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Christopher Carter's Steelers chat: 12.12.25
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Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:09
I would think the priority this Monday is to stack the box to stop the run and make Tua throw. Steelers should win because Tua is o fer in temperatures below 45 degrees so let's make him beat us instead of the run game for the Fins tearing us up. Agree?
Christopher Carter
12:09
I do agree they need to prioritize to take away the run. Tagovailoa has not done well throwing in the cold and you've found your real cornerback trio in Porter-Pierre-Echols. Trust them to win and send an extra body to the line to stuff Achane.
epiballo
12:10
Isn't the reaction to Roman Wilson being a healthy scratch overblown? He was a 'victim' of the new WR scheme and not indicative of him being a bust. Next season, assuming Rodgers retires, he will be in the mix with a new QB room. Do you see it differently?
Christopher Carter
12:11
I don't think he's a bust and he does get open. But I do think there's something to Rodgers complaining about the right routes not being run all the time as the reason for the deep ball not working and then when Wilson sits out it comes to life.

Might be just a coincidence, but I think the Steelers might keep this Wilson inactive for a bit unless someone gets injured or they see something else in practice.

They won't give up on Wilson, though. He's fast and can make plays. Just needs to learn to be where he's supposed to be at the right time.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:12
It's pretty obvious that AR and Jonnu are not on the same page. I say the Steelers release him like they did with Slay and chalk it up to a bad acquisition and move on to getting Muth more involved. Can you get on board with that scenario?
Christopher Carter
12:13
I do think Smith hasn't played well and needs to not get snaps over Freiermuth.

But I also don't think they need to cut him. Slay wanted to probably rejoin his old team when he  was basically becoming the 4th or 5th option at CB. I don't know that Smith feels that same way.
Keep him around in case of an injury, but I don't think this lasts more than just this season.
Franco3272
12:13
It would be good if the Steelers can win the last 3 out of four (minus Detroit) and earn the division title. I would think that would give them some sort of momentum going into the post season and a little more confidence no matter the opponent.
Christopher Carter
12:15
Would certainly be a different tone than last year. FWIW, I thought they brought the fight to Buffalo two years ago when they won 3 straight to get into the playoffs. But no Watt and Rudolph vs Allen wasn't exactly ideal.

Can they be healthy in a home playoff game with a crowd? They haven't had one of those since 2017 -- and that was when they were missing Shazier. Last real home playoff game when they had all their stars available was the 2016 Dolphins game.
NC Steeler Fan
12:15
Chris, thanks for the insightful answers you give to us.  My question is, if the players love MT so much, why does it take fans yelling Fire Tomlin to get them to produce for him?  Second question, do you feel MT doesn’t hire established coordinators (other than Arthur Smith) so he can keep them under his thumb?
Christopher Carter
12:19
Thanks for being here!

I think the players have produced for him before. Their wins over the Patriots and Colts were strong bounce backs and they've certainly had other tough wins over the years. But when your coach has your back and you hear that, it probably does give you a little extra something. Heck, Aaron Rodgers took issue with me asking a question about the coaching staff's approach to what and and how they're practicing.

As far as that, I don't think that at all. Haley was quite established when he was brought in and he brought in Flores as an assistant while the national spotlight was on him. Austin was promoted for his work with Fitzpatrick and the secondary that was pretty strong in the early 2020s, not just a random hire of an unknown name.

Are there misses in the coordinators? Sure. But I don't think it's because of him wanting to keep someone "under his thumb."
paullochrane
12:20
now that rivers came back, what about big ben
Christopher Carter
12:20
He's got that podcast in his basement. Maybe he addresses that this week lol
Gene in Southlake, TX
12:20
With all the botched calls in the Ravens game do we really think the Steelers won that game?
Christopher Carter
12:22
The Likely drop was a drop. He didn't get a third foot down and that's one of the acts needed to complete the process of the catch. Credit to Porter for forcing the issue.

The one legit bad call was the penalty on the field goal. But at the same time, the play before that Humphrey held down Metcalf's arms while he was trying to go for a ball in the end zone and that wasn't called. Flip those and it's the Steelers' ball at the 1, not the 6. And they still most likely score.

So, yes. The Steelers won that game.
Steely McBeam
12:22
any updates on TJ? This isn’t a Tyrod Taylor situation is it?
Christopher Carter
12:24
I gave an update on the Watt situation earlier but I do think this is an important note; it wouldn't be a Taylor situation because that was a gameday shot he was taking and Watt was telling the team's medical staff he felt uncomfortable. Those aren't the same. We'll probably get more details soon but it doesn't sound like a big messup like the Taylor situation.
AK
12:24
Allar is NOT an NFL QB, at least not a starter from what I've seen.  What do you think?
Christopher Carter
12:24
Agreed. I've never seen  that from him for the NFL. He needs to show a lot more.
Big_Bri
12:24
Hi Chris, first a shoutout to Pittsburgh public schools for producing a talent like yourself. Have you ever considered doing a coaches search like you do for QB's?
Christopher Carter
12:25
Aye! City League is in the building!

When it's time to do a coaching search, I definitely can. I think last week I did a preliminary search in the chat for potential defensive coordinators. But when we get to that bridge, I'll be happy to do the work to cross it.
Bryan in Georgia
12:25
Hi Chris. Thank you for doing these chats and your deep dive analysis on plays/players. It’s awesome that you are able to get paid to do what you love and your passion shows. I know we don’t have NFL film, but have you done any film analysis and/or watched practice to understand more about Will Howard’s floor/ceiling? I like the idea of getting a receiver in the 1st round of the next draft, but we of course need somebody to throw the ball.
Christopher Carter
12:27
Thanks Bryan!

