It’s all set up for him now.
Last year, the big excuse came in the form of big #7. Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t the guy that can run Matt Canada’s offense. He’s not mobile enough, he’s a statue back there. Plus, we all know that Ben would rather be his own offensive coordinator.
When push came to shove and Ben wanted to go out there and try to make some plays, he would throw that playbook and that game plan right out the window and do what he wanted. How was Matt Canada supposed to implement his offensive genius when he was working with a quarterback like that?
So, once Ben Roethlisberger retired this offseason, the Steelers had a decision to make. They could either look at some of the offense’s shortcomings in 2021 and think that the first year NFL offensive coordinator doesn't have what it takes to get it done at this level.
Or…they could go all in and get him all the help he needs to be successful. And that’s exactly what they did. They spent the focus of this offseason doing just that.
Think about it. They didn’t just settle for Mason Rudolph.
They brought in not just one quarterback with mobility (and we all know mobile QB’s seem to be a staple of a Matt Canada offense) but two. Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett have the athleticism to get outside the pocket and make plays, if not at least extend plays, with their feet.
JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ray Ray McCloud left via free agency. So the Steelers spent significant draft capital to replace them in the form of 2nd round pick George Pickens and 4th round pick Calvin Austin III. Assuming Diontae Johnson shows up at some point this season, he should be a fringe #1 receiver option and you’d like to think Chase Claypool has the talent to bounce back from a disappointing season. Spending two picks at the same position within the first four rounds is a very clear effort to improve.
Then we can go to the offensive line, where the Steelers spent free agent money bringing in James Daniels and Mason Cole. They didn’t just leave it to hopeful improvement of rookies Dan Moore Jr. and Kendrick Green, as well as the improved health of Kevin Dotson. They spent money to make it better.
Here stands the Steelers offense in 2022. Weapons everywhere. Actually, young weapons everywhere. Matt Canada has two QB’s that theoretically fit his system. He has a running back in Najee Harris who was a stud in his rookie year and looks pretty good destroying some tackling dummies and drills in OTA’s.
Diontae Johnson (again, assuming that he doesn’t pull a Le’Veon Bell in holdout for more money) and Chase Claypool are two young receivers who have shown inconsistencies but have a ton of talent. George Pickens may well have been a 1st round pick if he hadn’t gotten hurt earlier in the season at Georgia. Calvin Austin III is a burner, capable of providing that speed element that Canada loved with a guy like Quandree Henderson at Pitt.
To top it off, Pat Freiermuth has a legitimate chance to establish himself as one of the best TE’s in the AFC this year with this sure hands and ability to get open down the field.
There’s no excuses here for Matt Canada. The Steelers have tailored things to what his skillset should be. He’s got athletes to work with and no preconceived notions as to how the offense should run, like he may have had with Ben Roethlisberger last year.
The Steelers could have moved on from him after an underwhelming offensive output. Instead, they’ve given him help. Instead of, “Matt, we appreciate your efforts in trying to bring your offensive philosophy to the NFL, but we’re going to go in a different direction,” it is now, “Here you go, Matt. Here’s a young offense ready to molded to what you want, let’s go do it.”
So when you strip away all of the excitement about the quarterback position, who’s going to start, Kenny Pickett actually becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler…it all comes down to Matt Canada. A good offensive coordinator can make an offense like this successful. It’s on him now.
The Steelers have given him the tools. Will he fail to put the pieces into place or does he make a masterpiece?