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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 10.03.25
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Christopher Carter
11:14
I don't think it's necessarily changed. It's just hard to get the right QB in the draft that's the franchise guy, and it's hard to build up competitive cores.

Doing both at the same time is even more difficult and especially rare. Also feel like this might feel different if the AFC wasn't just represented by Brady, Mahomes and one year of Burrow over the last 9 years.

So no, the hypothesis is not dead. But it shouldn't be taken for granted that you'll win a Super Bowl even when you get both situations right. Ask the Ravens and Bills about that right now.
Big_Bri
11:14
How is the communications done with the defense? I understand that the player with the red dot gets the radio communications from the DC but does the red dot payer relay that info with hand jesters to the other players or do they just yell out the calls? If it’s verbal, should fans also be quite when the D is on the field which would take some of the fun of being at the game.
Christopher Carter
11:16
Green dot, but yes that's the start of getting the call out.

Once the team spreads out, there are a variety of checks and adjustments they've practiced that get called out in different position groups. Talking, yelling and hand gestures are all involved with it. I think defenses would prefer louder crowds because the offense NEEDS to hear sometimes just to get their timing right.

Defensive communication breakdowns happen very often in the NFL today and always have once defenses had to get more complicated to keep up with advancing offenses. The better units just do it less frequently in important situations.
Stash
11:16
CC, after reading about the Watt family 10 square meals a day plan, which was obviously quite successful, should not Herbig get on this plan ASAP and thus better set the proverbial edge?
Christopher Carter
11:17
Every athlete is different. Maybe that would work for Herbig. But he's also a differently style of edge rusher. He wins with quickness and speed while Watt combines his speed with his power a bit more. Maybe Herbig could switch it up, but honestly with the way he's played the last few games I don't think he should.
Mexico Mateo
11:17
CC, I'm seeing all sorts of improvement with the team, the arrow is pointing up. I'd like see more passes to TE Smith. I only listened to the Dublin game on the radio.  How did T Jones grade out in your opinion?
Christopher Carter
11:18
If T Jones is OT Broderick Jones, I thought this was his best game at LT. Barely gave up pressure and was a good asset in the run game. Gave him 2 stars.
AK
11:18
Pickens hasn't been disruptive in Dallas....YET.
Christopher Carter
11:18
Exactly.
Stash
11:19
CC, should not the diminutive defensive back who tried in vain to interrupt the DK freight train at the goal line be lauded for his bravery, rather than ridiculed for his ineffectiveness? It was better than Minkah sprinting in the oppo direction from Josh Allen at crunch time, no?
Christopher Carter
11:19
Has that player been getting made fun of? I don't know man I thought he was doing what he could and Metcalf was just going to win that.
John
11:19
Trade Friermuth. There's probably a practice squad guy that can replicate his production.
Christopher Carter
11:21
Production for now? Sure. But he still has a much higher ceiling than any practice squad guy will and has produced for big plays in the past.

Unless you get a significant piece, you don't give him up.
Takoma Tom
11:21
Against the Vikings did Benton wake up and we should expect more or was he up against bad offensive linemen?
Christopher Carter
11:21
I thought it was more about him waking up. Honestly it didn't matter who he lined up against in the first few games, he just wasn't good. Maybe this game was him snapping out of it.
Stash
11:21
CC, if it was as easy as adding two more large linemen into this mix, why did we not think of this a decade ago when AR Deuce first started to prioritize improving the ground game?
Christopher Carter
11:23
Important to remember the Steelers thought they were going to have Pouncey and even more so DeCastro longer than they did. I think that played into their patience with making OL moves. They certainly had their eyes on some in those early 2020s drafts, but just didn't work out.
Takoma Tom
11:23
Has Lamar Jackson lost a step?  If so the ratbirds might be in trouble.
Christopher Carter
11:24
I don't think so. But Dan Orlovsky pointed out something that sounded insane: the Ravens have run the ball with their running backs the fewest times on 1st and 2nd down of any team in the NFL. That's nuts when you have Derrick Henry. I think the Ravens are having some injury problems AND figuring out the best way to mix their attack right now.
Nameless Fool
11:24
Hey Chris, Pat Freiermuth is turning out to be a disappointment at TE.  He has not moved into the upper tier of TEs in the NFL, and it appears the Steelers have way overpaid for his services.  His blocking is not good, and he is not a speed guy capable of getting open consistently in the middle of the field. Since the Steelers have other TEs capable of handling the position, should they consider trading him while he is still young and still has some value?
Christopher Carter
11:25
I would argue that Freiermuth's blocking is a lot better this season and I don't think his lack of production early as been as much his fault instead of just that the Steelers only have so many passes to go around right now.

