Why the Steelers Can't Fire Matt Canada (yet)

Story by Yinzer Crazy Steelers' Contributor Noah Nichols. Follow him on Twitter @_NoahNichols

Steelers fans have been calling for Matt Canada’s head (metaphorically) since week one when the Steelers offense put up a lackluster 16 points, even more so disappointing as the Steelers offense was gifted 5-turnover opportunities. 

After these past three weeks, it has become clear to Steelers fans that Matt Canada has to go. I agree with them. I know the Steelers won Sunday. But anyone who watched the entire game could tell you that Matt Canada’s offensive scheme wasn’t the reason why. On all four of the fourth-quarter third-down conversions, the Steelers converted due to great plays made be the receivers and Mitch Trubisky. Not due to an incredible play call.

In fact, those plays were largely similar to most of Matt Canada’s other play calls, which have a tendency to run the receivers toward the sidelines, for some odd and frankly, idiotic, reason. So, I’m all for firing Matt Canada. Just not right now. 

 The question of firing Canada should be when not if. Steelers fans want him gone now, and as awesome as it would be to see someone else calling the plays, there are a few issues with firing Matt Canada mid-season. 

First, firing Canada going into what would be Kenny Pickett’s second or third career start would be disastrous for his development. Tossing the only scheme Pickett knows out the window and forcing him to learn a new one, and change how he plays, even if just a little, will slow his development. 

A new offensive coordinator will want Pickett to think differently, look for different reads, and will want receivers to run different routes, hurting any chemistry Pickett has with those receivers as they also learn a new scheme. 

That leads to the second issue with firing Canada mid-season; who would they replace Canada with? If there was someone on the street they could hire that would be an instant upgrade over Canada, they would. Obviously, there isn’t. 

Anyone that you or Mike Tomlin want to see as the Steelers new offensive coordinator is currently employed. The Steelers cannot even talk to other coaches outside of the organization during the season - aka, all other NFL coaches are not for hire. If you want the Steelers to pull a
Miami Dolphins” debacle, I hope you’d enjoy what would follow.

And any college coach worth his salt is focused on getting his team to their conference championship or to the CFB playoffs - not calling plays for a new team midway into the season. The Steelers simply have no opportunities to hire a better offensive coordinator right now. 

Even if this was all somehow possible, a third issue arises and lays the final bar to firing Matt Canada and replacing him. There is simply no time to install a new scheme, Kenny Pickett’s progression be damned. 

The Steelers play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football this week, in a near must-win game if the Steelers want to keep their heads afloat in the playoff race. Follow that up with a brutal (and I'd bet everything I own on a loss) game against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, and only after that do the Steelers reach their bye week.

Think that gives the Steelers time to install a new scheme? If it only took a week to memorize a completely different playbook, learn new route concepts, change offensive line protections, etc., the Steelers would have done it already. 

We all know it takes much more time than a week. It takes a whole off-season. So stop hitting the gas on “fire Matt Canada’s playbook into the sun and ship him to Tahiti (metaphorically speaking, of course)” because as much as it would do the Steelers offense good, there simply is no other option than to stick with Matt Canada. 

So yinz best buckle up, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride, and the ‘coaster doesn’t stop for three more months.