With the way the Steelers' offense played in the first half of the season, it seemed like it was a foregone conclusion that Matt Canada would be shown the door at season's end.
However, in Kenny Pickett's meeting with the media Wednesday afternoon at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, the rookie quarterback delivered what sounded an awful lot like a ringing endorsement of the offensive coordinator.
"We have a really good relationship where we can talk about pretty much anything. We're open and honest on what I see, and he asks me all the time. I think that open line of communication is just going to continue to improve," Pickett said. "He's very open to suggestions that we all have as players or staff. It's a collective effort, and it's definitely cool to have an OC that's open to that and not just kind of closed minded. So, it's a pretty good relationship that he has with all of us."
For those who are afraid these words from Pickett might derail the "Fire Matt Canada" hype train, it might actually be a train that never left the station.
In the early stages of the season, Mitch Trubisky was the main culprit behind the offense's woes. After Mike Tomlin made the switch to Pickett after three and a half games and the offense continued to struggle, Canada was promoted to Public Enemy No. 1.
We in the media did our due diligence week after week after week, asking Tomlin if he considered making a switch at any position, specifically on the coaching staff. The most Tomlin let on about any kind of change was his repeated position that he was open to anything that helped the team secure victory.
However, after the seventh game of the season -- a loss to the Dolphins that dropped the Steelers to 2-5 -- Tomlin was once again asked point blank why he wasn't making any changes to the coaching staff.
He bluntly responded, "Because I don't feel like I'm there."
Since then, the offense has averaged 21.2 points per game, 341.2 total yards per game and, most notable, 157.8 rushing yards per game. In the seven games prior, the offense only topped 21.2 points in a game once, topped 341.2 yards in a game once (364) and only eclipsed 100 rushing yards in a game twice.
Most important, the Steelers are 3-2 over the past five games. As I wrote from Tomlin's Tuesday press conference, the development of the younger players have helped produce these wins. And, whether or not any coach would publicly admit it, Pickett's progression is the most crucial on the team, and is being scrutinized each and every week.
"He’s growing, and that’s a reasonable expectation. He’s a smart guy. He’s got talent. He works at it. He’s gaining experience with each and every play and each and every day," Tomlin said after Sunday's win over the Falcons. "So, I think it’s a reasonable discussion to acknowledge that he is going to get better at fundamental things, taking care of the ball, managing us, communicating, having an opinion or suggestion. He’s just growing in all areas. I know you guys ask me that every week, you want me to comb through it on how he’s getting better. He’s getting better. He’s getting better in all areas."
One of the areas Pickett's getting better in is not turning over the ball as often. He currently owns a streak of 128 passes without an interception. Pickett has also made improvements in getting through his progressions quicker and fine tuning his internal clock to thwart the opposing pass rush.
Pickett credits the game preparation for him progressing in those areas.
"I think we do a great job of going through all the looks during the week," Pickett said. "And just knowing our game plan and where I need to get the ball out if pressure comes up. I think that stuff all goes into it."
I always take the time to speak with multiple members of the offensive line each and every week. They are in the trenches each and every snap, and everything ultimately lives and dies with what happens on the front line. And, in just about every conversation I have with them, the coaching staff and game preparation is given credit.
When I talked to James Daniels on Wednesday, the growth of the younger players in meetings for that game preparation has improved over the course of the season.
"They're playing well," Daniels told me. "So, it's no shock when we see how they work or we see how attention to detail they are in meetings and things like that."
Even for players that have shown frustration, any frustration with the scheming seems to have dissipated over time.
Of all people, George Pickens has displayed the most recent and loudest outburst of frustration. But, even when he was asked Wednesday if he's happy with his role in the offense, he responded simply with, "Uh, yeah."
If Tomlin wasn't ready to fire Canada after a 2-5 start and with the offense seemingly on life support, why would he even consider the notion to fire Canada when Pickett, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and the offensive line are all trending in the right direction?
Now, there are five games remaining on the schedule, and a lot can happen in those five games.
But, without a catastrophic collapse and serious regression by the aforementioned players -- who are vital, core pieces of the future -- Canada's job seems to be safe. And, it's been safe since before Pickett spoke to us Wednesday afternoon.
Ultimately, if Pickett continues to transform into a franchise quarterback under Canada -- with whom he's had a relationship with since Canada helped recruit him to Pitt -- it will only solidify Canada's spot as offensive coordinator.
