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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat 06.18.25
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Christopher Carter
1:01
Normally we do these when I'm sipping coffee and eating breakfast, but it's nice to do this during the lunch hour too! Let's get into it.
Seferg
1:01
LeBeau retired in 2014 and it has been (reportedly) Tomlin's defense since.  How many top 10 defenses has he had in his decade?
Christopher Carter
1:09
Good question! In the 10 seasons since LeBeau left, the Steelers' have been a top 10 scoring defense in six separate seasons, and top 5 twice.

I'll also note that the Steelers' defense has made significant changes from the different coordinators they've had since then as well. Butler was much more focused on the variety of blitz schemes while Austin's coverage disguises have been more intricate in recent years than before.

Tomlin is still the head coach and oversees things on all sides with a defensive background, but the defensive coordinators still do have a very big role in how the unit is deployed each week.
Steelmann58
1:09
Hi Chris. Looking to 2026 the needs would be Qb and WR inThe first two ?
Christopher Carter
1:11
Hello!

As of right now, those are the top priorities I have for the Steelers. But those can always change based off how things play out this year. If Austin or Wilson emerge at WR, does that lessen that need?

If Porter still doesn't take a step up, maybe cornerback becomes a priority again as well?

Those might fluctuate, but the bottom line will remain to be quarterback. We plan to do some in-season coverage of the quarterback class for the PG that will keep an eye on the prospects and who the Steelers should/would target.
Steelmann58
1:11
Hi Chris. The biggest coming into camp would still be The Second WR to team With DK. But the biggest overlooked need imo would be quality back up tackle. What do you think
Christopher Carter
1:13
As you'll hear on today's North Shore Drive podcast with myself and Brian, we do think backup OT is a big hole that could turn into an issue if either Jones/Fautanu get injured or start to have a bad season. It's interesting the Steelers haven't addressed that position otherwise. But I also wouldn't be shocked if that's a target for them in preseason when teams are looking to off-load certain depth players and they find an OT that works as a backup veteran.
Pittfan
1:13
Hi Christopher. I don't know how far back you go in Steelers history but I'll throw this out there. Rank these Steelers safety duos: Shell/Wagner - Lake/Perry - Polamalu/Clark - Fitzpatrick/Elliott.
Christopher Carter
1:16
Hi Pittfan!

I enjoy these types of questions. It was a rite of passage in my house as a kid to have watched all the 70s Super Bowls and have a good understanding of what built those teams and I really started watching diligently as a kid in the mid-late 90s.

As a duo, I'd have to say Polamalu-Clark would be my pick. But it gets tough after that. It's also hard because we've only seen one year of Fitzpatrick-Elliott so far. But here's my ranking for now:

1) Polamalu-Clark
2) Shell-Wagner
3) Lake-Perry
4) Fitzpatrick-Elliott

Polamalu is one fo the best players--let at lone safeties--of all time. And Ryan Clark was perfect for the late 2000s hard hitting FS role.
1:19
Donnie Shell was amazing and it's hard not to pick him and Mike Wagner for what they did together. Wagner played a big role on those teams and his interception of Roger Staubach in Super Bowl X was huge.

Carnell Lake was special for his flexibility all over the secondary and Darren Perry worked very well with him.

But man, I do think Minkah Fitzpatrick still has a lot to give in these next couple years and DeShon Elliott is a good player. They could vault themselves into 3rd here with a good year or two, and potentially into 2nd if they're part of a Steelers rise back to being a Super Bowl threat. But for now, have to put them fourth.
Rooney
1:19
The Steelers have upgraded their roster in the last three years up front where it matters most on both sides. Hopefully QB position was and will  be upgraded  through this draft and next draft. ( Rodgers doesn’t matter to me) The corner position is a glaring weakness. JPJ is not a top corner, teams attack him because he can’t cover without penalty. New corner from Eagles too old for rebuild mode. Two questions: do you agree and do they constantly work on JPJ not grabbing so much?
Christopher Carter
1:21
I do agree cornerback is a big question mark going into this season. And yes, Gerald Alexander--new DBs coach--is working closely with Joey Porter Jr. on his penalties.

