Matt Canada Gets An Uptick In Stock Up/Stock Down
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sitting at 4-2, the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to find consistency. While the execution hasn’t been great, for the most part, the fight has been there.
Stock Up
Matt Canada
‘Yes you are reading this correctly. The Stock is up today on Matt Canada. The simple fact is that all the offensive problems were not on Canada. It was foolish to believe that to begin with. /but if you ware going to attribute all the issues on him, you must also reap praise on him when things run smoothly.
Against the Rams, the offense sprang to life when it needed to. Pittsburgh was able to run the ball when it wanted to. But more importantly, when it needed to. Canada mixed up the blocking schemes by running inside and outside zones.
Even in the first half, the plays were there to be made. The players didn’t execute them. The Steelers also had mental mistakes that killed a few drives.It wasn’t that Canada was calling a bad game. He wasn’t.
Since it’s apparent Canada is going to be the OC for the foreseeable future, acknowledging his play calling success is ok. Like I mentioned, the narrative that this offensive woes are all on Canada is false.
The Offensive Line
Like Canada, the offensive line has been much maligned and for good reason. So to see them step up against the Rams is encouraging. Is it perfect, no. But you can see them building confidence.
Canada helped with the playcalling, mixing up the inside and outside zone concepts. Guys were getting to the 2nd level. More importantly, they were finishing blocks.
Take a look at the Jaylen Warren touchdown run. All five guys were attached to a man and getting movement. If this continues, the offense will continue to thrive.
Seumalo to the second level, Washington kick out, Cole holding the nose, Warren with the cutback.
Probably best run blocked play since the Warren TD in the preseason. pic.twitter.com/VtW52whh52
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) October 22, 2023
Stock Down
Run Game Defense
The Los Angeles Rams were able to run the ball early and effectively against Pittsburgh. One of the keys to the game was to make the Rams one dimensional and get after Matthew Stafford on passing downs. That never really happened. Even late in the game, LA was able to effectively move the ball on the ground.
LA attacked the Steelers right in the heart of the defense. Too many times Minkah Fitzpatrick had to drop down to be the extra man in the box to make the play.. Against a better play action
team, that would have been a huge problem getting the ball thrown over their head.
Soft linebacker play is also a culprit. Don’t confuse tackles with effective play. Too many times against Los Angeles, the linebackers were making tackles four and five yards down field. Giving up 135 yards on the ground to guys that had not taken a carry on the season is inexcusable. It must be corrected.
Levi Wallace
While the secondary as a whole hasn’t been great, Levi Wallace again struggled. Here on this Tutu Atwell touchdown, Wallace had no idea where the ball was on this seemingly ball that was up for grabs.
Earlier in that drive, he gave up a 32 yard play to Puka Nacua on a crossing route where he literally just fell down after the catch while chasing him.
Several times, Wallace wasn’t even close to receivers that were making catches. While the match up with the Rams was admittedly tough, Joey Porter Jr seemed up to the challenge regardless of whom he was covering.
NFL receivers are too good to allow free releases. He also has to be more aggressive in off man coverage as he breaks on the ball way too late. If Wallace wants to stay a full time starter, he must find a way to start redirecting routes and being more physical at the line of scrimmage.
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