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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 06.05.25
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Christopher Carter
10:10
This made me legit LOL
Glad to have you aboard Scott!
Manny M.
10:10
Hi Chris.  If Smith is traded to Pittsburgh, do you see him being used as a tight end only or could he also be utilized as a receiver in some packages?
Christopher Carter
10:12
Hi Manny!

I do think Jonnu Smith could be used in different ways. But I honestly don't think there's much behind those rumors. Smith's agent--Drew Rosenhaus is negotiating a new deal and is probably feeding those claims of trade interest to spice things up. The Steelers already have two useful tight ends in Freiermuth and Washington. Hard to see them add a third.
Carl in Carrick
10:14
Will the Beanie Bishop incident further serve as an impetus for the building of a new Steelers stadium, likely separate from Pitt?  Thanks for your chats.
Christopher Carter
10:15
Thanks for being here Carl!

I don't think the Steelers care one way or the other about the Beanie Bishop situation other than they probably told him to not do the cleats thing again.

But I do think they might build a new training facility in the early 2030s and that's why they haven't made major upgrades at their current training facility in a while.
Yunzer Jake
10:15
Thanks for your chats Chris.  You're a great addition to the team!  As much as I hate to go here, I read that a couple of weeks ago at the owners meetings ARII said that they'd wait "a little bit more" for AR.  Does that mean minicamp or they say "thanks very much and good luck in your future endeavors".  I just don't get why any team would sacrifice their team building and planning for the possibility that anyone - even the 2d coming of Tom Brady in his prime - might be showing up at some point.
Christopher Carter
10:16
Thanks for being here and for the compliments!

I think the hard cutoff for Rodgers is training camp. But I also would not be shocked if he shows up next week for minicamp. But if Rodgers isn't there for move-in day at Saint Vincent College, that will change the tone of things.
Guest
10:16
Any updates on how Chase Claypool's "brand" is faring?
Christopher Carter
10:17
You know, I don't have CFL stats handy on me. So couldn't say haha
Mike B
10:17
The NFL is a business, owners want to maximize profits and players want to maximize their salary. Do you think the business side of the Steelers and Rooney’s has adversely affected their ability to win playoff games or even a championship? Seems like they are content with status quo.
Christopher Carter
10:19
I think if there is any juice to that claim it would be around their unwillingness to expand the coaching staff. But the Rooneys pay out the salary cap each year. It is not like the Pirates where they're just not paying talent and letting stars walk all the time/not adding to rosters.

I just think they've been in a rut because of the natural regression of an organization that had a good nucleus that aged out and lost talent suddenly in ways that were hard to foresee.
BBK
10:19
Hey Chris, it’s early, but has anyone impressed you in the Steelers workouts to date?
Christopher Carter
10:19
I'd say Roman Wilson looks smoother this year and Payton Wilson looks ready for a starting role. Other guys have also been good, but I like how both the second year Wilsons are looking right now.
Pittfan
10:19
Hi Christopher. I don't necessarily subscribe to comparisons. I don't recall the national pundit's name but he compared Will Howard to a raw Jalen Hurts. Do you see it?
Christopher Carter
10:20
WHO IN THE WORLD SAID THAT? Sheesh. I would not make that comparison. I think Will Howard is more comparable to a more mobile version of Mason Rudolph. Hurts was a second round pick for a good reason. Liked him both at Alabama and Oklahoma.
JPinPDX
10:20
Good morning CC. If you never hear another Aaron Rodgers question will it be too soon?
Christopher Carter
10:21
Good morning!

And LOL. As long as nobody calls Will Howard the next Josh Allen or Big Ben 2.0 I'll be fine haha
Jake
10:21
With the hope that Harmon lives up to his 1st round expectation and Benton improves, I don’t see any glaring weakness in our defense w the exception of Slot Corner. Do you think they make a move or give Beanie another shot ? I read Echols has always played outside CB so that doesn’t seem to be an answer.
Christopher Carter
10:22
I do think slot cornerback is still a question for the team. You're right about Echols, he's going to play on the outside.

But as far as Beanie Bishop, he has to show he won't get lost in the sauce like he did sometimes last year. He does that and finds a way to help against the run more, and he's solid.

I agree with your assessment of the defense!
Happy Gilmore
10:22
Chris, Mike Tomlin has gone 14 of 18 seasons on the job without a single playoff win. He is on an 8 year streak of zero post season success. Was it all Ben's fault?
Christopher Carter
10:25
Was it all Ben's fault? Can't put the last three years on him.

