Amidst the gridiron drama, the Steelers rewrite the playbook of tradition as Canada exits stage left, leaving the field open for a new era of offensive prowess under Faulkner and Sullivan's strategic helm.
Explore the unexpected shake-up in the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff as they part ways with offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Delve into the challenges faced, historical statistics, and the unique midseason coaching change, shedding light on the team's pursuit of a revamped offensive strategy.
Matt Canada
Matt Canada is American football coatch born on January 19, 1972 who most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). For more background information about Matt Canada you may check the Wikipedia link.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Tuesday that they had parted ways with offensive coordinator Matt Canada in an unexpected move. Head coach Mike Tomlin made the decision, expressing thanks for Canada's services and wishing him well in his future coaching endeavours in a brief statement.
Leadership Transition
With Matt Canada's departure, the Steelers are looking to familiar names on the coaching staff to fill the vacancy. According to CBS Sports NFL expert Josina Anderson, running backs coach Eddie Faulkner is expected to take over as offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan is anticipated to take over play-calling duties.
Canada's Short Interval and Struggles
Matt Canada joined the Steelers on January 15, 2020, as the quarterbacks coach, and was elevated to offensive coordinator on January 25, 2021, succeeding Randy Fichtner. However, the squad suffered offensive issues during his tenure. Notably, Canada's teams failed to gain 400 yards or more in a single game, continuing a troubling pattern that has lasted 58 games—the second-longest such stretch in NFL history, according to CBS Sports.
Quarterback and Offensive Problems
The Steelers' difficulties went beyond yards, as they were constantly outgained in their first ten games. Under Canada's direction, quarterback Kenny Pickett endured a significant decline, with the lowest throw touchdown rate (1.9%) for a quarterback with 500 or more attempts since 1970. These troubles were mirrored in the club's overall offensive statistics, with the team placing 28th in the NFL in points per game (16.6) and 31st in throw touchdowns per game (0.7) this season.
Midseason Coaching Change is a historical rarity.
The decision to fire Matt Canada is a substantial departure from the Steelers' previous coaching practises. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Paul Hembekides, the Steelers' midseason coaching change is the first of its sort since 1941, underlining the organization's rarity of such transfers.
While the Steelers manage this coaching transition, the focus now goes to Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan, who are entrusted with revitalising the team's offensive schemes for the rest of the season.
