The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are loathe to admit they have one --- which is, well, probably the biggest problem in all of this.
Far be it for me to suggest the Steelers adopt a strategy or tactic employed by the Carolina Panthers. I mean, after all, they are the lowly Carolina Panthers … but I think they are swinging and making solid contact in an area where the Steelers refuse to even take the bat off their shoulder.
You see, Panthers new head coach Frank Reich understands he cannot go at it alone. Reich comprehends he needs to bolster his coaching room --- especially on offense --- with as much brain power as he can cobble together.
I mean, did you just see the Super Bowl? The losing team scored 35 points. If that doesn't tell you that you need to score points, I don't know what does or ever will.
So what did Reich do soon after he was hired? He called up former NFL head coach Jim Caldwell and gave him a gig with Carolina as a senior offensive assistant to push in and help what will certainly be an offense in flux but one that could grow.
Sam Darnold is the top quarterback on the depth chart with young Matt Corral second and who knows what will happen after that, or even if one of those guys will be supplanted.
But you know what the overall tone and tenor of all this is? Saturate the atmosphere with as much offensive knowledge as possible as a way of perhaps improving and possibly even perfecting the on-field product.
Instead, in Pittsburgh, we get Mike Tomlin refusing to budge from his deep faith in Matt Canada, a man who guided the Steelers to a lowly 18 points per game this past season.
Why couldn't the Steelers have brought in a fellow like Caldwell? Heck, the money is there especially with the departure of Brian Flores on the defensive side of the ball.
Why can't the Steelers bring in someone --- anyone!!! --- who the league looks at unanimously and says, "that is a very good offensive mind." Caldwell would have fit the bill. Others would too.
Instead, it feels like Canada is grabbing the steering wheel all by his lonesome and Tomlin is telling him he's doing a helluva job driving.
It is mind-boggling really.
I got a text Wednesday morning from someone in college football who has been in the game a very, very long time at the highest reaches of the sport. To paraphrase, it said Caldwell is one of the best in the business, is incredibly respected by his peers and from the analytics side of quarterback play is viewed as someone who commands a mountain of respect. On top of that, this person --- who has worked with Caldwell numerous times as Caldwell scouted college players --- pointed out that the coach is one of the best people in the business and doesn't seem to have any enemies.
Why can't someone like that be on the Steelers payroll and help the development of Kenny Pickett and the young offense?
Your guess is as good as mine.
