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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 08.29.25
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Christopher Carter
10:28
It's Friday before a long weekend and I'm ready for the questions. Let's get into it.
Gregg from Shaler
10:28
What is current WR depth chart after DK? Miller, Austin, Wilson?
Christopher Carter
10:35
Here's how I list it out:
Metcalf
Austin
Wilson
Miller
Skowronek

I see Austin and Wilson as interchangeable as next guys up for the WR position. Miller would be right after them, and Skowronek is the big body guy for specific situations.
chuck mac from Houston
10:35
Will Benton play?   Herbig? is Austin ready to go?
Christopher Carter
10:37
I think you'll see Calvin Austin ready to go, as well as Keanu Benton. I don't know about Nick Herbig though, as he might need another week to be healthy. I'll also say Alex Highsmith should be good to go.
chuck mac from Houston
10:38
What's the latest on Cam's situation?...expect him in the lineup next week?
Christopher Carter
10:40
As Mike Tomlin reported (and that's all we're technically allowed to say), Cam Heyward did return to practicing with the team last week. I can say that I fully expect him to play week 1 and beyond.
Richard coastal bend
10:40
Good morning Chris, great chats, this is definitely a bit of a crazy question but I figure you are the most likely to give me a straight answer. What happens if the steelers line up with multiple tight ends and Mount Washington splits out to wide receiver with the clock ticking down, what cornerback is going to cover him. I remember a game where Mike Hilton got stuck covering Gronk on a simple out pattern and it was such an easy completion for Brady and a first down it made me laugh.
Christopher Carter
10:47
Good morning!

I do think this NEEDS to be in the arsenal of weapons for the Steelers this year. As in, each time they're in a goal-to-go situation, this needs to be one of the 3 plays they try before 4th down.

Darnell Washington is also a better route runner now who can force defenders to consider multiple options. Arthur Smith HAS to take advantage of that this season.
Soggy
10:48
Good morning, Chris.  Are you a little surprised that the Steelers have not picked up another WR (WR2) After DK, not a lot of options that put fear in opposing teams??  Or are you in the camp that the Steelers will rely more heavily in TE's to help the passing game?  Thanks, as always, for the opportunity to pepper you with questions
Christopher Carter
10:49
I'm a little surprised, but only that they didn't acquire ANYBODY yet. I never had them down for going after a big name, but I did think they'd sign someone for cheap or make a slight trade somewhere.

Granted, both can still happen. But I did think that if Gabe Davis was healthy, he'd be an option, as would be Amari Cooper.

But I also knew they weren't going to give up major compensation in upcoming draft, and that would take them off the board for some of the bigger trades.
Stash
10:50
CC, have you studied the Steeler's playoff game woes under MT enough to assign proportional blame, e.g., turnovers: 30%, MT getting outcoached: 60%, they pay the other guys: 10%.
Christopher Carter
11:01
I think it's always important to go game by game with these as there are different reasons for each of the losses.

So, here we go.

2017 @ NE:
TOs: 10%
Coaching: 40%
Other guys: 50%

Once Bell was out, the Patriots double and triple-teamed Brown, and with Wheaton/Bryant unavailable, Roethlisberger couldn't get the offense going until they were behind.

2018 vs JAX
TOs: 50%
Coaching: 30%
Other guys: 20%

An INT that set up an easy TD, a turnover on downs and a fumble returned for a TD put them down 28-7. Was curtains after that.

2021 vs CLE:
TOs: 50%
Coaching: 40%
Other guys: 10%

Again, 4 TOs and 2 punts before any points and they were down 28. And in this, there were plenty of open targets to not commit these turnovers. The coaching needed to be better on defense, but schematically this game was there to be had on offense.

continuing ...
11:03
2022 at KC
TOs: 10%
Coaching: 30%
Other guys: 60%

Technically only one turnover, but 7 straight punts to open the game while the defense forced 3 punts, two turnovers and scored a TD before the Chiefs figured it out. They were heavily outmatched personnel-wise in this game, but the offense needed to do SOMETHING to at least buy them sometime.

2024 at BUF
TOs: 30%
Coaching: 30%
Other guys: 40%

Three punts, an interception and a fumble put them down 21-0 early. It was always a long shot for Rudolph to lead a win on the road over Allen, but they had a chance down 7 in the 4th if they don't have those turnovers.

2025 @ BAL
TOs: 0%
Coaching 60%
Other guys: 40%

Out of all the playoff losses, this was the one I thought they were most equipped to win that wasn't wrecked by terrible early turnovers. Tomlin/Austin needed to be more prepared for the read option that shredded them. Granted, they were outmatched on the interior, but I felt there were options available to them that could've negated this disadvantage.
Gracie Lou
11:10
What happens this year
Christopher Carter
11:11
YOU TELL ME GRACIE LOU.

But I do think this team finds itself with its OL play. That's the factor that has to be better this year. I have this team going 11-6 and making the 5-seed.
Gracie Lou
11:11
What happens first, Penn State gets past Ohio or Pittsburgh gets a playoff win??
Christopher Carter
11:13
Well if we're talking about the Ohio Bobcats I've got to go Penn State of course.

...

OK but for real, I haven't been taking a hard look at the Big Ten to give a real power rankings but I'm a firm believer that the Buckeyes will just forever be loaded and I don't think James Franklin will get Penn State over the hump. I think the Steelers have a better chance matching up with the Texans for a wild card win than surpassing the Buckeyes.
Stash
11:13
CC, should we come up with (and perhaps trademark) a catchy nickname for this geezer squad in case they catch fire early and catch the world's/ESPeen's attention before the inevitable onset of arthritis? Something like The Over the Hill Gang, but with a yinzer flare?
Christopher Carter
11:16
I like this idea. Granted, I really liked my "Weapons of Pass Destruction" nickname for DK Metcalf and George Pickens before that was blown up in a week.

