Welcome back to your weekly Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. As always, we’re here for the next hour to answer whatever is on your mind.
To your questions!
Brian Tollini:
AK-
Which player has been more valuable to their side of the ball…
Jaylen Warren to the offense or Elandon Roberts to the defense?
Also, heard you discussing wheel routes in yesterday’s podcast, personally I’d love to see them try a “Texas” route concept involving Friermuth and Warren. Is that something they have attempted in recent memory? I know MOF is still, apparently lava
Alex: Oh wow, good question. I’d lean Warren just because he was giving the offense sometimes the only spark they had at times. And he and Warren complementing each other and making this running game go, so vital to any chance of winning this team has, has been key down the stretch, even if Harris has taken on a larger role the last two weeks. But Roberts very valuable too holding down the fort after Holcomb/Alexander went down.
Not a lot of Texas/Angle routes in Pittsburgh. Don’t be surprised if the Bills do it though. It’s on their tape.
BananasFoster: I’m sure you haven’t been asked this question, yet (LOL). But if Mason balls out on Sunday then how is he not your Day 1 starter next year. And if he were to sign elsewhere the Steelers could have a major issue because we all know they are not bringing back Mitch. They will either have to spend a high draft pick on someone, trade for someone or sign a legit backup. What say you?
Alex: Well there’s a cost at that. He’s not under contract, as you’re saying. And an upset win is going to boost his value as much as his three regular season wins. So that’s where things have to start. But the reporting still indicates they’re high on and committed to Pickett and basically view Rudolph as the hot-hand for a moment in time and not a long-term option.
But that will be a long and ongoing conversation for the next several months after the season ends.
Mr. Goodkat:
Steelers want to run the ball this week. Bills know Steelers want to run the ball this week.
Would you attempt to impose your will running from the start or come out passing to set up the run, a la ‘05 in Indy?
Alex: They’ll run some playaction but nah, keep it simple. Stick with what’s working. Run the ball. That was going to be their gameplan regardless of weather but the conditions play into it all the more. They’re not in a dome like they were at Indy. They need to run the ball early and often this weekend.
David Rudin:
Hey Alex,
I appreciate you and Dave’s perspective and analysis. Just wondering if you have heard of any pushback to the NFL selling exclusive rights to providers that require subscriptions to watch games. There are now games on NFL Network, Amazon, Peacock etc… Where does this end, Pay per View for the Super Bowl?
Thanks,
David-Colorado
Alex: Thanks David! I’ve seen the chatter and the negative comments, especially for the Peacock exclusive game that Pittsburgh nearly fell into. But because they avoided that, I haven’t heard as much personally. No doubt the NFL is slowly sending out trial balloons and getting fans used to this stuff. The frog in water that’s slowly being turned up to a boil. They’re going to slowly turn up the temp. What’s the end game? I don’t know. But this toothpaste isn’t going back in the tube. It’s only going to happen more and more.
Aeronius D. McCoy: Always appreciate your analysis, AK. Any idea how the secondary will be handled, with two safeties returning this week? Over/under on how many snaps Rowe sees? Patty Pete moving back to CB?
Alex: Thank you! It’s up in the air. Minkah will start at FS, obviously. I like Rowe’s chances at staying at SS and I think Kazee works as a dime defender and bumps Killebrew out. Patrick Peterson might go back to his old role of playing outside in base, slot in nickel, and potentially can roam around a bit in dime, especially if Minkah is going to play closer to the LOS and man up on TE Dalton Kincaid in key situational moments.
The good news there are options, something this team hasn’t had in awhile. But I’m just as interested to see how they divide up the labor.
