PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin is well aware of the issues plaguing his team’s offense.

The Pittsburgh Steelers coach doesn’t believe the game planning by first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada is part of the problem.

Tomlin said Tuesday he has no issues with Canada’s approach but added it’s imperative for the Steelers (7-7-1) to get off to better starts if they want to have any chance to reach the playoffs.

“I have no reservations about the play-calling component of his job and what he’s done,” Tomlin said before adding there is a learning curve when it comes to calling plays at the collegiate level — as Canada has done at places such as Pitt and LSU — and the NFL.

Canada’s learning curve likely needs to flatten out quickly. Pittsburgh hasn’t scored a first-half offensive touchdown since before Thanksgiving and has fallen behind by 17 points in four of its past six games, including spotting Kansas City a 30-0 lead in a blowout road loss last Sunday.

There have been times this season when the offense has been able to find a rhythm when it goes up-tempo, a move that gives quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a little more flexibility in terms of calling things at the line of scrimmage.

The 39-year-old could be playing in his final game at Heinz Field next Monday night against Cleveland (7-8). Asked if he would consider just “handing Roethlisberger the keys”, Tomlin said he’s “not opposed to that” but added Roethlisberger is already heavily involved.