Matt Canada is Holding Back the Steelers Offense - by Sharp Football Analysis

Matt Canada is Holding Back the Steelers Offense

by Warren Sharp Oct 2, 2023



* Since 2021, the Steelers first quarter offense ranks #31 in yardage and #31 in points scored.

* Out of 26 first-half drives on the season, only ONCE did the Steelers even drive to the red zone.

* 61.1% of the Steelers’ set of downs have reached third down, the highest rate in the league.


Matt Canada became the Steelers’ play-caller in 2021.

Since 2021, NFL teams have averaged 22.4 points per game.

And since 2021, examine the Steelers win-loss split based on only one sole statistic:

Does the defense allow above-average points or below-average points?

If the defense holds their opponent to below-average points (22 or fewer), the Steelers are 19-3-1 (86%).

If the defense allows their opponent to score above-average points, (more than 22) the Steelers are 1-15 (6%).

That shift, from winning 86% to winning only 6%, is the largest in the NFL.

What does it mean?

It means this offense, for going on almost 40 games spanning 2.5 years under Canada’s watch, cannot compete with average.

For the Steelers to win games, it falls on the defense.

A good defensive performance almost always means a Steelers win.

A bad defensive performance almost always means a Steelers loss.

Steelers fans: ask yourself when was the last time the defense played poorly but the team won because the offense won the game?

You likely can’t remember one because there hasn’t been one.

In fact, looking at the team totals lined for each game, the Steelers are 1-10 (9%) when their opponent exceeds their team total.

Since Canada took over as coordinator, the Steelers are .539 and have won 20 of 38 games. That’s the 14th-best win rate.

But his offense ranks #28 in points scored, #26 in EPA, and #26 in yardage gained.

Canada doesn’t understand how to win games in the NFL.

He doesn’t understand strategy. He doesn’t realize how vital it is to jump out and seize leads, and how often aggressive offense early in games ultimately leads to victories.

Since 2021, the Steelers first quarter offense ranks #31 in yardage and #31 in points scored.

The story remains unchanged in 2023.

In first-half offense this year, the Steelers rank #29 in EPA, #28 in yards, and #25 in points scored.

Out of 26 first-half drives on the season, only ONCE did they even drive to the red zone.

That 3.8% rate (1-of-26) ranks dead last in the NFL.

Their first-half drives average the fewest plays per drive (4.3).

And that is because they average the highest rate of 3-and-outs.

An insane 15-of-26 drives (58%) have gone 3-and-out, the worst in the NFL. The NFL average is only 34%.

61.1% of the Steelers’ set of downs have reached third down, the highest rate in the league.

The league average is 47.5%.

55.4% of the Pittsburgh set of downs create a new set of downs, the lowest rate in the league.

The league average is 70.3%.

He is the three deadly sins of an NFL play-caller:


Read the rest here: https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/matt-canada-holding-back-steelers/


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I knew the numbers were bad, but seeing a statistical breakdown of the offense for the entirety of Canada's tenure with the Steelers is unbelievably bad.

Tomlin is blind or has absolutely no clue what to do about it.

Should have been fired last season but Tomlin lives in his fears... as he would like to say.

Tomlin needs to go too. The Defense isn't all that great and hasn't been for a while now.

And he's still not fired. Unreal

He's the Joe Biden of the NFL. Somebody had to say it.

Hearing a recent interview, it appears that Canada's days are numbered and he will be gone after the Ravens game, unless we see a major uptick in the offense (nothing to indicate THAT is going to happen though). So, another week of it...

And I do believe Sullivan will be promoted to interim. After this season, we'll see what happens. But no way they bring in an outsider mid-season (unless its Big Ben, which would be something to behold).

But this is ALL GONNA TURN AROUND THIS WEEK (said no one ever)

Mach1 wrote:

UNLEASH HELL!!! Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler? Lol

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Mach1 wrote:

UNLEASH HELL!!! Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler? Lol

Oh, Hell Hath been unleashed - on Steelers fans!

Anywhere else and Matt Canada would be out of a job.

Bring back Ben and let him call plays as an Interim OC.

marty schottenheimer was fired after a 14-2 season. his last 3 years in san diego he was 12-4,9-7,14-2. why was he fired by 3 teams despite having only 2 losing seasons his entire 21 year career ? because his teams were 5-13 in the playoffs.

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

marty schottenheimer was fired after a 14-2 season. his last 3 years in san diego he was 12-4,9-7,14-2. why was he fired by 3 teams despite having only 2 losing seasons his entire 21 year career ? because his teams were 5-13 in the playoffs.

They actually fired Marty because he couldn't get along with management, more so than the playoff loss. They actually offered him a contract after that season that he turned down. Still and all, I think it's insanity to fire someone after a 14-2 season, even if you lose in the first round.

San Diego did have some good years after that but then fell into some mediocrity. Can't say they immediately fell apart after he left because they didn't. Norv actually took them to the AFC Championship game (where they lost to US!).

I will say this though, we as Steelers fans are tired of waiting for the next playoff win. It's been too long - and I do believe the Steelers have enough talent on both sides of the ball to be very good and make a run. They are underperforming.

