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
Prev Page View Full Chat
Christopher Carter
12:02
Assuming these guys come out:
Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Dante Moore.

I'd lean more to Mendoza, but I think he SHOULD be first off the board. I like the upside of Dante Moore and I LOVE Ty Simpson's tape but I'm always cautious about the Alabama quarterbacks. I don't think the Steelers trade up higher than 7th (pending on who finishes where this year) and that might take some of these guys out of the equation. If one of them is there, that will be tempting.

Will Howard will get a chance to compete in camp with Mason Rudolph and whoever the third quarterback is. If that's a rookie, then yes he'll get a chance to compete. If it's a Joe Flacco-level vet, also yes. But if it's a big move like Kyler Murray? Maybe not.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:02
Chris: Gerry has been reporting that the Steelers are sticking with their plan to draft a QB in round 1.  Isn't this setting up to be even more of a disaster than in 2022 when Colbert was determined to take a QB on his way out?  Realistically aren't there only three QBs worth taking in round 1 (Mendoza, Simpson, Moore) and all will go in the top 5?  I know you like Sellers, but I think he is awful.  Look at his stats.  He makes Anthony Richardson (who might be available) look like John Elway.  This team has so many needs and the idea of trading say two #1s and two #2s to move up for say Moore is terrifying to me.
Christopher Carter
12:08
I like Sellers but I've also said he should go back for another year. He's been underserved by a terrible offensive line, bad scheme and plenty of drops. He needs to see the field better too, which I think he can do if he goes to  a better program for offense. I also don't think he's made Anthony Richardson look that good lol.

But I do agree this team shouldn't be locked in on getting a quarterback at all costs this year. The class has some good prospects but they also have superstars at other positions that will be available if these quarterbacks fly off the board. Personally prefer Mendoza, but I doubt he makes it out of the top five.

Also don't think it would take two firsts and two seconds to get Moore. I believe he'd (right now) go around 10ish. If they're in the low-mid 20s that means probably a first next year along with a third.
BPOS
12:08
What's your mid-season grade on Arthur Smith? You can't help but notice that our receivers appear to be open far less often then other teams. Is that more our receivers can't execute or Smith's routes trees? I tend to agree with Chad Johnson's blurb about them not using CAII properly. Maybe they just don't put in in the right position and take advantage of that speed.
Christopher Carter
12:11
I'd say C. I think there are things they could do better with certain guys like Austin and Wilson, and they could get the ball to Freiermuth and Washington more.

But I also think a bunch of this is mixed with execution failures. Rodgers missed those guys a lot last week and Austin had two drops along with not getting his toes down in-bounds one time.

All need to be better.
Michael
12:11
What would be your plan to cover Chase and Higgins with the Steelers current, healthy personnel?
Christopher Carter
12:13
Porter and Pierre play press coverage wherever those guys are at with safety help on both sides. Doesn't have to always be press man, but don't give them clean releases and force Flacco to hold onto the ball.

Trust Heyward-Benton-Harmon-Queen-Wilson-Watt-Highsmith to stuff the run with their crew. And when you get to 3rd and long, keep taking away the quick throws and get to Flacco. I don't think he'll take getting sacked 5+ times as well as Daniel Jones or Justin Herbert have the last two games.
Jeff
12:15
Coach T is a Hall of Fame coach, I get tired of Steelers fans putting him down. You support your team win or lose. I just think the game has evolved and he hasn't.
Christopher Carter
12:17
It's fine to criticize him, but the extent of the insults to his intelligence go way over the top. I do think there are aspects of his coaching that don't resonate with some of the younger coaches who've come through and found success, but I also think some of his principles hold true over time and can be more valuable, pending which coach he's compared to.
SahSide in TX
12:18
I notice that Airman Rodgers does not wear a cheat-sheet on his wrist like most/all other quarterbacks. Do you think that he has all the plays memorized and finds one unnecessary? Also noticed last night that Drake Maye wears a wrist band, but did not seem to refer to it. Thanks, enjoy the chats.
Christopher Carter
12:19
Some quarterbacks just prefer to not have it or use it. I imagine Rodgers hasn't needed one for a long time. His best trait after his arm has been his football IQ.
Greg H from Cincy
12:19
Hey Chris, love all the effort you put into your work. Appreciate ya.  I'm on the Tomlin is our coach until he chooses not to wagon.  However, with all of this talent, albeit on the older side, they are really underachieving. Is a playoff W the only answer?
Christopher Carter
12:22
Thanks!

I thought a playoff win or two was the ceiling for this year, not the floor. As I've noted time and time again, this is not an all-in team when you trade away two of your biggest playmakers over the past few years and keep all 12 of your draft picks for next year.

It'd be nice to see them get a playoff win, but I honestly think that comes down to either A) winning the division, or B) doing well enough to get a higher playoff wild card seed that you play a lesser division winner. Their last 3 playoff matchups have been MVP quarterbacks in Mahomes, Allen and Jackson against old Roethlisberger, Rudolph and old Wilson. Not going to win that too many times.
12:23
Got about 8 minutes left. So I'm gonna try to do a speed run.

