Internal promotion within the Steelers coaching ranks doesn’t spell disaster

The Pittsburgh Steelers global fan base is a group of individuals who aren’t just opinionated, most are keenly involved in what happens with the team. Sure, there are fans who simply focus on the news of the day, and what happens during the regular season. But there are also the regulars here at BTSC, and other sites like it, who know there is no offseason. News, decisions, prospects and so much more dominate the conversation during the time between the season ending and the next season starting.

Throughout this young 2021 offseason, the primary news has been that of the Steelers’ coaching staff being rounded out. There is still one position yet to be filled, the secondary coach vacancy, but other than that the Steelers have filled primary openings, mainly on the offensive side of the ball.

Matt Canada, who served as the quarterbacks coach in 2020, has been promoted to the offensive coordinator role, and Adrian Klemm, who was the assistant offensive line coach under Shaun Sarrett, was promoted to offensive line coach.

When these decisions were made, a collective “ugh” could be heard, even virtually, throughout the fan base.

You saw comments on social media platforms looking like this:

“Same old Steelers.”

“Same story, different day.”

“Nothing will change.”

However, the more I think about these internal promotions I believe fans should at least give these coaches a chance to blaze their own trail.

Yes, Canada was a coach under Randy Fichtner, but do you think for a second he agreed with every decision Fichtner made as a game planner/play caller?

I doubt it.

Yes, Klemm was under Sarrett, but as a former starter in the NFL do you think he believed every single thing Sarrett did was the best route?

I doubt it.

Every coach has their own thoughts and plans, and it is my opinion we should give Klemm and Canada the opportunity to prove their worth, and prove themselves as the man in charge at the NFL level.

One aspect of these internal promotions should be the personnel each coach has to work with. Will Canada have Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, or will he have Dwayne Haskins, Mason Rudolph or a rookie under center in 2021? This will play a huge role in the success, or failure, of Canada’s scheme.

Will Klemm have a rookie, or two, to help round out his offensive line? Will he lose players like Alejandro Villanueva and/or Maurkice Pouncey? What will this do in terms of what he can, or cannot, do with his unit in his first year of being the man in charge of getting the line to work as a cohesive unit?

Even the best laid plans won’t succeed without quality players in the lineup. But the more I think about these two coaches, and the job they face in their first year at their current positions, the more I feel we should at least give them a chance to show what they have.

Maybe Canada doesn’t have what it takes to call plays at the NFL level. No one can suggest he doesn’t right now. He has never done it before.

Maybe Klemm will be overwhelmed and not be able to get the offensive line back to dominant form. Klemm has never been the true leader of the offensive line as a coach, so how would we know his promotion will lead to the same issues?

The Steelers promoting from within doesn’t spell disaster for future seasons. In fact, these coaches have the experience of knowing the personnel, but get to implement their own philosophies. That sounds more like a recipe for success, rather than disaster.

But that’s just me. I am willing to take a wait-and-see approach to the Steelers’ offense in 2021. A lot can change.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the new league year, NFL Free Agency and the 2021 NFL Draft.