The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a significant change to their coaching staff, as offensive coordinator Matt Canada has been removed from the team just a few weeks after being moved from the booth to the sideline.
While it may seem surprising that a 6-4 team would make such a move two days before Thanksgiving, the decision appears to be working as they are currently winning and remaining relevant in the league. However, the offense is struggling, with no identity, rhythm, or flow. The team has been outgained in every game this season, and there is no broader strategy for catching defenses off guard.
On Sunday, the Jaylen Warren show was once again on display as the team scored just 10 points. There were also reports of chaos on the sidelines, with receiver Diontae Johnson reportedly being carried away from a member of the coaching staff and head coach Mike Tomlin getting involved in a kerfuffle. Running back Najee Harris also made post-game comments indicating that he was at his wit’s end.
Moving forward, it remains unclear how the offense will operate without Matt Canada calling the shots. Someone else will be running the show (running backs coach Eddie Faulkner), someone else will be calling the plays (quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan), and someone else will have to fix what’s broken on a moving car (the new offensive brain trust).
The Steelers won the Super Bowl in December 2012 after firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and elevating Jim Caldwell into the job. However, Kenny Pickett is not Joe Flacco in his prime and does not possess any standout qualities that make him an elite quarterback. It’s entirely possible that making him a first-round pick in 2022 was a mistake, and it will be interesting to see if new offensive brain trust decides to pivot to Mitch Trubisky or look for another option such as Justin Fields or Kyler Murray for 2024.