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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 12.26.24
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Jason Mackey
11:54
Hello, everyone. Thanks for finding my weekly chat. You know the drill. We'll get started in a few minutes.
Tom
11:58
So when the Steelers schedule rolled out, literally everyone said they would need to win early and probably lose in the brutal second half. So they did exactly what they needed to do and what everybody thought they would do but somehow the world is still ending? Please explain
Jason Mackey
11:59
You want me to explain how the entire Steelers fanbase reacts to something? I don't know if I can do that, Tom. I do know -- and I wrote this for A1 today -- that the Steelers are where about where thought they would be. 10-6 or 10-7, maybe 11-6 ... but still flawed and a coin flip to win a football game. I'm not sure if that's much different than what you're saying.
Tom
11:59
Are you suprised the Pens are playing Jarry so much?
Jason Mackey
12:00
I'm not. I think they know they need to find out what they have in him. One, it allows him to get into a rhythm. I think it might help him get comfortable. At minimum, you know what you have. Covering Tristan, I've always found him to be the type of guy who does better when he's involved with the group, not doing things on his own like a backup would.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:01
Jason: what a disaster.  As of right now what would be your 2025 QB plan?  12 days ago I thought they would give Wilson a Baker Mayfield like 3 yr $100m deal.  Now I think it is between Wilson at say $22m per, Fields at $14-16m, or other.  It is hard to evaluate a QB playing behind this line with this group of WRs, but I say go with the younger, cheaper Fields.  Am I over-reacting?
Jason Mackey
12:02
I think you're overreacting. I don't have an answer on that right now because I'm not against it. I do think 3 years, $100 million is probably high. But if Wilson leads them to a playoff win or two, I'd probably feel differently about it. I think you just need to see how the balance of this plays out, honestly. I know that's an unsexy answer, but it's kind of where I'm at with all of it.
Brad
12:02
It seems like the Steelers defense is really mad at one person talking about it can’t just be 10 guys on the same page. Who are they criticizing?
Jason Mackey
12:03
I don't know if it's one guy all the time. It's kinda true of defense writ large. If everyone isn't on the same page, you're gonna have problems.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:03
Connor Heyward's offsides penalty yesterday was obviously the least of our concerns, but what does it say about the accountability on this team that such a fringe NFL player who has made no contribution on offense and a limited one on special teams can commit a half dozen or so pre-snap penalties this year and still be on the roster?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Yeah, he does get penalized a lot. More than he should for his role, no doubt. I don't know what it says, but probably that stuff like that is being tolerated more than it should.
demosthenes98
12:04
Happy Boxing Day! Since this is a holiday celebrated in Canada and has a name with connotations of socially acceptable violence, I have to ask--what's your all-time favorite hockey fight?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Alex Semin vs. Marc Staal.
demosthenes98
12:05
Andrew McCutchen has contributed many things to the Pirates over the course of his lengthy association with them, not the least of which is leadership. With that in mind, which move shows more leadership? Is it meekly returning to put lipstick on the proverbial pig? Or is it telling the low-character liars on Federal Street NO, then going public with it and the reasons why?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I'm not sure it's either. Cutch wants to come back. He likes it here. He thinks they can win. You're free to disagree or get mad at Bob Nutting. But the premise of your question doesn't make sense based on what I know about Cutch. He hit 20 homers last year. Had a pretty respectable OPS. Would have to think he'd have a job somewhere if he really wanted it. He wants to be here.
demosthenes98
12:06
Is it possible that the Pitt football team isn't as good as they looked when they were 7-0 or as bad as they've looked since then? That, instead of being world-beaters or bottom-feeders, they're just...okay?
Jason Mackey
12:06
Yeah, that's possible. If not likely.
Erryg
12:06
How concerned are you that Russell Wilson may not be the solution at QB?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I don't know. I think he can be a solution. I just don't know if he would be worth $30 million. His return will be about how much he wants, what he's willing to accept, etc. We've been talking about Russ for $100 million over three. I'd have a hard time with that. But if he wanted $45 million over three, that's a different discussion.
artie bridge
12:07
Jason, After three straight debacles, what specific steps can we take to get this train back on track?  And, is the post-season already all but lost?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Their only postseason hope might be beating a bad Texans team. Actual steps: communicating better, tackling better, not turning it over, leaning on Jaylen Warren, involving George Pickens even more ... yeah, there's stuff they can do. But the defense does have to improve.
Seferg
12:08
Are there any quarterbacks in this year's draft that you would trade up for?
Jason Mackey
12:09
Honestly, no. I'd rather see them preserve picks to address other areas of need, chiefly defensive line, defensive back and wide receiver.
Seferg
12:09
How would you grade the Pirates trade for Horwitz? Fair, gave up too much or we got a great deal?
Jason Mackey
12:10
I don't hate it as much as I originally did. He's one of those players who probably requires some nuance and numbers to grasp. Certainly not anyone who's gonna blow you away. But I still don't like that they gave up a bunch of young pitching to do it. Ortiz straight up, fine. Or the prospects. Just not both.
Jason
12:11
Hi Jason! If the Steelers get a late game and the Ravens get an early game depending on the outcome should the Steelers rest as many starters as possible? They sure seem
Jason Mackey
12:11
They probably should. But I also don't love it because I think this group probably needs some confidence. Maybe if you could have a good half and call it a day that would work. You certainly don't want to get anyone hurt.
Jason
12:11
like there isn’t much left in the tank and understandably so.
Jason Mackey
12:12
I see this is the second part to your question.
Joel
12:12
Jason, Happy Holidays to you and your family. Sorry you had to spend Christmas Day dealing with another Steelers debacle. I know that Tomlin is getting torched by frustrated Steelers fans, but isn’t the core problem roster construction rather than coaching? Tell me a coach in this league who could win 10 games with this roster. So my critique of Tomlin (and Khan and Wylie) is around the inability to choose players that can win on game day against elite teams.
Jason Mackey
12:13
I think the people fixating on Tomlin are ignoring the other factors. In other words, he's not absolved. But, yeah, it's an imperfect roster, to be kind about it. Players have also underperformed. But he's been around a while and hasn't helped himself with his performance of late.
James of WV
12:13
Hi Jason, I hope your holiday season has been better than the Steelers.
Jason Mackey
12:13
I can confirm that it has. Thanks, James.
Jeff
12:13
Thanks for the chats Jason.  World is clearly ending here in the Burgh...steelers reeling, pens fighting to just make playoffs and the pirates, well nothing seems to ever change.  Question on the pirates do you see any younger arms in the minors making it to the bigs this year?  I cannot believe we are dangling Jones.  Without the starting pitching we lose 90 games!  Oh and happy holidays
Jason Mackey
12:13
They're not going to trade Jones. I doubt they trade Keller. I don't know if this is what you mean, but I'd expect Chandler, Harrington and Ashcraft to make their MLB debus this year.
debuts*
Country Roads JP
12:14
Hello Jason, I realize there’s reason for pessimism about the Steelers but it seems they never do well on short weeks and I feel if they can regroup and rest over the next 10 days and get back to playing on Sundays again they will perform better plus there’s a strong possibility they will open the playoffs against Houston which is their best case scenario.
Jason Mackey
12:14
I don't disagree with you. The short week thing is real. And I don't think the Texans are very good. They could win that game.
Bill in Clinton
12:14
Seriously, what will it take for Nutting to sell the team?
Jason Mackey
12:14
I don't think he has any interest in selling.
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