Welcome back to your weekly Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. As always, we’re here for the next hour to answer anything on your mind.
To your questions!
BananasFoster: I enjoyed the offensive “outburst” last week but lets not coin them the next greatest show on turf. Kenny still needs to be alot better. With this schedule, they have an opportunity to go 11-6, maybe even 12-5. Can almost make the case this is a win now team with this defense. If Kenny does not improve next 6 games, could you see Omar going after Kirk Cousins, or Justin Fields?
Alex: Sure, there’s lots of room for improvement. But Sunday was a good reset and foundation to lay for the remaining six games and increasingly likely, a playoff contest. Which will be one heck of a test.
I wouldn’t completely rule it out at zero percent, important to note Khan did not draft Pickett (nor did Assistant GM Andy Weidl) but my expectation is that Pickett will be the Steelers’ Week One starter in 2024. They’re going to stick with him for at least one more year and see how he looks with a new OC to get a better feel who the real issue was – Canada or Pickett.
Mr. Goodkat: What are your thoughts on the lack of PA last week even with the running game humming? Seemed like a no-brainer…
Alex: They used it a lot early. Five times in the first quarter. And then got away from it the rest of the game. Sometimes you don’t want to overdue it and use it as a good changeup. Overall, they used playaction eight total times. I’d good with that number. It’s more than they have.
PghDSF: If the offense does well the rest of the year, who will be the favorite to be OC next year between Sullivan and Faulkner?
Alex: That’s a tough one. Especially not seeing these guys work behind-the-scenes, especially Faulkner. Sullivan has the play-calling background, the coordinator experience, and the relationship with Pickett. So I would lean him. But I suppose it’s not impossible they both keep their roles and maybe they hire an assistant RBs Coach too or something. We’ll see.
dkloc: Based on the play of Jones does that make Okorafor expendable next year? And has Dan Moore done enough this year that the Steelers don’t make tackle a major need next year?
Alex: Yes. I do not expect Chukwuma Okorafor back next season. He has a roster bonus due next year and I don’t see the team picking it up. Moore, we’ll see how the rest of the year goes. I think you have to consider it, though getting a blue-chip prospect at tackle like Jones is tough to do. Pittsburgh won’t be picking as high and obviously even had to trade up to get Jones in the first place.
Chad Prince:
AK,
As it stands right now what do you think the percent chance is the Steelers pick up Najee’s 5th year option? I go back and forth on this quite a bit.
7 million is quite a bit of money for guy that might eventually be in a true timeshare.
Alex: Still under 50 percent. I’m a fan of the guy, the team likes him, too. I just don’t see it as a great business decision based on how things have gone as a whole and the market of the RB position. You could sign him to a long-term deal for less per season, probably. Great game on Sunday, he’s a talented player, but I still think they decline it.
steelers58: Hey Alex,
it’s the 2024 draft. What positions would you look to draft to make this roster better?
Not looking at specific players but just positions.
The first 3 rounds what positions would you like to see Steelers address?
Alex: Still could change down the stretch but something like CB, C, and possibly safety? The third one is more up in the air. I really want a true No. 3 slot receiver for this team. They need as many weapons as possible and have had really limited slot production the past two years. It can’t continue.
Matt Manzo:
I might be too late! I’m on Texas time today and I’m too tired to do the math.
What are your and the rest of the crews thoughts on the Oline this year?
Seems like it’s been so up and down on an individual basis I have a hard time evaluating where we’re at in terms of solidifying things there.
Alex: Nah Matt, you’re right on time! They’re gelling, they’re improving. Jones boosting the run game but it’s not just him alone. Cole has been better as a run blocker though still very questionable in pass protection. Seumalo has settled in nicely and they’re pulling him and Daniels way more often than they had been. I don’t think they pulled a guard on a run play the first month of the year. Moore has been better after getting past the gauntlet of great rushers to start the year.
Pghomer: Hey Alex, thx for being here for us.
Larry O has been very quiet it seems. I think he’s playing well, but not much splash.
What is your eval of Larry O’s play the last 6 or so weeks….and is he playing up to the value of his contract?
Alex: I agree with you. His tape isn’t bad. He’s winning reps. Just not always finishing or filling up the stat sheet. On that alone, it’s hard to justify the pretty hefty contract they gave him, $9 million average yearly value. But I don’t think he’s in danger of being cut in the offseason or anything. He appears to be healthy, which was the big key. I expect him to be back in 2024. He’s probably not worth every penny of the extension but he’s not a liability who is going to be shown the door.
Brian Tollini: KP has done a great job not turning the ball over this year as we all know, but his lack of fumbles is something that hasn’t been talked about much. With all of the talk of his hand-size in the pre draft process, are you surprised how well he has done not fumbling? Only Stafford has fumbled less this year as a starting QB.
Alex: It’s a great point. We usually lock into interceptions as the key turnover stat but frankly, quarterbacks fumble about as much if not more than they throw picks. Obviously they’re often more of the fault of the o-line and protection but still, turnovers are turnovers.
One of my concerns with Pickett wasn’t the hand size but his carriage of the football at Pitt. He had some fumbling problems and he’d drop the ball on his hip and let it swing. But he’s done a really good job in the NFL. So yeah, I’m with you, I’m a little surprised and very happy to see it.
Banastre Tarleton:
It seems like everyone is schizophrenic.
After the Browns’ game, the season was over. One win over a bad Bengals’ team and now we may win the division. Which is it?
I feel the answer is somewhere in the middle. One good game does not mean the offense is near fixed. I see us winning 2 of the next four and then needing to split Seattle and the Purple Browns to get in the playoffs. I’d still say it is a good season amid all of the upheaval. Thoughts?
Alex: Ha, you’re very right. We all have a tendency to ride the wave of a season. Never as good as you think it is, never as bad as you think it is. We’re in a short-memory, hot-take world and sports are no exception of it. Getting in the playoffs would be big, of course. Though winning a playoff game is the hurdle this team can’t get over. And if they get bounced in the Wild Card game, you know how fans will react and what their final takeaway will be. It won’t be a positive one, even if there will be positives to take away from the season.
steelers58: AK,
One more question. What is your take on the DJ situation?
just standing at the LOS, not blocking or running a route. And then the fumble. No effort to chase down the defender, while your teammates are hustling.
How do you think that goes over in the locker room?
Alex: My take right now is that I’ve moved on from the story. He screwed up, he owned it, time to move forward. I don’t think it went over well in the locker room and I think Johnson has a nasty habit of stacking bad plays and getting in his head (happened with his drops in 2020).
But I also know Tomlin put that play up in front of the whole team and put Johnson on “The News” (Tomlin’s lowlight reel for team meetings). So the play and the reaction from players wasn’t subjected to gossip in corners of the locker room. Tomlin shined a light on it, you can count on that. And that’s probably good for the whole team to digest it and move past it. We also know Johnson talked to the team and apologized. It just can’t happen again.
SteelCity:
Alex,
In looking at the games have you noticed Patrick Peterson performing better as the #2 CB with JPJ shadowing the top WR? I was listening to his and BMac entertaining podcast and then looked at Pat Pete’s PFF grade this past week and thought of this question for you…I know PFF is hot or miss but all I had to look at to get a clue….thank you
Alex: Yeah, I think Peterson has played well in recent weeks. I’m not sure if it was as much to do with Porter shadowing, maybe a little, but Peterson also playing in the slot more often and getting more comfortable in the defense. I’m not even sure how Peterson graded out this week. Let me look…good grades overall, minus his tackling. I know he and I don’t take much stock into that but yeah, I think his current role is working well and close to how the team envisioned things when they first signed him.
Ratosex: Is Muth good enough to be slot receiver?
Alex: Not full time. But I like the idea of standing him up more like they did some of last weekend. Hide some of his in-line blocking issues. He can block out in space. But they need an actual wide receiver. Even if you put Muth there, then you still need a tight end.
Dr. Bacon: Please tell me the plan is to have 77 play LT. i feel its easier to find a RT and we drafted him pretty high for that reason im sure
Alex: Potentially. Jones seems like he can play either spot. I don’t know if it’s easier to find a RT. Right tackles have to face T.J. Watt. And Maxx Crosby. They’re not any less important and they have to pass protect just as well.
I think if you want a tackle, you go into the offseason just looking for the best guy. Left or right, doesn’t matter. And then move Jones based off who you get.
