The Steelers’ offense has been one of the least productive and most frustrating over the last few seasons, and most of the ire has fallen on offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Apoplectic Yinzers looking for who’s at fault here will have to find another target, as the team relieved Canada of his duties on Tuesday morning.
Per multiple sources, it’s expected that running backs coach will be elevated to offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will call the plays in-game.
Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns had to have been the last straw.
The Browns were starting rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but they couldn’t match Pittsburgh’s offensive incompetence.
First, there was the disparity in use between running backs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris. Warren has been by far the more dynamic player this season, gaining 5.1 yards per carry and forcing 27 missed tackles to Harris’ 4.0 yards per carry and 21 missed tackles forced. And in this 13-yard loss to the Browns, Warren had the one truly dynamic play with this 74-yard touchdown with 14:10 left in the third quarter.
🎥 JAYLEN WARREN RELANCE PITTSBURGH ! Un Touchdown sur cette course de 74 YARDS #HereWeGo@Nunless2 | @steelers
📺 @beinsports_FR MAX 4 #NFLextra
📱 @NFLonDAZN pic.twitter.com/1BJyqrx0pb— NFL France (@NFLFrance) November 19, 2023
So. Why did Warren get just nine carries (for 127 yards and that touchdown) to Harris’ 12 (for a sparking total of 35 yards)? Beats the heck out of us. Mike Tomlin didn’t have a lot of answers, either.
Do you think you should have gotten the ball to Jaylen Warren more often? #Steelers Mike Tomlin pic.twitter.com/k2iXDdaBFy
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) November 19, 2023
Then, there was this from quarterback Kenny Pickett after his performance, in which he completed 15 of 28 passes for 106 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 62.5.
Kenny Pickett admits the Browns gameplan fooled the Steelers. #Steelers
"We were expecting them to come in and play man. We gotta adjust better.”https://t.co/BvQ2pV6svZ
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) November 19, 2023
To be fair, the Browns came into this week with a 38% man coverage rate, fourth-highest in the league. But if you can’t adjust to what’s going on in the game… I mean, what are we doing here?
Now, someone else will have to answer that question. The 6-4 Steelers have never held a positive point differential in any of Canada’s three seasons.
