Steelers Finding Success in Spite of, or Because of, Misfortune

In grocery store chains around the Pittsburgh area, cake decorators have found a new slogan to place atop their cookie pizzas every Sunday morning:

“Fire Canada!”

The phrase has swept across western Pennsylvania with the ferocity of a forest fire, even being chanted at Penguins home AND away games. Regardless of if it’s picked up on mics in the Steel City or miles away in our nation’s capital, one thing is for sure: “Fire Canada” isn’t being chanted to raise awareness about wildfires raging up north.

There is a sentiment among most Steelers fans that the team would be wise and prudent to fire their much-maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada, whether it occurs now or later in the season. The basis behind this thinking is that Canada’s play calling has hindered quarterback Kenny Pickett’s development and, logistically speaking, put the Steelers offense as a whole in too many unenviable down-and-distance scenarios to be successful. Punt after punt, it’s the defense that has to trot out to pick up the pieces. Thankfully, they’ve answered when called upon, despite a few worrisome questions regarding tackling and coverage at the cornerback position. However, it’s seemingly a recipe for success, as the Steelers stand at 4-2, a record good enough for second place in the AFC North division.

That, and a number of truly remarkable special teams performances, sums up the story of this Steelers team through six games. Though the sample size is small, the Steelers have a certain swagger about them, as if they know they’d rightfully be in the thick of things if the playoffs started today. But they are far from a perfect team and don’t the local sports reporters know it.

As alluded to during the FOX television broadcast of Sunday’s game against the Rams in Los Angeles, Kenny Pickett is tired of hearing the incessant criticism of Matt Canada from local and national media alike, as it was suggested that Kenny and company leave all they have on the field for their coordinator. Finally, with a competent offensive showing in the second half of Sunday’s game, Kenny has a reason to be confident and determined to back up his play-caller.

Things are indeed far from perfect. But if last year’s performance in the second half of the season proved anything, it’s that time spent on building a balanced and consistent offense in the bye week can pay huge dividends. With more input from players to their coaches, the Steelers offense appears to be operating on the same page.

On the other side, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and secondary coach Grady Brown have challenged their own players, who’ve routinely heard the struggles they’ve faced in their own right.

“We all need to tackle better,” secondary coach Grady Brown said. “That’s not just a Joey issue, that’s a secondary issue.”

Of course, “Joey” being the standout rookie and fan favorite Joey Porter Jr, whose game-changing interception against the Ravens in week five guaranteed the young buck more playing time.

Rather than shying away from the spotlight, Porter Jr is taking on his father’s disposition, rising to the occasion and amassing half as many passes defended (3) than either Levi Wallace (7) and Patrick Peterson (6) this year, despite limited snaps. Of course, it does appear that Joey needs to work on his tackling form, as a failed stop on third down against Rams receiver Puca Nacua highlights. But it’s an aspect of Porter Jr’s game that will be ironed out with more playing time, and the coaching staff has every right to be hopeful in the second-generation Steelers defender proving his worth.

At first impression, it may seem that these casual, throw-away lines from the likes of Grady Brown are mere fodder for sports talk radio and newspaper headlines, as there is a unanimous call among the Steelers faithful for the team to infuse more young blood into the lineup, whether it’s Porter Jr or offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

But all this rampant discussion and criticism has an unintended effect. Essentially, in the Steelers locker room, it’s “us against the world.” A vitriolic local media calling for the heads of Canada, Austin, Brown - heck, even Tomlin and Rooney - serves no real purpose other than to unite the team against its foes. And so far, it’s working.

If any comparison may be made between this 2023 Steelers team and teams past, perhaps the 2020 team is the most apt and worthy team to be in that discussion. That team, led by an aging Ben Roethlisberger, limped into the playoffs despite beginning the year at 11-0. Their record proved to be one of the major outliers in professional sports history, and the 2020 Steelers will no doubt go down as one of the weaker teams in NFL history to ever finish with a record of more 12-4. To add insult to injury, the Steelers were quickly dispatched by the rival Cleveland Browns in a vacant Heinz Field in the Wild Card round of the 2020 playoffs.

At least for these 2023 Steelers, there’s no artifice absolving this team of their many issues almost halfway through the season. There’s no perfect record, and very few highlight-reel plays to disguise their many warts. Statistically, they must be one of, if not the luckiest team to ever survive six games with a 4-2 record. But unlike in 2020, they’re a winning team that knows it must improve. They hear about it every day.

“Fire Canada!”

“Tackle, Joey!”

No matter what the chant or commentary, whether it’s nationwide or confined to local airwaves, this Steelers team is blessed to have its critics. They also know that with one win over the Jaguars this coming Sunday at home in Acrisure, they can possess the same record through seven games as the 2008 crew that made it all the way to the Super Bowl. And even that team had a local fan base willing to run the team’s offensive line, its biggest hindrance, out of town.

Not to compare, but at least this Steelers team and all Steelers teams to come can take solace in the knowledge that no team through six games is ever perfect. They have their warts and thankfully, they know exactly what it is they must work on to improve.