As for Will Howard, I was on here last year saying he would've been a good fourth round pick. So when they got  him in the 6th, I thought it was a steal.

But at the same time, I think his ceiling is maybe a more mobile Mason Rudolph. That's not an insult either, as I think Rudolph is a good player. But I just don't think Howard's a franchise quarterback. He could prrove me wrong.

First round receiver is not out fo the mix either, as this class has a lot of high-end talent.
Double Check
12:27
With Phillips Rivers coming back, do you think the Steelers decide to re-up AR, get rid of AS, and use the 1st pick in the draft on a stud WR so this offense can show out with a new OC?
Christopher Carter
12:28
Part of me thinks that if Rodgers sticks around, Smith will as well. Just that familiarity might be important.

But, I do think an early pick at WR could be in the cards for the Steelers. I gave my list of top 5 guys earlier in this chat.
BPOS
12:29
I've lost interest in the 2025 team to do anything other than lose another playoff game so I'm looking to next year.  The Saints, Jets and Browns all have high draft picks and undoubtably more capital to take the top 3 QBs. You have at least another 2-3 teams who are very needy and will have more capital to outbid the steelers.  So they likely won't be able to compete for the top 4-5 at all which worries me they will again over reach for another "Pickett" type RD1 vs go DL or WR even, just to get the QB.  Talk me off the ledge.
Christopher Carter
12:31
There will always be teams who can outbid you, but the bottom line is the Steelers need to not reach with whatever they do.

Pickett was that, as were a few other first round picks likee Edmunds. But this class has a lot of high end talent and I think there could be a stud if this team trades up into the 7-14 range. Just don't know if it'll be quarterback, as there's rumors swirling about who will even enter this class.
Steelers Fann
12:32
Hey Chris, given that the Steelers shortcomings in the wide  receiver area were well known before and during the season, why haven't they developed more of a tight end passing game?  While using Washington somewhat, it seems they are wasting the talents of Friermuth and Jonnu Smith who are two capable receivers that could really help the passing game out.
Christopher Carter
12:33
Lots of tight end questions this week, and I agree this should be a better area of success with the talent they have. I think part of the issue has been the deployment of personnel that's limited Washington and Freiermuth from becoming a consistent duo that challenges defenses.
MD Steeler
12:34
A question from the twilight zone...Imagine if you will a world where Big Ben retires and Mason Rudolph becomes the Steelers starting quarterback the very next season. Would the team have been better off?  We may have lost more games and gotten a higher draft pick sooner or we may have done just okay and continued in draft no man's land. What do you think that may have looked like?
Christopher Carter
12:36
I think the Steelers probably finish close to where they were at during those years and maybe they take a swing at quarterback in 2023 or 2024 instead of 2022.

That would've put them in the Bryce Young-CJ Stroud-Anthony Richardson class or the Caleb Williams-Jayden Daniels-Drake Maye class.

Would they have been able to make the trades to get any of those to happen? Unsure. But ther Pickett pick did set them back in some years where there were better QB classes coming.

And if enough players don't declare for the draft, that could be the case again this year.
MrMuyBueno
12:36
Hi Chris. I enjoy your work. I applauded them drafting Sawyer out of Ohio State and have watched him get more snaps each week, especially in run situations. But any idea why he played only 3 snaps last week? Big, fast kid. Seemed like a natural player to have in there with Henry in the backfield
Christopher Carter
12:37
Thanks! Big reason is because they wanted Watt-Highsmith-Herbig on the field A LOT against Jackson. I think that might've been a matchup specific thing.
J D
12:37
Chris, how do you grade Peat's performance so far?  It seems like his name or number is not called too often but that's good for a lineman.
Christopher Carter
12:38
He was an OK backup. Did give up pressure but wasn't crushed. Cook also held his own. Team is definitely missing Broderick Jones in the run game though.
AK
12:39
Do you think Greenwood will get in the HoF this time?  It's ridiculous he's not in already.
Christopher Carter
12:41
I'm not one who knows the inner-workings of the politics in the HOF voting. But it would be nice to see LC get in. Knew him when he was around the community and got to meet him once.

When I said hello, he said, "you probably don't know who I am."

I told him, "you're the man with the yellow shoes!" As I had seen thee NFL films documentaries on how he wore yellow shoes so he could be recognized for his plays instead of the credit going to Joe Greene on some plays.

When I said that he stared right at me and I thought I did something wrong. He then said, "Gold. They were gold shoes, young brother." But then he laughed and was very nice.

He's a legend as part of the greatest DL of all time. Deserves to be in.
Bolts
12:44
You giving jones the 5th year option based on what you’ve seen this year?
Christopher Carter
12:49
I do, partially because this was his first time playing left tackle and I thought he held his own. He also only had one penalty this season, which is a good sign of things. He's also shown progress in pass protection as he only has 23 pressures allowed on the season compared to 45 last year -- a much better pace.

He's also been good in the run game and can be better. Jones was drafted knowing his youth and inexperience would take time. I think they get him the extension and then next year determines if they sign him long term.
Last one here and then it's lunch time!
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