Mike Tomlin on what to expect from new Steelers play-caller Mike Sullivan: 'Hopefully better results'
The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) will officially debut their new interim play-caller, Mike Sullivan, in the Week 12 road tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) Sunday.
Sullivan, assuming the role vacated by Matt Canada, who was relieved of his duties Tuesday, is tasked with turning the Steelers’ struggling offense around in the final seven games of the season. His first test will come in Cincinnati — a familiar opponent to Pittsburgh.
Asked this week what to expect with Sullivan calling plays, head coach Mike Tomlin kept it simple.
“Hopefully better results,” Tomlin said. “That’s why you make moves. With results in mind — in terms of the feel of that, we formulate plans within our personality based on matchup and venue related things week in and week out. This week will look different than next week and I’m just being transparent with you — we’ve been in this venue a bunch. We understand how significant the venue is in terms of communication and things of that nature. We better be able to streamline some of those things, but we’d be doing those things regardless of the play-caller.”
The Steelers, despite sitting in a playoff spot in the AFC, have been outgained in each game this season. The offense is 28th in yards per game (280.1) and scoring (16.6). Canada’s firing felt like a long time coming, especially after the offense mustered up just 249 total yards in the 13-10 Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns (7-3) this past Sunday.
Kenny Pickett reacts to Steelers firing Matt Canada
Quarterback Kenny Pickett said that Canada’s dismissal feels like a challenge for the offense to step up in the final seven games of the season.
“It’s a challenge to everybody,” Pickett said. “I feel like you have to take it personal. It’s a guy you’ve worked with since I got drafted here, you want to play great, you don’t want to see anyone get let go like that. So absolutely we have to answer the bell, find out what we need to do to play better and then just go take care of business.”
With Canada out, running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will serve as the interim offensive coordinator. Sullivan, however, will call plays. Pickett will hope to have success under the new regime, something he seldom had with Canada at the helm. In 10 games this season, the 2022 first-round pick out of Pitt has thrown for just 1,722 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions on 60.5% passing. His 35.7 QBR is 28th among quarterbacks.
“I’m a perfectionist,” Pickett said. “I’ve always been that way. Always hardest on myself and how I need to play and the standard I hold myself to. But there’s a balance to that. I want to go out there and have fun, play, do what I’ve done my whole life. So that’s what want to get back to and enjoy the people that I’m doing it with and got great friends on this team. So I just want to get back to playing football.”