Matt Canada: ‘There's a good vibe from the guys’ on the Steelers offense as it seeks turnaround

Matt Canada is aware that the results from the offense need to improve. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator is confident his unit’s players are taking a good approach to reaching that end during the team’s bye week.

“We’d like to be better but there’s a lot of football left, and I think there’s a good vibe from the guys about getting to go out and play the rest of the season and certainly do what they expected to do coming into the season,” Canada said Wednesday from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Wednesday became the first day of a five-day break afforded Steelers players by coach Mike Tomlin, although several players remained at the facility that afternoon. Canada suggested the idle week was a good time for introspection.

“We’ve got to look at what we’re doing well and what we think we can get better at,” Canada said. “Is this play, can we run this? Why is it not working — was it who we played? Was it what we did?

“And you know, simplifying in some areas, adding on in some other areas. I think it’s all of those things together. But I feel really good about where we are and where our players are. I think our players are certainly frustrated and disappointed with our production, but I don’t think there’s a lack of belief in them with each other, or where they think they can go, and understand they’ve got to be better.”

The Steelers (3-2) rank 27^th in total yards and have managed five offensive touchdowns and are averaging 12.3 offensive points in five games. They lead the league “three-and-outs,” and no team has punted more often.

Help is on the way

A day after Diontae Johnson professed he would be ready to return to game action off injured reserve after the bye, optimism too was expressed that tight end Pat Freiermuth would be cleared to return to action for the Oct. 22 game at the Los Angeles Rams after missing this past week’s game because of a hamstring injury.

Canada knows the return of their WR1 and TE1 will help aid the offense.

“You’ve obviously got to cover Diontae too, right?” Canada asked, rhetorically, of opposing defenses. “I think George (Pickens) is getting quite a bit of double coverage (in Johnson’s stead). Getting Diontae back helps (the other receivers). Getting Pat helps everybody. So, obviously you’ve got two big weapons for our offense that we’re excited to hopefully have back. And that’s a big thing for us.”

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