Steelers Offense Discussion

[Born2Steel]

Let's try to look at what has actually happened so far this season. EVERY Steelers fan is not happy right now but try to keep this discussion PG and rational, please.

Just a couple questions first.....

1. How did Mitch win the starting QB job exactly?
In the preseason game vs the Seahawks, he went 4of7 for 63 yards and a TD.
In the 2nd preseason game vs the Jags he went 5of8 for 60 yards.
Then in the last preseason game vs the Lions he went 15of19 for 160 yards and 1TD.

2. What happened to the commitment to the run game?
Against the Bengals the Steelers ran 19 running plays vs 38 passing plays. That was with a 17-3 halftime lead.
Today was a bit more even but still only 20 run plays vs 33 pass plays. Still Jaylen Warren only got 4 touches.


Here are the game highlights from both games. The first one is vs the Bengals, and the second one is vs the Patriots. I know there is plenty to talk about on the defensive side but this thread is about the offense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkgLk02XC4M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9a6Sark83s

[Rotorhead]

If we can’t throw the ball effectively, teams are going to stack the LOS to stop run. Simply, teams are goi g to focus on the run and dare is to beat them with The passing game until we beat someone with the passing game. Same thing as last year. Our OC doesn’t seem to understand what crossing routes are, so we have nobody open in the middle of the field. When we do, MT either misses the throw or throws an INT.

The fix? Fire Canada. I would hesitate firing him and also starting KP, but I am not opposed to it at this point. We are heading for a higher pick next draft, so I would rather know if he is the next franchise QB or not.

[Born2Steel]

If we can’t throw the ball effectively, teams are going to stack the LOS to stop run. Simply, teams are goi g to focus on the run and dare is to beat them with The passing game until we beat someone with the passing game. Same thing as last year. Our OC doesn’t seem to understand what crossing routes are, so we have nobody open in the middle of the field. When we do, MT either misses the throw or throws an INT.

The fix? Fire Canada. I would hesitate firing him and also starting KP, but I am not opposed to it at this point. We are heading for a higher pick next draft, so I would rather know if he is the next franchise QB or not.

Fair. But when we ran the ball today Najee ran for 3.3 yards per run, and Warren ran for 3.8 yards per run. We used the FB today on short yardage and were successful in getting the 1st down. That accounts for 20 of our 66 plays today. I don't feel we ran the ball enough today.

[DuckHodges]

We couldn’t do diddly poo offensively, we couldn’t make a first down, we couldn’t run the ball, we didn’t try to run the ball, we couldn’t complete a pass, we sucked, it stunk

[Born2Steel]

We couldn’t do diddly poo offensively, we couldn’t make a fist down, we couldn’t run the ball, we didn’t try to run the ball, we couldn’t complete a pass, we sucked, it stunk

But we did run the ball successfully today. Not every single run obviously, but we had 91 yards rushing on what little we did run.

[DuckHodges]

If the offense doesn't improve, losses will stack up. With TJ out, they can't lean on the defense like before.

[Rotorhead]

Fair. But when we ran the ball today Najee ran for 3.3 yards per run, and Warren ran for 3.8 yards per run. We used the FB today on short yardage and were successful in getting the 1st down. That accounts for 20 of our 66 plays today. I don't feel we ran the ball enough today.

It is much easier to run when am we have the threat of a completed pass. Yes we ran better today, Najee had some tuff runs, which was encouraging, but it won’t matter until we can get some production passing.

[Mojouw]

I got nothing but random thoughts that I’m not sure mean anything or not.

What is the “structure” of the offense? There’s no foundation. Just run a jet motion because. Run a jet sweep but never use that as misdirection for something else. Passing routes don’t seemed to be linked together. I see other teams run one receiver through a zone and make the safety run with him and then send another receiver into the vacated space. This is what happened on both of Jefferson’s massive plays last week for the Vikings.

I realize no one is a great blocker across the roster, but why run behind PF and Gunner instead of getting a guard on the move?

Maybe this is just a college offense that is a bunch of random plays rather than a unified “system”.

[DuckHodges]

All i know is if we're just gonna throw 5-7 yard passes all game we shoulda stuck with the Duck man

[hawaiiansteeler]

our offense is offensive.

[polamalubeast]

[dislocatedday]

I went and read a few news articles last night about Matt Canada and his previous stints as a college OC. It seems there are many people, at least in the college ranks, that praise his system and consider him an innovator who has developed offenses that are hard to defend. They discuss some of the same things that have been discussed here on the boards, such as all the pre-snap motion to identify what the defense is doing as one example of his innovations. The one negative I read about Canada at the college ranks is that some people evidently find him a difficult person with whom to work.

