Through the first five games of the season, the Steelers are averaging 4.8 yards per play, which is tied for last in the NFL. They've only scored six touchdowns, which is also tied for last in the NFL. Since the start of last season, the Steelers have gone 14 straight games, including playoffs, without a first-quarter touchdown.
In a vacuum, that sounds like an offense that is in need of a complete overhaul. But, for now, it looks like "a little bit better" will apparently do just fine.
"We all have to do our jobs a little bit better," Matt Canada said when I asked him how the Steelers can find more success in finishing drives. "I think you can look at those plays, and we can all say what could we have done a little bit better here or there. As always, I'm not going to get into all those things. We just have to be a little bit better. It's a bottom-line business. We didn't score when we got down there (against Buffalo). So, moving up and down the field, that doesn't do anything for you. That's not what we're trying to do. We have to score touchdowns. The tweaks are we've gotta finish the drives. And it's a multitude of things to answer your question."
I would say Canada deserves credit for saying out loud, "we have to score touchdowns." Much like I gave him credit for taking ownership of the offense's putrid start to the season when Mitch Trubisky was calling plays in the huddle.
But ... "a little bit better?" A "little bit?!"
To make matters worse, Canada needed me to repeat the question before giving me that answer.
Go ahead and read the first paragraph again. Read those abysmal stats. Now, for further context, those six touchdowns have come in 57 offensive drives. They're also 24 for 66 on third downs, so it's not surprising when I tell you that only 13 of those drives have entered the red zone.
So, to recap, the Steelers haven't been able to sustain drives. And the few times that they do, they can't put points on the scoreboard.
Take into consideration the immense struggles and health issues on defense, and it's very easy to see how this team has started their season with a 1-4 record.
One acknowledgement that came from Canada's availability with the media Thursday that actually carries some weight came when I asked about the possibility of getting Jaylen Warren more involved in the offense, since he's averaging nearly five yards per carry.
"Finding that balance is a process we knew was going to be what we had to work through," Canada said. "We’ve got to get there faster. It’s taken too long. We’ve got to get there faster; we’ve got to score points."
In addition, Canada showed he wasn't completely tone deaf when he shouldered some of the blame for the offense's inability to produce.
"It’s obviously something we’ve all got to find. All of us," Canada said. "We’re not coaching well enough, we’re not playing well enough, we’re not getting the results that we want."
Canada said it himself. The NFL is a "bottom-line business." Results have to be produced. Otherwise, your career in this league will be short-lived. Fortunately for Canada, it doesn't appear Mike Tomlin has reached the point of changing his standard of not firing coaches midseason, as Tomlin said Tuesday he won't "change for the sake of change."
The problem is some of the symptoms of this anemic offense are hitting historic milestones. For example, a Pittsburgh receiver has yet to record a receiving touchdown this year, and that's the first time the Steelers have had that happen since 1990.
"Scoring touchdowns is the point of emphasis," Canada said regarding the alarming stat. "I want everybody to score touchdowns. We haven't scored touchdowns, and there's no running away from that."
In Canada's defense, part of that is on the receivers. There have been opportunities for Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and George Pickens to score touchdowns. They've been few and far between, but nonetheless, they've been there.
However, none of this takes away from Canada's overall body of work as offensive coordinator. He's had three different starting quarterbacks during his tenure, and one of them will be enshrined in Canton.
So, when the offense of which he is in charge has failed to put up more than 20 points in only five of 23 games (including playoffs), he might want to do himself a favor and avoid saying everyone on the offense needs to "a little bit better."
MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE
• Calvin Austin is getting closer to making a return, though it remains yet to be seen how close he is. His health doesn't seem like the chief concern anymore. Rather, it's him trying to play catchup with the offense.
"I think it’s still possible. Obviously, he missed a lot and it’s hard on both fronts," Canada said. "He comes back a little bit rusty, and just getting back into full speed and then jumping on, as Coach always says, a moving train, I think there’s some validity to that. What reps you can take from somebody else when we’re kind of where we are right now? So, not too late, but obviously there’s merit to your question. We’re pushing to see how quick we can get him back and where he fits."
• The Steelers have a lot of injuries, but some of them are heading in the right direction toward playing Sunday. WR Diontae Johnson (hip), S Terrell Edmunds (concussion), DT Montravius Adams (hip) and TE Zach Gentry (knee) were all full participants in Thursday's practice. That's two days in a row for Edmunds, who is in his second week in concussion protocol. However, a third straight day of participation will be a very good sign for his return to the field.
CB Levi Wallace (concussion) and TE Pat Freiermuth (concussion) were both limited participants in practice. It was Wallace's first participation this week while Freiermuth has been limited both days. Their respective statuses are still very much in the air.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring), CB Cam Sutton (hamstring), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee), DT Larry Ogunjobi (back) and C Mason Cole (foot) all did not practice for the second straight day. Cole had been in a walking boot on Monday and Wednesday, but he was at least out of it Thursday, telling me it was a precaution to wear it. However, how much these five players participate on Friday will be the ultimate decider for their availability Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
• Outside of the health in the secondary, the pass rush has suffered immensely without T.J. Watt. I know it's beating a dead horse to keep bringing it up, but the lack of success without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year speaks for itself.
Now, coming off a week where the Steelers only generated one quarterback hit and three pressures, they have to figure out a way to get to Tom Brady, which has never been easy for any Steelers defense. Teryl Austin was asked about it Thursday, and outside of better execution, the Steelers might have to settle for other ways to disrupt the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
"It’s going to be a challenge to get after him, but we’ve got to make sure we’re doing the right things in terms of our rush and our rush plan. Some of it might just be batted balls," Austin said. "Sometimes batted balls are as good as a sack or as good as getting him into third-and-long, get him some things like that. But we’re not going to fool him, we know that. We’ll try to generate the rush the best way we can. Sometimes you take chances and sometimes you don’t."
