Ben Roethlisberger says Steelers OC Matt Canada succeeded in one area vs. Texans

In the maelstrom of criticism coming Matt Canada’s way, Ben Roethlisberger defended the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Following Pittsburgh’s abysmal offensive showing in the team’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, the former Steelers QB discussed Canada’s play-calling.

“It wasn’t awful”, Roethlisberger said Monday night on his Footbahlin podcast. “I thought Canada did a good job of trying to do different things. They tried to get [QB Kenny Pickett] on the run. They tried to throw screens. They tried to do some different things. That’s what you want to do. You’re not gonna get caught in that look of doing just ‘this. They tried to do some different things. It just didn’t work for whatever reason.”

It didn’t come close to working. In the loss, the Steelers recorded just 225 total yards of offense and 12 first downs. This isn’t the first sign of trouble for the Steelers’ offense. In four games, the team has recorded a mere four touchdowns.

Pittsburgh averages just 15.5 points per outing, the seventh-least in the league. While Roethlisberger isn’t ready to throw in the towel on Canada, he doesn’t deny changes are needed.

“Now you start asking, do you need new play designs, or do you need new guys in there?” Roethlisberger said.

Others chime in on Matt Canada

Not all Steelers fans are so patient. After just two weeks of the season, fans called for the organization to fire Canada. Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the fans’ concerns.

“I appreciate their passion,” Tomlin said. “I share their passion. We all do. Man, we love our fans, man. They inspire us. They challenge us. It’s an awesome relationship. Man, we don’t run from challenges, we run to challenges.

“This is the sport-entertainment business. It is our job to win and thus entertain them. And so we don’t begrudge them for that. We want them to be fat and sassy and spoiled. It is our job.”

Roethlisberger isn’t the only former Steeler who has weighed in on the offensive coordinator’s shortcomings. Retired wide receiver Antonio Brown went after Canada on social media during the Steelers’ most recent loss.

“Matt Canada is a horrific combination of being not only the worst, but also the most predictable playcaller in the NFL,” Brown wrote on Twitter.

Canada won’t have to wait long to have another chance to silence his doubters. On Sunday, the Steelers will face off against AFC North rival, the Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS.