Welcome back to your Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. I won’t be available tomorrow afternoon so I am shifting the mailbag up a day. Apologize to anyone waiting for its usual Thursday spot. But as always, we’re here for the next hour answering whatever is on your mind.
To your questions!
KaiDex411:
Would love to hear your “Steelers Mt Rushmore”
I’m going Big Ben, Mean Joe, Troy, and Lambert
Alex: I was kicking around the idea and might write about it later this week. So I don’t want to spoil the whole thing. I actually made one back in 2017, though it included coaches and owners, too. It was: Chuck Noll, The Chief, Joe Greene and Hines Ward. I’d have to think about a players-only one. Greene would be on there, of course. Not sure if I would stick with Ward or not. Your list looks as solid as any though.
Stas: Feels like we are not using CAIII enough to stretch the field on the outside, to have DJ and Pickens run more crosses/posts inside – is it just lack of trust? Play calling? Seems like we are wasting the speed. Thanks as always Alex!
Alex: He was clearing things out before Johnson came back. And then played only seven snaps against the Rams. Lot more action for Robinson. I think Austin is kinda limited. He’s fast….I’m not sure what else. Small catch radius, not super shifty/quick, not like some guys his size. When you’re really a speed guy, you’re limited in usage and role. I mean, he’s not a track star who can’t play receiver but the ways in which he wins aren’t multiple. Not right now, at least, in his first year seeing the field. But when Johnson and Pickens are your outside guys, they’re going to be the focal points of your passing game.
KaiDex411: The Steelers have for the most part been good at taking away the opponent’s superstars (Kupp last week) do you anticipate them taking away Etienne this week?
Alex: That’ll be their intent. They have more difficulty taking away RBs than WRs. Probably just harder in general. You can double a WR and really make the QB go elsewhere. A RB can still touch the ball. Obviously you can load up to stop the run but Pittsburgh hasn’t been good this year. And the Jags have talented pass game weapons. So it’s hard to sell out and stop Etienne. You’re just trying to prevent him from busting off a long run.
Wreckless: I know this is a very useless hypothetical, but I’m curious. With how the offense as it’s currently constructed, who would you prefer to have the OC just based on their scheme? Fichtner or Canada?
Alex: Yeah that’s a tough one. Fichtner was good because he let Ben be Ben. He didn’t micromanage. He trusted Ben, had been around him for a decade before becoming the OC, and he was humble and wasn’t looking for credit or glory or a head coaching job. Under Canada, with Pickett, there needed to be more structure. So it’s hard to compare the situations. Push comes to shove, give me Fichtner, but I don’t really know what his stamp would be on this offense.
disqus_8mUDOgBlU2: Alex, with a 52-man roster, 6 days left until the trade deadline and a glaring need at boundary 2, how likely would you speculate a fourth Johnson (Bears corner) is brought in via trade at this point? Maybe package Levi and a fourth for him?
Alex: Not going to say never but I don’t love the odds. They had a 52-man roster earlier this year. Sometimes it’s just about gameday inactives and overall healthy of the team. They didn’t even elevate anyone Saturday so they didn’t see the need for extra people. I don’t think it had to do with a trade possibility. They’ll be at 53 prior to the Jaguars game.
I’m not sure what it would take for Johnson but it’s going to have to be more than that. Wallace isn’t moving the needle. Veteran on an expiring deal. A fourth isn’t going to do it either.
