Report names two Steelers who should benefit from Matt Canada firing

The move came weeks, if not months, later than many Pittsburgh Steelers fans wanted, but the club finally moved on from much-maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada coming off Sunday's 13-10 loss at the Cleveland Browns that dropped Pittsburgh to 6-4. 

On Wednesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler named two Pittsburgh players who should see their numbers improve beginning Sunday at the 5-5 Cincinnati Bengals. 

"Two beneficiaries of the Steelers' firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada: Running back Jaylen Warren and wide receiver George Pickens," Fowler explained. "You don't have to be a football savant to know Warren should average more than eight carries per game and Pickens should get more than seven targets per game." 

According to ESPN stats, Warren is first among Steelers running backs with an average of 6.2 yards per carry. He's thus far accumulated 493 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 80 attempts, while Najee Harris recorded 499 yards and three scores on 128 carries over Pittsburgh's first 10 games. 

As for Pickens, he leads the Steelers with 37 catches, 68 targets, 604 receiving yards and three touchdown grabs. 

"Steelers interim play-caller Mike Sullivan knows how to target his top options," Fowler continued. "In 2016, as the [New York Giants'] offensive coordinator, star Odell Beckham Jr. logged a career-high 169 targets." 

The move may not matter if Steelers second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett fails to improve over the next two months. Per ESPN, Pickett begins Week 12 ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 35.7 adjusted QBR, 27th with a 79.2 passer rating and 29th with a 60.5% completion percentage on the season. He tossed six touchdown passes and four interceptions over the campaign's first 10 games. 

Meanwhile, the Steelers are 28th in scoring with an average of 16.6 points per contest. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, oddschecker listed Pittsburgh as a one-point favorite against a Cincinnati side that will be without injured starting quarterback Joe Burrow. The Steelers won't have Canada to blame if their offense remains stuck in neutral through the weekend.