PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Last year at the bye week the Steelers found an identity on offense. It wasn’t pretty or even overly productive at times, but they made enough plays with a physical mindset and few turnovers to win seven of the final nine games.
This year the Steelers go into the bye week, much earlier and tied for first place despite issues again on offense. They’ve shown some explosive plays over the first five games. Can they combine that with a more consistent run game and improve before playing at Los Angeles next Sunday?
“We got to look at what we are doing well and what we think we can get better at,” Canada said Wednesday before the team left for a few days off. “Can we run this? Why is it not working? Was it who we played? Was it what we did? Simplifying in some areas, adding on in some other areas.”
Kenny Pickett alluded to it the day before, they were going over the playbook to figure out which play’s work, which ones to scrap and if there might be some ideas to add. Canada said part of those decisions to keep or ditch plays is if they are schematically feasible or if the players just need to work on their details to make it successful.
Canada said they, and he especially, are well aware the offense hasn’t done enough at this point. He doesn’t need the crowd at a Pens game to tell him they need to be more productive.
“We are not exactly where we want to be at this point,” Canada said. “We are 3-2, wish we were 5-0, 4-1, but we are not. To win the two games we won in our division are big. We will keep working and get better. We have a few guys coming back, which is exciting.”
Canada joined the chorus along with Pickett, receivers coach Frisman Jackson, Calvin Austin and Diontae Johnson himself that Johnson’s expected return next week will be an impact to the group. His should help not only on third down plays, but getting those yards to make them more manageable or to a point where they are not in that situation at all.
Canada also hinted they could get Pat Freiermuth and their injured offensive linemen back, James Daniels has been out a couple of weeks with a groin injury and Dan Moore with a knee. The Moore return is intriguing because his injury allowed first-round pick Broderick Jones to start. He might not give that job up.
“I feel really good about where we are,” Canada said. “Where are players are. I think our players are certainly frustrated and disappointed with our production. I don’t think there is a lack of belief in them, with each other or where they think they can go. They understand they can be better. We are sitting where we are sitting, we would like to be better.”
“There’s a lot of football left. I think there is a good vibe from the guys about getting to play the rest of the season and do what they expected to go coming into the season.”
Audible clarity
Canada said when Pickett called an audible on the touchdown pass to win the Ravens game, he was audibling the protection. The route that George Pickens ran was called in the huddle. He credited his quarterback for recognizing the protection adjustment and said he did it three or four times during the game.
He said Pickett is probably more comfortable right now with the offense, but didn’t want to give away how often they check out of plays or when they have to options to do it (for competitive reasons).