Pat McAfee suggests unconventional Matt Canada replacement as Steelers OC
Matt Canada’s days may be numbered as the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If the team were to move in a new direction with its offensive play-caller, Pat McAfee believes he has the perfect, albeit unusual, replacement to step in and help second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett.
“Why not Ben Roethlisberger as OC for the Pittsburgh Steelers?” McAfee asked Tuesday on his show. “He’s not enjoying his retirement, he’s stressing with every single (play) call. … You can’t put in a whole new offense after [Week 5]. You have to hire from within. But if you’re hiring from within, you’re still running the same plays Matt Canada has.”
McAfee's point of Roethlisberger already knowing the Steelers' offense, thus being best equipped to get the most out of Pickett with the plays he has to work with, is well-noted.
During his “Footbahlin’” podcast, Roethlisberger admitted he hated the play call that got Pickett hurt in Pittsburgh’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. The two-time Super Bowl winner suggested Canada’s playcalling is predictable and simplistic.
The video of Roethlisberger's complaint with Canada's playcalling is below.
Roethlisberger may have a point. Through four games, the Steelers rank 29th in total offense (263 yards per game), 25th in passing offense (184.3 yards per game), 29th in rushing offense (78.8 yards per game) and tied for 29th in scoring offense (15.5 points per game).
Additionally, Sunday’s loss was the third time in four games that Pittsburgh was limited to 255 yards of total offense or less and the offense scored one touchdown or less.
More must-reads: