Welcome back to your Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. As always, we’re here for the next hour to answer whatever is on your mind.
To your questions!
Sean Lowe:
What’s your stat expectation for Kenny Pickett this year?
I’m thinking 22 pass tds, 3 rushing tds, 8 interceptions, 2900 yards.
Alex: Good question. I usually do stat predictions right before the season. That generally sounds right. I think I’d take that, at least. If he can be under ten INTs with 20+ TDs, I’m happy overall probably. The yards seem a little bit light though but it would depend on his attempts. 21 touchdowns, nine INTs with 3200 yards is sorta the range I’m thinking but I’ll spend more time on it later this year.
David Levesque:
Hello Alex,
How does Keanu Neal compare to Terrell Edmunds in terms of a Box Safety? Is he an upgrade over Edmunds
Alex: He’s a downgrade. He’s cut from a similar cloth in terms of being a box safety. Neal is probably a bigger hitter. But not as athletic and won’t function in space like Edmunds, who wasn’t that great at it in the first place. Neal is more limited. But he can play in the box, a dime-backer type of role that Edmunds had later in the year and that’s why he was signed.
Ray Istenes:
What are your expectations from Marcus Golden??
In my mind 4-5 sacks, 25 snaps a game, and being a volunteer and not a hostage at the end of the year will be a step up over our past few OLB FA signings.
Alex: Sounds about right to me. And I’m with you. If he’s happy with his role, then it should work well. And he should come into Pittsburgh understanding the guys in front of him. With Melvin Ingram, that was before Highsmith’s breakout campaign. Now, there’s no dispute about the player or starter that Highsmith is.
So yeah, 4.5 sacks, play a couple hundred snaps, chase the ball hard, get some pressures, be happy with his role, start a game or two when injuries strike, that works.
Donn Dindinger: Hi Alex, Looking at the number of capable defensive lineman currently on the roster and seeing the worry about depth at the inside linebacker position, do you see any signs of the team possibly trying out any 4-3 looks, especially with all the changes Andy Weidl is bringing to the team?
Alex: Nah. This conversation usually comes up in the offseason but nothing formal like that. Putting aside the semantic discussions about the defense really being a 5-2 with their EDGE rushers on the line, the system and scheme should function about the same. Though I’m very curious what they decide to do with DeMarvin Leal. Remains a mystery to me.
Steel PAul: Hey, Alex. How do you see the RB carry distribution for next year between Najee and Warren? Thanks!
Alex: Hey Paul! About the same as last year. Harris on 1st/2nd downs, Warren as the 3rd down back. Warren will see some early down work, maybe a bit more than last year, but that’ll generally be the split. It worked pretty well after the bye week last season and should continue.