But does Ben share in that? Absolutely. From their last playoff win (Chiefs 2016-2017) to today, the Steelers' offense has not scored a touchdown that has either tied or given them a lead in a playoff game. Only TJ Watt has done that when he put the Steelers up 7-0 over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Against the Jaguars and Browns, Roethlisberger did get to putting up points, but only after the offense went scoreless when it was supposed to be putting up big points in games and the team fell way behind. And when you look at the all-22 of those games, the plays were there to be made and the QB didn't maked them.

But again, that doesn't apply to the Bills/Ravens losses.
10:26
Also, as I've pointed out in previous chats, there are at least 5 HOF coaches with as many or less years where they didn't advance in the playoffs as Tomlin, and Don Shula also went eight straight years without a playoff win and is considered one of the best ever--as he should be.
Barry I’m MD
10:26
Discussion topic. Lots of talk about first place schedule last place a in between. Good way to complete schedule but over rated. Prior year finish determines three games only two during the 26 game years. The rest predetermined a same for entire division. What say you
Christopher Carter
10:28
I think the current scheduling methods are fine. Teams are matching up with opponents in different divisions well enough and the good teams play other good teams more often. Don't see a reason to change that.

If I have a schedule gripe, it's that teams should get an extra bye week with this 17-game season. That would give players another week to recover and be healthy to play ball.
It would also give the NFL another week of football in the regular season. Which would bring more money.
Pittfan
10:28
Hi Christopher. IF Cory Trice can stay healthy, with his size and skill set can he become another Kyle Hamilton?
Christopher Carter
10:29
Kyle Hamilton the Ravens star safety? No. Not his style.

But he and Joey Porter Jr. could end up being a nasty CB pair who are big, fast, and physical.
Mike in Virginia
10:29
Do you think the Steelers want a rookie to start next year, or would they rather have that person sit for a year and learn? If that's the case, do you think their offer to Rodgers is for two years? Or do you get Rodgers for a year and know that next year you are drafting a QB and signing another veteran rental to start for a year so your young QB can learn?
Christopher Carter
10:29
I think they'll sign Rodgers for a year, draft their rookie and that rookie will compete with Rudolph in next year's camp. Maybe they sign another NFL floater vet or something, but I see that being the way it plays out.
Saint
10:29
Assuming that AR signs and plays one year and that the Steelers draft their QB of the future next year, who is QB1 in ‘26? The draftee probably won’t start from Day One. Ben didn’t. Pickett didn’t. The new guy probably won’t either. If the answer to my question is “Rudolph”, why not give him some runway and make him QB1 this year?
Christopher Carter
10:30
I presume Mason Rudolph will hold that chair going into training camp and then the drafted QB will make his way to that spot in the first month of the regular season.
Scott via Ky
10:30
How come there are not more trades in the nfl player for player. Usually it’s a player for draft picks. We have 2 good punters, and good linebackers. Why not come up with a trade for a wr?
Christopher Carter
10:31
It's very possible something like that could be in the works. But teams can be fickle about trades. Tough to say why one does or doesn't happen without notes from the front office.
Lou
10:31
Chris do you think everyday day that passes by with no AR translates to MR as QB1?  Might be so! I just can’t see this guy walking in during the month of August
Christopher Carter
10:32
I think the only way Mason Rudolph is QB1 is if Aaron Rodgers doesn't show or he gets injured. Rodgers has until training camp. If he's not there, it's Rudolph's job.
But again, I wouldn't be shocked if he came in next week.
Mike in Virginia
10:32
Thank you for giving an honest and thoughtful response to that comment by Guest/Glenn. A lot of people would have just ignored that or been afraid to wade into the topic, but you used the opportunity to address it and give interesting insight for people to consider. Really enjoying your chats - they add a missing element we sometimes don't get with some of the other chats.
Christopher Carter
10:35
Thanks Mike! I try my best to stay rooted in facts and information I can prove. I get when we wade into bigger topics that gets harder and gets the best of us sometimes. Does for me too (I will get irrational in a Larry Fitzgerald vs Randy Moss debate LOL).

I just hope that people can do their best to stay rational when we get into those conversations. That's when we can learn more from each other.
Mike in Virginia
10:36
I've seen a lot of conversation about Jones at LT that end in "Steelers leadership hopes he'll excel" or something like that which leaves some doubt to whether he'll be a sure thing. Is this season riding just as much on the tackles (especially Jones) doing well as it is on QB play?
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