PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s one thing to make a change at offensive coordinator, but it’s still up to the players to execute whatever changes will be in the game plan this week. Reaction from a couple of Steelers offensive veterans on the team relieving Matt Canada of his duties.
“It heightens our sense to ‘let’s get going’,” said Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth. “Obviously, everyone is going to have their eyes on us, on the offense this week. We just have to execute and do what we have to do.”
“It’s on everybody to get this train moving forward and get pushed in the right direction,” said Steelers receiver Allen Robinson. “Put in the work in at practice. It won’t be one specific individual or one specific thing that will change. It’s going to take us all as a collective to do that.”
Robinson said all have to be locked in from the first practice on Wednesday through the game in Cincinnati. He said the players need to come together and work on their individual efforts to be better, whether its communication, details or just plainly being on the same page.
“There are a lot of little things that may happen before we get on the grass to be able to hash out, talk through and get detailed up,” Freiermuth said. “Once you step foot on the field you are able to go and play free and allow your talents to take over.”
Playing free is something the Steelers didn’t seem to do often under Matt Canada. Now it’s Eddie Faulkner as the offensive coordinator and Mike Sullivan calling the plays on the field.
“He’s cool in terms of being able to educate us on what is going on,” Robinson said. “Being able to keep communication open.”
“He’s very positive,” Freiermuth said of Sullivan. “He’s a great guy. He definitely knows his football. He’s been around the league for a little bit. I’m excited to see how he calls a game.”
Freiermuth added he likes the energy around Faulkner. He said he’s one who has been an inspiring presence in the room during the tight end’s entire time with the Steelers.
Both said they have full confidence in Kenny Pickett at quarterback. Robinson said in the end the success of an offense doesn’t come down to one person. It’s about them as a group figuring out what they are good at and executing. That’s why Mike Tomlin made the change, now it’s about the rest of them coming together and making a difference.