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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 10.31.25
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Christopher Carter
11:32
Happy Halloween! I'm here at the Steelers facility filling in today so excuse me if there are breakups in my response times. But let's get into it!
9-8
11:32
Hi Chris. With the Ravens likely breathing down the Steelers backs after this weekend, how much draft capital should Pittsburgh be willing to spend to try and patch up their leaky lineup?
Christopher Carter
11:35
I still wouldn't dump too much capital into it. As I've maintained since the offseason, this year was a setup year for the window they're hoping to build, not a year they actually are SB contenders. Still want to do your best and compete where you can, but I wouldn't give up anything above a 4th right now unless it was for a player in their mid-20s you expect to be part of your core moving forward.

That being said, I do think they could add to this group. I know everyone's been pounding the table for WR2, but FS and outside CB are pressing as well. I thought Roger McCreary from the Titans would've been great, but he's with the Rams now. Riq Woolen is on my radar.
Silent Bob
11:35
Hi Chris - My read of the last game was it came down to 5 plays. The two floaters from Love that at the very least should have been incomplete if not picked. And the 3 personal fouls - especially Metcalf and Herbig. The two floaters seemed like the same play. The Steeler defender was right next to the received and somehow could not get in position to make the play. What is your insight on those plays?
Christopher Carter
11:39
While there are also other plays I'd say contributed, those certainly were gamebreakers that got the Packers back into it.

Elliott I felt could've done a better job to maintain initial leverage on the Kraft lob and that would've let him be in better position. Granted, might not have mattered if Kraft still shoved him while the ball was in the air. But still, could've fought with the hands better to protect against that.

The Watson deep ball was inexcusable. Play was drawn up the right way and Thornhill just misplayed it.

As for the personal fouls, you can somewhat understand Nick Herbig's because they were just beating up Skowronek after the play and he came to help. But Metcalf's is just something you can't have. It's also when I think they truly lost the game. There was time for a comeback and they had 3rd and short, but his penalty wasted it.
9-8
11:39
Chris, I know you and many experts were not enamored of Jaxson Dart's potential NFL skills, but after seeing many of the 2026 qb crop turning into pumpkins, where do you think Dart would have ranked had he come out after this season?
Christopher Carter
11:44
I think Dart would be behind Mendoza, Simpson and Moore at this point. I don't think this QB class looks as bad simply because Nussmeier and Klubnik have stunk. It's just new guys that have risen up.

I also am not buying that Dart is the savior in New York. He's 2-3 with his two wins being a 111-yard performance against the Chargers and the normal home win on Thursday night football against a divisional opponent. Granted, that was the Eagles, but we all saw last week him look pretty rough against the Eagles when it wasn't at home on a short week.

Dart's not bad, but I also don't think he'll be the ultimate answer in NY. I honestly think Harmon will end up being a better DT than Dart will a QB.
Tom M.
11:44
One thing the Steelers seem to have done better than most teams is not getting locked in to bad contracts. Would you agree with that and if so, does Khan get the credit for that even before he became GM? However, are they now stuck with a bad contract with Watt?
Christopher Carter
11:46
I think they've avoided that a lot more since the early 2010s. You look at some of the deals they signed back then to try to keep the late 2000s team together and it set them back. These days I think they're more protective of that.

I don't think Watt's contract is bad. He just had a four-game sack streak snapped and only because the defense can't force a QB to hold a ball longer than 3 seconds. Still see him as a premier OLB in the NFL and that's worth what he's being paid.
Tom M.
11:46
I like your weekly updates on the 2026 QB prospects. It now looks like the class isnt so strong as originally thought? Should the Steelers shift their focus to other needs (DB?) or just try to take the best QB they can get? Is
Christopher Carter
11:49
Thanks! This class still has at least 3 guys I think are 1st round picks in Mendoza, Simpson and Moore. But make no mistake, the Steelers should not lock in on any guy just to get a QB if they don't like those QBs themselves.

DB should absolutely be on their radar as a backup plan, or even a primary plan if they don't like their interviews/combine of this class. AJ Harris at Penn State, Daylen Everette at Georgia, Jermod McCoy at Tennessee all look interesting.

