You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 11.14.25
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Christopher Carter
10:32
Alright, just got done doing the North Shore Drive podcast with Brian, so ... let's get into it!
Pittfan
10:32
Hi Christopher. Recently there has been a lot of criticism of Smith's offense not getting the ball in Warren's and Friermuth's hands. The excuse lately has been not being able to sustain drives. But Smith has a history with this. I found this on the internet regarding Smith's time in Atlanta: Offensive under-performance
Despite investing in talented young players (e.g., first-round picks such as Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson), the offense failed to deliver consistently. The team ranked low in points and yards.
Christopher Carter
10:38
Hello!

I did think that it was a problem for Arthur Smith that he never found ways to make his best playmakers actually be playmakers when they needed to be, and that both Jaylen Warren and Pat Freiermuth can be better used than they have been, especially of late.

One thing I'll give Arthur Smith a break on though is that he was brought in and told to build an offense for Matt Ryan, and then the GM moved Ryan out after his first season and he was left to work with Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder.

But I do agree, personnel usage can be better. Some of it is also targets from the QB, as Rodgers missed on several chances for guys last week. But others are self-inflicted like not getting Warren more reps than Kenneth Gainwell.
Alan in Bama
10:38
Good morning Christopher, as a Steeler fan since the rotten years of the 60’s it seems like to me this is one of the lowest points since the pre Noll era. Seems like the leadership is stuck in wanting to play a hard nosed style that’s maybe out of style while not having the talent to carry it out. Looking at teams like New England that aren’t polishing old trophies but willing to purge the organization top to bottom just tells me it’s time for a change in the Burgh. That is unless we are good with a Pirates bobble head, fireworks football team. Cheer me up and tell me change will come!
Christopher Carter
10:45
I think it's important to remember the Patriots fell to the bottom before those changes were made. Belichick had losing seasons in 3 of his last four years and his last season was 4-13. If the Steelers have that kind of stretch, the Rooneys would move on from Tomlin. The Patriots also went 4-13 with coach they hired after Belichick and got rid of him after a year too. They're good right now, but considering the Steelers walked into New England and beat them, I'm curious how this team will hold up down the stretch.

The Steelers have been in the postseason more times in the last five years than the Pirates have been in the last 30. So, I think they're not at the bobble head, fireworks point yet.

If you want change, the team is rebuilding cores and that takes time. For example, New England started their rebuild in 2020. Steelers' rebuild started either 2021-2022, pending on how you look at it. Maybe they need their young QB to get drafted and they'll be a 9-2 team with a group of young, developing players.
Bob D
10:45
Hey Chris...thank you for your chats...you are the best.  By all standard metrics the Steelers franchise is considered to be very successful.  Every season they win more games than they lose and most years qualify for the playoffs. However, the franchise seems to be stuck in a vortex of just that, mediocracy.
To finish my question...how do they escape, as a local sports writer puts it the "mushy Middle?"
Christopher Carter
10:49
Hey Bob!

There's only one real way in my opinion, draft and develop. And I think you're seeing that. The offensive line is a roller coaster, but that's better than where it has been and generally the group's trended upwards this season. I think you're seeing early impact of young guys across the board growing into the team with Derrick Harmon being solid as a rookie, Payton Wilson finding himself, Nick Herbig continues to grow and even Keeanu Benton's had some really good games of late.

That mushy feeling you're talking about has been years of the Steelers overachieving with rosters that most coaches wouldn't be able to get to 7 wins, let alone the playoffs. But the first three Omar Khan drafts have started to replenish the ranks with guys who can push them beyond that as they develop.

As I told a previous commenter, rebuilds take time.
Darnell
10:50
Hey Chris, really appreciate your work.  Riddle me this you will:  What is it about Roman Wilson that is making the Steelers treat him with kid gloves care?  Do they think that he has extraordinary talent that just needs to be developed?  What say you?  Thanks.
Christopher Carter
10:56
Hey Darnell.

I think part of this is more so Roman Wilson just needs to get more trust from Aaron Rodgers to win his routes. There are times he's breaking open and not getting the chance throws to make a play. That also comes with maybe not winning routes consistently enough, but I think he's shown good progress

If you look a the 6th play I used in my film study this week (https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/11/12/nfl-steelers-f...) Rodgers tried to go for Calvin Austin on a play where he had a smaller window to target and Wilson had created a bigger window.

