The Steelers were limited in what they could do in large part on offense in 2021, by Ben Roethlisberger's lack of mobility, by the salary cap and, as a result of that, their overall youth on that side of the ball.
They all go hand in hand.
This year, there will be no such excuses for failure for the offense and, by extension, coordinator Matt Canada.
Because of their cap constraints due to the salary cap going down in 2021 from the previous season, the Steelers and Roethlisberger made the decision to play out one more season together -- albeit with the quarterback taking a $5 million pay cut.
But that also meant the Steelers weren't capable of keeping many of their free agents a year ago. While they were able to work out a deal to bring back JuJu Smith-Schuster, they weren't able to retain Alejandro Villanueva and, perhaps more importantly, Matt Feiler. And when not only Maurkice Pouncey retired but David DeCastro did, as well, the Steelers were left remarkably young on their offensive line.
"We had a number of young players, rookie players playing on offense," said outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert. "We needed to be more consistent probably more than anything else. We had a lot of games where we were good for a quarter or a half but not really for four quarters. I think that's something that (Canada) is going to want to address this off-season. Having so many young players, different pieces coming together, including a new coordinator, there were some challenges there that I think we tried to make the best of it, but again, we didn't meet all of our goals for sure."
The Steelers wound up starting four rookies -- running back Najee Harris, tight end Pat Freiermuth, center Kendrick Green and left tackle Dan Moore -- on offense of much of the season and had several other inexperienced players, such as guard John Leglue, playing key roles down the stretch.
As much heat as Colbert took a few years ago for saying the Steelers were Roethlisberger and a bunch of kids, last year, that was especially true, particularly on offense. Only the hapless Jets and Lions had more rookie snaps in 2021 than the 4,412 the Steelers had last season.
Free agency brought two new offensive linemen in James Daniels and Mason Cole, both of whom have center-guard flexibility, and an experienced quarterback in Mitch Trubisky, who has the kind of mobility that Canada desires to run his offense.
The draft added another quarterback in Kenny Pickett and two wide receivers in George Pickens and Calvin Austin who also fit into what Canada wants to do.
Seven of the team's last eight premium -- top four or better -- picks have come on offense the past two seasons. Many wanted Canada replaced after the 2021 season. The Steelers doubled down with him.
Pickett, who was initially recruited to Pitt by Canada when he was offensive coordinator there, is a very good ball handler. He plays out his fakes well and while he isn't quite the runner Trubisky happens to be, is no slouch when it comes to mobility, either.
Canada left Pitt for LSU before Pickett arrived on campus, but he's watched him closely over the years.
"I never coached Kenny. I was a part of recruiting him," Canada said. "I think there’s a kind of special situation in regards of my wife and I sitting there having dinner with his parents however many years ago that was. To kind of be at the end of his college run, even though I never coached him, but I do feel good about knowing who he is as a person, and I’m excited about coaching him."
He had better feel that way. If Pickett winds up beating out Trubisky for the Steelers' starting job, Canada's wagon will have been hitched to him. It might be anyway.
There are no more excuses about not being able to run the Canada offense, which is based on misdirection and quarterback mobility.
The Steelers added a wide receiver in Pickens who is a ferocious run blocker as well as a downfield threat. They also gave Canada a speedy and shifty wide receiver in Austin who is adept in space and should prove valuable in terms of running the ball, as well.
"Calvin is a smaller guy, a start-stop guy, punt return capable," Mike Tomlin said. "It seems like over the last several years the offensive skill position at Memphis, they've had a lot of dynamic playmakers, and he's just the latest. We're excited to add him. He brings a differing skill set, a guy that probably works inside as a potential jet sweeper and some of those things."
Some of those "Canada" things.
The Steelers ranked 23rd in total offense and 21st in scoring offense. But so much of that was based on their fourth quarter production. Twelve of Roethlisberger's 22 touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter, as did nearly 37 percent of his passing yards. The Steelers can't count on his NFL-best six fourth-quarter comebacks as they did a year ago.
They'll need Canada and company to be much more consistent.
The Steelers are still young on offense. If Green beats out Cole for a starting spot on the offensive line, Diontae Johnson, who turns 26 in July, will be their oldest offensive starter.
The Steelers will still have a young offense. But it will be youth that is experienced.
"I don’t think there’s anything we’re going to be able to change about that," Canada said of his unit's relative age. "I’m going to be excited about the youth. They’re willing to work, and they’ve been here already going. I think we got a real talented group, and we’re going to have a lot of fun getting them ready to go."