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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 09.19.25
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Christopher Carter
10:40
Alright everyone, sorry I'm late. Was wrapping up Saturday's North Shore Drive podcast with Brian Batko. But we're fired up and ready to go!
FC
10:41
GM Chris, 4th & 1 at the 50 late, and Coach T punts?! These same type decisions by him that have been going on for years.
Chris, hit send by accident.
To finish, these same decisions have been going on for years with the same dismal results.
Are you ready to agree a whole change from top to bottom is now what is needed?
Christopher Carter
10:46
I thought that the Steelers should've gone for it in that situation but I also don't think it was this death knell for the game that some people have made it out to be. The game was tied, both defenses were keeping the the game contained and the punt gave the Steelers' defense a long field.

They also held them to a field goal after. If Kaleb Johnson doesn't have a brain fart, Aaron Rodgers has the ball down 3 points with 12:46 left in the game. While I didn't agree with the decision, I think it ranks far down the list of the reasons why the Steelers lost last Sunday.
10:47
Also, am I "ready to agree a whole change from top to bottom is now what is needed" after ONE LOSS?

What is this, coach Boone from Remember the Titans? Jeez.
Jana
10:48
What is your feeling on why the Steelers let their best run stopping LB Elandon Roberts   go?  We sure could use him now !!!
Christopher Carter
10:51
I didn't like the decision to let Elandon Roberts walk. One, because I thought he was pretty good. And two, I also thought he was great for the locker room. I think they saw getting Malik Harrison as getting a younger, bigger version of Elandon Roberts they could use situationally. I also think they're still figuring out the LB rotation so we'll see how people eventually get used.

But I really think the bigger problem right now is on the DL. Even if Roberts were back, if Benton is getting blown up the way he has been, he wouldn't solve those problems. This team needs everyone healthy and aggressive up front.
stlslash
10:51
Good morning Cris Can you tell me which is it do the Steelers want us the crowd loud or quiet when we are on defense.  They say we are to loud and it causes communication issues.
Christopher Carter
10:57
They definitely would prefer loud. They practice with crowd noise whenever the defense is on the field on the week of a home game. I don't think the noise is the issue. I think part of the issue is that Jalen Ramsey is trying to do certain things he's always done that's allowed him to be a turnover creator, but that sometimes leaves an aspect of the defense vulnerable.
Bogey Golfer
10:57
I hope I'm wrong but I see 1-3 at the bye.  Do you see any changes that may prevent that?
Christopher Carter
11:01
Eh, I think this team can be 2-2, which would be fine. Biggest thing is they need to limit explosive plays on defense. I think they're close to being a lot better at that. As the issues I see are simpler fixes. But they have to actually do them.
Steeltown
11:01
Hey Chris, I hear some folks talking about moving TJ around a bit to free him up to prevent defenses from game planning for him, but we just don't see much of that. Why not run more stunts like the Browns do for Myles Garrett? It baffles me why they don't try to do more with him.Thoughts?
Christopher Carter
11:08
Well, the thing is, they actually are running stunts with Watt. Right now, the Steelers are blitzing at the 4th highest rate in the NFL right now and hitting quarterbacks more than anyone else.

The problem is they're not producing sacks at the rate they'd like. I think some of that has come with the secondary getting beat in spots they're scheming to protect. Guys need to win their 1-on-1s.
Jim Bow Dean
11:08
Watching Chief – Eagles I noticed on at least two “tush pushes” both guards fired out at the exact same time and before the ball was snapped. Can’t be a coincidence, could it? Are they cheating?
Christopher Carter
11:10
Yeah, that should be a false start. I get it can be tough to see with all the bodies piled up the way they are, but stuff like that will lead to that play getting banned faster if they don't figure out a way to counter it.

I still say the best way to do the tush push is to have to declare that's exactly what you're doing and for there to be a referree-dicated start time for when the play will begin so that both sides have a fair shot pushing.
Jim Bow Dean
11:10
Is Broderick Jones being coached to catch defenders and not punch in pass protection?
Christopher Carter
11:11
No. While I can't say what we see in practice, I can tell you he's not taught to do that. He's improving with his hands but that has to be a consistent factor as he moves forward. He has the frame to keep people off of him.
JB
11:11
Chris, why is it when an opponent has 1 stud receiver we don't or rarely try and take that player out of the game by constantly doubling the guy and making a lesser player beat them?  It's done all the time in baseball, Seattle did it to us last week but yet G. Wilson in game 1 has a good game and then Njigba for Seattle does the same thing.
Christopher Carter
11:17
I do wonder if that will be a contuing trend. They've been a team in the past few years who could and did take away the top receiver for most of a game. I think they may also be balancing how they want to do that with their new CB room. As in the past they'd tell the CB2 to double the player with a safety sometimes and give the CB1 the primary role in others. But this year, they seem confident in each of their CBs. So this may play out differently. It's something I'm still studying. As are opponents.
11:22
Takoma Tom --  I meant to hit the publish button on a post of yours but accidentally hit the reject button (they're right next to each other).

But on your question of if the Penguins can fire Mike Sullivan with two Stanley Cups, then why can't the Steelers fire Mike Tomlin ...