I think moments like that happen because Rodgers might trust Austin to win there a bit more. Rodgers has been praising Wilson for his preparation of late. So, maybe he will show him more trust soon.
Pittfan
10:56
Hi Christopher. I know how you feel about Will Howard's future as the Steelers next QB. So please indulge me. My question is, when the Steelers are on the clock and a "can't miss" WR or CB is sitting there with higher grades than the remaining QBs, do the Steelers take a QB? Or do they bring in a serviceable free agent QB (maybe Rodgers again) to compete with Howard (i have a really good feeling about him) for a year and wait for 2027 when Manning, Mateer, Sellers, Leavitt, Iamaleava come out as some are projecting?
Christopher Carter
11:00
I do think that's certainly a possibility that this ends up not being the year they go all-in for a quarterback. Especially if LaNorris Sellers stays back, you could have the guys you mentioned and Jayden Maiava all part of the 2027 class.

I also really like some of the receivers early in this draft class like Makai Lemon out of USC. If the Steelers traded up to get a superstar like him, or say Caleb Downs or Arvell Reese, it would make sense. They could still set up to be aggressive in the 2027 class, get a vet stand-in for Will Howard to compete against with Mason Rudolph and see how that goes.

But I don't think we should dismiss the idea of drafting the QB if they think it's their guy. Like if for whatever reason Fernando Mendoza falls, take the shot. And hey, let Howard compete against him in camp. If Howard's better, give him the higher spot in the depth chart. But I don't think they should pass one someone they actually like because they want to specifically give a 6th round quarterback "a chance."
Jim Bow Dean
11:00
Last week I asked you about putting a football stadium in Schenley Park and you called it blasphemy. Fair enough but it’s very doable without losing the park. Schenley Park is 456 acres and there are three 30,000 seat college football stadiums in the country that don’t have parking lots and cover only about ten acres. Ten acres is about 2% of the park and without parking you reduce the traffic concern. People could park elsewhere and use public transportation or, depending on the Pirates schedule, park at the North Shore lots and be bused to the game. With smart planning all the activities people currently enjoy at the park would still be available. Isn’t that doable?
Christopher Carter
11:04
I'm sure anything is doable if you pay enough money for it. But for all the acreage of Schenley Park, how much of that is convenient for a stadium. Not just the stadium itself, but parking, facilities close to it. Restaurants and things to do around it. That's A LOT to put in that area. Not just 120 yards of a football field and some stands.

I just don't think that's worth tearing up Schenley Park. That part of the city already's had to deal with a lot of historic teardowns for sports arenas. If you ever watch the 1991 PBS documentary Wylie Avenue Days, the Hill District was once a major vibrant community that had so many amazing people, families and establishments in it. Much of that changed because of the Civic Arena, and that community was destroyed. That's where my grandparents are from, and it's one of Pittsburgh's overlooked sad stories in its history.

I just don't think you need to do more things to tear up parks and communities in this city for a stadium when they have one working just fine.
Tim from Canada
11:04
Hi Chris thanks for the insightful chats. I've heard a lot of discussion about blame for last week's game. AR took responsibility as a good leader does, we all witnessed the special teams issues that day, but I'm trying to figure out how this defense, which on paper looks like it should be holding teams to 10 points a game, is allowing this many points? Where precisely is the weakness on defense in your view? Thanks.
Christopher Carter
11:08
Well, the past two weeks the defense has played well. While they allowed 23 points last week, they only did so after being hung out to dry all game despite only allowing two Chargers drives to even travel 40 yards.

Last week, the weakness was Brandin Echols. He got beat by Ladd McConkey for the only passing touchdown they allowed and for the longest play of the game. Every other Steelers defender allowed less than 30 passing yards when targeted. Echols? 125.

And that's not to say he can't sharpen up, because he's made some really good plays this year. But the defense has had different weaknesses at different parts of the year. Run defense seems better the past few weeks, and the pass defense is at least stickier in coverage. But they need the whole unit to put it together and execute at the same time.
Riley Z.
11:08
Good morning Chris.  What’s the latest on Cole Holcomb?  Is he expected to play Sunday?  Thanks..
Christopher Carter
11:11
Good morning!

Cole Holcomb was limited yesterday and I expect him to play Sunday. Granted, it's bizarre that an illness made him miss two games. But hey, I once got taken out two weeks by COVID and a week by food poisoning (never eat bacon and eggs on a Quatar Airways flight. Yes, that was dumb on my part. Worst 13 hours of my life.) So, who knows.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:11
Good morning Chris. Thanks for your chats! How will the Steelers defend the quick passing game of the Bengals? Flacco gets rid of the ball so quick the Watt and HighSmith were invisible the first game. Plus the receivers for the Bengals are far superior to the Steelers secondary. What changes can be made to slow down the Bengals?
Christopher Carter
11:16
Good morning!

