Halicke: The big plays that were there but never happened

Matt Canada has faced an unprecedented level of criticism and vitriol this season, especially given the Steelers' remarkable 55-game streak without a 400-yard performance -- a feat achieved by just three teams in the last three decades. Nevertheless, the Steelers' paltry 10-point output in Sunday's loss to the Jaguars cannot be solely attributed to Canada.

In fact, he actually had a pretty decent game, considering the subpar standard for this offense. Yeah, there were some head scratchers. Yeah, there were a couple facepalm moments. And yeah, they were still far too predictable. But, there were big plays that could have been made.

Regardless of who the offensive coordinator is or what concepts are called, players gotta make plays. Sure, Canada's predictable tendencies undoubtedly handcuffs the offense and limits opportunities for big plays. However, even a bad offensive coordinator wins one every now and then. Just as every great coordinator doesn't bat 1.000, not every bad coordinator goes "0-for" every game.

There are three examples I can give that left arguably 18 points off the board. If all three are executed, Sunday's game is much more competitive. Heck, I'll even be so bold to say the Steelers win.

First, the very first play of the game:

There isn't a coordinator on the planet that could have drawn it up better. The Jaguars were without starting safety Andre Cisco, and the Canada came out firing to attack the middle of Jaguars' Cover 2. They run Diontae Johnson out of the slot, he attacks the seam, applying pressure on the strong side safety. Allen Robinson runs a corner route, which puts more pressure on the safety to decide between helping down the middle or on the outside. And Connor Heyward, who was lined up on the outside, runs a quick underneath route to keep the off-ball linebackers low and open up the throwing window down the seam.

The seas parted for Johnson where if he gets a perfect ball and catches it, it's a potential touchdown. Kenny Pickett's throw sails just a bit, but this is a pass that Johnson absolutely has to catch. It hit him in both hands. I don't care about the rain, the turf or the throw. That has to be caught. Diontae knows this and rightfully took ownership of it after the game. This can't happen. Vast majority of the fault goes to the receiver. Catch. The. Ball.

The next two I'm putting on Pickett. Johnson was at least able to rebound and haul in eight catches for 85 yards. These are two throws that NFL quarterbacks -- not even franchise or Hall of Fame quarterbacks -- have to make.

First, a horribly missed opportunity to George Pickens:

Again, the perfect play call against Cover 1. The Steelers are in a 3x1, and Pickens is on the outside of the bunch. Pickens runs a corner route, and does a great job of turning the safety inside then accelerates right by him. The deep safety is playing so far back that Pickens is home free if the throw is on the money.

Not only does Pickett fail to lead him, he underthrows Pickens so much that the safety has a chance to make a play on the ball. 

Great quarterbacks are able to throw guys open. Serviceable NFL quarterbacks make serviceable throws to open receivers. At bare minimum, this should have been a huge gain on third-and-2.

Finally, and perhaps the most painful:

The Steelers are running 3x2 here, and Johnson's motion tells Pickett there's man coverage on that side of the field. Conversely, there are four defenders against the three receivers on the other side. With Pickett knowing that Heyward's route will rub the defensive back, the only look to the right side here should be to look off the safety in the middle. We've seen Pickett execute stuff like this before. For whatever reason, Pickett takes far too long to get through his progression on the right side. He misses the most opportune window to hit Johnson here.

But, even being late to Johnson's side, he still has the ability to hit him with the pass. There's more than enough room. He just misses. And, even if Johnson shoulders some of the blame here for not sitting in the window for long enough (he shouldn't), this is a throw Pickett has to make. This is more egregious than Johnson's drop earlier in the game. This guarantees a touchdown if Pickett puts that on the money.

Between all three plays, there's the potential for 18 more points for the Steelers. And, not one of those plays was Canada's fault, especially coming out of the gate.

A lot can be said for slow starts to games. This is when we see the script for the game plan. How well does the coaching staff design a game plan to attack the opposing defense's tendencies?

With how bad the Steelers are in the first quarter this year (only NINE first-quarter first downs in seven games), that says a lot about how poor this offense is under Canada. However, this particular game is much more of an indictment on the players not executing. 

The very first play of the game attacked Jacksonville's tendency for Cover 2 and should have produced a big gain or even a touchdown. Players didn't execute. Canada calls a play that put Pickens in a favorable spot on third-and-short, betting the Jaguars would play Cover 1. Players didn't execute.

Receivers have to catch balls. Quarterbacks have to make throws. Lineman have to block. The offensive coordinator can't do it for them.

I still don't like this offense. I still think the Steelers need a new offensive coordinator next season. But, the players aren't holding up their end of the bargain here. Najee Harris and others in the locker room have been very vocal about that this season. The film from this loss certainly backs that up.