So, are the things he did at the college level only going work at that level and not the NFL? When I watch the Steelers play with Canada as OC, to my admittedly untrained eye it does not look like a complicated offense to defend at all, and worse yet it looks like they have a base set of about 10 plays that just get regurgitated over and over. The ball is almost always thrown short of the sticks on third down which is a recurring problem, and in fact the receivers run routes short of the sticks so I assume this is by design.

I'm just trying to figure out how much of the problem is the Canada offense and how much of it is Trubisky. It's been pointed out that when Ben went no-huddle last year and appeared to call his own plays that the Steelers moved the ball.......and when they are calling in the Canada plays from the sidelines that the offense struggles mightily.

I just hope Tomlin is recognizing the problems behind the scenes, and is not going to let the status quo continue through the season. I expect Trubisky to start this week since the game is on Thursday, but if another turd is laid by the offense on the field then by all means make Pickett the starter and/or move on from Canada. I don't think I or any other fan can stomach watching the same ineffective offensive play week after week.

[86WARD]

No…that’s a good thing…

That means they recognize (and what we recognize) that Canada is a buffoon.

[polamalubeast]

No…that’s a good thing…

That means they recognize (and what we recognize) that Canada is a buffoon.

Yeah and it can not continue for another 16 weeks!

[Born2Steel]

I just don't know if I can get 100% behind the idea of firing the OC once the season has started, and in the same week start the new rookie. I'm willing to ride this to the bye and then make a move.

If the players are starting to grumble and complain in the huddle, this season is already lost. THAT is never allowed. Players need to just do their job on the field. Make your grumblings and complaints in the team meetings.

[polamalubeast]

I just don't know if I can get 100% behind the idea of firing the OC once the season has started, and in the same week start the new rookie. I'm willing to ride this to the bye and then make a move.

If the players are starting to grumble and complain in the huddle, this season is already lost. THAT is never allowed. Players need to just do their job on the field. Make your grumblings and complaints in the team meetings.

They can make a change after the game against the Browns, since they will have 10 days before the next game... Players have lost confidence in Matt Canada and probably also in Mitch Trubisky!

If the Steelers continue to have zero production for this offense, the Steelers are going to be with a record around 2-6 at the bye(just to look at the next 4 games after the Jets game!) and then it's going to be too late.

[Mojouw]

OK. I will bite.

Say you fire Canada at some point or another where the schedule buys you a couple extra games to get ready.

Who in the world can you bring in besides elevating Sullivan to be both QB coach and OC?

Football season started. These guys all have jobs at some level or another.

ANd, honestly, I am not sure Sullivan would be any better or worse. He did call plays for McAdoo and that wasn't great...

[polamalubeast]

OK. I will bite.

Say you fire Canada at some point or another where the schedule buys you a couple extra games to get ready.

Who in the world can you bring in besides elevating Sullivan to be both QB coach and OC?

Football season started. These guys all have jobs at some level or another.

ANd, honestly, I am not sure Sullivan would be any better or worse. He did call plays for McAdoo and that wasn't great...

I'm not sure, me too, but at this point we have nothing to lose since under Canada, our offense has scored 10 or less offensive points after 3 quarters in 14 of the 20 games

Sullivan was the OC of the giants under McAdoo but I don't think he wasn't the play caller expect the last 4 games of the 2017 season when McAdoo was fired

[Born2Steel]

OK. I will bite.

Say you fire Canada at some point or another where the schedule buys you a couple extra games to get ready.

Who in the world can you bring in besides elevating Sullivan to be both QB coach and OC?

Football season started. These guys all have jobs at some level or another.

ANd, honestly, I am not sure Sullivan would be any better or worse. He did call plays for McAdoo and that wasn't great...

Pretty much this.

Fire this guy, fire that guy......you need to have a plan. Addition by subtraction does not work here. There is a chain of command/communication. When you remove a piece of that someone has to fill that void. You guys want Tomlin calling the plays like some of the newer HCs do?

[polamalubeast]

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[Mojouw]

Anyone think that dividing up the reps among three guys this summer had a negative impact?

I feel like, and did no research on this, that usually even when a vet comes in but is a new starter....you hear about how teams just force fed that guy every rep they could in camp and preseason so that things could come together and yadda yadda coaching cliche quotes. I think you all know what I mean.

Is some of that real? And did trying to get all 3 QBs practice reps with the first string maybe contribute to some of the herky jerky nature of things? Perhaps Canada is still trying to figure out what each guy does well? QB is still not sure of timing on certain things? Etc....

[EzraTank]

No…that’s a good thing…

That means they recognize (and what we recognize) that Canada is a buffoon.

Yep, and the only drive they scored on was no huddle playing street ball with MT calling the plays. So imagine what a real OC and QB could do with these players?

[EzraTank]

Also this is such a good point someone on Twitter brought up:

"Notice how there no such thing as the Tomlin coaching tree?"

[DesertSteel]

OK. I will bite.

Say you fire Canada at some point or another where the schedule buys you a couple extra games to get ready.

