Why former Steelers offensive lineman feels bad for OC Matt Canada

Former offensive lineman Trai Essex played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2005 through the 2011 season and recently explained why his heart goes out to much-maligned Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada. 

"If it was just 'Fire Smith,' you can't really chant that, or 'Fire Thomas,'" Essex told Brooke Pryor of ESPN for a piece published Thursday. "This actually has a perfect amount of syllables. It's Can-a-da. It's kind of unique because it's the country right above us, and they're making all kinds of jokes about sending him back to a different country and whatnot. So it's like the perfect storm, and I feel bad for the man, actually, at this point."

Essex was referencing how fans at Steelers home games and at other sporting events throughout Pittsburgh have embraced "fire Canada" chants amid the Steelers' offensive woes this fall. While Pittsburgh sat at 4-3 heading into Thursday night's home game against the 3-4 Tennessee Titans, ESPN stats show the Steelers began the day ranked 30th in total offense with an average of 271.7 net yards per game. Pittsburgh was 29th with an average of 16.1 points per contest as of Thursday afternoon. 

Essex made it known that chants and certain social-media activities won't impact who individuals running the Steelers employ and fire during any given campaign. 

"You can't change your mind at a whim or make a move just because the fan base is acting out. ... They're not going to move in any type of direction one way or the other because of what the noise is outside," Essex noted. "That's just not what the Steelers have done."

The Steelers kept Canada this past offseason in part because it was hoped he'd help second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett evolve into a top-tier talent at the position. Per ESPN, Pickett ended Week 8 ranked 29th in the NFL among qualified players with a 35.5 adjusted QBR and 27th with an 80.6 passer rating on the season. He tossed five touchdown passes and four interceptions over Pittsburgh's first seven games. 

"You almost are making him a sympathetic or empathetic figure now," Essex added about fans targeting Canada on a weekly basis. "... Are people just blindly doing this at this point and not realizing there's a person behind this, somebody's family? I hope he doesn't have kids at school that have to hear this."

Perhaps Canada will win some critics over if the Steelers take care of business against the Titans at Acrisure Stadium.