Offense is growing, but the same old story from Canada is tiresome

Stop me if you've heard this before: The Steelers need to score more points.

As he always does, Matt Canada addressed the media Thursday morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. And as always, the Steelers' offensive coordinator stressed a sentiment that's been repeated time and time again this season.

After writing about the Steelers' struggles in the red zone, as told by Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson, I asked Canada a follow-up question about those struggles to get his perspective.

"I think we've had four turnovers when we've crossed the 50-yard line. In the last three games, we’ve not done as good a job in some situations there, and then we've missed some plays on third down that you can either kick field goals or whatever happens," Canada said. "So, that is the kind of the final frontier. We've been talking about that. There’re opportunities just to make sure we score and some of them aren't even in the traditional red zone as you're referencing. Some of them are outside of there."

Then, he said it again.

"But (when) we get into that area, we've got to go score points. You’re exactly right. It's got to happen," Canada added.

I shared a piece of Canada's response to my question on social media, and got this response from one person:

While that might seem like a bitter fan who's just sick and tired of reading quotes from Canada, he's actually right. 

It's the same story.

I went back through all of the transcripts from our media availabilities with Canada this season and counted how many times he has mentioned the need to score points, them trying to score more points, them failing to score more points or how they left too many points on the field.

From Week 4 through 9 (that includes the bye week), Canada made a direct reference to the above criteria at least once per week and did it a total of 18 times -- five of those coming in one answer prior to the Week 6 victory over the Buccaneers. Since the bye week, even while the offense has played better, he's made a direct reference six times, three of which were just a couple day prior to last week's win over the Raiders.

Thursday's answer to my question made it a total of at least 25 times this season Canada has stressed the offense's need to score more points.

Early on this season, we knew the offense was going to go through its growing pains. Mitch Trubisky wasn't getting the job done at quarterback, and the switch to Pickett is a significant change. The offensive line was just starting the jelling process. And, overall, it's a young offense learning how to play without a future Hall of Famer that had a lot of pull in how the offense was run.

But, here we are, just two games from the end of the season, and Canada is still stressing the same need to score more points. That is a problem, regardless of the circumstance. Mike Tomlin has said many times that he doesn't grade on a curve, meaning there isn't extra slack for younger players to let some wins slip away just because they're young.

And, Canada echoed the same sentiment Thursday.

"We can talk about it, rep it, we’re certainly doing those things," Canada said. "Being young is not an excuse. None of that. We’ve got to produce those, things have to happen, but I think we're getting closer. We're making more of them, but we just have got to get them all."

"Getting closer" might be the only thing that can save Canada's job. There's a pathway that Tomlin gives Canada the benefit of the doubt due to the offense's growth over the second half of the season. Ride the offense's momentum into the offseason, reinforce some weaknesses through free agency and the draft, and try to carry that momentum into next season.

Then again, there are losses to the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins that are handcuffing the Steelers' playoff chances. Just one win in those three puts the Steelers in a much more favorable situation, and winning all three games would have already guaranteed them a playoff spot. 

And, from conversations I've had with players over the past couple weeks, they are beyond frustrated -- I would even say down right pissed off -- that they let those games get away while the offense was playing its very worst. 

Even if the Steelers don't stand a legitimate chance to make a Super Bowl run, getting to the playoffs is the bare minimum required to have a chance. Regardless of what you think about the quality of the 2022 Steelers, they are one or two bad games away from being good enough to be a playoff team without needing any help from other teams.

The constant failure of Canada's offense is the lowest of low-hanging fruit from covering the Steelers this season, and I am getting tired of writing about it probably as much as you're tired of reading about it.

But, when we're two weeks away from the end of the season and Canada is still going on about the same issue that's plagued them all season -- the most pressing issue for every single offense in football -- it's a very real problem. 

MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE

• Canada was asked about Pickett and Johnson's comments from Wednesday about the focus on playing better against zone coverage, and Canada confirmed it is a "point of emphasis" for this offense along with the red zone inefficiency.

"That's good that that's what they're talking about," Canada said. "We've talked about that all week as far as just the details. As we continue to grow, we're making a lot of strides with the details and being at the right place at the right time, everybody being on the same page and understanding when to sit, when to clear. 

The Ravens play in zone coverage far more often than man coverage, and that only went up after they acquired Roquan Smith from the Bears. With three interceptions thrown by Trubisky, there is a lot of tape to go to about what mistakes not to make against Baltimore's defense.

"We saw a fair amount. They're good at it," Canada said. "It's not just from them. I mean, it's obviously football. But as we continue to evolve, the details of Kenny [Pickett] with those guys, and having those feels are important."

• Cam Heyward was asked about what it means to try and preserve Tomlin's streak of non-losing seasons, and his answer couldn't provide a fresher breath of air.

"It’s a streak you look at after the season," Heyward said Thursday. "We’re trying to win every damn game. Coach T has produced a lot of good teams. Obviously, you don't want to be the first team to do that. But, our goals are just trying to win one game at a time."

If the streak ends, it ends. Whether the Steelers finished 7-10, 8-9 or 9-8, any failure to make the playoffs will be Tomlin's focus. You can't win the Super Bowl without making the playoffs.

• Some members of the Steelers' defense had a white elephant gift exchange for Christmas, and Heyward ended up getting Larry Ogunjobi a Bernese Mountain Dog named Axel.

While that seems like a really bold gift for a present exchange, it might have been a little preplanned.

"No, it was definitely cleared," Heyward said. "Probably in the back of the head he's like, 'He's not gonna really do it.' We had talked about multiple times just to make sure, I was like, 'Larry, I'm getting you a dog.'"

Heyward said on his podcast Malik Reed opened the crate with the puppy first in the gift exchange, but his wife is expecting and a large puppy and newborn might not be the best idea. When it was Ogunjobi’s turn, he stole the puppy from Reed.

• Heyward is a special player in so many ways. And in Year 12 in the NFL, he's still finding a way to play at a high level. Teryl Austin had nothing but high praise for him Thursday.

"He's a unicorn. I say that all the time," Austin said. "But I think what allows him to do it is he keeps himself in great shape. The wear and tear, it's hard to explain. It really is. Because the guy just seems to play at a high level all the time. But I think a lot of it is conditioning, I think a lot of it is obviously he has a great willpower, a great desire to be a great player. So, I think you factor all that stuff in and the fact that he's really durable. I mean, it's amazing, the amount of plays he plays, all the things that you said. You don't see that very often. But I just have to put that to him and his mental makeup, his physical, how he keeps himself in great shape is why he's able to do what he does."

• Alex Stumpf has more from Austin's media availability on Thursday, including the need to simply play better against the Ravens.

• Several Steelers from Wednesday's injury report returned to practice on Thursday: Diontae Johnson (hip), Najee Harris (personal), Terrell Edmunds (hamstring), Myles Jack (groin), Pat Freiermuth (personal) and Cam Heyward (personal). All except Jack returned as full participants. All of those players except Johnson missed Wednesday's practice to attend Franco Harris' funeral. Johnson was limited Wednesday.

The only two Steelers who didn't practice were Tre Norwood (hamstring) and Larry Ogunjobi (toe/personal). Things aren't looking good for Norwood, and he'll likely be ruled out without any participation in Friday's practice. Ogunjobi missing practice could just be more load management for the veteran defensive lineman, who's been battling a number of injuries all season.