When the Steelers open the regular season Monday night against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, they'll be giving everyone their first look at their new-look offense and their old quarterback.
And, according to that now-38-year-old quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, the offense will have a whole different feel with the addition of quarterbacks coach Matt Canada, who has infused some college-style motions into the team's packages to supplement offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner's game plan.
"This offense will have his fingerprints all over it," Roethlisberger said Wednesday. "You'll see some stuff on Monday night, I'm pretty sure, with those motions. Hopefully, we can be successful with it."
Canada came to the Steelers this year after a successful run in college as an offensive coordinator, with the idea that he would coach the team's quarterbacks but also bring some elements of the college game to the team, as well. And in this case, he'll be teaching an old dog in Roethlisberger some new tricks. Though Roethlisberger only played six quarters in 2019 because of torn flexor ligaments in his throwing elbow, he's entering his 17th NFL season.
"I think the biggest thing, it's definitely different for a player like myself who has been in the NFL for so long because it does have a college feel to it," Roethlisberger said. "I know some teams have started to do it over the past few years. But it's different for me. It's taken some getting used to. I've asked the linemen and our defense what it does for them, and it definitely throws the defense into a little bit of a tizzy. When you see the motion, you're not sure who's getting the ball. It helps the linemen block sometimes, too, because it makes the defense declare."
That could be helpful for the Steelers, who look like they could be playing with an entirely new right side to their offensive line.
All-Pro guard David DeCastro continues to deal with a lower leg injury that will likely sideline him this week, while former starting right tackle Matt Feiler has been moved to left guard to replace retired Ramon Foster. The Steelers had a training camp competition between Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner at the open right tackle spot, and sources say Banner will get the start there this week, though both tackles could wind up playing. Stefen Wisniewski, signed as a free agent in the offseason, would likely replace DeCastro.
Roethlisberger isn't concerned about that.
"I just go out there and try to throw the ball around," he said. "I know that Maurkice Pouncey is going to be out there. That's my comfort, my security blanket. Whoever Coach decides to put out there or who can play health-wise."
Part of the reason the quarterback can't be concerned with who is blocking for him is because of his own learning process with some of the new wrinkles in the offense. The other is the fact that he'll be playing in his first NFL game in nearly a year Monday night. He was injured Sept. 15 of last year and his next NFL pass will come almost a year to the day of his last one.
He knows the rehab process it took for him to get to this point and admits to being anxious for that first game to start after the pandemic wiped out the preseason schedule.
"I was driving in today, no joke, and crossed the Veterans Bridge and thought, 'Man, I'm actually nervous for this season.' " Roethlisberger said. "You always have a little bit of jitters before the first game. The way I feel now is more than I've felt in a very long time. I'm sure it's only going to intensify as the week goes on. Monday night, I'm sure I'm sure I'll be shaking like a leaf."