But now I'm trying to think of the iconically old things about Pittsburgh that would work for this. Like, "Lost Kennywood Boys" or something like that. (That's a terrible name on my part big you get my drift.)

$20 imaginary Chris bucks to someone who comes up with the best name for them in these comments.
Minkah
11:17
CC, if I actually impact the games in this golf/senior folks/largemouth bass hotbed, will that be a bad reflection on Coach T and his minions?
Christopher Carter
11:20
Uh, what?

I'm going to operate on the good faith assumption that this person meant to say if "Minkah Fitzpatrick" plays well in Miami that it's a bad reflection on Tomlin and the staff.

But I'd say ... no? Fitzpatrick earned three first team all-pros in Pittsburgh, then teams started avoiding him like the plague. He was still great at his job, but just wasn't getting as many turnover opportunities.

The only way Fitzpatrick would really show up the Steelers was if he had several first team all-pro seasons and was a legit DPOY candidate -- which he also received votes for when he led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 with the Steelers.
J D
11:20
Chris, Connor Heyward must be their top special teams player because he gets minimal usage on offense.  Your comments.
Christopher Carter
11:22
Connor Heyward does help on special teams but also helps as a utility player. He does a lot of the dirty work of an H-back/small TE like a smaller David Johnson if you will.

I also think his best trait/skill are his hands. I covered the Peach Bowl when he made a terrific TD catch to beat Pitt and have seen him flash those hands in practice. Maybe Rodgers can get him some better targets to show those this year.
Stash
11:22
CC, I hope he does well, but is it just me, or do KJ's thighs look roughly half the size NH's?
Christopher Carter
11:23
They aren't as thick, but I don't think anyone should hold that against Johnson. Harris' thighs were just ridiculously huge. Johnson's time will be judged by how big his runs are, not his thighs.
JPinPDX
11:23
Good morning CC. What do you say to yinzer nation wondering why the Stillers don’t take BIG swings like the Packers just did?
Christopher Carter
11:27
Good morning!

I think the Steelers do take big swings, but you have to be in a unique situation like the Packers are to do what they just did.

If the Steelers had their franchise QB and a roster that was ready to compete for a SB and needed a superstar edge rusher, I think they would've considered that offer.

But as they're built right now, the Steelers aren't a team that should be trying to sellout for the right now. They need this OL to develop and their new core to materialize for the future, on top of needing that future franchise QB.

I do think the Steelers have shown the willingness to be aggressive with Omar Khan. If they find their QB, that aggressiveness will open up a bit more.
Tom in Dallas
11:27
Have we signed any players that have been released by other teams?
Christopher Carter
11:28
As of right now, I don't think so. Their entire practice squad are guys they liked in camp.
Penny Kickett
11:28
CC, just checking in from out west. Hope all is well, and that you get some good inquiries regarding where it all went wrong for this Jersey kid.
Christopher Carter
11:31
Thanks for checking in!

As for Kenny Pickett, I think he's just had some bad luck and got some bad advice about heading out of town. Sure, it wasn't a great situation with the OL and Matt Canada as his OC, but if he had stuck around in Pittsburgh, he would've been the QB that started 6 games last year, not Justin Fields.

And if he guides them to a 4-2 record during that stretch or better, maybe they handle this offseason a bit differently than before.

Pickett got a ring and that's great for him, even as a backup. If you're a Super Bowl champion, you're a Super Bowl champion, period.

But longevity-wise, he's one trade away for being tied for being the most-traded player in the modern NFL. That's not a good outlook for his future after his rookie deal is up.
Tom in Dallas
11:31
What do you make of the Michah Parson's trade?  Which side do you think got the best of it?
Christopher Carter
11:33
I think the Packers robbed the Cowboys. Those two first round picks will be late 20s and maybe even in the 30s, and the Cowboys haven't exactly nailed those type of late first round picks of late. I like Kenny Clark, but he's older and not as good as Micah Parsons.

Parsons now joins a Packers team that I thought was in the tier just below being a legit NFC Super Bowl contender --- and now they ARE a SB contender. The NFC North will be fun to watch.
Tom in Dallas
11:33
What do you think the first offensive play will be in Game 1?  A handoff or let AR throw the ball down field to Metcalf to send a message we will be more aggressive this year.
Christopher Carter
11:35
Slant to DK Metcalf. Book it.
Steeler24
11:36
Is Omar Kahn the most patient GM ever?
Christopher Carter
11:37
I think Omar Khan learned his patience alongside Kevin Colbert all those years. Patience is a virtue, but you also want to have urgency. I think he's shown a good balance of having both. Still very early in his career as a GM, but let's see how he handles his first pursuit of a first round QB.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:37
Good morning, Chris! Thanks for the chats! To play or not to play in the preseason was the big question before the season starts. If the Steelers start out slow then the starters should have played more in the preseason or if they did play and got injured liked Harmon then everyone screams that there was no reason to play the starters in a meaningless game. What is your take?
Christopher Carter
11:41
Good morning! Thanks for joining!

This is always the gamble you make as a coach. Do you play them and risk injury? Or rest them and risk lack of early chemistry?

That will weigh on Tomlin if this team starts slow out of the gate. I don't think they will, but if the offense looks out of sync with Aaron Rodgers and it ends up costing them the playoffs or a good seed in the playoffs, the question will linger about whether the Steelers should've been pushing to see more with a new QB in a new system.
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