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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 08.29.25
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Christopher Carter
12:08
Of the ones submitted, I think the Homestead Grays is the best. But I think if we modified Gray and Yellow to Gray and Gold, that'd be the best here!
OK, back to real questions.
Lindsay
12:08
What is the maximum amount of salary cap a team can rollover into the following season? Obviously, the Steelers are prioritizing next year's draft, given the capital they have accrued, but will they likely be in a position to be strong players in free agency too.
Christopher Carter
12:12
It's a tricky rule. Technically you don't have a limit for each year that you could rollover. BUT, you have to spend a minimum percentage of the salary cap over a rolling four-year period.

So it's not like if you can carry over vacation days year-to-year that you can just stack them up forever. But you can do it strategically.

Shoutout to my world cultures teacher at Allderdice, Mr. Cohen. That man worked for the board of education for decades and because of the old CBA, was able to rollover a lifetime of PTO to literally take off his final year of teaching and get paid for it. Boss move.
Mark in Buffalo
12:12
With limited practice time and reps, why do teams go to camp with 90 players?  There's 20+ with little chance to make even the PS, so why not give the reps and coaching attention to, say, 65-70 instead who have better chances of contributing to team success?
Christopher Carter
12:13
Because sometimes you need bodies to take the reps during camp and sometimes you find good players in those bottom 20 or so you mentioned.

Players in camp also can't always just take reps. They need breaks. The extra bodies help with that while giving you more players to evaluate.
Loyalhanna
12:13
I know there is limited space for replies, but can you shed any light on why playing left vs right tackle (or vice versa) seems to be such a different animal to highly skilled and talented linemen?
Christopher Carter
12:15
Different footwork and challenges. Sure, you can say it's mirrored, but it takes time and talent to master the proper footwork for a side and to get used to the angles you want to attack. At the high school level I much preferred right guard because I felt more comfortable there -- and guard is a much easier position to flip!

Tackle requires a lot of power, patience and precision, especially against the elite edge guys in today's NFL.
Steeltown
12:15
Hey Chris, how do you think Jonnu Smith will be integrated into the offense? Since they haven't picked up a solid number two wide receiver do you think he will fill that role?
Christopher Carter
12:15
I think he'll be a serious weapon for Rodgers. He's a good route runner and does well with the ball in his hands. He might even outpace Pat Freiermuth for yards.
Ryan
12:15
Chris what do you think about The play of Carson Bruner does he dress on Sundays and for the Thursday night game and Monday night game this season  he looked good on special teams GO STEELERS
Christopher Carter
12:16
Carson Bruener did a good job on special teams and I think that's what earned him a helmet. I expect him to get a hat on gamedays.
Tom
12:16
Heyward is a good special teamer but consistently received penalties last year which set the team back. He still was prone to this in the preseason. Do you think they have addressed this properly and were you supprised they are willing to accept it from a role player for another year? Is his relation to Cam a factor?
Christopher Carter
12:19
I honestly think Connor Heyward would still be around even if he wasn't Cam Heyward's younger brother. He's cheap and does a lot of little things well. He does need to clean up penalties. But I also think back to how this team has held onto certain role players like Dan McCullers or how James Pierre is still around.
Dr. Sardonicus
12:19
Hi Chris,  Thank you the Friday Chat!  The athletic has us behind Cincy and the Ravens for 3rd place in the AFC North.  I actually feel like we were better than Cincy last year.  Well, at least we split.  do you believe Cincy improved more than us in the offseason?
Christopher Carter
12:20
I don't think the Bengals have done enough this offseason and don't see them as a real threat. Burrow-Chase-Higgins will be stars again but Burrow was very fortunate a lot last year to not get hurt. I don't know if that fortune continues and that defense is terrible.
Jebba the Hutt
12:20
Thanks for the chat! We value your insight. In your observations what tends to be the hardest adjustments for rookies coming into the NFL? Is it the level of competition? The 17+ game season? The nuance of the play calling? Something else?
Christopher Carter
12:23
Thanks for being here!

I think it's the grind of week-to-week needing to adjust for new game plans while also being locked in for the long season.

Take TJ Watt's first season. Started red hot because some of the new pass rush moves he worked out were fresh in his practice coming out of camp. But as the season continued, he had to focus on gameplans more and fundamentals less, and those moves faded as the season wore on.

The next year, he came with those moves more ready to go and now they're so regular they're every week.

But that's the thing for rookies; the adjustment is that EVERYONE is bigger, faster, stronger, and smarter in the NFL. You can't pick on people as much. And as a rookie, you're learning so much so fast, the things you picked on in camp fade until you have time to readdress them.
MaTh iZ hArdD
12:23
13 personnel? I thought only 11 players were allowed on the field? What the heck is 13 personnel????
Christopher Carter
12:25
13 personnel is a description for who's on the field!

Whenever you hear 11/12/13 personnel etc. it's code for the amount of specific positions are on the field for a given formation.

The first number is for the running back, the second number is for the tight ends. Because only five non QB/OL players can be in a formation at a time, you can infer the amount of WRs in a personnel package for those numbers.

So for example, 13 personnel is 1 RB/3 TEs/1 WR.