I wouldn't trade him just yet unless a really good offer came around. Like a good player at a key position around the same age, or a 2nd round pick.
Stan
11:25
DeShon Elliot has been fined for the wrong color towel. But when did the league relax uniform standards?  I’m seeing more and more players with their pants well above the knee with no padding protection (Boswell’s look like bicycling pants),  undershirts hanging down below the jersey, in consistent socks….. The overall sloppy and “non uniform” (pun intended) appearance has increased noticeably versus the 2000s and earlier years.
Christopher Carter
11:26
Gotta be honest, I'm not a specialist on NFL uniform rules. I get there's a decorum but I find some of that stuff just silly on the league's part.
JPinPDX
11:26
Good morning CC. I was glad to hear how much everyone enjoyed Ireland. In your opinion what's the most important thing to come from this bye week? Rest and recuperation for the walking wounded or more time to iron out those darn communication issues on the back end of the defense?
Christopher Carter
11:27
Good morning!

The biggest thing is health. If this team can get back Porter/Highsmith and Ramsey misses a very little amount of action, this defense could finally be ready to play together for the first time this year.

But best believe, they're working on thos eommunication issues as well.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:27
The injury bug is hitting just about every team right now. The Steelers seemed to have done well with adding depth pieces in the off season to offset some of the injuries they've had. The Ravens and Bengals have been hit hard, and their record reflects that. I believe the Steelers need to stockpile W's right now while they can because you know the Ravens will come on strong at the end of the year and the Steeler schedule is brutal on the back end. I'm very concerned that a late season crash may happen again but hoping Rodgers can steer them through the storm. Can this year be different?
Christopher Carter
11:30
You're absolutely right about  stockpiling wins right now. Looking at the Ravens' schedule after their bye, they could go on a legit run and still get to 11-6 even if they're 1-5 heading into that break.

This year can be different if the Steelers handle their business and steal a few games against teams that are supposed to be contenders this year. That Bengals road Thursday game is the dreaded curse, as the team hasn't won on Thursday night on the road against a division team since Thursday night games became a thing in 2006.

But get past those two games at 5-1, and you could be up 4 games over the Ravens with two games against them still to come.
Upstate NY Fan
11:30
Can you help me understand Tomlin's logic in not taking the "easy" FG in the 4th quarter against the Vikings?  The resulting play was a handoff to a smallish RB - certainly not one to move the pile for a 1st down.  Doesn't the math tell you to take the easy points?
Christopher Carter
11:33
I think the thought process was that 3 points only puts you up 6 and not a full TD/PAT.

So with that, they wanted to run it because they'd been averaging over 5 yards per rush, and just two possessions ago that same back had just run in a 4-yard TD, so why not do that again?

I generally lean into taking the points. But how about this: if the Steelers' field goal doesn't get blocked in the second quarter, they're instead up 27-14 when they're in that 4th and goal. There, kicking gives you a 16-point lead and maybe ends it altogether.
Stash
11:33
CC, as a film junkie, does effective WR blocking amount to a hill of proverbial beans in the long run? I believe it does, but one of the shots against H Ward's HOF candidacy that I've heard thrown out there is that his great blocks did not add all that much to the bottom line. Your thoughts, if any?
Christopher Carter
11:33
Oh no, run blocking by WRs is very important. I'm actually working on a film study where you'll see some key blocks by the Steelers' WRs at the point of attack even just this past week.
Mexico Mateo
11:34
Chris, what was your best meal in Ireland? How did the locals and the players get along at the pubs?
Christopher Carter
11:38
Don't know about the players, but my favorite meal was actually a home-cooked steak from our friends Sarah and Barry who we stayed with. They were excellent hosts!

As far as restaurants, I really enjoyed some seafood I got in this place called Blue Light that was up in the mountains. Fantastic view, good food and plenty of Guiness.
Mr Rooney
11:38
Yo CC! Thanks for the chat. It seems to me that the Vikings game is the high water mark for the season so far in terms of all around play. Is it sustainable or fools gold in your opinion?
Christopher Carter
11:39
Thanks for being here!

I think the things they did against the Vikings are replicable considering they had several backups in and still did well. They also have plenty of young players who appear to be trending positively. I don't think we've seen the Steelers' best game yet this season.
Mr Rooney
11:39
CC, How bad is the loss of Ramsey? I feel like getting Trice back will be key to giving the secondary enough depth to weather his absence. I admire Pierre. His last minute near interception was a great play. But in the past he's been too inconsistent. So I'm not confident he's 100% the answer. What say you?
Christopher Carter
11:40
It could be pretty rough because he fills several sposts in the secondary. But having back DeShon Elliott helps because he can at least help in the safety/slot roles. I do think they'll need Porter/Echols/Slay to be on their game the next few weeks. If Trice can be healthy, maybe he's a boost over Pierre. But Pierre was also good in that he was only targeted twice Sunday and both times he broke up the pass.
Mexico Mateo
11:40
CC, what's with the no complaint filed in QB Thompson getting jumped and robbed of his watch? Could it be he wasn't supposed to out at the pub at 2:30am?  I'm glad that story is fading away.
Christopher Carter
11:41
I can't speak with knowledge of that situation. My best guess is that Dublin was very crowded and there wasn't much evidence they could get.
AK
11:41
Rather than the tush push on 4th and 1, wouldn't it be better to try the cross field, bounce pass lateral, or should they save that for being at their own goal line😂?
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