I am not a Canada fan. But it’s not like his route concepts aren’t widely used in the NFL. In fact, that is my biggest problem with him. He doesn’t innovate. He actually had a nice triple option jet sweep I only saw ran like once last year. Went for 20+ yards. Actually, a nice design. I don’t think I’ve seen it ran since. Also, we never fake a jet sweep then pass. Then we never put new wrinkles in. You should have your staple of plays that you run and run so well that it doesn't matter than the other team has seen the tape because you run a dozen plays from that formation and you run them so well that you win more than lose. Then you put in a few new wrinkles so when they think they know they don't, and you have a half a dozen plays that if ran correctly should be wins. We don't seem to do that. And we don't seem to run our staple of plays very well. The lack of preparation and the laziness in some of the route running is just ridiculous. Even that big TD from Pickens it wasn't some great route ran. It seems the CB expected safety help and just gave him the inside. The only truly great route runner we have is DJ. The lack of preparation and the lack of emphasis on the little things piss me off. Those two things are on Tomlin imo. If you see a guy running lazy routes you need to get on his ***. And looking at the offense since Tomlin fired Arians has been predicated on these really short routes. imo this is what Tomlin wants from his offense. A lot of 5-7 yard routes to keep the chains moving. Obviously, not working. So I am all for a new OC but there's two things that need to change and improve. One, QB play. Say what you want but people were open. That first INT Freiermuth was open on a post. Pickett stared down his receiver for an easy INT. He's young, 15 starts, needs to learn from that. Lots of passes were thrown behind or low or too far in front. Accuracy and his inconsistency is my biggest concern. Usually, college QB's have the accuracy they just throw stupid passes or don't look off safeties. Things that can be taught. Things that you get away with in College Football you don't get away with in the NFL. Those are just teachable moments. So his INT though infuriating I am less concerned with. The accuracy is a huge problem. I don't know you can teach accuracy or arm strength once you hit the NFL. Brock Purdy worked with a QB coach/trainer named Will Hewlett. I have no idea who he was before about December of last year. He literally retrained Brock to a new throwing motion. Pretty unheard of for a guy who was a 4 year starter throwing nearly 1500 college passes. At that point you are what you are and the NFL team won't try to reinvent the wheel. Not Hewlett. He did analytics and diagnosed the weaknesses in Purdy's throwing motion. Purdy was a very accurate thrower in college averaging 67.7% and having nearly 72% as a senior. But his arm strength was pretty pedestrian. So they revamped his throwing motion to get rid of wasted motion and to increase velocity by 5 mph. That is huge in the NFL. So if I am the Steelers I am hiring Will Hewlett as a consultant coach to come in and work with Kenny this offseason. Day one of the offseason I want him living and breathing football with that dude. I want him to come into 2024 with Peyton Manning type accuracy. And I think Kenny is a very hard worker so I feel like if you gave him a coach like that to learn from he is going to absorb it like a sponge.
Two. Preparation and innovation on offense. If Tomlin can't do it find someone who will. Throw this coaching staff out and start over.
