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PITTSBURGH — Welcome to the Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag — the “Kenny Pickett stinks” and “Matt Canada might save his job” edition.

First, thanks for participating. And second, it is evident you all are worried that there’s no hope for Pickett 21 games into his career, and that the offensive coordinator might find a way to hold on to his job.

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I guess you have to be upset about something since Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Jaylen Warren and Darnell Washington are playing more, the running game is on fire and the team keeps finding ways to win. Next thing you know, they will be throwing the ball between the numbers and there will be nothing left to be concerned about.

Let’s jump into this. You have questions, and I might have answers. I know I have opinions, so we will meld them together right here in one little package.

(Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.)

Can Matt Canada still save his job? If so, what’s it gonna take? — John K.

I truly think this is it for Canada regardless of how the offense performs down the stretch. There is one caveat though: If Pickett shows tremendous improvement over the final eight games, then there is a chance. Right now, everything about Canada’s future needs to be tied to Pickett. It’s a built-in excuse, but also one that is very valid.

So this is now Year 4 of not throwing over the middle of the field. Logic says it is mostly on Canada’s route trees, but are you also seeing Kenny being trigger-shy in that area of the field? — Benny C.

They haven’t consistently targeted the middle of the field for nearly a decade. Teams, not just the Steelers, are afraid to attack the middle because that’s where there are more defenders and the best chance of a turnover. And let’s make this clear: It’s not much different than the rest of the league. The Steelers have targeted the middle of the field 15 percent of the time, according to nfeloapp.com, which ranks 26th in the NFL. That’s ahead of top offenses like the Bengals, Bills, Eagles, Cowboys and Chiefs.

Why are the Steelers so tilted to shotgun formations instead of Kenny being under center? — Dan P.

Not to be a jerk, Dan, but how much NFL do you watch? Every team runs more plays from shotgun than under center. Minnesota ranks last at 53.4 percent shotgun, per TruMedia. The league average is 72.2 percent shotgun, and Pittsburgh ranks 14th at 72.5 percent. Teams can be more diverse out of shotgun than under center. You lose some play-action capabilities, but they are willing to make that trade. Instead, you will see a lot of what they call “gun runs” and versions of play-action out of the shotgun.

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Is Canada dumbing down the offense by playing conservatively in the passing game because this QB isn’t an NFL starter? — Adam B.

That’s a first — somebody suggesting that Canada is simplifying an offense that many say is already way too simple. Canada is calling plays that work. Right now, the running game is hot, so he’s sticking with it. When that changes, then he will rely on the pass more. I know Pickett hasn’t been good, but the belief that he is somehow now Josh Rosen or Jake Locker is crazy to me.

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I’m doubting it, but any possible way that the Steelers move off Pickett this offseason? — Joe T. 

Then do what? Your best option right now is to stick with Kenny and hope he improves and turns into the star they think he can be. It would be ludicrous to move off him after two years. Give the guy a chance to learn and grow. Players are allowed to get better, and when you invest a lot into a guy like him, then let him get better.

What is the long-term plan if Pickett doesn’t work out? — John L.

There is no plan. When the Steelers invest a top-20 pick on a quarterback, they are going to give him the benefit of the doubt until the last possible moment. There is no secondary plan. You just have to hope they can make an educated decision before the start of his fifth-year option season. So, you have about 40 more games to evaluate. Until then, they have to pick up his fifth-year option.

Should the Steelers have gotten Broderick Jones into the lineup earlier? — Peter L.

No, because he wasn’t ready two months ago. Just because he has been good now doesn’t mean if you threw him in there Week 1, he would’ve been the same player. It sure looks to me like their approach to his development has worked, so you won’t hear me complain.

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Kaboly: Broderick Jones looks the part, but what's the rush to play him early?

Now that Broderick Jones has finally cracked the lineup, is there any chance he moves back to the left side and Dan Moore Jr. moves to the right? — Lee T.

Not this year, but eventually, yes. There are plenty of instances where offensive linemen switched sides or positions and were successful. Off the top of my head with the Steelers, that list includes Marvel Smith, Max Starks, Willie Colon, Jeff Hartings and Ramon Foster. Jones will be their left tackle next year. I guarantee that.

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The last time the Steelers won a Super Bowl, they had many great late-drafted or undrafted players like Willie Parker, Brett Keisel and James Harrison. Why do you think they no longer have as many? — Anthony I.

It wasn’t that long ago they had an offensive line that included Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Matt Feiler, B.J. Finney and Kelvin Beachum — all UDFAs or seventh-rounders. It appears they hit it out of the park with Jaylen Warren. I know what you are getting at with the three you mentioned, but you aren’t always going to find stars on the open market. That’s like saying why can’t they have another 1974 draft?

Is Najee Harris missing the hole and/or hitting it too slowly? — Steve D.

It depends on the game. In the last few games, I’d say no. He’s run hard and hit the proper holes. But against Jacksonville, he looked like me running the ball. I can’t answer why there is a difference from time to time, but there is.

It looks as if Harris and Warren run different plays. Does this create a lot of tension between the runners? — Bill O.

As long as the numbers are there for Harris and they win, you won’t hear anything negative coming out of his mouth. I just want to see how Harris might react if Warren starts to get more touches and yards and they aren’t as successful running the ball.

If the NFL Draft were tomorrow, which position do you think needs addressed the most? — Mitch T.

I’d go with a stud offensive tackle. They need one more stud at that position and they will be rolling for the next decade.

Aside from the offense, where do you think this team needs the most improvement? — Micah W.

I guess you mean what do they need to do on defense? They need some help and depth at inside linebacker. Cole Holcomb is good, but they need to upgrade that position. My No. 2 spot is the defensive line. They need some young help there.

Do you see the Steelers turning to outside free agents to fill the void at inside linebacker, or will they see what Mark Robinson is capable of? — Brandon G.

I am not sure they are comfortable with Robinson, but everything they have said and done to this point illustrates that. He will play, but it looks like they are expecting practice-squad player and fourth-year veteran Mykal Walker to get some playing time. He had more than 100 tackles for the Falcons last year after being a fourth-round pick in 2020, but you have to wonder why he isn’t on a 53-man roster.

With the recent injuries at inside linebacker, do you see the Steelers playing Keanu Neal more in the box? — Jon R. 

You would think that’s an option, but maybe not this week against the Browns. If Cleveland sees Neal as a de facto linebacker, Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller will seek him out, and it won’t be pretty.

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Why are we not blasting the kickoff through the end zone like every other team in the league? The benefits hardly seem worth the risk. — Don S.

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith told me once that it just isn’t that easy. Kickers do that a lot, but as the season goes on, that isn’t as much of an option as early in the year. So expect to see more returns off Chris Boswell’s leg.

Does 10-7 get the Steelers in the playoffs? — Mitch L.

Easily. But the question is how do they get to 10? We can assume they will beat New England, Arizona and Indianapolis. Where does that 10th come from? Cleveland, Cincinnati, Seattle, Baltimore?

(Photo: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

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