I personally believe the line is underperforming/being poorly managed. Broderick has done alright since coming in. He should have been on the field earlier. He's only out there now because of injury. Is Dan Moore really better than him? Me no thinks so.

Also - all you guys calling for a True Center and Run-stuffing NT - you are Spot On. Steelers need that more than anything.

Back to the 4th down play - you guys saying we should have run on 4th and 1 - you are 100% correct. I was literally screaming at my TV set when Kenny went back into shotgun. Still and all, the play should have worked. But it was still the wrong call. Depending on how far they had to go - inches or a full yard? QB sneak if it was just inches.

4th and 1 they need to adopt the eagles push play.

Mach1 wrote:

4th and 1 they need to adopt the eagles push play.

YES!

Mach1 wrote:

4th and 1 they need to adopt the eagles push play.

Sorry can't do that it might actually work and get them a first down thereby ruining Canada's run, run, pass, punt genius game planning.

LambertWardSteel wrote:

https://twitter.com/Blitz_Burgh/status/1711380849315184839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1711380849315184839%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=

If this is true, I think a little less of Byron. You don't reach out to a team that hasn't fired their coordinator yet.

canada is not going to be fired during the season. best case scenario would be that someone else is givin play calling duties.
as for byron leftwich i doubt he asked specifically for canadas OC job. he just asked for a job. leftwich has also held a QB coach position. switching OCs during a season can only be done with someone that knows the current system. thats why coordinator assistants always get the interim gigs. it takes more than a few weeks to learn a new OC's offense.

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

canada is not going to be fired during the season. best case scenario would be that someone else is givin play calling duties.
as for byron leftwich i doubt he asked specifically for canadas OC job. he just asked for a job. leftwich has also held a QB coach position. switching OCs during a season can only be done with someone that knows the current system. thats why  coordinator assistants always get the interim gigs. it takes more than a few weeks to learn a new OC's offense.    

Yup we are stuck with Canada for the rest of the year. I wouldn't mind them bringing in Leftwich it couldn't hurt at this point.

Matt Canada is completely and totally incompetent as an NFL OC. Does he have a patchwork Oline to work with yup... but that is partly his fault he should have asked for a better Center and tackles. Kenny Pickett is not helping either his passing accuracy and choices are erratic at best.

This was the year Canada should have had ZERO excuses and the offense is absolutely fucking terrible 5 games in. At no point has the offense looked anywhere near competent in any of those 5 games either.

There is no consistency. No ability to even show they can get 1st downs on a regular basis. When they do start to move the ball he calls some reverse or trick pitch that gets stuffed and they end up in 3rd and long way too often.

It should be completely and totally unacceptable to Mr. Rooney and Tomlin at this point but for some reason they continue to allow it and that's on them as well.

Fire Tomlin clean house get some young innovative minds in at all the Coordinator spots and stop being afraid to utilize your rookies that you draft at least the top 3 spots... Benton, Jones and Porter are showing you they deserve to be on the field...

They should fire Teryl Austin as well after the season.

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/10/not-right-now-teryl-austin-still-wont-commit-to-starting-cb-joey-porter-jr/

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

canada is not going to be fired during the season. best case scenario would be that someone else is givin play calling duties.
as for byron leftwich i doubt he asked specifically for canadas OC job. he just asked for a job. leftwich has also held a QB coach position. switching OCs during a season can only be done with someone that knows the current system. thats why  coordinator assistants always get the interim gigs. it takes more than a few weeks to learn a new OC's offense.    

Yup we are stuck with Canada for the rest of the year. I wouldn't mind them bringing in Leftwich it couldn't hurt at this point.

Matt Canada is completely and totally incompetent  as an NFL OC. Does he have a patchwork Oline to work with yup... but that is partly his fault he should have asked for a better Center and tackles. Kenny Pickett is not helping either his passing accuracy and choices are erratic at best.

This was the year Canada should have had ZERO excuses and the offense is absolutely fucking terrible 5 games in. At no point has the offense looked anywhere near competent in any of those 5 games either.

There is no consistency. No ability to even show they can get 1st downs on a regular basis. When they do start to move the ball he calls some reverse or trick pitch that gets stuffed and they end up in 3rd and long way too often.

It should be completely and totally unacceptable to Mr. Rooney and Tomlin at this point but for some reason they continue to allow it and that's on them as well.

Fire Tomlin clean house get some young innovative minds in at all the Coordinator spots and stop being afraid to utilize your rookies that you draft at least the top 3 spots...  Benton, Jones and Porter are showing you they deserve to be on the field...

I would keep Danny Smith as ST coach. The rest....buh bye.

Mach1 wrote:

4th and 1 they need to adopt the eagles push play.

I literally yell at the TV for this every time we're in short yardage situations like that. Rather than taking the high percentage chance of success though, Matt Canada would rather call passing plays out of the shotgun and nearly get our young QB killed.

Those kinds of decisions destroy the confidence of young players. It's just another feather in the hat of failures that Canada wears and I'm beyond sick of this clown.