LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Camp practices hadn’t started, it was just move in day when Kenny Pickett told us about his relationship with Matt Canada. It actually grew during his first NFL starts last year, expanded through voluntary workouts and now in camp. The Steelers quarterback is on the same page with the offensive coordinator.
Pickett told us in May he’s been able to mold the offense how he wants it and likes it. He sat in meeting rooms going through plays from last year not only to improve himself, but the entire offense. Pickett is excited about the communication between the offense and coaching staff.
“It is what you expect,” Canada told 93.7 The Fan. “Kenny is a student of the game, a tremendous competitor. He wants to be good. It was a good off-season, he certainly worked at it. He was in there all the time. He’s been in the system. He’s seen the system, what he likes. What we can do better. What we don’t like any more. It’s been a great offseason and been a great camp.”
Coach and quarterback figured out what they like and tossed out what they didn’t. They had more opportunities to experiment in the Spring and now, with the pads on, are starting to see what works with a few new faces this year.
Canada said what is obvious, any player is going to improve in the second year in a system and the improvement between the first and second year is usually the largest. He then pointed out a big reason he believes they’ve had a good start to training camp.
“We had three guys taking reps at quarterback a year ago today and he was the third guy going in at this point,” Canada told 93.7 The Fan. “To get all of the reps with the ones, to be able to have a voice ‘this is what I like’.”
Every quarterback in camp has had down time, days or periods off, except Pickett. He has been with the first team for every rep. He is out there to talk with his teammates every minute of every practice.
“That timing with the playing he’s getting with the players is what you are seeing to me,” Canada told me. “That’s the tremendous difference. I do think in the system, the checks and calls, he’s much more comfortable doing that and the guys are more comfortable hearing it knowing he knows exactly what to do.”
Pickett is not afraid to tell players when they screw something up and they trust him because they have time together. For new players, they are getting positive vibes from those who have been around him. The most common word used to describe Pickett this year, and they have been asked a lot about him, is composure.
“When you know something forward and backward, it’s easier to be in control and composed,” Canada told 93.7 The Fan. “I think that happens with experience. I think that’s true at that position across the league.”
It wasn’t like that last year, it’s a reason the expectations are higher. It’s not the Matt Canada offense, it’s the Matt Canada-Kenny Pickett offense. Let’s see what they can do.