Steelers News: Matt Canada knows, and understands, his role with the Steelers

It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. With the start of training camp now behind us, it looks like we’ll have to wait until opening weekend to see the Steelers take the field. Just because the NFL has cancelled the preseason doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how Matt Canada, like others before him, know their role with the Steelers.

Let’s get to the news:

• New quarterbacks coach Matt Canada understands what is being asked of him in Pittsburgh.

Labriola on ‘Matt Canada gets it’

By: Bob Labriola, Steelers.com

On Jan. 11, 2018, Tomlin hired Teryl Austin, whose resume included stints in the NFL as both a secondary coach and a defensive coordinator, and with the Steelers his title became Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary. Translating that job description into reality, Austin joined Tom Bradley in working with the defensive backs and he also brought his coordinator experience to the weekly defensive game-planning sessions.

• Based solely on resume study, Canada could be viewed as the offensive version of the Austin hiring, because he has spent time as a coordinator at seven different college programs, including LSU, and he also spent a season as the head coach at Maryland. But because one of those college stops as a coordinator was at Pitt, which shares the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex with the Steelers, the growing assumption outside that building became the hiring was more than adding someone to work with the young quarterbacks.

• “Obviously, (Canada brings) expertise in years of coaching quarterbacks, years being around offensive football. Years of being a play-caller and experience being a head coach,” said Fichtner last week. “It is more knowledge in the (offensive meeting) room. It is one more opportunity to throw ideas around … I also know that when it comes to ideas and thoughts and things you can bring to the table every week, what he can bring to the table might be different than I would in that room, (which) is going to be really fun to see and watch develop.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• How Devin Bush ended up with an awesome man cave.

How Steelers have supported their favorite painter during pandemic

By: Brooke Pryor, ESPN

Artist Cody Sabol’s phone lit up with a FaceTime call from a number he didn’t recognize.

When he answered, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush’s face filled his screen.

“Hey, Cody,” Bush said, “what are you doing tomorrow?”

When the nation shut down in early March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sabol became one of many small-business owners to watch helplessly. The 25-year-old Pittsburgh-based artist makes almost all his income speed-painting at live events — and he has an infant son along with a new mortgage payment for the house he and his wife just bought.

Suddenly the future was uncertain, and it was scary.

That changed when Bush extended an offer: Spend the next week transforming the walls of his basement — and soon-to-be personal gym — from plain cream to colorful murals that would remind Bush of his journey and motivate him as he worked out.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• David DeCastro never even considered opting out of the 2020 season.

Steelers Pro Bowler David DeCastro never considered opting out, ‘not afraid’ of health risks

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of only three teams that did not have a single player opt out of playing this season, as is permitted in 2020 by the NFL out of concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the Steelers’ highest-paid and longest-tenured players said he didn’t give sitting out the season all that much thought.

“I’ve always had that mindset of just being all in,” Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro said Monday during a video conference call with media. “Football being No. 1, it’s almost sort of a religious experience, plus that gift for myself. I love the game. I always have. It’s done so much for me. You can’t really think about the money and whatnot when you’re playing. You just have to be all about football, attacking that day and having that routine. It just makes life a lot easier.”

DeCastro, who is entering his ninth NFL season, said he has not changed his personal routine during the covid-19 pandemic. The league and his team have dramatically altered the day-to-day minutia of training camp and the layout of their facilities. But DeCastro’s at-home, family life is largely being conducted as normal.

“I’ll be honest, I’m not too afraid,” he said. “That’s just my personal opinion of it. I haven’t really done anything to — I don’t know really much what you can do if it’s worth taking those risks to completely isolate yourself. To me, I don’t really see that as beneficial. I’d rather be with my kids and family and take that risk. I haven’t changed that at all.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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