12 personnel is 1RB/2TEs/2WRs

11 personnel is 1 RB/1TE/3WRs.
Hope that helps!
STEEL72
12:26
Aarom AARP and The Immortals
Christopher Carter
12:26
Hmmm still like Homestead Grays or Gray and Gold but this one is cool.
Ben
12:26
Hey Chris, Would love to see you write an analysis piece on the comps for the most recent Super Bowl team that follows the Steelers current model. They don’t have top 5 or top 10 talent at QB and won’t have such talent for at least two years. Their top 3 offensive players are not in the top 10 or maybe even 15 in their position group league-wide. Their three best players on defense are 30 yrs old or more. And despite their collective salary, the Steelers defense hasn’t stopped the run against good teams in a few years, and their corners haven’t held up against short quick passing game since Ike Taylor declined. I’m a fan and like rebuilding through the lines, but I just don’t see SB #7 coming during Watt’s prime years. You are the expert though!
Christopher Carter
12:28
That would be a fun offseason project we can do after this season.

I do think their window at best opens in 2 years. They can be a playoff contender this and next year. But they need that young franchise QB to come in and be part of a unit with a more developed OL while the defense is still playing at a high level.

I think their model would be great if they just had the franchise QB.
Mark
12:28
Hi Chris, thanks for the chats. Over the last few years, our defense seems pretty basic as opposed to what we saw with LeBeau. I don't think he would have kept Watt in one place so teams could chip him and wear him down. It also appears we do not see package with blitzes coming from all side like we are used to. Is this coaching, personel, or just a different mind set? Thank you.
Christopher Carter
12:30
Hey Mark!

There are certain things that Austin does that is complex in his defense but it mostly pertains to coverage. Similarly, there were certain things Butler did that were complex but they mostly pertained to blitzes and run fits.

That's why Dick LeBeau was special. He had the unique ability to create chaos and combine great complexity in his schematics for both the front and the secondary to work in concert. It's a unique talent and why he's a legend.
Mark
12:30
Hi Chris, I think Steelers fans forget that Ben, Brown, and Bell did not have a lot of playoff games together, correct? I think it was only 4, and three came in 2016-17. That is NOT Tomlin's fault. Thoughts?
Christopher Carter
12:33
Hello again!

This is often an underrated point. The Steelers only ever had Brown-Bell-Roethlisberger healthy in the playoffs in these games:
2017 vs Dolphins
2017 at Chiefs
2018 vs Jaguars

That's it. Bell was out in the first quarter against the Patriots in 2017.

Throw in Ryan Shazier being healthy -- which was important because he was the X-factor of their defense -- and the only two games they all four were healthy together for were the Dolphins and Chiefs playoff wins. 2-0.

Injuries really derailed the 2010s Steelers. Le'Veon Bell didn't see a playoff game until his fourth season because of injuries, and even then he had to sit out the last game.
62 Stack Monster
12:33
RT vs LT:  kind of like driving in the US vs UK
Christopher Carter
12:33
You know, I haven't done that yet, but that sounds like a good comparison!
Dj
12:33
You say that the Packers robbed the Cowboys but with the combo of Prescott, Lamb and Parsons, they weren’t a legitimate contender. If you factored in what Green Bay paid him, that trio would have accounted for 47% of the cap. That means you would have to 53% of the cap to pay for 49 players. This style of team building does not work. Hence Mahomnes and Brady taking pay cuts and winning SBs. The Steelers will never win a Super Bowl with Watt. I say this as being a huge fan, even was on the sidelines at Latrobe and have season tickets.
Christopher Carter
12:36
So um, they were a legit contender with Prescott/Lamb/Parsons. They won 12 games each year they were together and won a tough division twice. They just didn't last year beacuse Presecott was hurt and missed half the season. Throw in George Pickens on the cheap this season and I think they would've had a shot to take on the Eagles.

But now with Parsons being gone, forget about it.
TVC15
12:36
Hi Chris,  Do you think there is another 5 game losing streak lurking somewhere in the Steelers schedule? Even with this "historic" defense?  Or will they "Unleash Hell" all season?
Christopher Carter
12:41
If there's a five-game losing streak somewhere, it's similarly towards the end of the season.

Week 13 vs BUF
Week 14 @ BAL
Week 15 vs MIA
Week 16 @ DET
Week 17 @ CLE

Bills are just a legit SB contender and tough for everyone. Ravens are in the same boat and winning there is even harder.

Dolphins could be the legit team to beat as they haven't been a December team, but maybe if their offense is hot in the cold months?

Lions also a Super Bowl contender, so same boat as Bills/Ravens.

And the Browns. Cleveland has been a house of horrors for the Steelers. Their last win their was in 2021. That's also their only win their since 2017 (my first away game I ever covered too).

So yes, there's a chance for it. But I do think they're better equipped to bounce back from losses.
Mr Jack
12:41
Chris, I confess I really wasn’t psyched about Aaron Roger’s but looking at how has engaged and managed things I am really excited to see the season unfold.   Might just be the bridge we needed in the city of bridges!
Christopher Carter
12:41
I think you're one of many in this boat. I talked to several fans who were concerned he'd be a headcase, but he hasn't been and people seem to dig it.
Seven
12:41
Hi Chris. The Steelers are preparing to spend a lot of draft capital on a QB in the next draft. What do the '26 class quarterbacks display that Jaxson Dart did not on tape? Would Pittsburgh have taken a chance on him this year if they had not blown the Pickett pick so badly?
Christopher Carter
12:43
Hello!

I just wasn't big on Jaxson Dart's mechanics, ability to see the field and his overall ceiling.

I think comparitively -- and this can all change based on how they play this year -- but I currently likely Cade Klubnik, LaNorris Sellers and Garrett Nussmeier better than Dart. There are others who could put themselves in that conversation too.

I just don't think Dart was a good first round pick. Maybe the Giants will prove me wrong.
TVC15
12:44
Steeler Nickname: Geriatric 'n 'at Attack!
Also, I think you sell yourself short on "Lost Kennywood Boys." That is pretty good!
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