Who in the world can you bring in besides elevating Sullivan to be both QB coach and OC?

Football season started. These guys all have jobs at some level or another.

ANd, honestly, I am not sure Sullivan would be any better or worse. He did call plays for McAdoo and that wasn't great...

There are at least 10 posters on this forum that could be a better OC than Canada. You really think the Steelers couldn't find someone better? Bring back Todd Haley or hire Ben. Draw a name from a hat!

[86WARD]

Here’s how I rank the problems:

1. Matt Canada
2. Offensive Line
3. Mitch Trubisky

That right there is 7 out of 12 parts that need to be replaced or some sort of fixing. Are all five parts of the offensive line “broken” and beyond fixing? Probably not…but for this excersise, as a whole…they all need to be replaced.


1. Matt Canada’s offense. We keep hearing that it’s innovative, lots of motion, blah, blah, blah. The only difference I notice from the time Canada has been here until now is the Jet Sweep in 2021. There have been some slight differences in 2022. Shovel pass to a TE, QB under center, a couple times moving the pocket. Still not throwing to the center of the field. QBs still making one read. What really disturbs me is that I saw receivers running to open areas (wide open areas) yesterday and they didn’t look for the ball. Like I said, maybe they were longer developing routes but if a guy is ten yards downfield, wide open, why aren’t we cutting those routes short for the yardage? Especially if we aren’t throwing deep because we are scared of the Patriots defense?!? Canada’s offense is not translating. It’s very basic, very middle school and to the dumb persons eye (mine), it appears that it is inept and crippling this team.

2. Offensive Line - been beaten to death for two years now…just not good.

3. Trubisky - he is wildly inaccurate at times, a little bit inaccurate at times that should be fixed with time. The wildly inaccurate throws will never be fixed. His throw to Freiermuth for the TD that people said was great wasn’t a good pass. It was behind Muth and if that defender is an inch closer, that’s knocked down or possibly intercepted. Yesterday he made one read and threw the ball. Week One I couldn’t tell if there were receivers open. Yesterday it was crystal clear that there were many receivers open that Trubisky did NOT throw to and took the quick short completion…just like Ben did. Hes all around average at best…with Canada, he’s well below.

At this point, I don’t even think of putting Kenny Pickett into the game. I keep Pickett as back up, I let him ride the pine this season, I start the process of finding an OC that will benefit Pickett’s skills. Season ends, I take the draft pick, draft the best O-Lineman available, I sign a few free agent linemen. I make a call to Munchak now to see what he needs to come back to Pittsburgh this week.

[EzraTank]

I'd love to give Pickett a Todd Haley type OC. Ben was too old and set in his ways when Haley was here. Pickett would be completely different with Haley. Anything but watching Canada's shitty system. Our OL clearly stinks plowing straight ahead running the ball so try pulling a guard or something. And if these guards are too fat/slow to pull then find some that can.

[86WARD]

Anyone think that dividing up the reps among three guys this summer had a negative impact?

I feel like, and did no research on this, that usually even when a vet comes in but is a new starter....you hear about how teams just force fed that guy every rep they could in camp and preseason so that things could come together and yadda yadda coaching cliche quotes. I think you all know what I mean.

Is some of that real? And did trying to get all 3 QBs practice reps with the first string maybe contribute to some of the herky jerky nature of things? Perhaps Canada is still trying to figure out what each guy does well? QB is still not sure of timing on certain things? Etc....

No. That’s normal.

[86WARD]

If the offense doesn't improve, losses will stack up. With TJ out, they can't lean on the defense like before.

Good. O-Line needs som young help.

[Mojouw]

Yep, and the only drive they scored on was no huddle playing street ball with MT calling the plays. So imagine what a real OC and QB could do with these players?

No way MT calls his own plays. Even Ben R had some of that taken away in 2021. That's all Canada in the radio headset.

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There are at least 10 posters on this forum that could be a better OC than Canada. You really think the Steelers couldn't find someone better? Bring back Todd Haley or hire Ben. Draw a name from a hat!

It isn't that they can not find someone better but I can not come up with off the top of my head of an NFL team firing an OC mid-season and bringing in an outside hire to replace that person. As much as we all might like it to happen, hoping for an (almost?) (totally?) unprecedented move to take place is not really worth the time.

[pczach]

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I don't want to hear about receivers and tight ends needing to catch the ball. These guys have been making incredible catches all over the place. Muth had a ball hit him in the face because the defender's hand was in fromt of his face, and the ball went between the hands of the defender. He's already trying to break up the interception at that point. Almost impossible to catch that ball when all you are thinking about is stopping a turnover. The other pass he may be talking about is when Muth going to the right sideline, was open, and Trubisky threw it wide and he barely got a couple fingers on it. If we are at the point when every pass that is within three yards of a receiver is supposed to be caught.....they need a new quarterback.