First Call: Ben Roethlisberger calls Steelers' pass game 'non-existent,' gives thoughts on Matt Canada's future

Tuesday’s “First Call” features some opinions from former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the state of the franchise’s offense.

We check in on a former Penguins goalie. And we have some honors for Robert Morris hockey and Duquesne football.

Big Ben’s big advice

During his latest “Footbahlin’” podcast, retired Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger offered some advice to his former franchise.

“You’re sitting at 3-2, you’re No. 1 in the AFC North right now. I wouldn’t make a lot of changes at all,” Roethlisberger said Monday. “You can go in and tweak some things. Tweaks and changes are a big difference. You’re not coming in and overhauling anything. You’re not, ‘This guy’s not playing, this guy’s in. This guy’s out.’ Let’s maybe go at some schemes. Let’s work on some wide receiver screens. Little things like that, I think, are appropriate. … Fine-tune things. How can we start faster? What’s it going to take to score early?”

Roethlisberger says that includes retaining offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

“I don’t think you’re making a coordinator change in the middle of the season,” Roethlisberger said. “You’re not going to make that change. … Use this time to break down where we’re good and where we’re not. Where you’re good, fine-tune it. Keep working. Where you’re not, either get rid of it, or get yourself better.”

After the bye, the Steelers face the Rams, Jaguars, Titans and Packers. Like the Steelers, Jacksonville is 3-2. The other three clubs are 2-3.

Passing fancy

That said, Roethlisberger seems to think the passing game needs lots of work.

“The passing game feels very non-existent,” Roethlisberger said. “I want to see more. … Where’s the concept passes? Where’s the choice route with an in behind it, with your out-breaking bench-route or semi-routes. Where’s a skinny post?

“A two-beater on a side and a single-beater on the other side, and you’re trying to work high-low. You’re trying to inside-out a guy. You’re trying to throw maybe an empty quick game. Not just throwing a swing to a back, or a flat to a back. Where’s a curl route? I haven’t seen a 12-yard curl route which is a staple in the NFL. … How about a 10-yard hitch route?”

That’s a good quote for the “It’s not all Matt Canada’s fault” crowd.

Well, of course it isn’t. The quarterback has to make throws. The receivers have to get open. The pass protection needs to hold up.

Yeah. We get it.

But if the passing concepts are so basic that an educated eye like Roethlisberger’s can diagnose these deficiencies while, quite literally, drinking beer in his basement during his podcast, don’t you think opposing defensive coordinators can figure it out too?

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Sounds familiar

Former Penguins goalie Matt Murray is dealing with more health problems. The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed that he just underwent bilateral hip surgery Monday. He’s expected to miss at least six months of action.

Murray had already been ruled out for the season. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving made that announcement at the outset of training camp when Murray was put on long-term injured reserve in late July.

Murray is now 29 years old. He is entering the final year of his four-year, $25 million contract that he originally signed with Ottawa in 2020. His cap hit with the Leafs was scheduled to be $4.69 million for this season. Ottawa is still eating $1.56 million.

Last season Murray played in 26 games with Toronto. He was 14-8-2 with one shutout and a 3.01 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.

Murray won two Stanley Cup championships with Pittsburgh in 2016-17. Ilya Samsonov will enter the season as Toronto’s starting goaltender.

Runnin’ Robinson

Duquesne’s football team may have lost 43-17 against Delaware on Saturday. But at least one of the Dukes’ players stood out as a star.

Running back Edward Robinson earned Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week thanks to eight carries for 86 yards and a touchdown against the Blue Hens. His big highlight was a 68-yard touchdown romp.

Edward Robinson breaks off a 6⃣8⃣ yard TOUCHDOWN to put us back in front!#GoDukes | @EdRobinsonIII pic.twitter.com/fcjlywibLs

— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) October 7, 2023

The Maple Heights, Ohio, product got the award last week after gaining 72 yards on 10 carries during a 31-28 win versus Long Island. Robinson now leads the Duquesne rushing attack this season with 292 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.

The Dukes have their NEC home opener Saturday against Central Connecticut State. Kickoff at Rooney Field is slated for 12 p.m. The Dukes haven’t played a home game since beating Edinboro 49-7 on Sept. 2.

Praise after a comeback

Robert Morris goalie Chad Veltri was named AHA Goaltender of the Week on Monday afternoon.

Over the weekend, the Fox Chapel product started both nights between the pipes during RMU’s comeback weekend after a two-year absence for the program. They lost the first game 3-0 on Neville Island Saturday against Bowling Green. Then Veltri and his Colonials teammates shut out the Falcons 3-0 the next night at BGSU.

Veltri only gave up two goals in two games and earned his first shutout of the season at Bowling Green in Game 2. Across two games, he made 73 saves, including a 40-save performance in the home opener, which was six away from his career high.

Up next, the Colonials face Mercyhurst on the road in Erie on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, on the women’s side for RMU, after a six-point, 16-shots-on-goal weekend against St. Anselm, Morgan Giannone was named CHA Forward of the Week. She registered a goal and two assists in each contest. The sophomore was a big part of a 6-1 win Saturday and a 6-4 victory Sunday.

Teammate Janelle Evans was named Rookie of the Week after picking up two multi-point games. She logged one goal and two assists Saturday, plus one goal and one assist Sunday.

Coach Logan Bittle’s team is at Princeton this weekend.