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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 11.28.25
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Christopher Carter
11:00
Allllllright. I've got my plate of stuffing, mashed potatoes and yams sitting with me as I do this. Let's get into it.
KW
11:00
Who will start at LT this week?
Christopher Carter
11:06
Expect this to come down to between Calvin Anderson and Andrus Peat. I foresee them letting Spencer Anderson be the swing tackle purely and one of those guys take over the role. I'd lean to Anderson since he played there last week but Peat is a longtime vet with good size. Could be a 50-50 decision based on who's most detailed in practice. Bills don't blitz a ton -- bottom-3rd in the NFL in blitz rate -- so maybe not a crazy week for a backup tackle.
BG from Penns Valley
11:06
Hi Mr. Carter - hope that you had a great Thanksgiving with your family ! Thanks for a great job in all of your coverage of the Steelers. Your outlook and film reviews is welcome and refreshing for me as a long time season ticket holder (1972!)
Christopher Carter
11:10
Hi BG! And thank you! Was my first Thanksgiving as a married man and I was happy to throw down with my mom's signature stuffing and yams!
BG from Penns Valley
11:10
Has your recent article about QB Mason Rudolph’s last game quelled the criticism around Our offensive coordinator ? It’s obvious that he does know how to scheme people open in the middle of the field. Also Do you have an opinion of why Pat F. Is being so under utilized ?
Christopher Carter
11:16
Some people will never be quelled, but I think to those who are actually interested in facts, it did dispell the myth that the Steelers don't design big play opportunities in the middle of the field. We'd done articles on what's been holding back Metcalf and it was how teams were doubling him, and they found ways to get him away from those double teams, but didn't exploit that.

Freiermuth's been a bit of a mixed bag. Teams don't really double-team him and he gets open. Both Rodgers and Rudolph miss those opportunities, but sometimes he's also passed on for Washington or Warren or Gainwell and they get good YAC.
I think the biggest thing is that when this offense works at its best, no one player takes over a game. A collective group picks on the defense from several angles so that nobody has to do the heavy lifting.
artie bridge
11:16
Chris, Does the Ravens loss yesterday buoy your hopes for a Steeler post-season appearance?  Or is it no big deal?
Christopher Carter
11:19
Wouldn't say it's no big deal. Even beyond the loss itself and the Steelers being in first right now because they haven't played yet, the Ravens look rough. They're going to get a 10 day break before hosting the Steelers, but they'll need every day because that defense is not what it should be, much like the Steelers'. And their offense that was designed to be superpowered is not working at all.

Steelers in Ravens are in a similar boat, but the Steelers are playing with a team that is not built to win now. This is supposed to be the prime years for the Ravens. That should worry people in Baltimore.
Henry Hill
11:19
Greetings Chris, hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. Given the state of the Ravens, the Steelers just might win the division by default...unless the resurgent Burrow-led Bungals pass both of us. Thoughts?
Christopher Carter
11:23
This is an ultimate year for parity in the NFL. No completely dominant team that's unstoppable, and several teams in the middle bumping each other in and out of the playoff picture.

Steelers and Ravens are in the same tier right now, but with this supposed to be the Ravens' year, there's a lot of pressure on them to bounce back next week. If they don't, they dig themselves a deep hole.

I think for the Bengals to make it they have to win out, and that'll make their next two games very interesting first playing the Bills in Buffalo and then hosting a Ravens rematch.

