In the world of professional football, the marriage between a team’s offensive scheme and the talent on the roster is paramount for success. Over the past few seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers have boasted a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, yet their offense has consistently underperformed. Much of the blame has often been placed on offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who has struggled to adapt his playcalling and schemes to the strengths of his personnel. While Canada has had flashes of creativity, his offensive tendencies have become predictable and stale, which in turn has stunted the growth of the offense and prevented the Steelers from reaching their full potential.
As the 2023 season progresses, the question looms larger than ever: Can Matt Canada finally break free from his restrictive tendencies and craft a game plan that allows the Steelers’ offense to thrive? If the Steelers are to return to their glory days of offensive potency and win in a competitive AFC North, Canada’s playcalling must evolve. The Steelers desperately need to move away from his established patterns and embrace a more dynamic, versatile attack.
### A Look Back: Canada’s Offensive Track Record
Matt Canada’s tenure as offensive coordinator has been marked by frustration. After taking over the role in 2021, Canada inherited a team with an aging Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback and an offense that was still in transition. Despite the challenges, the Steelers’ offense remained functional under Roethlisberger, even if it lacked the explosiveness many fans hoped for. However, after Roethlisberger’s retirement, the team shifted to a new quarterback, Kenny Pickett, who brought a new dimension to the offense but also introduced growing pains.
Under Canada, the Steelers’ offense has often been plagued by a lack of creativity and innovation. The attack has frequently been predictable, featuring a steady diet of short passes, running plays up the middle, and conservative play calls on third down. As a result, Pittsburgh has struggled to put together sustained drives and create explosive plays, especially against strong defenses. Fans and analysts alike have pointed out the lack of identity within Canada’s scheme, noting that while he may call for a mix of plays, the overall approach is rarely exciting or difficult for defenses to read.
One of the main criticisms of Canada’s offense is its inability to consistently stretch the field. Despite having weapons like wide receiver Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and tight end Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers’ offense rarely capitalizes on deep passing opportunities. This lack of verticality is especially puzzling considering Canada’s background as a college offensive coordinator, where high-paced, high-scoring offenses are often the norm. In the NFL, Canada’s style has seemed out of sync with modern offensive trends, where tempo, spacing, and creativity are often key to success.
### Predictability: The Achilles’ Heel of Canada’s Scheme
A major issue with Canada’s offensive system is its predictability. NFL defenses are highly skilled at breaking down tendencies, and once they understand how a coordinator thinks, it becomes much easier to anticipate what’s coming next. The Steelers’ offense under Canada has been overly reliant on certain formations and play types that defensive coordinators can quickly identify.
For example, when the Steelers line up in certain formations, it’s often clear whether they are running the ball or passing. Canada’s tendency to lean on short, quick throws—especially behind the line of scrimmage or in the flat—has allowed defenses to crowd the line of scrimmage and take away easy yardage. The lack of variety in route concepts and the unwillingness to push the ball downfield make it easier for defenses to key in on where the ball is likely going, leading to fewer open windows for playmakers.
Moreover, Canada has frequently favored a predictable running game, often calling for runs up the middle or off-tackle, which fails to exploit the full range of options available in modern offenses. While Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are both talented backs, their success has been hindered by a lack of creative blocking schemes and misdirection plays. The Steelers have the personnel to create space in the run game, but Canada’s tendency to call conventional runs has limited the effectiveness of the ground attack.
This predictability isn’t just an issue in the running game. On third down, Canada’s playcalling often lacks the innovation needed to keep defenses off-balance. Too often, the Steelers’ offense is stuck in long third-and-8 situations, where the playbook becomes narrow, and defenses can pin their ears back. These predictable situations have contributed to the Steelers’ inability to stay ahead of the chains, resulting in inefficient offensive performances.
### The Need for Creativity: Utilizing Playmakers in New Ways
To free himself from these tendencies, Canada must find ways to incorporate more creativity and flexibility into the offense. The first step is to embrace the strengths of his playmakers and use them in ways that stretch the defense. With Kenny Pickett under center, the Steelers have a young quarterback with a strong arm and a desire to push the ball downfield. Pickett’s ability to make all the throws is one of his biggest assets, and Canada needs to design plays that give him the opportunity to attack vertically.
One area that’s often underutilized is the deep passing game. The Steelers have the speed on the outside with George Pickens, who has shown a knack for making highlight-reel catches, and Diontae Johnson, who is adept at getting open and creating separation. But too often, Canada’s playbook has featured short, safe throws, while deeper routes are either rare or run out of predictable formations. The defense can cover shallow routes with ease, but once the ball is pushed down the field, it opens up more room for both the passing and running games.
In addition to the vertical passing game, Canada must embrace more creative pre-snap motion, misdirection, and play action. Motion can be used to confuse defenses and create mismatches, while play-action sets allow the offensive line to gain an advantage. These tools are particularly effective when the running game can be established, allowing the offense to open up the playbook and keep defenders guessing. Canada’s failure to consistently incorporate these elements into his game plan has made the Steelers’ offense far too predictable.
Furthermore, utilizing Pat Freiermuth as more than just a safety valve is essential. As one of the more talented tight ends in the league, Freiermuth has the ability to stretch the field in the intermediate passing game, while also being a physical presence in the red zone. Canada must tap into Freiermuth’s versatility and use him in more creative ways, such as lining him up in different spots or designing plays to get him open down the seam.
### Breaking Free: How Canada Can Evolve
The time has come for Matt Canada to break free from his tendencies and transform the Steelers’ offense into one that can challenge any defense. To do so, he must:
1. **Diversify the Running Game**: Rather than relying solely on traditional running plays, Canada needs to use motion, misdirection, and outside zone runs to create space for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. This will help keep defenses off-balance and allow the backs to find more holes.
2. **Utilize the Deep Passing Game**: By calling for more deep throws, Canada can take advantage of Pickett’s arm strength and create more explosive plays. This will open up the field and help the short and intermediate passing game.
3. **Incorporate More Play Action and Motion**: By using more pre-snap motion and play action, Canada can create mismatches and confuse defenses, making it harder for them to read the Steelers’ intentions.
4. **Embrace the Talents of Playmakers**: The Steelers have a strong group of playmakers in Johnson, Pickens, and Freiermuth. Canada must find ways to get these players involved early and often, using their unique skill sets to create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
### Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has been hampered by predictable and outdated playcalling under Matt Canada. With the right adjustments, however, there is plenty of potential for the offense to thrive. Canada must evolve his scheme, break free from his tendencies, and use his talented roster in more dynamic ways. If he can do so, the Steelers could finally take the next step offensively and be a serious contender in the AFC. The time for change is now.
