Tuesday marked the first day of change for the Steelers.
The firing of Matt Canada as offensive coordinator begins a new era and a recommittal to Kenny Pickett at quarterback. Pickett has regressed under Canada's tutelage with the latest ugly showing coming in Sunday's loss at the Browns. The Steelers' offense will be coordinated by running backs coach Eddie Faulkner, and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will be tasked with calling the plays effective immediately.
Now, with the offensive coordinator out of the door, all eyes are on the players to perform. After Wednesday's practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Pickett emphasized the call to action for the offense.
"It's a challenge to everybody," Pickett said. "You know, I feel like you have to take it personal. It's a guy I've worked with since I got drafted here. You know, you want to play great. You don't want anyone to get let go like that. So, absolutely. You know, we've got to answer the bell, find out what we need to do to play better, and then just go take care of business."
This change, made by Mike Tomlin Tuesday morning, comes amid a playoff race. The 6-4 Steelers currently hold the No. 7 seed in the AFC and would be in the postseason if the season ended today. Three of the final seven games of the season are against the Bengals (twice) and Ravens, hardly leaving any room for error for Pickett and Co. to adjust to new circumstances. The Steelers rank 28th in the NFL in total offense and scoring offense entering Week 12.
But, if there is one and only one Steeler who needs to answer the bell, it's Pickett. He is self-aware.
"I'm a perfectionist," Pickett said. "I've always been that way. Always, you know, hardest on myself, and how I need to play and the standard I hold myself to. ... There's a balance to that. I want to go out there, have fun, play, and do what I've done my whole life. So, that's what I, you know, want to get back to and enjoy the people I'm doing it with. Got great friends on this team. So, I just want to get back to playing football."
Pickett is 25th in the NFL in passing yards, with Josh Dobbs (20th), Mac Jones (22nd), Zach Wilson (23rd), and Desmond Ridder (24th) sitting ahead of him. His six touchdown passes, 79.2 rating, and 35.7 QBR are the worst among quarterbacks who have started at least 10 games this season. Additionally, his 6.1 yards per attempt are tied with Dobbs and Wilson for 29th in the league.
Clearly, a change needed to happen -- perhaps sooner -- and now Pickett will be closely communicating with Sullivan on a play-by-play basis for the remaining seven games.
"He's great. You know, I spent a ton of time with coach Sully since I got drafted here," Pickett said. "You know, I'm with him pretty much every day. With him more than I'm with any of my family members, truthfully. So, it's nice to have that kind of relationship with a coach. The terminology, like I said, is going to stay the same. You know, you don't have time really to change formations or conceptual terms. So, we're going to roll with what we have, but they're obviously, they're going to put their twist on what they want to do and when they want to call things."
Pickett said to not expect any "wholesale" changes to the system, but that new "wrinkles" could come as a result of Faulkner's planning and Sullivan's game calling.
"You can't have wholesale changes at this point in the season," Pickett said. "We're going to run the system that we've been using and coach Sully, coach Faulk, they're going to put their wrinkle on it on what they want to run and when they want to run it."
Faulkner's new role as the "coordinator" whereas Sullivan is tasked as the "play caller," could indicate the Steelers will continue to lean on Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and the running game for the bulk of its production. Warren has risen as one of the best running backs in football as of late, with his latest output being a nine-carry, 129-yard showing against the Browns' top-ranked defense on Sunday.
"I think that identity is already coming along, you know, prior," Pickett said. "I thought we ran the ball really well. I think our O-line was blocking great. We have two great backs that are doing a really good job together. Both do different things really well. So, you know, really happy with how those guys are playing and how we're playing, as well."
The move came on a players' day off Tuesday, leaving most to discover the news on social media Tuesday morning. Such were the cases for Allen Robinson and Pat Freiermuth, each saying they learned of Canada's departure in that manner. Pickett said he was not made aware of Canada being fired until everybody else found out via social media Tuesday morning. He said he called Canada to wish him well and the two had a "great" conversation.
"You hate to see it. You don't want to see one of your coaches lose their job, you know," Pickett said. "We all got to do better."