If you're looking for optimism that it could work out for Porter, I'd say it's a good thing that he does so many things right outside of the last second penalty in his work. He's one of the best corners at press and keeping receivers from breaking free at the line and he's both quick and fast enough to stay on receivers around the field.

His biggest problem is he doesn't trust his work and grabs when he doesn't need to. It's a bad habit, but one that can be kicked. If Alexander helps him do that, look out AFC North receivers.
Steeler fan near Philly
1:21
I know it's still just offseason practices so far, but as an insider what is your gut feeling on how the offensive line will do this year?
Christopher Carter
1:23
I think the offensive line will be an above average unit. We've known Broderick Jones was always a project with his youth, and I think Zach Frazier is in a very good position to take a big step up from what was a very good rookie season.

I really liked Troy Fautanu coming out of college, so it will just be about him being healthy and how quickly he adapts. If those three pan out, I can see this being an offensive line that ranks just outside the top ten of the NFL, with the chance to grow into being an elite group in 2-3 years.
Guest
1:23
When are going to get some wr depth?
Christopher Carter
1:24
I'd expect sometime during camp. They're not going to rush it as nobody's getting plucked up right now and teams might get more desperate to offload players during camp like they do every year.
the real guest
1:24
Chris, For NFL minimum and zero draft capital the Steelers could sign Gabe Davis. The medical assessment must be pretty bad for them to have not done so. Agree?
Christopher Carter
1:25
That's possible, but I also think they're waiting to see about other options coming available. If you sign Davis--even for a tiny contract--it's another body in the room and if you get the player you REALLY want who comes available later, that might impact your chances to get them. Even if it's not about money, that player may think "well, I won't fit in there as much," and things could get murkier.

I think they're just being patient because they can.
Pittfan
1:25
Hi Christopher. Did you rank the QBs in this past draft and which round you thought they would be drafted? If you did I'm sure you published it; I'm curious about what you thought.
Christopher Carter
1:28
Yes I did!

I had
1) Cam Ward 1st round
2) Shedeur Sanders 2nd round
3) Jalen Milroe 3rd round
4) Jaxson Dart 3rd round
5) Tyler Shough 3rd-4th round.

You can check my top 100 big board here! https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/04/24/steelers-nfl-m...
Guest
1:28
Hey Chris.  Our secondary has been a concern for awhile.  If I'm a QB, I'm throwing at Joey Penalty, Jr. all game.  There's about a 50% chance of getting a penalty.  The corners brought in recently are washed up.  The ones drafted by Tomlin are busts.  Didn't Mike start off as a secondary coach?  Why does he struggle so much to identify and develop this position?
Christopher Carter
1:32
I'd also target Joey Porter Jr. at this point, but I also think he's close to making that not the best idea for quarterbacks. He does a lot right outside of his bad penalties at the end. If he works that out of his game, he'll be one of the better corners in the NFL.

As for Tomlin and corner picks, I do think they've had their fair share of whiffs, but also had good picks that don't get acknowledged.

For example, if Porter's already labeled a bust, that's a mistake. But you could label Justin Layne a bust as a 3rd round pick.

But after that, you'd have to go to Cameron Sutton, who was a very good pick in the third that got you a good starter for years in the slot and outside before he left the team (and eventually was bad after that). But for about five seasons, he was a good player. That's a good 3rd round pick.

The real disappointments are the 2016 and 2015 picks Artie Burns and Senquez Golson.
1:33
Burns was definitely a mistake and a reach by the team going for a need over their own best player available method. Team desperately needed a cornerback and there was a run at the position before Burns was picked, but they stuck with him.
1:34
It's tough to say they should've known anything about Senquez Golson not working out ion 2015, as he was projected as a really good player and had just the worst injury luck.

Before him, Curtis Brown was a bust in the 3rd, but Cortez Allen was fine for a 4th. And Keenan Lewis was a good 3rd round pick.
1:37
So to summarize on player they spent decent draft capital to address:

2009: good pick
2011: Bad pick and OK pick
2015: injured pick
2016: bad pick
2017: good pick
2019: bad pick
2024: ??

