News & Links: Big Ben Defends Canada, Ex-HC Blasts Pickett

Alan Saunders |

Updated: Nov 21, 2023

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 19, 2023 - Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

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? Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren’s 317 rushing yards since Week 9 https://twitter.com/PFF_Steelers/status/1726606351026012640″>ranks

first in the NFL during that period. Warren is leading all running backs in https://twitter.com/BrettKollmann/status/1726453975560671513″>missed

tackles forced per attempt at 0.41. He’s also only playing 28 snaps per game.

? Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan blasted Kenny Pickett on ESPN’s Get Up.

“This offense is absolutely abysmal,” Ryan said. “Let me tell you how bad this quarterback appears to be. Whether it’s the system or quarterback. He’s had 22 starts over his career and 13 touchdowns. That’s the fewest of any quarterback in the last 20 years. Is it the system or is it the quarterback? It’s something, but it’s awful.”

New customers to ESPN Bet can get a free $250 bet with any new signup. Click the link and use promo code STEEL to get an extra $50 off, exclusively for Steelers Now readers.

? Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger thinks firing Matt Canada is not the answer.

“It’s like this new thing now, right? It’s ‘Fire Matt Canada,’ this, that, and the other. I don’t know if that’s the answer,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast. “Again, people have to understand if it happens, if you fire Matt Canada right now, what does that look like? The team is in the playoffs. I mean, right now we’re in the playoffs. We’re 6-4. So, I think they need to probably look at themselves in the mirror as an offense and figure out what they need to do and what they can do, how they can get better.”

? Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky is confused by the Steelers’ offensive schematics.

“I just don’t understand the ‘why’ of this play… I don’t understand the ‘what’s our answer’ of this play,” Orlovsky said on a swing pass to Jaylen Warren that went for negative yardage. The play was not even a designed screen as the three receivers lined to the left were not blocking.

I just don’t understand the “why” of this play…

I don’t understand the “what’s our answer” of this play… pic.twitter.com/Xg7znD6kbW

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) November 20, 2023

? Benjamin Solak of The Ringer posted a video of every single Kenny Pickett pass attempt against the Cleveland Browns that went beyond the sticks. To say the least, it was brutal. Pickett’s longest completion of the day went for a measly 14 yards and his longest pass attempt was only 23 yards.

Every single Kenny Pickett pass attempt that went beyond the sticks today pic.twitter.com/srmjDt4aj2

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 20, 2023

? Kenny Pickett and Anthony Richardson https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1726383045291254116″>have

the same amount of touchdown passes (2) since Oct. 1st. Richardson last played on Oct. 8 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.

Kenny Pickett’s 77.7 passer rating is the https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1726403462127136972″>third-lowest

since 2021 (minimum 500 attempts). Only Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson have a lower rating.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic wore a Myles Garrett jersey after the Penguins’ 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Golden Knight’s on Sunday night. Nedeljkovic is from Parma, Ohio, which is just outside of Cleveland.