Matt Canada understands the Steelers’ offense is far from a finished product

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense is a unit which is improving by the week in all facets. The running game has improved behind an improved offensive line, and with time to throw Ben Roethlisberger has been very efficient with the football.

During the team’s three game winning streak, it has been the offense which has turned heads at times. No, they aren’t lighting up any scoreboards, but they are improving and showing signs of life, this after looking dead during the team’s three game losing streak from Weeks 2-4.

However, despite their recent successes, offensive coordinator Matt Canada knows the offense is far from a finished product.

“I think there are little steps we’ve made.” Canada acknowledged when talking about the offense. “We’re not where we wanna be. We have to score more points. The bottom line is winning. We have won. And I say it a lot, I think it’s the great thing about working here and working with Coach [Tomlin], each week you just want to win and get out of the stadium. We’ve done that the last three weeks, but we’ve got to continue to improve our running game, improve everything. We’re making some steps. We’re starting to see a little bit more of what we want to be, but we have to be more consistent.”

One of the aspects of the offense which needs improved is how often the offense is penalized, mainly along the offensive line. This immediately puts an already fragile offense behind the sticks and off schedule. A recipe for disaster.

“I think we have to continue to get better. We’re playing great people every week. We can’t hurt ourselves.” Canada said. “We have to get stopped by the people we play, not by mistakes that we make. I think that’s the next step for our evolution of getting better. But once again, we’re seeing some positives. We’re getting better.”

Every week provides a new challenge for the Steelers and Canada, and the ultimate objective within the offense is balance. However, Canada and Ben Roethlisberger both admit sometimes it does require the unit to lean on one aspect of the offense more than another. It can’t always be 50-50.

“We’re looking to be a balanced offense.” Canada reiterated. “Again, I know I’ve said it a lot and it gets old, I’m sure, for you guys, but every game could be different. Some games, if they just want to pack the box and stop the run, then you have to be able to throw it. But obviously, we want to run the football and have a physical attack to our offense. I think we saw that. You mentioned it. Stats are what they are: yards and all those things. But the ability to run the ball when you have to—the fourth-and-one, being able to run up there and get a yard—that’s an improvement. We’re continuing to evolve and do those things. We’re not by any means satisfied. We have to score more points, but we’re not chasing numbers. We’re just chasing wins.”

The Steelers have a tough task ahead of them in Week 9 when they square off against the Chicago Bears in Week 9 on Monday Night Football. The Bears defense is giving up 125 yards on the ground a game, 232.5 yards through the air per game, and 24.4 points per game. This is a game where the Steelers’ offense can impose their will on the opponent, and it would be a welcome step in the right direction for the black and gold under Matt Canada.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bears in Week 9.