Win those, and it could just be between them and the Steelers at 9-8. Steelers could theoretically sweep the division, lose the other games, and just edge the Bengals even if they win out.
yo yo
11:23
Metcalf has had a lot of drops on the year and he didn't even battle for the 50/50 ball Mason threw him. It's not a 60/40 ball. Battle for it DK. sheesh earn you keep,
Christopher Carter
11:24
Would've like to see Metcalf come back for the ball like Wilson did, but that ball was not a 50-50 with how late it was thrown. Metcalf had his man by two steps very early in the route. A well-timed and placed ball makes that an uncontested catch. Both parties were at fault that play.
Steel City Kid in Alabama
11:24
Chris…Question for you. It seems to me and I’ve always despised this and that’s that NFL officials seem to almost only call PI after a WR, QB or even coaches and/or the crowd beg for it. On the reverse, JPJ almost always looks for flags or throws his hands up when he THINKS they might flag him and I always thought that makes him look guilty. I feel like this happens on intentional grounding at times as well. The crowd or players and coaches go nuts and then you see a flag fly. Are these penalties so difficult for officials to judge that they almost rely on reacting to others vs knowing what they’re doing? It drives me crazy!
Christopher Carter
11:26
Can't say I've ever talked to a referree about that specifically, but I do think there's a bit of a homefield advantage when you see the reaction to something like a high hit and everyone reacts to it.

But in general, there are plenty of times an official is trying to pull their flag out but it takes time with whatever signal they need to call and just getting it out of their pants and throwing it far enough.
TC
11:26
CC - great question the other day regarding the defensive scheme against the Bears.  Your articles that demonstrate plays as you make your points are fantastic.  My question is, as you have examined film do you think the Steelers defensive scheme is too predictable and antiquated? That other teams simple have too easy a time in preparation to play the Steelers because they know the defense tactics and can easily scheme to beat them?  Happy Thanksgiving!
Christopher Carter
11:30
Thanks TC!

To answer your question, it depends on the day.

If it was Sunday against the Bears, yes. They went back to the cover 3 zone a lot that I've been saying they need to stay away from and got ripped apart for it.

But the three weeks prior? Their cover 2, quarters and cover 6 packages were giving people fits. I said on the North Shore Drive podcast it was baffling that Tomlin and Austin went away from it so much against the Bears.

I've been saying since Sunday that they need to learn their lesson and stick to what works with this defense. If they do that, I think teams have a hard time against them.
yo yo
11:30
DK Metcalf this season
Targets 70 receptions 42
Does he deserve his pay?
Christopher Carter
11:32
Could be sharper, but he also hasn't gotten the best opportunities sometimes. I think he does a lot of the little things well when it comes to blocking and running his routes hard regardless of whether he's the target or not, which was something the WR desperately needed to see from its leader moving forward.

He'll earn his pay when the Steelers get their next young QB and he's the trusty vet who helps them come along.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:32
If AR does not look comfortable on Sunday, how quick will the hook be to get him out of there?
Christopher Carter
11:33
I think the comfort will be about safety. If he can't defend himself, it'll be whenever that's seen. But if it's just that he's making mistakes, I think they'll ride with him to let him figure it out. He has done that in the past.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:33
What percent run and pass do you see this Sunday with the Buffalo defense being very weak on run D?
Christopher Carter
11:35
Last week it was 35 dropbacks vs 36 runs. I could see it being something similar this week, especially if it's a close game. Lean on the OL and the RBs to make big plays.
Rocky Mountain Yunzer
11:35
Patrick Queen's interview is of great interest to me.  What is he specifically saying from a schematic standpoint?  Also isn't it unusual for someone - particularly the Green Dot and 3 play down linebacker - talkiing to the media about a topic such as this?
Christopher Carter
11:38
Queen's a great interview and I try to make it a point to talk to him each week about the defense. He's helped illuminate the challenges a bit more than just saying, "communication."

And let me be clear, when players and coaches simplify answers like that, they're only doing so to protect the team from further inquiries or letting it get out what exactly went wrong.

He's been a bit more colorful because I think he has a very high football IQ and sees things he wants others to see. It is a bit unusual, but it's welcomed as a person who studies film.
Marvin P
11:38
Good morning Chris.  We frequently hear defensive players complain about their schemes but we rarely hear offensive players complaining about theirs. I think it’s easier for opponents to scheme against the Steelers offense since they frequently avoid the middle of the field on passing attempts.  How do we know they need a true number 2 receiver when the receivers have a much smaller area to operate in?
Christopher Carter
11:44
I think it's not been so simple to scheme against the offense considering the team has scored the 11th-most points this year. There are times I do think Arthur Smith does things that make me scratch my head, but mostly he calls plays that gets guys open. Qbs need to take advantage of those opportunities.

