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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 08.29.25
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JP Jr
11:41
CC, on the ridiculous scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being outrageously ridiculous, please rank my rather generous self-evaluation. Some might say 11?
Christopher Carter
11:42
But these go to 11 ...

If this is posing as a Joey Porter Jr. rating, I'd give him a 7 for now. But I think he can be a solid 8 this year with what I've seen in camp.
J D
11:42
Chris, do the Steelers use more offensive packages for specific plays more so than other teams?  Do you think this is a good system because it telegraphs the defense when they see the same players coming in and out?  Happy Labor Day weekend!
Christopher Carter
11:43
Happy Labor Day weekend!

I don't think they have specific packages for just one play or two. But I am curious about certain packages this year with the TE situation. That might create some instances where it could get tricky with 13 personnel.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:43
I think the play of the OL will be the key early in the season. If there is a good rushing attack, that will slow down the rush and give AR time to throw on play action. If there is no running game and Rodgers is forced to throw 30 times plus a game, then he will not make it through the season unscathed, and we will see Mason sooner than we want or anticipated. What do you think the key to early season success will be?
Christopher Carter
11:45
I will bang the table on this all season: the biggest story is the development of the offensive line. If that group comes together, they'll be the force that carries them into the future and helps them stabilize as an offense this year.

They need the OL to set a good early tone. Do that, and you'll have the run game and time for Rodgers to figure out how to make an efficient passing offense that creates a challenging balance.
Zach
11:45
CC, while I did indeed have a solid rookie year, calling me one of the 2 or 3 best centers in the league, as I have seen in some media outlets, is a bit premature at this juncture, no?
Christopher Carter
11:46
Oh OK I get it now, this is a bit. Kind of funny though, I'll admit.

Assuming this is for Zach Frazier, I think he had a very good rookie seaso and he put himself in the top 5 range of centers based off one year of play. But the best players do it consistently, and that's what he needs to do this year before he's legitimately considered that.
Freddie Boom-Boom Washington
11:46
Good morning, Mr. Cart-AIR.  Love your work.  Two-parter, please. Do you have any doubt/insight on the Cam deal getting done in time for week 1?  We finally have some reason to be optimistic about the DL but Cam is putting a damper on things.  As for Aaron Rodgers, he seems to be saying and doing all the right things as a teammate/QB, per Zeise's article.  From what you've seen of him/them thus far, do you see it translating to winning offensive performances?
Christopher Carter
11:49
On Heyward, I'm not going to pretend I know something on the inside about a deal getting done. But I do have a feeling that something will happen that gives him a slight pay bump. Nothing that makes him close to the highest paid DT, but something that gets him closer to being in the top 15. But I will say I have a very strong feeling he'll be starting week 1 with this team.

As for Rodgers, I do think that he has displayed the temperament that will best benefit him in Pittsburgh. Whether that leads to winning, we'll see. But I think he's handled everything from teammates, practices to media scrums well and all those are good signs that he won't be the distraction that he was pegged to be before he arrived.
62 Stack Monster
11:49
Good Morning Chris, Will this offense be able to score 20+ points per game this year on a regular basis?
Christopher Carter
11:51
Good morning!

I think so. Last year they averaged 22.4 points per game and I think they've upgraded at WR1 and QB, and they'll have a better OL. So yes, I think they'll be able to hit that mark consistently and maybe even average closer to 24 points per game.
David D
11:51
Hey Chris,  If a team designates a player to return from IR and later determines he will not return to the active roster can they reuse that designation to return? or is it counted as used as soon as it's applied?
Christopher Carter
11:53
The rule reads that you can do that up to a maximum of eight times in a season, 10 times if it includes the postseason. As I understand that, you do not get those back. It's not about a total of players currently on the list, but a tally of how many times you do it on the season.
Dave from Quip
11:53
I think a good way for the Steelers to counter Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow is pressure.  Do you think that the fact that the Steelers will deploy 3 cornerbacks that can cover man to man will give the pass rush extra time to get home?
Christopher Carter
11:54
Yep, I think that's a big part of what their plan is this year. That's why they got Ramsey and Slay to help with Porter. They want their guys to press and keep the QB from just throwing the ball within 2-3 seconds to give that pass rush time to get home.

Pressure and coverage work hand in hand. Lately, the coverage hasn't been tight enough early after the snap because the team lacked enough good cornerbacks who could fulfill that role. But this year, I think that'll be different.
Bubba Jones
11:54
Hey Chris, did the Steelers make a serious effort to trade Skylar Thompson, with no interest, or did they plan to keep him all along?  It seems to me that a 5th or 6th round pick should have been available and would have greater value to the Steelers than keeping him around as a third string quarterback.
Christopher Carter
11:56
As I understand it, they explored options and determined it was just best to keep him. I doubt anyone came calling with a real offer. Maybe someone oppted to swap a 7th for a 6th or something. Or maybe Omar Khan's holding on for that 5th round pick if a team loses a QB early and gets desperate.
Andy Carnegie
11:56
Were you surprised that the players the Steelers cut were not picked up by other teams and basically all of them are on the practice squad?  I was a little surprised-I thought a few might get picked up by other teams.  I'm sure that most teams would rather keep their cut players because of familiarity.  As for IR-Howard and Trice are both on the 4 week one.  Is there a chance that by week 5, if Rodgers, Rudolph and Thompson are all injury -free, they'll keep Howard on IR for the rest of the year so he doesn't get claimed from the practice squad?
Christopher Carter
11:57
Not by many, but a few. I did think Robert Woods, Lew Nichols or DeMarvin Leal would get a call.

And yeah, I do think there's a likelihood they just make this a redshirt year for Howard, unless they can get that additional day three pick for Thompson in a trade.
Jim
11:57
No question Chris, Just a Thank you for the great answer and descriptions to the question about the playoff losses
Christopher Carter
11:58
Thanks for being here!
Jay_In_Indy
11:59
Nice work on the chats, Chris...  Aaron Rogers likes WRs that run precise routes.  Tyrek Hill is one of the best at running precise routes.  He shouldn't be that expensive at this stage in his career and the Steelers already have a relationship with conducting trades with Miami.  Would you give Miami a 4th, after Miami picks up his $15.85M bonus due August 31st?
Christopher Carter
12:02
Hoooo boy. This would be a heck of a trade. Hill might've worn out his welcome in Miami with his previous comments. If you add Tyreek Hill to this offense, that would be insane.

I'd think the Dolphins would want more than a 4th, but hey, the Steelers got a 3rd and a 5th for Brown, so maybe?

If you could swing just a 4th round pick for him, that'd be tough to pass up. I'm not a cap expert but I'd be interested to see how that'd impact 2026 cap numbers as he's scheduled to be a $51M hit for Miami then. I don't think Miami gives him up for that little, but I also didn't think they'd get a 2nd round pick for Claypool.
Stash
12:02
CC, that was one hell of a comprehensive response to my inquiry. Appreciate that.
Christopher Carter
12:04
No problem Stash. I try to do my best.
J D
12:04
“Rusted Steel’  Answer to Stash
Christopher Carter
12:05
Oooo we're getting some good names here for the Over the Hill Gang question. I'll post them now.
JPinPDX
12:05
Stash - Over the Squirrel Hill Gang?
Christopher Carter
12:05
As an Allderdice grad, this gets a star from mee.
Sam
12:05
Gray and yellow
Christopher Carter
12:06
Sam, somebody is going to come screaming in this comment section that the color is GOLD NOT YELLOW and I blame you for every second of it.

But "Gray and Gold" WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING HERE.
Cdub
12:06
Gen Xterminators
Christopher Carter
12:06
Kinda cool. Does Kennywood still have the Xterminator? I haven't been in like a decade but I liked that ride.
Rusthead
12:06
“Gray Wolves”
Christopher Carter
12:07
Doable.
62 Stack Monster
12:07
How about Homestead Grays?
Christopher Carter
12:07
OOOOOO this might win. I love Negro League references.
the real guest
12:07
Chris, how about the Tunnel Trolls
Christopher Carter
12:07
Points for alliteration.
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