Ben Roethlisberger Calls Out Steelers OC Matt Canada For Week 1 Struggles
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers failed to do much of anything in their season opener loss to the San Francisco 49ers. And while there's debate on whether Kenny Pickett or Matt Canada were the cause for the offense's struggles, a former quarterback believes the offensive coordinator didn't do much to help.
Ben Roethlisberger gave his insight on the Steelers' Week 1 loss during the most recent episode of his podcast Footbahlin' With Ben Roethlisberger, and said Canada didn't make the call to make Pickett "comfortable" during his struggles.
"I remember with Coach Randy [Fichtner], we always had like a go-to play," Roethlisberger said. "It’s just like man, I’m a little off today. Maybe it was going no-huddle where like I was calling plays that I felt comfortable with or like two or three plays that are just like a ball out of your hand. Maybe it’s a screen or where I throw a ball to a wide receiver, and he breaks a 10-yarder. Let your playmakers make plays.
"Like today, I thought Kenny was a little bit off," he continued. "A little bit late, a little behind, whatever it is. At some point, it’s like, don’t keep trying to make the plays. Let your playmakers make the play. Sometimes, that can get you into a rhythm. I completed two, three, four in a row. Now you’re feeling it."
Pickett finished the game completing 31 of 46 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions and ended Week 1 with a 68.4 passer rating.
"Sometimes if you’re not feeling it to have, you know, a seven-step drop, that’s not always the most high percentage," Roethlisberger said. "I always thought if I was calling it and doing it and my guy was a little bit off, I would do everything I could to get the ball out of his hand quickly into you’re playmaker's hands. That’s how I felt and liked when I was struggling."
Pickett is now with his top wide receiver in Diontae Johnson, who will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. The Steelers success moving forward will rely heavily on their quarterback and offensive coordinator, who need to get things to click if this team is going to reach the hype it once had.
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