They do draw up chances in the middle of the field, but certainly need to be better executing when those chances are presented.
Tom P.
11:44
Chris, opposing teams are embracing a quick passing game, slants, shallow crossers, quick outs, etc, to counteract the Steelers pass rush. The Steelers follow a low risk defense of “bend don’t break” allowing short completions with no big plays over the top. However, we are seeing an almost 50% success rate on third down because opposing teams are facing third and short due to their short, quick passing game which also keeps the Steeler defense on the field. What change do the Steelers need to do to counteract this trend?
Christopher Carter
11:57
I think they had that answer when they switched to their defenses that were heavier in their split-safety formations.

But the Steelers are also the 4th-best defense at stopping teams on 3rd and 3 or shorter. They've done better at limiting the short passing game when they've put that switch in place.

Crazy enough they rank worse in 3rd and long defense -- 18th by my count.

To beat that, trust your defensive front to win and drop 6-7 into coverage regularly, mixing and matching when and where you apply your double teams.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:57
Will the Steelers have a spy like Peyton Wilson on Josh Allen to make sure he doesn’t kill us on scrambles?
Christopher Carter
11:58
I see them doing this as part of the plan, but not every play. And I think it will rotate between who has that role. If it's always Payton Wilson, Allen can use that against the Steelers eventually. But if he has to guess who has that job, it can be another thing that holds up the offense and gives the pass rush more time to get home.
J D
11:59
Chris, what another golden opportunity for the Steelers to extend their lead in the AFC North.  What are your chances they win this one?  I say 55%.
Christopher Carter
12:00
I see this at 45%. I do think they're not far off, but I think Josh Allen coming off a loss with 10 days rest isn't so easy. This will be a close game. They'll need those turnovers to pop up to help.
Sam
12:00
Happy Thanksgiving, Christopher!  Enjoy the detail you put into your chats.  After last night, there's now a non 0% chance of a 3-way tie at 8-9 for the north.  The clearest path is CIN lose to BUF, beat BAL, MIA, AZ, and CLE.  Steelers beat MIA and CLE, lose to BAL twice, BUF, DET.  Ravens sweep Steelers and lose to NE, GB, CIN.  Do I think it would happen, no, but the Bengals would probably take that tiebreak because they'd be 5-1 in the division.  Imagine that.
Christopher Carter
12:02
That would be wild for sure. I don't think that happens, but it would be wild.
JAB
12:02
CC - is KB95 a nose tackle? I see him as a LDE in the Steph Tuitt/A-Aron Smith mold. Has JPJ24 cured his jersey grab/holding?
Christopher Carter
12:10
Keeanu Benton isn't fully used as a nose tackle. Out of his 505 defensive snaps, only 96 are in nose roles. 400 are in the DT/3-4 DE role you're mentioning.

I think they put him at nose because they want their big guys taking on the guard-tackle double teams in the 3-4 DE roles where OL are usually bigger. Remember Hargrave? He was smaller than Benton and played nose in between Tuitt and Heyward. I think Benton's gotten better there and will continue to do so.

As for Porter, I don't think anything like that is ever fully cured, but he's been much more consistent for sure. It's also important to note that even the great cornerbacks get tagged for penalties at high rats sometimes. Pat Surtain II won DPOY last year with the third-most penalties (11) for a CB.
J D
12:10
Chris, Happy Black Friday!  Will Rodgers be better this week than in the past 2 games he played or is he wearing down?
Christopher Carter
12:10
JD, Happy BF! As far as Rodgers, I'll know when you'll know! He was limited when I was at practice Wednesday, I had yesterday off and I'm at home today. I think he could, but it all depends on his actual health.
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