READY. SET. GO.
Ryan
12:23
Chris what do you think about the play of Jaylen Warren and Alex Highsmith i think both have looked Good The past two weeks i think we win on Sunday what do you think Go Steelers
Christopher Carter
12:23
Warren's arguably been the best offensive player and Highsmith has back-to-back two-sack games. Think they both are doing well and should continue to do so (pending Highsmith's injury).
chuck mac from Houston
12:23
We going to see Asante Sunday?  An what bout Trice?  How much more wasted time is this guy worth?
Christopher Carter
12:25
I don't think Trice is going to ready soon. Just too many injuries. But he's a seventh round pick. Not like they've wasted a lot on him.

I think Samuel Jr. only goes in if either A) someone really stinks; or B) someone gets hurt. Teryl Austin said they're working him just at outside cornerback right now. That makes sense and I think he should fit well if he's fully recovered like he says.
Jack Splat
12:25
Hi Chris, Thanks for your chats and articles. We appreciate your patience and well thought out answers. Do you think the Steelers would consider Mac Jones in free agency? Seems like Shanahan has the magic touch developing QBs.
Christopher Carter
12:25
Thanks Jack!

I think Mac Jones is on a list but not high on it. There's probably going to be a bunch of veteran quarterbacks they can choose from, and there might be a few with a better resume.
putinbatch
12:26
i'm SO tired of this ridiculous 'logic' of oh, we could get our best player more snaps if we could only run more plays. maybe if we were not so boneheaded about evaluating and leveraging the talents of our players, we'd actually convert more 3rd downs and run more plays! Thanks for letting me vent and for your great work.
Christopher Carter
12:27
I feel you on the venting. I don't get it either sometimes. But I also think sometimes those statements are to avoid fingerpointing in public and stuff gets said behind the scenes. We'll see if Jaylen Warren gets less touches than Kenneth Gainwell this week.
Jack Splat
12:27
Chris, If the Steelers don’t move up for a QB or take one in the 20s, would it make sense to draft a CB in the 20s, fill some holes with maybe a total of 8-9 picks, and then trade maybe 3-4 picks in the 3rd-6th rounds for picks in 2027? That would give us more ammunition for the bigger, and possibly better QB class in ‘27.
Christopher Carter
12:27
I'd argue to even move up to get a high level cornerback. Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee looks interesting. They can be aggressive this year and still not get a quarterback early.
epiballo
12:28
Hi Chris - thanks for the chats. The minute the Steelers picked up Valdez-Scantling and, to a lesser degree, Samuels, the 'knee jerk' reaction is that it won't make a difference and they whiffed again. Isn't this part of the plan, to hoard draft capital for next season's draft? Could these additions make a difference?
Christopher Carter
12:29
I think MVS can make a minor difference once he settles in. But I actually think if ASJR is fully healthy he can make a difference. He's a turnover guy and I could see him making some splash at outside CB, especially if the Steelers stick with their new two-high safety shell defense looks that'd give him more support.
TooTall21
12:29
Hey, Chris. Look forward to your chats and in-depth analysis every week. Thanks for all you do!  Need some advice, With Tyler Warren on bye this week, I need a fantasy tight end. Think I’m going with another former Nittany Lion in Freiermuth, although in fantasy parlance this would be called a dart throw. My thought is that Muth’s incredible past success vs.the Bengals continues this weekend. Do you think I’m being shrewd here, or is it truly a dart throw given Smith’s curiously infrequent use of Muth this season?
Christopher Carter
12:29
Pat Freiermuth against the Bengals? Bet on the over. I think you're making a good call.
putinbatch
12:30
in the spirit of asking a question, do you agree with the effective replacement of Thornhill with Castro? I'll hope for the best and I realize Thornhill wasn't exactly lighting it up, but i can't help wonder if this really puts us in a better place (given my learned doubtfulness about our coaches' abilities to assess and leverage our players' skills and talents). Thanks again!
Christopher Carter
12:32
Alright last one here before I have to get moving.

I have to say, something's fishy around the Juan Thornhill-Sebastian Castro move. Thornhill was a starter for you and Castro was a practice squad guy. That's not a move you just do because you missed Castro, there had to be some bad things behind the scenes with Thornhill. Maybe he wasn't vibing in the secondary or something. He certainly didn't play well his last two games.

But they also never game him a chance to redeem himself, which is unlike the Steelers in the recent past. Either way, that move did catch me off guard.
12:33
Alright everyone, that's a wrap for this week. Put in two hours and now it's lunch time. Thanks again for all the questions and sorry to the many I didn't get to. I'm working on a piece for this weekend and will be with our crew covering the game at Arisure. Keep it here at the PG for all your coverage!
Connecting…