Steve Smith on Matt Canada

'Smith called Canada a "Saturday coordinator," referring to his inability to lead an NFL offense.'

 

Did he say anything we didn’t already know?

 

No but to hear that criticism from a former player instead of our arm chair front office staff is more confirmation of that belief. Hearing Starks, Moats, or Wolfe say it on Pittsburgh radio is often ignored as them being former Steelers. Steve Smith has no interest in being Steeler biased. He is an azzhat but he isn't sugar coating it.

 

It's funny but I get that joke and similar jokes texted to me by 10 different people every time the Steelers have a Saturday game scheduled. I do the same to their teams, etc.

 

In Steve's case, he's likely to pound in the point if you disagree with him

 

The problem is that he is praising the run by Heyward on a play call that has been largely criticized by members of this board in the jet sweep. It just happened to work to perfection this time. It's not just the plays he's calling, it's the timing of them. Also, I believe his route tree leaves something to be desired.
Having a new o-line combination along with a new blocking scheme, coupled with a rookie quarterback and we could have guessed that it would be ugly early in the season and now there has been some noticable improvements. I'm just not sure I want to see another full season of Canada trying to "figure it out".

 

I agree

 

I think he is overwhelming Pickett with options instead of minimizing them. If you call a crossing route it should be look at how they are playing Pickens presnap, if he is 1 on 1 take the shot if not throw to DJ on the cross while using the others to clear out the middle. Right now Canada is giving him on average 4 independent reads on each potential receiver and the safe dump off. That's too much to have a rookie QB going through progressions with an untested Oline.

 

It's hard to drum up any energy on what "Steve Smith" says.
Steve Smith hasn't coached anyone anywhere anytime.
I find his rantings as just that, rantings.

There's no doubt that the Steelers (ie: Tomlin) have to review Matt Canada after the Steelers last offensive snap of 2022.
The questions need to be answered:
- What went right
- What went wrong
- What is the plan going forward

And lastly, does Matt Canada have a future in the Steeler organization.

Personally, I think Matt should go.
Why?
- Matt's job is to design an offense that works.
- Matt's job is to utilize the players he has and identify potential players he could use to make that system work.
- Schematically, he is supposed to game plan weekly to attack defensive weaknesses based off film study and trend analysis.

It is my opinion that even though he has new faces and a rookie QB, he still didn't do so well.
For example, why did he have Pickett throwing 50 passes in a game? That's not how you bring a rookie along.
And so on.

 

We need a new OC lb coach, st coach make it happen Art II

 

I agree and would also add his plays dont seem to build off 1 another , we run trap and have no trap pass off of it we run jet sweep over and over where is the jet sweep pass ? the reverse? the fake with the inside shovel going back the other way ? Why does it seem it takes forever to get our big play WR involved each game and even when we do we dont use him enough..

We have 2 really good RB'S where is the Ace formation ? Split back formation ? and with the size of Najee even a I or Broken I as he can be used as a FB giving the Team many more running lanes and many more PA types of looks.. I could go on and on , but he has failed badly IMO and doesnt seem up to the chess part of the NFL...

A lot of Teams are running HS type stuff but evolved to match the NFL IMO he is not meeting that or even getting near NFL level in the details of his play calling and designs..

 

LOL, god damn I love Steve Smith!

 

Smith was spot on with Canada. What some of us have been saying for some time. If they somehow get into the playoffs would you trust him to make the right call in the big spot?

But the way the Steelers operate is they honor the contract. Canada has another year.

Unless Art II or Tomlin think they should move on it will be Canada in 2023. Unfortunately.

 

That's the key there. It's just random plays it seems at times. The key is multiple out of the same formations. He seems to think if you throw motion in, that will compensate for the poor route trees.

 

Thought his contact was up after this year?

 

If Matt Canada does not answer the bell, the Steelers will release him regardless of contract status.

 

I thought the same until I looked it up but they have let coordinators go with time on their contract

Not often

 

Could you explain answer the bell?

 

After the season ends, there are the evals. (Lessons Learned, planned changes, steps forward, etc...)
If Matt Canada does not check all the right boxes during his, they will not hesitate to let him go.
He becomes a checkbox on Omar, Weidl and Tomlins list. (I imagine he is anyway)

 

Smith was so right what he said. Besides what many have said like bad play designs, bad timing of some plays, not building plays off 1 another, what else I see is his plays are so predictable, always Harris up the middle with the same formation and on 1st down. Never throws on 1st down, usually the same formation on 1st down. Come on have some type of imagination.

 

99 definitely bit to the inside. Probably got lucky it wasn't Chandler Jones in there, leaving the DE unblocked. Nice job by Heyward to take some depth and to cut it up off Watt's block.

 

Good point. I do feel the Happy Trickster was told to chill and go to a more conventional approach possibly with help from Sullivan.