Dulac: Steelers have no plans to replace Matt Canada, will return in 2023

[NorthCoast]

There was some talk that the Steelers traditionally don't fire coordinators, they simply let their contracts expire and don't renew. This being his last season under contract, I could see that as a possibility.

If they gave serious consideration, it might look like this:

• Yes, the OC struggled. But I also know that he was limited in play-calling because he had a rookie that he was trying to save from rookie mistakes and INT
• If his plan is rollouts and such, he didn't have that capability with Ben, either. Ben really wasn't mobile at the end
• Ya know, young QBs who tend to have multiple OC tend to struggle as time passes; worse things could happen to KP than to spend another year under this guy
• With one more year, I expect to see the offense "in full" and if it continues to be bad, I've at least had time to evaluate KP in the NFL and to know what kind of OC would work for him

I'm not saying these are all the *right* decisions, but I could understand them

Giving this ☆☆☆☆

"I'm expecting him to kill it" - Tomlin on his Yr2 QB.

Doesn't sound like a coach trying to keep his thumb on the offense.

[NJ-STEELER]

You're right.

Ben was awesome in that last year.

That's why he's still playing football.

say what? He sure got the majority of the blame. No?

gone and we see the offense didn?t change much. Surprise !!! Lol

kind of makes me wonder why the leadership of this team banked on him coming back at tgat old age. After an injury to his throwing arm no less.
great captains guiding this ship. Fells like the SS Minow with giligan tomlin

[NorthCoast]

Unfortunately, it's not unreasonable to think that both the OC and QB will end up being below the line. But we can still hope (especially for KP, which is far more important IMO).

Was thinking about starting a new thread for this, but putting it here is maybe just as good. "Scout" review on Pickens.

Things I got from this (but watch it yourself because I'm sure there's confirmation bias here too):

• Has highlight reel ability, but be careful not to overhype from the highlights because there are still lots of things to work on.
• Ran an unreasonably high amount of Go and Corner routes very few in breaking routes like slants and posts. But success was high on the types of routes he ran, and not good for the ones he didn't (based on getting open and running the route, not targets / catches / things related to the QB)
• Pretty good against press coverage (69th percentile), below average against man (34the percentile), but very bad against zone (5th percentile) [High numbers good in percentile, low numbers bad]. Again, rated performance is about getting open not about getting targets / catches. Said at least part of the bad zone numbers are probably because he runs so many go type routes and has little variety (which is why I figured this was as good a place as any to put this).
• It's unfortunate that Pickens seems to struggle getting open on intermediate routes, because Picket also seems to struggle throwing intermediate passes. Again, while scheme plays a role here players also need to execute. This also seems to fit into the "both/and" rather than the "either/or" bucket.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in zone it's all about footwork and body movements to confuse the DB. There are clips of some of his routes that were downright awful.... JV if you will.

[feltdizz]

You're right.

Ben was awesome in that last year.

That's why he's still playing football.

seriously.. Ben was 40. Let it go already.

[Northern_Blitz]

now 2 years and running since yinz been hearing how all his motion and play action (that ben never wanted to run) will open up the offense.

how many more coordinators, on both sides of the ball, are going to get the blame

You're right.

Ben was awesome in that last year.

That's why he's still playing football.

[Steel Maniac]

I would hope Rooney would have stepped in and hired a real OC, but I think he agrees with Tomlin. He wants smashmouth, conservative, safe offense.

All is about to be revealed this coming season. All these linger questions will be put to bed. For better or for worse.

[Captain Lemming]

I would hope Rooney would have stepped in and hired a real OC, but I think he agrees with Tomlin. He wants smashmouth, conservative, safe offense.

I think you have those positions reversed my friend.

Are those Tomlins principles too? Absolutely.
But who HIRED HIM?

I think the Ben, Brown, Bell era enticed the team (Rooney and Tomlin) to abandon their core principles.

Tomlin is doing what he was hired to do by Rooney just as much as Canada is doing what he was hired to do by Tomlin.

That said, I have no doubt the EXTREME level of conservatism is just because Kenny was a rookie.

We WILL open it up more just because of QB experience.

But it is clear that we do not aspire to win trying to out KC the Chiefs.

[WindyCitySteel]

If Tomlin had his thumb on the O then it doesn't matter who the OC is if that continues. It boils down to why the O was held back, and what the plan is going into this season. I think most of us hope that the reason is because they wanted to bring the rookie QB along slowly, and things will open up now. The flip side would be if the team's offensive philosophy is to play passive and let the D carry the team, in which case we are likely to see more of the same.

I think (hope) that going with the first scenario is more likely and that Canada will now be given more control, but I also think that his system is pretty much untested because he has not been able to install it before now.

I would hope Rooney would have stepped in and hired a real OC, but I think he agrees with Tomlin. He wants smashmouth, conservative, safe offense.

[NJ-STEELER]

Poor Kenny, played in a straightjacket all year. Can't believe they brought that clown back at OC. They're just not serious about offensive football in the most explosive offensive era yet.

