Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 06.18.26
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Takoma Tom
12:38
It’s been proven you don’t win in the NFL with defense.  The Steelers keep over spending on defense.  They have the highest paid defense and it’s not even close to the best.  If they sign JPJ and Benton that will be a ridiculous amount of cap space on the defense.  Why doesn’t anyone else have a problem with over spending on defense?
Christopher Carter
12:45
So ... uh ... who proved that you don't win in the NFL with defense?

The Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champs with ... the number one defense in the NFL.

The Eagles won the Super Bowl the previous year with ... the number two defense in the NFL.

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl the year before that with ... the number two defense in the NFL.

That's a three-year run of the top defenses winning the Super Bowl, which is a trend, not a coincidence.

And yes, the Steelers have been the top spender on defense since 2022. But they took that mantle from the Chiefs in 2021, who weren't afraid to spend on defense either. The year the Bengals made the Super Bowl, they had the 2nd-most expensive defense in the NFL.

It's not necessarily over-spending on defense. It's paying the veterans you have available what you think they're worth. Back in 2017, the Steelers had the most expensive offense in the NFL because that's where the bulk of their developed talent was.
12:50
I wouldn't be shocked that if by 2028 -- when the offensive line's expected contract extensions will hit the books -- that the Steelers would no longer be the most expensive defense in the NFL.

The Steelers' best two first round picks in the last 16 years are two defensive players who are still the leaders of this team in Heyward and Watt. Together, they make up a $55.6M cap hit. Take them off the books and the Steelers become the 14th or so highest paid defense.

Could've said the same about an offense that was paying Roethlisberger, Pouncey, DeCastro, Brown and Bell all big dollars back in 2017.
West Coast Danno
12:50
Hey Chris. Thanks for all the details and great chats. Which position battle in Latrobe is on your must see list?
Christopher Carter
12:54
Hey WCD! Thanks for being here!

That's a great question. There's a few.

One, I'm interested in seeing does Broderick Jones get healthy in time for camp and what does it look like for him vs Dylan Cook at right tackle. He'll have catching up to do after not being able to fully workout for months, and that's not an easy thing to overcome.

But I'm also looking at receiver, and where both Bernard and Wilson fall in the pecking order of who gets more snaps and targets.

I also think there might be a battle of who gets more shots to run the ball this year between Warren and Dowdle.
George T
12:55
Hi Chris, is it true that Bill Cowher did not want to draft Ben with the 11 pick in 2004 but Dan over ruled him.  If that was the case and we would not have gotten Ben we may still be looking for a franchise QB since Terry
Christopher Carter
12:59
Yep. That's well-reported. Bill Cowher wanted to take Arkansas OT Shawn Andrews, but Dan Rooney intervened seeing Ben Roethlisberger as their chance to make up for passing up on Dan Marino.

Wild to think of what the Steelers would've been like in the mid-late 2000s with that as a different move. Andrews went on to earn a first team All-Pro honor in 2006 before a back injury ended his career early.

But here's another thought: if the Steelers don't draft Roethlisberger in 2004, would they have taken the shot on Aaron Rodgers in 2005? Packers got him with the 24th pick, and without Roethlisberger there was probably a good chance the Steelers would've picked before then.

Shoutout Dave Dameshek for the What-If-L segments he used to do. Those were fun.
Realist
1:00
Do you think Greenwood will ever get in the HoF?  It's a travesty that he's not already in.
Christopher Carter
1:00
OK, last one, then I have to get to my other projects.
1:06
I agree it's ridiculous that LC Greenwood isn't in the HOF. He was a key piece of the Steel Curtain, a two-time first team all-pro, and a member of the HOF All-1970s team.

But it's long been known that hall of fame voters like Peter King swore for years that they'd never vote for another member of the 70s Steelers to make the HOF, which is a shame. I'm glad Donnie Shell got in with respect to how elite a safety he was. But Greenwood was also another legend of a dynasty and deserved his flowers before he past.

When I was a college student, I once went to a Steelers event to get Greenwood to sign a book about the 70s Steelers for my father as a Christmas present.

When I came up to him, he looked at me being 21 years old and said, "you have no idea who I even am, do you?"

I said back to him, "of course I know who you are man! You're the guy with the yellow shoes!"

Greenwood stared back at me for a second in a way I thought I might've said something wrong.
1:07
But then he said, "Gold. They were gold shoes young brother, but you're alright. Who do I make this out to?"

I think it's sad when NFL players don't get their flowers when they're alive. He passed away two years later.
1:08
Thanks everyone for being here! Be on the lookout for some things we've got in the works coming this weekend!
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