue with the passing game for years now going back to Haley. Routes need to work off of each other and create separation to help the receivers, confuse defenders, and give the QB easy throws. You see other great offenses in the league that always have receivers running wide-open. Those are simple throws for quarterbacks to make, while providing big plays for the offense that lead to points. Making your quarterback always have to make perfect throws against tight coverage is much more difficult to execute, harder to consistently move the ball through the air, and the more dependent you are on dominant WR's that can quickly defeat coverage and win individual battles.

His system also makes it easier for the quarterback to read the defense to help simplify what they need to see to make the throws. This will certainly help any QB, but especially less experienced QBs.

Play action also simplifies the reads QBs have to make, and helps give the offense the advantage by making the defense take a wrong step to honor the run. Of course this only works if the running game can do some damage, but the overall concepts work if executed properly without always needing elite weapons all over the field to have successful plays.

A balanced offense will always be what I am striving for, and his philosophies work when fully implemented, executed, and bought into by quality players and coaches. Of course, the offensive line play needs to improve, while the blocking schemes and techniques need adjustments IMO.

I can't wait to see the offense next year to see what changes are made.

What, for me, is the most amazing thing about play-action in the NFL is that it works even when a team is NOT rushing the ball well or even often! Last several years of NFL play data backs that up. All you have to do is actually do it...and you get a boost to your offense.

[DesertSteel]

What, for me, is the most amazing thing about play-action in the NFL is that it works even when a team is NOT rushing the ball well or even often! Last several years of NFL play data backs that up. All you have to do is actually do it...and you get a boost to your offense.
That’s because after 2-3 times of not respecting it as a defense, they’re going to burn you bad.

[pczach]

What, for me, is the most amazing thing about play-action in the NFL is that it works even when a team is NOT rushing the ball well or even often! Last several years of NFL play data backs that up. All you have to do is actually do it...and you get a boost to your offense.



It will always have some effect, even when you can't run the ball very well. It works.

[86WARD]

Obviously a change was needed. My question is, how big a change is this gonna be? Are we still going to get the straight forward offense from a 1989 high school team? Are we going to get a straight forward NFL offense from the late 90s? Are we going to get a straight forward offense from the mid 2000s? Are we going to get a modern version of any of those or maybe something totally outrageous? He says his offense is simple...I feel like it doesn’t get more simple than Randy Fichtner...

One of the things that makes the Chiefs offenses so hard to defend is that Andy Reid has taken concepts from crazy high school, college offenses, arena football offenses and has adapted them to the NFL game. I imagine this is very easy to adapt to for the younger players since they are so fresh out of that chapter of their careers. Reid has always been very good at drafting players and putting his players in good positions as well as adapting his offense to the personnel he has been given.

I’m hoping for an offense, we as Steelers fans, aren’t used to seeing...

Bubble, draw and “pistol” aren’t really terms I’m interested in hearing...

[Shoes]

Obviously a change was needed. My question is, how big a change is this gonna be? Are we still going to get the straight forward offense from a 1989 high school team? Are we going to get a straight forward NFL offense from the late 90s? Are we going to get a straight forward offense from the mid 2000s? Are we going to get a modern version of any of those or maybe something totally outrageous? He says his offense is simple...I feel like it doesn’t get more simple than Randy Fichtner...

One of the things that makes the Chiefs offenses so hard to defend is that Andy Reid has taken concepts from crazy high school, college offenses, arena football offenses and has adapted them to the NFL game. I imagine this is very easy to adapt to for the younger players since they are so fresh out of that chapter of their careers. Reid has always been very good at drafting players and putting his players in good positions as well as adapting his offense to the personnel he has been given.

I’m hoping for an offense, we as Steelers fans, aren’t used to seeing...

Bubble, draw and “pistol” aren’t really terms I’m interested in hearing...


If Ben comes back for 2021 it will be hard to say this year because it will be another year of Benball.

[Mojouw]

Simple doesn't always mean bad.

I hear many say Shanahan's offense is "simple" because it only has a handful of formations and plays, yet defenses get their butts kicked by it.

I have read that Reid's offense isn't that hard to learn for the players, but is just really difficult to defend.

I have read that Canada's college offenses were "simple" to learn but created absolute chaos for defenses.