That's two good picks, three bad and an OK pick along with an injured player in relevant rounds. I don't know why they haven't worked more often, but that's also not THAT bad a hit rate, especially when you look around the NFL.
Gene
1:37
Do you think Conner Heyward and Patterson are on the 53 roster this year?
Christopher Carter
1:38
Heyward looked really good during minicamp even though I thought he was on the chopping block and still is. He could play he was onto to the team. Unless Cordarrelle Patterson does something amazing during camp, I don't see the point to keeping him.
Guest
1:38
Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game with any QB not named Ben.  Cowher had more postseason success and it was with Ben, Maddox, Kordell, O'Donnell, Tomczak.  Cowher knew how to get players to play above their potential.  Mike always gets players to play below their potential.  Why are these two coaches even mentioned in the same sentence?
Christopher Carter
1:44
I think it's also important to note who Tomlin's had to play without Roethlisberger vs who Cowher had to play.

Cowher's first playoff win was over Testeverde and he lost to Stan Humphries the next week. His other playoff wins w/o BR came against an over the hill Jim Kelly, Jim Harbaugh (2x), Drew Bledsoe, Elvis Grbac and Kelly Holcomb.

None of those quarterbacks can be considered to be in the same stratosphere of the last three quarterbacks the Steelers faced in the playoffs in Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. It's a completely different era. If Jim Kelly was in his prime, he'd be the only one, but he was not.

I think framing "Cowher knew how to get players to play above their potential, Mike always gets players to play below their potential" is a loaded statement that skips over a lot of details and is completely inaccurate.
1:48
If anything, Ben Roethlisberger himself is an example of Tomlin getting better production out of a player. His best years were under Tomlin, as he literally had the worst Super Bowl winning performance of all time with Cowher, and delivered one of the best moments in NFL history under Tomlin. And don't even get me started on James Harrison.

Does that mean Tomlin's better than Cowher? I don't think it necessarily does. But do you see how framing a statement like that can be very misleading?

There are countless factors that play into coaching's impact on players and teams. Both coaches have built hall of fame resumes with their time and are Super Bowl champions who also won multiple conference and division titles. That's one of several ways they're in the same sentence. I could go on about this for a while, but we have a lot of questions to address.
Michael
1:49
Chris, do you think B Jones and Joey Porter Jr will get extensions?
Christopher Carter
1:51
I think that's what both are playing for this very season. I think Jones has the better chance because they knew he was a project and were going to give him time to grow. An easy fifth-year extension shouldn't be a problem unless he's objectively terrible this year.

Porter has to show he can be a CB1 for the future this season. Otherwise it will make next training camp a big issue for him. If he plays well this year and cuts down on the penalties, I would see an extension coming for him rather quickly.
Michael
1:51
Chris, who do you think is the most overrated and underrated player on the team?
Christopher Carter
1:54
This is always tough because it depends on what ratings are we going off? Random fans? NFL insiders? NFL top 100 rankings?

If I had to pick an overrated player, maybe it's Isaac Seumalo just for assumed dominance at guard? That might not be fair to him, but his injuries last season didn't help and they need more out of him.

Underrated, maybe Payton Wilson? I think he has a lot in the tank and isn't talked about a lot.
Michael
1:54
Chris, which do you you think has the higher level of concern; the OL or secondary?
Christopher Carter
1:55
Offensive line. Just because I think there are more experienced leaders in the secondary who can hold things together and the O-line is basically one proven veteran and a bunch of young guys.
Yogi in Yonkers
1:55
Likelier scenario for Porter this season: Pro Bowl or bench?
Christopher Carter
1:55
I'd say Pro Bowl. It's hard to see them benching Porter unless he's abysmal.
NY Yinzer
1:55
Love the chats. Thanks for doing these! What are your thoughts on Broderick? How concerned should we be that he was forced out of necessity to play in the right side the last 2 years when he should have been developing on the left? I still have ptsd from the Dotson situation.
Christopher Carter
1:58
Thanks for being here!

I think Broderick Jones has been doing what they thought he would in developing NFL traits as a younger player. Remember, he's still the youngest offensive lineman on the starting unit.

I did think they should've told Dan Moore to get over it and play the right side last year and never understood why that didn't happen so Jones could play left, but I also know there are a lot of things coaches see that we don't. So, maybe he was just that bad, and they trusted Jones to be better at RT.

You're not wrong to have some PTSD over Kevin Dotson. Though I will point out he had good days with the Steelers, just inconsistently so and several injuries.
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