Welcome back to your Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag, bye-week edition. As always, we’re here for the next hour to answer whatever is on your mind.
To your questions!
Jeremy: Hey Alex! What do you think are some areas the team will emphasize to get better over the break?
Alex: Probably a reset on the run defense. I’ll chalk it up to a one-off thing with their poor showing against the Giants but sour taste heading into the bye facing good/committed running teams ahead. And mobile QBs, which are giving Pittsburgh trouble in the run game.
Offensively, just finishing drives, building upon the offense with Russ. Continue to fine-tune. There’s no glaring, recurring issue.
Sdale: Alex, what are our options if Jones continues to struggle? Are Anderson or Cook even viable options, or do you see them trying to make a move with a team like the Jags that might be tackle rich? Would that be dependent on what happens with a free agent receiver, or would we be able to do it regardless?
Alex: You could think about Cook but he’s unproven and missed a lot of time. They’re more likely to try to make it work with Jones than bail. The Jags just traded Cam Robinson, who was a LT anyway, to the Vikings, and it’s hard to go out and trade for a starting tackle anyway. I think they just go with Jones as long as they’re winning, though I would consider Cook if the struggles persist 3-4 weeks from now.
Black and Gold mafia: Alex,
What’s your evaluation of Patrick Queen? I think it’s fair to say we expected more splash from him. I’m not sure Ogunjobi and Benton are doing him any favors as far as keeping him clean to run and make plays.
Alex: I’m happier with him than most. He’s been an everydown guy, made plays in space, like his zone coverage. I would like to see more splash but some of that can be hit and miss. Minkah hasn’t picked off a pass in nearly two years. They can come in spurts.
Ogunjobi has played well overall. Benton’s been a little shaky against the run but I wouldn’t pit any struggles of Queen on the play of the d-line that’s done well overall.
BananasFoster: Alex- how does this team compete with the offenses of Baltimore, KC and Buffalo. Would you trade for a WR? Is it worth giving up picks for players that likely wont move the needle all that much?
Alex: By doing what they’ve been doing. Scoring at a higher rate with more chunk plays. And a defense that can take the football away. I’ve always wanted to add a receiver but at this point, with the limited options, you may end up punting. If you can get Darius Slayton, go for it. If not, you might stick with what you have. They are scoring with this group now that Wilson is in at QB.
Gluebucket:
Hey Alex, with the Steelers expected to be much healthier after the bye, who do you think provides the biggest spark in their return?
Herbig, Sutton, Patterson, or Frazier (assuming he is back)?
Alex: Good question. All will help. But I gotta go Frazier. He’ll be the only everydown guy of that list. Ryan McCollum has done an admirable job but Frazier is just better. He moves people. McCollum is more stalemate and don’t lose. So Frazier is the big one. But they’re all going to help. Getting out of the Giants game healthy was really key.
Mc_Muffin:
Hey Alex,
I was at the game on Monday and I noticed that they played Renegade quite early in the 4th (like 13 minutes left, before the giants went down the field to score). I always thought they’d play renegade “when the defense really needs it”. Don’t you think they should play it later in the 4th? Not when they are up by 15 points.
Also how would you evaluate Keeanu Bentons season so far?
Greetings
Alex: Those who regularly attend the games can speak to the timing of Renegade better than I can. It’s usually reserved for anything in the fourth quarter. Often a little bit later but I still think the circumstances largely fit. Long break in a TV timeout in the fourth quarter. Maybe run it a little bit sooner to have as many primetime eyeballs get to experience the part the broadcast showed, I dunno.
Benton…I’m a little disappointed. Not been bad but zero sacks. Still can’t finish some of these plays. Some out of his control but still, just a little too late getting home. His club/over remains potent but he hasn’t developed a second move off it and so centers will sit on it, especially after they’ve seen it once. He can win early on it and then get quiet the rest of the night. But he’s athletic, his screen recognition has been great the last few weeks, and he hustles. He’s been fine but hasn’t taken the leap in play I thought he would.
Brian Tollini: I see our inefficient redzone offense as being our biggest weakness so far. Is this simply, better execution, as the opportunities have appeared to be there, or do you see a weakness in scheme/play-calling?
Alex: Those things are often “popcorn.” Hard to dial it into one thing. Last week, just some small errors. Had two TDs off the board. Jones facemask, Pickens not getting his left foot down. Another time, lost Dan Moore Jr., backup LT Calvin Anderson gets smoked on his first rep. Some freak stuff. Play-calling has largely been fine. Hopefully they just clean up those small errors.
Alexander Heath: As we know Tomlin have a thing for a black quarterback (we are from same region, I feels the same) and seeming to enjoy taking in a revival project as Leftwich, Trubisky, coach Flores, and now Fields- not all worked out, but regardless, projects. I got that sense the Steelers may be interested in Bryce Young next season as this Panthers squad is a HUGE mess. Would Tomlin have interest in someone like him? I do think so.
Alex: I don’t think it’s a race thing. I think there’s an affinity for the “pedigree” guys they were probably high on out of college. That’s true of them beyond just QB. And Flores was a unique situation. If anything, you could say this is about his “Virginia” guys. Russ is from there. Mike Vick is a 757’er. Others like Shamarko Thomas, Arthur Moats are from the region.
But putting all that aside, I really don’t know. Maybe. But I’m just focused on the QB situation for the here and now. There will probably be more offseason changes considering no one is under contract next year. I doubt all three return. Probably Wilson OR Fields and maybe Allen signs back as a No. 2.
We’ll see how Young fares starting in Carolina the rest of the season. And what changes they make over there in the offseason. It’s all just plenty of speculation. My guess is they won’t be trading a late round pick for Young just in the way they didn’t for Malik Willis.
WeWantDaTruth: Hey Alex….Happy Halloweaen! Regarding adding another WR, it sounds like you are content with the current room, based on what Russ has done the past 2 games. But what about Calvin Ridley of the 1-6 Titans? Sure, he is expensive. But so was Aiyuk when the Steelers were after him. Thoughts?
Alex: Happy Halloween! I’m content with in part because there aren’t great options out there. And so you wonder how much of an upgrade you’re getting with how small the list has gotten. Ridley, I get it, but he just signed that massive deal and I don’t think the Titans are trying to bail on him. And I’m betting they want Rudolph/Levis to have someone to throw to the rest of the season now that Hopkins is gone. Hopkins is the guy Pittsburgh should’ve pursued. He checked all the boxes. They should be kicking themselves for missing out.
If you want a Titans WR to get, go get Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a conditional/7th rounder.
