PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It became a big story when the CBS broadcast crew, during the Houston game, said Matt Canada told them their offense isn’t built to come back when the Steelers were trailing 13-0 late in the third quarter. That’s a hell of a statement by the team’s offensive coordinator.
On Thursday, Canada got an opportunity to explain what happened and why that statement was made. He called it ‘an unbelievable misinterpretation of a conversation’
Both coordinators and the head coach typically meet the national TV broadcast crew in a one-on-one setting on Saturday night before 1p Sunday games. They will talk strategy so the broadcasters get a feeling for the team.
“The conversation was why we ran more runs and play action against the Raiders than the opening game (against 49ers),” Canada explained. “Why was that, as you look at a stat sheet, why did it look that way?”
Canada said the start of the San Francisco game didn’t go the way they planned. The only way they scored in the first half was on a two-minute drive and then early in the second half, the Niners scored again and they lost Diontae Johnson to injury.
He said it was 2:02 in the third quarter and they were down three scores.
“You are not going to stick to your running plan and the plan of running play-action when you are down three scores,” Canada said. “All we care about here is winning, the conversation was at this point, the plan wasn’t built to do that. We still believe we were going to win, but we kept throwing it, we had to.”
“At no point was that conversation meant in that regard. I certainly believe he knew that, it was taken wrong if not. Of all the things we want to talk about, at no point do I doubt our players. Doubt where we are. Doubt we could come back, no doubts.”
“I was saying any football person would tell you we were down 3 scores with 17 minutes to go—they have to go to two-minute and our offense is aware of that.”
Canada said he had not talked with the CBS crew or anyone with the network. He’s not trying to start anything with them. He wanted to explain what he was saying and that a pair of Steelers staffers were in the room during those meetings and can confirm what they said.
“I firmly believe we are built come from behind,” Canada said. “I’ve stood up here every time and I’ve not placed any blame anywhere but me. I’ve said every time I believe 1000% in our players and our coaches. If I’ve not been clear about that… I think I have been clear about that.”