PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Trending on Twitter on Tuesday was the hashtag 'Fire Canada'. It probably wasn't the only day it has. Will the Steelers make a move?
Canada would only say Tuesday he comes in every day to get it fixed. He could be the last to know he's getting fired. Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan asked if he was told there would be any changes?
"No," Sullivan said without hesitation. "We went through here and had very, very in-depth meetings. Meeting with Coach T and meeting with the offensive staff."
"First and foremost, it's taking a hard look at any and everything we can do better. That we can try to get our guys in better positions. How we go about putting the game plan together."
"Taking a hard look at ourselves through the first eight games. What have we been good at? What are the things that have been there for us? What have we struggled with? If it's something that continually ends up being a bad play, maybe those are concepts that are put to the back-burner. That self-analysis is really critical."
So, no changes with the staff, but in how they look at the offense. He said they don't want to completely reinvent the wheel. Noting it's November and you don't have time to change a bunch of things.
"There may be an idea or two or a wrinkle that you see other teams do that fit our personality," Sullivan said. "If we can incorporate that in, than it'd be foolish not to consider it. Everything is on the table here as we try to find the right way to get this going."
No team averages fewer points than the Pittsburgh Steelers at 15 per game. It's even worse at 14.3 over the last three games. It stands to reason the Steelers are last in passing touchdowns.
They are also last in QB rating, last in rushing plays over 20 yards and bottom half in several other categories.
They did have three scoring drives against the Eagles. One of 13 plays, one of 12 plays and one of 15 plays that combined to take nearly a third of the game (19:35) to get those 13 points.
"Anytime you are having those 10, 12, 14-play drives, regardless of the offense or the team, there is going to be a margin for error," Sullivan said. "Trying to find those splash plays is something we are working hard at as a staff looking at who we are putting where and the concepts to give us the possibility to get those splash plays."
"It makes it much easier. We'd love to have those four play drives that end in six points."
Sullivan said that doesn't mean passes in the air 45 yards, it's timing. Getting the ball to fast receivers, in-stride, and let them do their thing with yards after catch. He says that where the great offenses get their chunk plays.
"I think it's a combination of everything," Sullivan said of why it's not working for them. "There are instances where we need to make a better throw. There are other times where we need to have a better route. There are other times we need to have better protection."
"It's luck of the draw and it can be frustrating and things get compounded, especially when you look at 2-6 like we are. We just have to keep working at it and those things are going to come."
Sullivan has called plays before as a former offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay and with the Giants. He said with game plans when it's working, it's a thing of beauty. Then there are the times when everything that could possibly go wrong, does.
That would be the 2022 Steelers. Sullivan has these simple words as a fix before it improves.
"Before we can play well, we have to stop playing bad."
The journey to the end zone starts with the first step.