I'd say that if the Steelers ever finished with a losing record and missed the playoffs for three consecutive years the way without any sign of growth the way the Penguins have, Tomlin would be fired.
JonBeezy
11:22
Is this the week we finally see Yahay Black start at NT?Also do you think Jabrill gets significant playing time against his former team?
Christopher Carter
11:23
They seem adamant that he's a 3-4 DE that will play more 3-tech than nose. I think if you see a change at nose, it might be more snaps for Dan Ekuale before you see Black there.

Also, I think Peppers gets more time because they just might need his help in the secondary as a versatile guy. It probably won't have as much to do with it being the Patriots.
Soggy
11:23
Good Morning Chris.  Hope all is well in your world.  The Steelers performance looks eerily similar to the team we saw late last season.  I know it's early, but I am jumping off the Steeler train now.  I do not think they have the coaching staff to right the ship.  I'm not sure, after hearing the same thing the past 3 seasons, how communication is still an issue.  My question(s), am I crazy & what are your thoughts on communication still being an issue
Christopher Carter
11:29
I think people don't understand that communication is often an issue around most teams. It's a word that's come to cover up the minute details of what went wrong without pointing a finger directly at the person responsible. It's an easy way to close ranks and just accept collective blame.

The Chiefs had plenty of communication issues in the Super Bowl. The Eagles did early last year when they started 2-2 (Darius Slay just told us that Wednesday). And there will often be communication issues, especially with crews still getting used to each other.

The key is to limit them from happening in crucial moments, but the best teams often force defenses into tough guessing situations that can lead to those mistakes. I think that's what happened a lot at the end of last season.

This year I think the problems have been more about this group figuring each other out. But there's still a burden on them to actually do that.
JB
11:29
Chris, do you think there's any chance the Steelers can stop the run this week?  If they don't, it's not going to be pretty.  Somehow, they have to make Maye and the Pats one dimensional.
Christopher Carter
11:31
I think they started to figure it out last week, but had some really bad reps against Kenneth Walker. I don't think they'll completely shut down the Patriots' run game, but I do think they'll do better than they did against the Jets and Kenneth Walker. It's rare you see the RB that gets more carries (Zach Charbonnet) average less than a yard per carry and the RB with less (Walker) average more than 8 on as many runs.

They need to get just solid play in the middle of the defensive line and I think it solves a bunch.
Takoma Tom
11:32
Since Tomlin likes old quarterbacks that are cheap what about Deshaun Watson next year?
Christopher Carter
11:32
Ha. Good one. No.
Jim
11:32
Good morning Sir, What is the first move Coach Carter would make to improve the run defense?
Christopher Carter
11:37
Coach Carter's actually my pops! We often talk about the film in our free time so I think we'd align on this.

But right now, the Steelers have to decide what they're more likely to get at the nose tackle, and it's between a bigger NT or a smaller one.

Benton is on the smaller side. If you roll with him, you're trusting him to win with quickness of good technique to split double teams and win his gap that way.

If you roll with a bigger option like Yahya Black, you'd probably tell him his primary roll is that on each play, fire off the ball and use your long arms to keep two blockers occupied at all times without getting pushed off the line. Won't win the gap, but will help the LBs do that job as they'll be kept clean.

If I'm the staff, I look at what I think is more likely to win right now and and lean on that first. Benton did have a few positive moments last week, but not nearly enough. Black also had some not great moments. It's not an easy plug and play fix.
Takoma Tom
11:37
Isn’t it time to rip the bandaid off and rebuild. It’s better to start over than kneel playing .500 ball.
Christopher Carter
11:38
Yep. All 1-1 teams must fire everyone and rebuild.
Jim
11:38
My friend is telling me it's not the coaches, its the players not playing to their potential. But if this is happening year after year, isn't this putrid defense on the coaches?
Christopher Carter
11:42
Well, that depends on what you call "putrid."

The defense has been putrid the past two weeks. But they haven't been that on the whole for years now.

Here's where the defense ranked in points allowed each year:
2024: 8
2023: 6
2022: 10
2021: 20
2020: 3
2019: 5

Ranking as a top 10 unit in 5 of the last 6 years is not putrid. In fact, that's very good.

I'd agree with your friend that right now, these specific players aren't playing up to what they're supposed to do this year. There are one-on-ones they should be expected to win that they aren't. That has to change, or this defense will remain putrid, no matter what calls are made.
Daniel
11:43
Thanks for doing the chats.  Maybe a little too early to be thinking about next year (plus who knows what we'll do in free agency), but beyond obviously QB what do you think will be their next main priority in the draft?
Christopher Carter
11:44
Thanks for being here!

This is subject to change as we see more football this season, but I would say cornerback. I think Joey Porter Jr. will eventually return and have a good year. But even with Jalen Ramsey around, they could use a young 2nd/3rd round corner to learn behind him and eventually be the younger partner to Porter moving forward.
AK
11:45
When Steelers fans think they know more about football than Steelers coaches & GM, is that akin to patients who read WebMD thinking they know more than doctors?
Christopher Carter
11:51
A good comparison!

But to be fair to people who criticize coaches and front office personnel, watching sports is a lot different from medicine. When you're wrong in sports, there's nobody's life on the line (unless you're on the run from your bookie.)

But I think what's important is to keep the conversations healthy. Too often we jump into toxic discussions where there are bad faith arguments made that aren't based in fact and completely skew circumstances to exclude key factors that the average fan doesn't even know exist.

That's where things spiral and you get yelling matches where nothing is learned.
AK
11:51
Thankfully, the acquire Hill talk is done?  We don't need players who have their picture taken from the front and the side!
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