While the search for a new quarterback, and, eventually general manager, are the dominant storylines in Pittsburgh for this offseason, news has come out with significant implications for the team’s offense. In his end-of-season press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin stated that offensive coordinator Matt Canada will likely return in 2022. 
When asked about the offense’s struggles this season, Tomlin expressed confidence in Canada, saying “I’m optimistic about Matt and what he’s capable of doing” (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala). While he added, “I acknowledge we took a step back [on offense]. There’s some obvious tangible reasons why that occurred”, along with an intention to get better on that side of the ball, he is comfortable with giving Canada a second season at the helm.
Mark Kaboly of the Athletic notes that Canada took over as OC this year knowing the team’s emphasis had been placed on an improved running game. With major changes to the playbook, a vastly different offensive line and the drafting of Najee Harris, the team saw a minor uptick in production on the ground. Still, the Steelers ranked 29th in the league with an average of only 93 rushing yards per game.
As for the other elements of the offense, a notable regression took place across the board. The team’s averages in at least 10 major categories saw declines of varying degrees compared to the 2020 campaign. Perhaps the most significant one was the drop in points per game from 26 down to 20.2 – something which contributed to a total of 16 fewer offensive touchdowns being scored than last year, despite there being a 17th game this season.
The unit’s performance in the playoff loss to the Chiefs, which is widely expected to end up being QB Ben Roethlisberger‘s final NFL game, proved the need for drastic improvement going forward. That fact wasn’t lost on Tomlin, who also said, “I am not acknowledging satisfaction with any component of what we did”. He still used the word “attractive”, though, to describe the 50-year-old’s scheme, which he demonstrated in a successful college coaching career and helped him earn the OC role after one season serving as the Steelers’ QB coach.
Regardless of who the starting quarterback is for the Steelers in 2022, then, they will at least have an offensive coordinator with a year of experience and a vote of confidence working with them.
Don’t like it. He was not a fit for Ben at all which I get, but he did not show he can adjust to the game. Offense could only move it seemed like when Ben was calling the shots in hurry up, and those plays called were nothing like Canada’s. You can say somewhat that when Ben called the hurry up the game was over and the defense was playing prevent, but there were a lot of games where it wasn’t a blowout (week18) and Ben called the shots and they moved the ball. My dream offseason is get Tyler Huntley, draft a guard or MLB first round, other second, resign juju, edmunds, Witherspoon. Extend minkah. Fire Canada was on this list. Looks like it ain’t happening
I agree with the above, but it’s also hard for me to decide how much to blame Canada or how much to think that he was just playing with the pieces that he had.
That offensive line is just so bad that Ben’s being there as a (formerly elite) veteran quarterback was the only thing helping the offense. The receivers also could use some work-I’m not sure Pittsburgh has a receiver who can reliably make contested catches or break press coverage consistently enough to bail out a quick throw offense. Harris got beat up a lot this year because of that line, but the run game was not good enough to offset the passing woes. How much of this is scheme and how much was necessity I do not know. What I do know though is that without deciding who they want at QB, it’s going to difficult to pick a long term offensive coordinator to match him with.
Absurd to keep him. He’s horrible.
Tomlin is too stubborn to admit he made a mistake hiring Canada. The Steelers will be in the middle of a rebuild so keeping Canada a second year isn’t going to make a big difference. This is a 6-9 win team in 2022
We’ve seen the stubborn ways for years. We saw it with departures and near departures of good assistant coaches, we saw it in their draft mentality which sought to not upset their aging QB by drafting a “stud” (they moved up to draft a LB but never saw the need to address QB).
To me, it’s a given that everything that transpired this off season will happen via in house moves, for better or worse. Austin can’t possibly be a worse DC than what they have but clearly, the rationale for keeping Canada amount to simply sticking by a suspect decision
They’re going to go with Rudolph and Haskins vying to be QB and possibly will bring in some second tier NFL QB to compete. One local TV legend is pushing Trubisky. Others are saying Mariotta
I found it fascinating that Stephen A Smith and PFT are talking up Deshaun Watson. PFT went so far to say that the Steelers weathered the storm when Roethlisberger was accused of sexual misconduct and that he quickly transforms them into a contender. Strictly from a football sense, I’d love the move. But with the Steelers, Watson, Garoppalo and Carr as just as much a pipe dream as Rodgers and Wilson
It’s going to be a fascinating off season. Coaching, front office, both lines, linebacker and secondary…..so many problems here. Even with money to spend and the draft, it’s hard to imagine these guys turning it around quickly
link to youtube.com
Crap
Bring in Trubia
I think they should bring in Trubisky to compete with Rudolph and Haskins. He’s been a starter on a play off team. He’s mobile.
The Steelers had one of the worst offensive lines in all of football last season. Couple that with a ‘crippled’ QB and the OC job is Pitt was set up for failure from the get go. What Najee was able to do behind that line was amazing. While Pitt absolutely needs to find a QB for next season, they also need to add at least 3 new offensive lineman either via the draft or free agency. If they don’t address the O-Line, it’s going to be another rough season for Pitt no matter who they have for QB or OC.
Why, go out and get some young innovative mind