The Pittsburgh Steelers have multiple concerns on both sides of the ball heading into Week 3, but the most worrisome has certainly been the lack of production from the offense. Many thought when Ben Roethlisberger retired and the organization brought in two mobile quarterbacks in Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, offensive coordinator, Matt Canada would now be able to run the dynamic form of offense that he would have last year if an immobile 39-year old quarterback hadn’t been the signal-caller. Nothing has changed, however. It is a lot of the same and Canada’s group has scored just two touchdowns and gained 510 total yards of offense.
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 28: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Matt Canada of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on during training camp at Heinz Field on July 28, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Roethlisberger, even at age 40, would be able to do almost everything Trubisky has accomplished so far with the offensive play-calling. Several roll-outs limiting one side of the field lead to a short pass play, easy check downs because wide receivers aren’t using the middle of the field and poor play calling on third and short are all still very present. Canada either has a lack of trust in any quarterback he is calling plays for or simply doesn’t even believe in his own offensive game plan.
If Sunday’s Week 2 game against the New England Patriots was a year ago, it isn’t far-fetched to believe that Roethlisberger would have found a way to go ahead in that game prior to the Patriots getting the ball back and running the clock out. Simply based on his play last season in the fourth quarter and overall experience, the Steelers might get a win there if Roethlisberger on the field.
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This is more of a knock on Canada than anyone else. The retired quarterback said on the latest episode of his podcast that Trubisky doesn’t have that much control and doesn’t deserve the early season criticism.
“I’m not trying to say it’s Matt Canada either, but sometimes if he’s looking down the field and no one’s there, he’s taking the check down. If you call a wide receiver screen, you’re throwing the wide receiver screen. If it goes for minus two yards, that’s not on the quarterback. It’s not his fault the screen goes for minus two yards.”
The translation there is that Trubisky is doing exactly what is being asked of him. It goes for all levels of sports. The coaching staff is put in place to come up with game plans and make decisions. Trubisky is just trying to do what’s being asked of him whether fans, himself, Roethlisberger or anyone else agrees with it.
Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback, Mitch Trubisky (#10) at 2022 training camp. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
To be fair, Trubisky has made some poor decisions, but most of those wouldn’t be made by a future Hall of Fame quarterback. Roethlisberger wouldn’t be taking this season’s offense to another level, but if it was going to be the exact same approach as a season ago, who’s to say the Steelers legend couldn’t run the ship again in 2022? That’s a horrible idea to bring up and reflects negatively upon Canada.
In no way is this an endorsement to call Roethlisberger and see if he needs a job. It is just very unfortunate to think that Canada had all off-season to make an adjustment with a fresh arm and legs at the quarterback position and he stuck to exactly what he thought worked last year. Well, news flash: not much of it works no matter who is leading the offense.
Do you think the Steelers offense would look the same if Roethlisberger was still in charge? Let us know in the comments below!
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