On more than a few occasions in 2016, when he previously was employed on Pittsburgh’s South Side, Matt Canada would take a moment to marvel at Ben Roethlisberger’s throws.
“I was always so impressed with the accuracy of Ben,” Canada said Tuesday during a video conference call with media. “I think that is what makes him the tremendous player that he is.”
Canada’s previous views of Roethlisberger were as an observer while each worked at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
At the time, Canada was Pitt’s offensive coordinator and Roethlisberger was in his 13th season as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.
Today, Canada is Roethlisberger’s position coach with the Steelers. And the first formal throws Roethlisberger made as part of his 17th NFL season were heavily scrutinized because Roethlisberger is coming off elbow surgery in September.
This time, the pain was different.
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 4, 2020
Ben Roethlisberger winced and grabbed his elbow after a deep pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster.https://t.co/5ILoaWPwR9
Canada came away impressed.
“He looked the same,” Canada said. “Obviously, it is a question for him, how he feels and where he is at. He is gauging all of those things. I certainly thought he looked really good yesterday, and (accuracy) is what sets him apart.”
Roethlisberger, for his part, told media his arm “feels really, really good.”
Now 38, Roethlisberger has been plying his trade in the NFL since 2004. Though he is a respected coaching veteran with stops at eight Division I schools, Canada is working with the pros for the first time.
“Ben has way more experience than I could ever imagine in the NFL, so I am listening,” said the 48-year-old Canada. “We’ve talked. Reads, concepts and those things, how he has done and what he has done. I am obviously learning from he and (offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner), and if there is anything or another way of seeing something with he or, more importantly, with the younger guys, then I am just trying to take that and go.”
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