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Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers is known as a wordsmith. But at certain times, he can also be a man of few words.
He was the latter when asked about NFL insider Jordan Schultz reporting on September 24 that the team planned to expand offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s role.
“No,” Tomlin said to reporters in his press conference on September 26 when asked if Canada’s role was changed.
Schultz reported that the Steelers were moving Canada “to a more prominent role working with quarterback Kenny Pickett.” Schultz tweeted that in addition to calling offensive plays, Canada would start working with Pickett “on a daily basis.”
Canada is in his third season as offensive coordinator with the Steelers. He joined Tomlin’s coaching staff as quarterbacks coach before the 2020 season.
Steelers Deny ‘Silly’ Report
Even before Tomlin addressed it publicly, although briefly, in his Tuesday press conference, the Steelers organization had addressed Schultz’s report.
The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly wrote that multiple Steelers sources denied the report, rejecting “the idea that anything has changed or will change concerning Canada’s work with Pickett on a daily basis.”
“That’s just silly,” one anonymous source said to Kaboly.
Schultz was the only NFL reporter on September 24 that said a change was coming to Canada’s role with the Steelers.
Schultz’s report left many questions when he first tweeted about it. For one, it seemed odd that Schultz said that Canada was going to begin communicating with Pickett on a daily basis. That’s something that most fans assume a young quarterback and offensive coordinator should already be doing.
Kaboly wrote that the implication of Schultz’s report was Canada “might have been putting blame” for Pickett’s early season struggles on quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan. If Canada was going to be more involved with Pickett on a daily basis, then that could push Sullivan out of his current role.
It would have been great to receive a more elaborate answer from Tomlin. However, the coach made it clear that nothing is changing with the team’s offensive staff.
Matt Canada, Steelers Offense Quiets Doubters for One Week
While Tomlin emphatically denying the report helps, the best way to silence critics is to play well. That’s what the Steelers did in Week 3.
The Steelers offense had its best game of the season in Week 3, scoring 23 points and gaining 333 yards.
Pickett had his best performance of the young season, going 16-for-28 for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was the first time in Pickett’s career that he threw multiple touchdowns in a game.
The Steelers also rushed for a season-high 105 yards and didn’t turn the ball over once.
“With that hanging over his head, Canada came out in front of a national television audience and pulled off his most complete performance in three years,” Kaboly wrote. “Regarding the scheme and especially the play calls, Canada was at his best, other than a third-down run play by Connor Heyward that was stuffed on the opening series.”
Pittsburgh used double-team blocks along the interior of the offensive line to open holes for Najee Harris. In the passing game, Canada called many plays with play-action and rollouts. The misdirection caused problems for the Las Vegas Raiders defense and gave Pickett more time to deliver accurate passes.
The question now is if the Steelers offense can repeat that in Week 4 against the Houston Texans.
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