BTW, mad respect to SteelersDepot making a living off of other peoples' research and hard work. Wrap it in a short blog post, cash those checks!

now 2 years and running since yinz been hearing how all his motion and play action (that ben never wanted to run) will open up the offense.

how many more coordinators, on both sides of the ball, are going to get the blame

[feltdizz]

I actually think Tomlin has his thumb on the offense, and Canada is his puppet, so in that regard when I say "bringing back Canada" I mean sticking with the same risk-averse, ultra-simple system.

They could have gotten Kenny's OC from Pitt, Mark Whipple, for a song to be the OC but it's just not the plan to play real NFL offense.

Whipple went from 475K at Pitt to 875K at Nebraska.

Canada makes 1M per season.

Not much room to save money.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I actually think Tomlin has his thumb on the offense, and Canada is his puppet, so in that regard when I say "bringing back Canada" I mean sticking with the same risk-averse, ultra-simple system.

They could have gotten Kenny's OC from Pitt, Mark Whipple, for a song to be the OC but it's just not the plan to play real NFL offense.

If Tomlin had his thumb on the O then it doesn't matter who the OC is if that continues. It boils down to why the O was held back, and what the plan is going into this season. I think most of us hope that the reason is because they wanted to bring the rookie QB along slowly, and things will open up now. The flip side would be if the team's offensive philosophy is to play passive and let the D carry the team, in which case we are likely to see more of the same.

I think (hope) that going with the first scenario is more likely and that Canada will now be given more control, but I also think that his system is pretty much untested because he has not been able to install it before now.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

I actually think Tomlin has his thumb on the offense, and Canada is his puppet, so in that regard when I say "bringing back Canada" I mean sticking with the same risk-averse, ultra-simple system.

They could have gotten Kenny's OC from Pitt, Mark Whipple, for a song to be the OC but it's just not the plan to play real NFL offense.

There was some talk that the Steelers traditionally don't fire coordinators, they simply let their contracts expire and don't renew. This being his last season under contract, I could see that as a possibility.

If they gave serious consideration, it might look like this:

• Yes, the OC struggled. But I also know that he was limited in play-calling because he had a rookie that he was trying to save from rookie mistakes and INT
• If his plan is rollouts and such, he didn't have that capability with Ben, either. Ben really wasn't mobile at the end
• Ya know, young QBs who tend to have multiple OC tend to struggle as time passes; worse things could happen to KP than to spend another year under this guy
• With one more year, I expect to see the offense "in full" and if it continues to be bad, I've at least had time to evaluate KP in the NFL and to know what kind of OC would work for him

I'm not saying these are all the *right* decisions, but I could understand them

[WindyCitySteel]

Right now there are kind of two schools of thought on this. Some say that Canada's awful performance as OC held Kenny and the O down. Some say that Canada was instructed to restrain the O. I don't think we have seen what will be Matt Canada's offense yet. I don't know if it will be any good, but I do believe that Ben's last season return pushed the timeline back a year, and we are just going to find out this year what this O will be.

I actually think Tomlin has his thumb on the offense, and Canada is his puppet, so in that regard when I say "bringing back Canada" I mean sticking with the same risk-averse, ultra-simple system.

They could have gotten Kenny's OC from Pitt, Mark Whipple, for a song to be the OC but it's just not the plan to play real NFL offense.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Interesting. #1 in stacked box positive play %. And they are a very good zone run team.

cuz Naj... nevermind... IYKYK

[Northern_Blitz]

Right now there are kind of two schools of thought on this. Some say that Canada's awful performance as OC held Kenny and the O down. Some say that Canada was instructed to restrain the O. I don't think we have seen what will be Matt Canada's offense yet. I don't know if it will be any good, but I do believe that Ben's last season return pushed the timeline back a year, and we are just going to find out this year what this O will be.

Unfortunately, it's not unreasonable to think that both the OC and QB will end up being below the line. But we can still hope (especially for KP, which is far more important IMO).

Was thinking about starting a new thread for this, but putting it here is maybe just as good. "Scout" review on Pickens.

Things I got from this (but watch it yourself because I'm sure there's confirmation bias here too):

• Has highlight reel ability, but be careful not to overhype from the highlights because there are still lots of things to work on.
• Ran an unreasonably high amount of Go and Corner routes very few in breaking routes like slants and posts. But success was high on the types of routes he ran, and not good for the ones he didn't (based on getting open and running the route, not targets / catches / things related to the QB)
• Pretty good against press coverage (69th percentile), below average against man (34the percentile), but very bad against zone (5th percentile) [High numbers good in percentile, low numbers bad]. Again, rated performance is about getting open not about getting targets / catches. Said at least part of the bad zone numbers are probably because he runs so many go type routes and has little variety (which is why I figured this was as good a place as any to put this).
• It's unfortunate that Pickens seems to struggle getting open on intermediate routes, because Picket also seems to struggle throwing intermediate passes. Again, while scheme plays a role here players also need to execute. This also seems to fit into the "both/and" rather than the "either/or" bucket.