"It gives me confidence to tell him what I see and what I feel and we kind of roll with that. If he disagrees, he’ll show me on tape," Pickett said of his relationship with Canada. "So, it's great back and forth. Everyone in the building wants to win. That's all that matters. There’re no egos. We’re all here to work together to get a win."
MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE
• Of all the talk from the beginning of the season that Trubisky didn't have free rein to call audibles at the line of scrimmage, either things changed with Pickett or there was some embellishing of sorts by the veteran quarterback.
The first clue to that came when Mason Cole told us in Indianapolis that Pickett called the read option to Benny Snell Jr. for the game-deciding touchdown in the fourth quarter. Now, when some thought the playbook might have been dumbed down for the rookie quarterback, Pickett has revealed that's never been the case.
"I don't think the menu really ever got tightened up to be honest with you," Pickett said. "We had really good plans I feel like throughout. It’s just the level of execution now you're seeing at a higher level. So, I think that's the difference."
• It's not surprising whatsoever, but Pickett continued to be supportive of Pickens regarding his frustration from Sunday in Atlanta. After all, this isn't the first time a quarterback has dealt with a receiver that made a stink about wanting the ball more often.
"They’re competitors, man. Everyone wants the ball; everyone wants to win," Pickett said. "Like I said after the game, you never know who's going to have that big game. Sometimes it may not be you one week, it may be another guy, and it kind of bounces around like that. That’s just kind of how it is depending on how the defense is and where they're dictating me to go with the football. So, we'll continue to push forward and get our playmakers the football."
• In writing about the role winning games has in player development, I asked Pickett specifically for his perspective on what winning three of the previous four games has done for him and his fellow teammates.
"That's the most important thing. That's on the forefront of everyone's minds, coming out of stadiums with wins. Whatever we have to do to get that done," Pickett said. "That's what I tell myself when I put my helmet on when I'm walking down the tunnel. It’s whatever it takes to come out with a victory. No one cares how it gets done. So, we’ve got to continue to have that mindset, and we’ll be all right."
• Pickett knows he won't maintain this streak of passes without an interception forever. It could very well end against the Ravens, who are very good at forcing turnovers. Unsurprisingly, Pickett is preparing for perhaps the biggest threat to end his streak, one that began on Oct. 30 in Philadelphia.
"They ball search. They’ve got guys on all three levels that hunt the football, so it's something that we got to -- our D did a really good job today of giving us that look, and I think they will all week, Pickett said. "It’s just something that we have to be self-conscious of throughout the game like we've been doing, obviously. We know it's definitely a tall order this week with how much they hunt the football."
• Speaking of practice, the team seemed to have a lot of fun and energy on the practice field today. Of course, per NFL policies when it comes to reporting what happens during practice, I had a few different players confirm that energy, including perhaps the most energetic player in the locker room. And it's no surprise with the Ravens coming to town this weekend.
"Like Coach T says, 'Head down and humble in all work,'" Damontae Kazee told me. "That's what we've gotta look for. So, that's all we're doing right now."
• Tomlin sure does love to talk about December football. And, it's no secret the players in the locker room are thinking playoffs. After all, if this team manages a way to run the table, they'd finish the season 10-7. That should be good enough to secure a spot in the postseason.
Pat Freiermuth is only focused on the Ravens this week, but his experience down the stretch in his rookie year has helped prepare for making this push, regardless of the circumstances.
"It helps a lot. It teaches you if you lose a couple games early, it's not the end all be all," Freiermuth said. "It's December football, as Coach T said yesterday. A lot rides on this month of football. That's why I feel like we've prepared very well for this month of football. I'm excited."
• Minkah Fitzpatrick is leading all free safeties in Pro Bowl voting with 87,131 votes, according to an NFL press release. Only Derwin James has more votes for an AFC player in the secondary (88,806). Fitzpatrick is the only Steelers player to be leading his respective position.
• On the injury front, Najee Harris (oblique), Malik Reed (back), Chukwuma Okorafor (shoulder) and Larry Ogunjobi (toe) did not practice Wednesday. Diontae Johnson (hip) and T.J. Watt (ribs) were limited participants.
Nothing about this list is too surprising, even the inclusion of Johnson as he dealt with a hip injury earlier this season. It's not uncommon for these types of minor injuries to creep back up on players in the final month of the season.
Watt will be closely monitored as he's clearly not playing at 100 percent. But, even being limited on the first practice day of the week allows for the slightest level of optimism that he could take the field Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
• Pickens spoke Wednesday about his outburst on the sideline over his lack of targets in Atlanta, and it was undoubtedly a peculiar exchange with the media. Corey Crisan has much more on that in a separate piece.