Seemingly everybody associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers wants to know if the change in quarterback will mean a change in offensive scheme for Kenny Pickett’s first start.
The man who’d be in charge of such a shift said there’s no reason to wait for Sunday’s game at the Buffalo Bills to find out. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said the proof came this past Sunday.
“I don’t think you saw a huge difference in the plays in the second half (against the New York Jets) when Kenny was in there (compared to the first half when Mitch Trubisky was quarterback), as far as the play call,” Canada said Thursday. “So, I don’t think you’re going to see a drastic difference.”
Canada, coach Mike Tomlin and even the Steelers’ receivers and offensive linemen have repeatedly stressed that the skillsets of Trubisky and Pickett do not drastically differ enough so that the overall offensive philosophy will not shift all that much now that Pickett has been named the Steelers’ starter.
The Steelers’ first-round pick, Pickett will make his first NFL start Sunday. Canada did allow that, like any two quarterbacks, Trubisky and Pickett have their own favored pet plays they gravitate toward.
“There might be tweaks here, like a route that Mitch liked that Kenny likes different,” Canada said. “But as a big picture, it’s going to be the same plays.”
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