Glad someone asked this as we'll also talk about this more on the North Shore Drive podcast. But one thing the Steelers have done that's a big change is their scheme and personnel.

It's not just Jalen Ramsey going to safety and signing Kyle Dugger, the Steelers are also playing more two-high shell safety looks to provide their cornerbacks with more support.

In weeks 1-8 (last game being against the Packers) they two-high safety shells the 25th-most of any team in the NFL. In the past two weeks, they've used two-high safety shells 12th-most of any team.

Those plays the Steelers' corners were getting beat in single coverage or the easy throws against cover 3 are happening less. This week tests that new plan against the offense that shredded them the worst.
Silent Bob
11:18
Hello Christopher - isn't one of the problems with the Steelers offense that it may be the easiest offense to defend in the league? Double team Metcalf and there is no other explosive threat. And then play shallow because they have the shortest passing game in football. If you were Smith, wouldn't you call some downfield plays each game just to keep the defense honest?
Christopher Carter
11:21
Hello!

I would call such plays, I'd just like them to hit! First play against the Colts you had Jonnu Smith wide open for a 30+ yard gain and he dropped it. Then against the Chargers you have another play where he's wide open for a similar gain that might've even been a touchdown but Aaron Rogers missed it.

I do think Arthur Smith can get in his own way sometimes, but it's a mixed bag between that and the plays that are designed just being flat out missed. They do have to get that part of their offense to hit at some point, or all teams will just sit on the quick pass, power run game.

Though, despite all that, the Steelers are not one of the easiest to defend. They rank 16th in scoring and I'd argue the Browns, Saints, Raiders, Titans are all easier to defend, along with quite a few others.
Yuri
11:21
Good morning Chris.  With Pitt and the Steelers playing at Acrisure this weekend, are you hearing anything about how the field conditions are expected to be for those games?  Thank you.
Christopher Carter
11:23
Main thing I've heard is that the grounds crew is basically working overtime as soon as this game is over. I haven't heard this part, but I'd expect it to be a real thing, a big part of them scheduling the Pitt-Notre Dame game at noon was to give them time to handle things.

I've left that stadium at night after covering a Pitt game only to come back the next day to cover Steelers. Trust me, those teams get to work FAST and do a lot.

I think the last time the field was terrible it was more so because of the dryness without rain for so long and that not being accounted for, as it was historically dry for that part of a Pittsburgh fall. This, I think they should be better prepared for.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:23
Steelers always talk about stopping the run being the key to their defense. Do you agree with that statement this week or is defending the quick passing game more of a priority?
Christopher Carter
11:25
Yes. It's a basic tenet of football. Stop the run, then build around that. Doesn't mean everything else will work, but it's a strong foundation to build from. Six of the top seven defenses in the NFL right now hold offenses to under 4 yards per carry.
NY Steel
11:26
Why have the Steelers had so much trouble drafting and developing cornerbacks and safeties during Tomlin's tenure as head coach?  Is Mike Hilton the best one they drafted and developed under Tomlin in nineteen years?  Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend were already on the team.  Joe Haden was a free agent acquisition.  Fitzpatrick came through a trade.  The others have not been very good, though perhaps JPJ will develop.
Christopher Carter
11:34
They've had their fair share of misses for sure. Cortez Allen seemed good until he wasn't. Keenan Lewis was fine but then got signed away. Then you have the Artie Burns, Sean Davis and Terrell Edmunds picks.

Those were a case of reaching for need instead of talent, which the Steelers got in a bad habit of doing in the late 2010s that led them to problems.

Tomlin bears the weight of not getting more answers there. They've developed some -- Cam Sutton was a good player until he went to the Lions -- but certainly not enough.

Joey Porter Jr.'s last two games have actually been pretty good. If he carries that the rest of the way this year, he could be a really good one.
Tim
11:35
Is there a clear path for the Steelers to draft a franchise qb with their draft capital and position after the season?  Browns who won’t want to be dance partners need a qb and the jets with tons of picks also need a qb.  Hard to see us getting our biggest need this year.
Christopher Carter
11:38
Still need to see which quarterbacks declare and which don't. I expect at least Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson and Dante Moore to come out along with the guys you wouldn't consider first round picks anymore like Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck.

