Steelers' Kenny Pickett named as the fall guy in Matt Canada’s firing
Matt Canada probably knew he was on borrowed time with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a while. Regardless of how surprising the in-season move was, Canada had to have known the writing was on the wall following another putrid start to the season from the offense. But according to NFL insider Adam Caplan of Pro Football […]
Matt Canada probably knew he was on borrowed time with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a while.
Regardless of how surprising the in-season move was, Canada had to have known the writing was on the wall following another putrid start to the season from the offense.
But according to NFL insider Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network, it was Kenny Pickett's regression that made the Steelers finally pull the trigger:
Lack Of Development
Pro Football Network talked to multiple league sources who have graded the Steelers’ offensive tape this season and cited the following issues with Canada’s offensive scheme: too many college concepts, poor spacing created, lack of an intermediate passing game, and lack of identity. But even with those issues, the biggest problem was the lack of development from second-year QB Kenny Pickett, who team sources said had “an outstanding offseason.” But once the season started, sources said from game-tape evaluation that Pickett’s arm-strength issue returned, and he wasn’t “driving the ball down the field” and “he wasn’t playing with a lot of confidence."
-Adam Caplan, PFN
And sure enough, in the first game of his career without Canada calling plays, Pickett set both personal and franchise records, all the while leading his team to a divisional win over the Bengals.
Canada was going to be let go for a number of reasons. But none weighed more on the franchise than the play of Kenny Pickett after the Browns loss last week.
Even die-hard Pickett supporters were starting to second-guess Pickett's projection.
So Mike Tomlin and Steelers President Art Rooney II had to make the move, to save Kenny Pickett if nothing else.
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Just told you why Najee Harris isn’t going anywhere
Here is what Coach Tomlin had to say about Harris after Sunday’s win.
