LATROBE, Pa. – Let's get to it:
TOM MIHALIC FROM SUFFOLK, VA: Assuming all three Wilsons, Russell, Roman, and Payton make the 53-man roster, just curious how you see the names on the backs of their jerseys printed?
ANSWER: Barring something unforeseen, Russell Wilson, Roman Wilson, and Payton Wilson will be on the 53-man roster when final cuts must be made by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27. And because there is no NFL rule mandating teams to differentiate players with the same surname on the back of the uniform, I fully expect the jerseys that Russell, Roman, and Payton wear on game days will have "Wilson" on the back. Remember, those jerseys also will have the player's number on the front and the back of the jersey – in white when the jersey is black and in black when the jersey is white – so there should be no confusion as to which Wilson it is.
PAT FLYNN FROM OAKDALE, PA: From their respective Scouting Combines, Ryan Shazier and Payton Wilson posted similar measurables. Ryan was named a starter and had 5 starts in 2014. Are the Steelers in a similar situation where Payton Wilson will be pressed into service early? Do you see Payton starting any games this year?
ANSWER: Starting jobs have nothing to do with results from the Scouting Combine. Decisions on playing time have more to do with performance during training camp and the preseason, the existing talent on the depth chart at the position, and whether injuries become a potential factor. When the Steelers spent a first-round pick on Ryan Shazier in the 2014 NFL Draft, they had been looking for an all-situations inside linebacker to combat what offenses were doing to create bad matchups for the defense. In 2013, the starting inside linebackers were Lawrence Timmons and Vince Williams, both solid NFL starters but not as adept in coverage as was becoming necessary. In fact, the Steelers had made an initial move for a "coverage" inside linebacker in 2012 when they selected Sean Spence in the third round of that draft. But Spence suffered a serious knee injury during the preseason of his rookie year and needed season-ending surgery. The following year Spence still wasn't back to 100 percent, so he first was placed on the physically unable to perform list and then the injured reserve list for a second straight season. Maybe if Spence wasn't injured and forced to miss two complete seasons after being drafted, the Steelers don't use a No. 1 selection on Shazier, but that's all conjecture now.
Payton Wilson is on a team that has a pair of proven NFL starting inside linebackers in Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts, and both are capable of filling the role of all-situations inside linebackers. Maybe Wilson works himself into a regular role in one of the sub-package defenses, maybe there are injuries, maybe there becomes a need for him to be on the field for the first defensive play of a game (which is how the NFL determines whether a player is a "starter") based on the challenge posed by a particular opponent. But I don't see the Steelers being in a similar situation at inside linebacker as they were in 2014 when Shazier started 5 games.
TOM NAYPAUER FROM CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH: Has there been any "Hard Knocks" crew at training camp? I know they air later in the season, but I imagine they might be around for background, etc.
ANSWER: On Tuesday, Aug. 6, "Hard Knocks" debuted a series that focuses on the Chicago Bears, so I imagine their crew has its hands full with that series. There has been no presence of "Hard Knocks" on campus at Saint Vincent College.
TOM NICHOLSON FROM SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA: Do you have access to a list of voters for the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and who they voted for? I think Steelers fans would be interested to know how they got it so wrong.
ANSWER: The winner of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is decided by the vote of a panel of 50 Associated Press sportswriters. That list is not public knowledge, and how each individual cast his/her ballot is virtually impossible to find out. And I believe you can imagine why there is such an interest in keeping the process a secret ballot.
DAVID BRUBAKER FROM MERRITT ISLAND, FL: When will the final roster cuts be made? How do players get notified that they made the team?
ANSWER: All NFL teams must have their rosters reduced to 53 players by 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 27. And the way it usually works is no news is good news. In other words, if a player hears nothing and the 4 p.m. deadline passes, then he knows he made the team. Players who are waived or released are the ones who are notified.
TONY PATRICK FROM POLAND, OH: I went to Friday Night Lights this year, and it was the fourth time I was able to make that practice. It was my girlfriend's first time there, and she loved it. She noticed Ryan Shazier signing autographs and then helping with some drills during practice. She is a big Shazier fan and asked if he was part of the coaching staff now. I've seen him in videos during drills but didn't see anything saying he is on the coaching staff. Is he part of the staff or just a Steelers alumnus helping?
ANSWER: Currently, Ryan Shazier is not a member of the coaching staff, but Coach Mike Tomlin always welcomes former players to training camp who are interested in helping, because he believes as former Steelers they know what it takes to be a Steeler.