But the big pick at DB is Caleb Downs. Looks like a superstar safety and, with how bad things have looked at that position, that would be tempting.
epiballo
11:49
Chris - thanks for the chat and your excellent analysis! In the midst of knee-jerk gloom and doom, you provide a dose of sanity. That said, do you think the players and coaches can fix the plethora of mistakes we all witnessed the last two weeks and return the defense to a place of effectiveness, or are the Steelers doomed to having to outscore their opponents week in and week out? Thanks!
Christopher Carter
11:54
Thanks for being here!

I think the problems are certainly fixable. While this defense can't do the aggressive man-single cover plan that they looked like they might be able to do, there's still a lot to work with here. Just need guys to commit to their roles and complete their assignments.

If they eliminated some of the busted coverages that are unforced errors, they're a lot better of a unit. They did that in the first half and lost whatever focus they had in the second for the Packers game. Also thought they really improved from Patriots to Vikings and the Browns, which is why the Bengals and Packers games are so disappointing.
FC
11:54
GM Chris, Highsmith has been MIA since he came back.  Don't you agree that Herbig should start?  He seems to be more disruptive than # 56.
Christopher Carter
11:55
I don't know about starting, definitely more in the rotation. Highsmith is still good against the run but certainly could give more juice to the pass rush. Wouldn't be against Herbig and him just rotating a lot more, at the least.
Pittfan
11:55
Hi Christopher. Tomlin is either vilified or glorified depending on the week so I won't jump on either bandwagon. My concern is when players and the media (and it's becoming more regular) criticize the team for lack of effort and giving up. That is Tomlin. We didn't hear that kind of criticism most of Tomlin's tenure. Has he lost the team or is he starting to?
Christopher Carter
11:58
Hello! I do agree that's a concern. The poor attempt by Slay on the WR screen TD, the general falling apart once the Packers started to make plays, all of that isn't a good sign and it's opened them to legit critcism that's on Tomlin.

But I also acknowledge it's a long season and plenty of teams have bad games/stretches. If they bounce back from it soon enough, it will be another testament to Tomlin's ability to get the team out of the ruts they've fallen into -- which is why they've never had a losing season under him. But that only goes for so long, and this could be the end of that run if answers aren't found soon.
epiballo
11:58
In your view, is Mike Tomlin the cause of all that ails the Steelers? No doubt he shoulders a large part of that as the head coach, but I see it more on the players. They are the ones on the field playing.
Christopher Carter
12:03
"Cause of all?" No.

Cause of some? Sure. I think one thing Tomlin's done during his tenure is establish and maintain structural integrity and culture for the organization even in their most trying of times. Periods like when they lost Roethlisberger in 2019, or Watt for half of 2022, or Fitzpatrick for chunks of times, the team has often rallied to find a way to not let the season get away, and he deserves kudos for that.

But I also think sometimes he's too reliant on his structure and doesn't overstep his boundaries at the right times. Like with the defense, I think there are times he should override Austin's play calls when he doesn't, or at least be more hands on with that unit. He's still very much involved in all the meetings, but there are times I think he trusts delegation to the point that it costs the Steelers sometimes and aspects of the team fall through the cracks.
I do think in general the players have to be better and do their job. But it's also up to Tomlin and his staff to help them see their mistakes and correct them. Usually, they do. We'll see if they can again this year.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:03
Chris: if the Colts bring in three WRs on 1st down or 2nd and medium, would you go to the nickel defense as the Steelers normally do?  I fear that Indy will gash that personnel with Taylor.  Heyward in particular has gotten pushed around by Nelson the last few years.
Christopher Carter
12:05
I'd go with a big nickel. Ramsey can be a very good run defender and with Queen and Wilson, I'd be aggressive as I can be to stop the run with the LBs and have Ramsey fill in where he can. I do agree though, this is a tough matchup.

