PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We heard it from the star receiver and now more confirmation that Kenny Pickett is heading in the right direction. Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada said Pickett has been all clear and all go so far this week.
TE returning
Canada also optimistic of getting tight end Pat Freiermuth back. He returned to full practice on Wednesday after missing the Tampa Bay game with a concussion.
"Pat is a weapon," Canada said. "Everybody has a different scheme, different way they cover people. They got different strengths which is a matchup for how you work. Having Pat back adds us a really, really viable weapon that have to be aware of. How they handle covering him will dictate where the ball should go and who it should go to."
"Having Pat back is awesome."
Claypool Consistency
In his third season, receiver Chase Claypool has yet to string together back-to-back 100-yard games, or in this case 96-yard games. The closest was last year with 93 yards vs. the Chargers in a game they trailed big in the second half followed by an 82-yard game in a 31-point loss to Cincinnati.
Claypool caught seven passes on seven targets for 96 yards and the Steelers first receiving touchdown of the season vs. the Bucs.
"A lot of it was the way that it went," said Canada. "He started making plays and the quarterback got a feel for that. The way the game dictated itself, the matchups that occurred, kind of a combination of all that."
The second-year Steelers OC said he's not as concerned with getting Claypool another big game. He thinks they should have different people filling in that role week-to-week.
"With the weapons that we have, there's probably games that should be like that," Canada said. "You should probably have a game where a guy has a bunch. If they are choosing to double Johnson or they are focused on George or focused on Pat. I think that's something that shouldn't be that uncommon, but we have to have more productivity consistently however it comes."
Run Game
"We know we are not where we want to be," Canada said. "You look at Naj's (Harris) health. He was out in camp (with the foot injury). He's coming along (steel plate removed from his shoe). You saw him be a little more downhill. A little more decisive."
"The production is not where we want it, but you saw him be more decisive."
Mitch Confidence
For his performance in the fourth quarter against Tampa Bay, Canada praised quarterback Mitch Trubisky's work on the field and in preparation.
"I think he's been an ultimate pro through the whole deal," Canada said. "He's working extremely hard. His performance showed he was ready to play. It wasn't like he was acting like he wouldn't play or he wouldn't have played as well as he did. He knew exactly what to do. Where to go with the ball, protections, checks. Everything that he has to do at that position that you don't get reps at doing. He's helped Kenny. He's helped the wideouts. He's been really, really good."
Does that mean confidence is high if Trubisky has to play Sunday or at any other time?
"I think we just watched it," Canada said. "I think our confidence is very high. He came in, we kept throwing the ball and he kept making plays."
"We had to win the game, I'm happy for our players first. But obviously for him, he came in and showed he was ready to play. He showed he was a very, very good player and made big plays at big times."
Flores Bond
Canada said he built a relationship with Brian Flores when he took a year off from coaching in 2018. He was down there for 10 days because they have a mutual friend in Lance Bennett, who was on Flores' coaching staff. It was at that point the two got to know each other.
"Flo is great," Canada said. "I'm happy about the relationship we have, the ability to talk to him about different views. What he sees? What they are trying to do? Now you have another set of eyes, another opinion."