But if LaNorris Sellers or John Mateer jump in, (unlikely in my opinion but you never know) it could make people jump all around with who they think is their guy. Some people are really down on Mendoza as a system guy, and I just don't see that at all. If he falls past 7th the Steelers have the capital to move for someone like that.

But like I told an earlier question asker, it's totally fine if that trade-up this year is for a superstar player and not a quarterback. They're not keeping all 12 of their picks. Just not enough space on the roster. So, they'll most likely trade up, or trade picks for next year.

Which one? Need to see the class first.
Carl in Carrick
11:38
Hey Chris, I was wondering if you heard Jon Gruden’s thoughts on Wil Howard during a recent radio interview and if you have any comments on his thoughts.  Thanks.
Christopher Carter
11:40
I don't know about a recent radio interview but I do remember him comparing him to Josh Allen. Look, I like Will Howard in a lot of respects and argued he should be a target in the months leading up the draft. I even thought he was a good fourth round pick and the perfect fit for them there. Thought sixth round was a steal.

But you don't pass up on a player you think is THE guy for a sixth round pick. If they don't like this quarterback class, don't force it either. But don't pass on the next franchise QB because you think your late day three pick could be the guy. Because if he is, he'll beat out that player you drafted higher or prove he's better at some point.
NY Steel
11:43
It feels like the biggest offensive problem remains the offensive line, maybe even more so than a 2nd WR.  Building a great offensive line seems to have been a challenge for Tomlin other than in the brief period that he had Munchak.  And he has gone through multiple OL coaches.  Why is this so hard? How much of it is a result of weak OL coaches?
Christopher Carter
11:48
Seems like a bit of an oversight to not mention that the line was built before Munchak and was maturing when he got there. Munchak did a great job, but by the time he got there, Pouncey was a fifth-year player, Gilbert in his fourth year, DeCastro in his third, all with considerable experience starting together.

That's a lot different from this line with Troy Fautanu getting his first year starting at right tackle, Broderick Jones his first year starting at left tackle, and both Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick in just their second years.

The OL has also been a roller coaster this season, as they were when the Pouncey-DeCastro crew got started. Remember when DeCastro took Pouncey's knee out on the first game of the 2013 season? They needed time.

Maybe this group does too. They've had some good games and some stinkers. Let's see how they finish.
Tprod
11:48
Chris, Patrick Queen was a nice complement to Roquan Smith, but he has severely underperformed in Pittsburgh despite a huge $41 million contract .He doesn’t shed blocks, takes too long to diagnose plays and at season mid-point despite playing almost every defensive snap has no splash plays, FF, FR, Interceptions except for 1 sack. Should the Steelers consider moving on at season’s end and make Payton Wilson the three down LB for the Steelers?
Christopher Carter
11:53
I think Patrick Queen does a lot for the defense that goes unnoticed, but he also does make a decent amount of mistakes.

He's not a superstar linebacker, but he does help quite a bit, especially going sideline-to-sideline and covering. Most linebackers aren't block-shedders, and most who are can't cover well. Ray Lewis pleaded with his front office to get DT help once the Sam Adams-Tony Siragusa days were over because he was getting swallowed up by interior OL.

He's good, just not great right now. But he also just turned 26 in August. I think he has plenty of upside as he grows with the defense and thinks at a high level. Does he need to make more plays? Absolutely. But I think letting him play next to Payton Wilson on a rookie deal will be good for the next two years. Then you can see about who you want to pay.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:53
Does Rodgers and the offense need to control the clock to keep the Bengals offense off the field? That means Warren needs more than 14 carries. Can  Smith not be tempted to throw the ball too much? Rodgers did not look comfortable in the pocket because the rush was coming hard on every attempt.
Christopher Carter
11:56
The offense to control the clock in general. Forget about the Bengals. Being 31st in time of possession is not a way to win when you're not lighting up scoreboards.

I'm with you that Jaylen Warren needs more handoffs/pitches. But I also think Aaron Rodgers might have something to do with that as the quarterback who can make whatever switches he wants to make at the line.
11:58
But just feeding Warren isn't necessarily the solve-all move either. When he gets 17+ touches a game in his career, the Steelers are 4-3 and average 23.7 points per game. I think it's bigger than that and the Steelers need to hit on more than just giving him the ball.
Lou
11:58
Chris, assuming AR doesn’t return in 2026 who do you see them drafting first if they pick around 20-25?  I think a case could be made for a real deal WR if no serious QB is there. Also….does Will Howard have any shot at QB1 in 2026 if AR is gone?
Connecting…