One thing to watch out for though, the Colts have largely pass to set up the run this year instead of the reverse. So being in nickel and winning against the run and the pass from there might be the key this week.
Gillie
12:05
Hey Chris.  If the Steelers’ defensive woes continue, do you think Coach T.(if he’s not fired) would consider going to a 4-3 defense next season?  Thanks.
Christopher Carter
12:05
Just depends on the personnel they have. Watt/Herbig/Highsmith are 3-4 edges. They'd have to find some 4-3 edges fast and I just don't think that's what they want to do.
12:07
But they also don't run 3-4 as their primary formation. They're in a 2-4-5 nickel or a 3-3-5 nickel both more often than they are in a 3-4.
epiballo
12:07
Given your training as a lawyer, how is it that you have become so good at analyzing the plays and failures on the field? Has your legal background had any influence?
Christopher Carter
12:08
I got my initial football understanding from my father, who coached at Peabody high school. Much of my youth was spent being with him at practices and learning about football as he went over tape, built highlight reels for his players to send to college coaches, and in general just learning from all the books and coaching conference materials he'd bring home.

From there, I kept learning as a side thing for fun and eventually found writing and talking about football as a nice side hustle during law school.

Then that turned into a part-time gig while working in the legal field, and now it's the full-time gig.
Jim
12:08
We have an opportunity to capture the AFCN this year, shouldn't we go all out at the trade deadline to secure some defensive players to help this year? Why hoard draft picks for next year when a 1st rd QB is no guarantee?
Christopher Carter
12:09
"Go all out" but in the sense that they're trading early day 3 picks. They should not, by any means, trade a first or second round pick. A third is even pushing it because I like the idea of them trading up big this draft -- even if it's not for a QB.

But do what you can to help this roster. I do think this team can win a playoff game, just not a SB contender.
Iceman44
12:10
Lifelong Steeler Fan, I think we made a big mistake on the Watt's Contract btw, Is our defense really that bad or are we just one or two plays away from being average?
Christopher Carter
12:11
I mean, if Elliott knocks down the Kraft rainbow pass and Thornhill intercepts the duck thrown to Watson, they probably win last week.

They're still messing up other things they shouldn't, but I do think that if they at least get better at taking away team's first reads on pass plays, that pass rush gets home  alot.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:11
Chris: it looks like from overthecap.com that TJW has $64 million guaranteed after this year still left on his contract and a good bit more in total pay. Let's say he finishes the season with the 9 sacks he is on pace for.  Would you take a 7th round pick for him from any team that would pick up the rest of the contract?  What would you have to be offered to move him next week assuming a blowout loss Sunday?
Christopher Carter
12:11
7th round pick for one of the best edge rushers in football? Absolutely not.
Jason
12:11
Hi Chris!! Any chance Steelers trade Highsmith for either a WR2 or DB/CB? He’s not the only one who’s not meeting the standard but his play has been pretty avg at best.
Christopher Carter
12:12
I doubt Highsmith moves right now. But maybe in th offseason. The Steelers finally have a rotation at OLB that they like. Now would not be the time to trade that away.

But in the offseason? Maybe. Could trade Highsmith and get a decent piece back or a mid-round pick and then use another 3rd/4th on OLB to have Watt/Herbig/Sawyer/rookie as the grouping next year.
12:13
I'll answer this next question in a moment, just need to grab lunch while I can here at the facilty. BRB. But stir on this next question before I return.
epiballo
12:13
I understand 'on any given Sunday,' but this week's game seems lost before the coin toss. Scheme wise, what must they do to pull out a win? How would Coach Carter approach this game?
Christopher Carter
12:33
OK! We're back.
12:36
The Colts have played very well and their metrics do make this seem like a tough one to win. But I do think there's a path with using the heavy packages to get the run game going.

If the run game gets on track, the Colts who like to use nickel as their base could be in a rough spot. Then, it will be about winning enough on defense to let your offense control the pace of the game. I think they key here is dominate time of possession, get two turnovers, don't have any giveaways, get to the red zone and finish. It's doable, albeit a tough turnaround.
russellhalloffame34
12:36
Why did Tomlin at his post presser and his press conference come out first to blame the offense? We all know who runs the defense and projecting blame on others is childlike.
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