Weekly Takes - Monday, November 27th Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, November 27th Edition

1. The narrative around Leafs players going on LTIR has been a bit silly as of late.

Matt Murray had actual surgery. By all reports, John Klingberg may have to go down that route after being in noticeable discomfort during the Sweden trip. The Stephane Robidas and Joffrey Lupul disappearances are not the same as what has happened to Murray and Klingberg.

2. With that being said, the Leafs benefit greatly from whatever is going on with Klingberg.

His contract was Brad Treliving’s biggest offseason mistake, yet he got out of it by American Thanksgiving, completely changing what the Leafs can now do between now and the deadline.

Massive.

3. My three stars from the Leafs overtime loss to the Blackhawks on Friday…

1. Nick Robertson

2. Max Domi

3. Jake McCabe

The Leafs dominated the first half before turning a potential blowout into a 50-50 game.

A well-deserved loss, with Ilya Samsonov simply needing to be way better.

4. My three stars from the Leafs loss to the Penguins on Saturday…

1. Matthew Knies

2. John Tavares

3. Tyler Bertuzzi

It has been a tale of two seasons for the Leafs, who began the season getting goals exclusively from their top players and are now getting goals almost exclusively from their secondary scorers.

The latter is better, as one has to think the stars will turn it around eventually, and once they do, the Leafs will ice the deepest forward unit they have in years. Until then, it is frustrating.

I would flip Mitch Marner and William Nylander to see if that can provide a spark to the top players. It does not have to be the long-term solution, but I do not see the harm in flipping Nylander and Marner.

5. My thoughts on the Steelers firing of Matt Canada…

• Here is hoping, if you are a Steelers fan, that this firing ushers in a new era in terms of the operation in Pittsburgh. There is a narrative that the Steelers should be applauded for how loyal they have been to their coaches over the years, and while that has value from a continuity perspective, the reality is blind loyalty should not be celebrated. And keeping Canada for as long as they did (he should have been fired, at the absolute latest, by the bye week in 2022) was the definition of blind loyalty. The Steelers still have a chance of making the playoffs, but the fact that they are in a fight for their lives with an elite defence + a great offence on paper is an indictment of the operation the Rooney family has run from a loyalty perspective.

• So, this firing was a must from the perspective that the Steelers had to show that they were willing to fire a coach and from the perspective that they are trying to make the playoffs, but perhaps more importantly, this firing was a must for Kenny Pickett. I am gravely concerned about Pickett’s NFL potential, but it was tough to truly be “out” on him when he had Canada as his offensive coordinator. Now, we will be able to tell whether Pickett is the guy moving forward or not. In a great quarterback draft class and with potentially big names becoming available in the trade market, the Steelers have to determine whether or not Pickett can be the guy or not. Now they will be able to do so.

• I think Mike Sullivan is a fine replacement to handle play-calling duties for the rest of the season, given his relationship with Pickett and his experience as an offensive coordinator. I also think the Steelers should be open to retaining him if the offence turns things around. But, ideally – and at last – the Steelers should look externally for the next great offensive coordinator who would one day be sought after for head coaching jobs. My list…

• Eric Studesville (Dolphins Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach)

• Darren Bevell (Dolphins Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach and worked with Tomlin with the Vikings)

• Joe Brady (Bills Quarterbacks Coach)

• Mike Shula (Bills Offensive Assistant)

• Tee Martin (Ravens Quarterbacks Coach)

• Joe Bleymaier (Kansas City Passing Game Coordinator)

• David Girardi (Kansas City Quarterbacks Coach)

• Tom Arth (Chargers Passing Game Specialist)

• Jerrod Johnson (Texans Quarterbacks Coach)

• Scott Tolzien (Cowboys Quarterbacks Coach)

• Kevin Patullo (Eagles Passing Game Coordinator)

• Tanner Engstrand (Lions Passing Game Coordinator)

• Antwaan Randle El (Lions Wide Receivers Coach/Former Steelers Wide Receiver)

• Scottie Montgomery (Lions Running Backs Coach/Assistant Coach)

• Ken Zampese (Commanders Senior Offensive Advisor)

• Chris O’Hara (Vikings Quarterbacks Coach)

• Zac Robinson (Rams Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach)

• Jake Peetz (Rams Passing Game Specialist)

• Jay Gruden (Rams Offensive Consultant)

• Klint Kubiak (49ers Passing Game Coordinator)

• Brian Griese (49ers Quarterbacks Coach)

• Bobby Turner (49ers Running Backs Coach)

• Chad Morton (Seahawks Run Game Coordinator)

• Drew Terrel (Cardinals Passing Game Coordinator)

• Ken Dorsey (Former Bills OC)

• Mike Denbrock (LSU Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach)

• Will Stein (Oregon Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach)

• Mike Bobo (Georgia Offensive Coordinator)

• Jeff Lebby (Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator)

• Ben Arbuckle (Washington State Offensive Coordinator)

• Kyle Flood (Texas Offensive Coordinator)

• Pep Hamilton (NFL Network Analyst/Former Texans Offensive Coordinator)

• Mark Whipple (Former Steelers Quarterback Coach/Pitt Quarterback Coach when Pickett was the QB)

Lots of quality names to the point where it will be tough to go wrong, outside of hiring Byron Leftwich, which is certainly a concern given his ties to the Steelers. I think Kliff Kingsbury (USC Offensive Coordinator) and Dan Orlovsky (ESPN Analyst) are two interesting names, too.

• Lastly, I am surprised Pittsburgh let it get this far with Canada, not only for the reasons written above, but also because of the public backlash his continued employment brought. To quote Brian Burke, it became cruel and unusual punishment to continue with Canada as the offensive coordinator.

6. After all that, it turns out Canada may have been an even bigger problem to the Steelers than even his biggest detractor may have thought.

Seeing Pickett use the middle of the field as often as he did was a sight to behold.

He is well deserving of a second chance without Canada. The Steelers putting up just 16 points does not to justice to how well he played on Sunday. He was great. A career game for him.

7. This may age poorly, given how tough the start to his career has been, but Jordan Love’s ball replacement in the last three weeks – including on deep balls – has me convinced that he is going to be a quality starting quarterback for a long, long time.

He has been balling out, with limited weapons at his disposal.

8. My Week 13 NFL Picks, after going 12-4 in Week 12.

• Seahawks (+7.5)

• Chargers (-4)

• Lions (-3.5)

• Cardinals (+6)

• Falcons (-2.5)

• Colts (-1.5)

• Dolphins (-8.5)

• Texans (-3)

• Bucs (-6)

• Eagles (+1.5)

• Browns (+4.5)

• Packers (+7)

• Jaguars (-7.5)

On the season, I am now 92-82, with MNF still pending.

9. Ryan Day has accomplished all there is to accomplish at Ohio State, except for the one thing that matters: Having success against Michigan.

I do not think you fire him, though. Since taking over for Urban Meyer, he has maintained the program to be elite. While no Buckeyes fan wants to hear it, I think you simply have to keep going back to Day and hope he eventually has success against Michigan.