Let's get to it:
DAVE MILLER FROM CHADRON, NE: It seems the Steelers did OK in the Donte Jackson for Diontae Johnson trade. Can you tell me which of those two guys has been the more prolific pass catcher over the past six weeks?
ANSWER: In the last 6 weeks, Donte Jackson has had 2 interceptions. In the last 6 weeks – with one of those including the Ravens' bye week and another when he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, Diontae Johnson had 1 reception. And if you can believe it, I actually had to defend this trade in a couple of installments of Asked and Answered.
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ROY PERRIN FROM RALEIGH, NC: Now that the Pro Bowl is flag football, what is the pay for the winners and losers of the game? If I'm not mistaken (and I could be), wasn't it a relatively significant amount?
ANSWER: For the 2024 Pro Bowl, which was played toward the tail end of the 2023 season players on the winning conference received $88,000 apiece and the players on the losing conference were paid $44,000 apiece.
ERIC HUTTINGER FROM DAYTON, OH: I was watching an episode of the Christian Kuntz podcast, and it was brought up that Cameron Johnston was still very involved in the kicking game by providing exceptional scouting reports for upcoming opponents. God forbid he can't continue his punting career, but if that was the case, do the Steelers employ a kicking coach/coordinator?
ANSWER: Currently, the only member of the coaching staff who spends all of his time with special teams is coordinator Danny Smith. There are assistant coaches who put their hand in the pile and help out with certain aspects of special teams play, and that has been the case for a long time. Coach Mike Tomlin talks about working with special teams when he was a young assistant in the NFL.
LOU BRANDLE FROM JOHNSTOWN, PA: When we're inside the 10-yard line and run the ball, why isn't Justin Fields taking the snaps?
ANSWER: My personal opinion on a package for Justin Fields is that it should be utilized in situations while not becoming predictable. If Fields would replace Russell Wilson every time the Steelers offense was in the red zone and wanted to run the football, the opponent would know what was coming and when it was coming. We'll have to see how things unfold over the last 4 games of the regular season, but being unpredictable with when it's used and using it in small doses is how I would proceed.
MICHAEL PAOLINI FROM SCHWENKSVILLE, PA: I was at the game on Sunday against the Browns. I thought the Steelers offensive game plan was terrible. I know a win is a win, but they did not have a running game. The passing was non-existent. No passes in the middle, no deep shots, and the lack of execution. What happened?
ANSWER: Yes, a win is a win, and the Steelers are 10-3, which must have been achieved by magic for them to be as awful as your opinion of them. Leading up to the game vs. Cleveland, the Steelers believed they would be playing with George Pickens at wide receiver right up until a few hours before kickoff. That means the entire offensive game plan was devised, implemented, and practiced with the thought the team's No. 1 receiver would be available. Losing Pickens for the whole game at that late stage required a lot of adjusting and changing personnel packages, while it also removed a significant threat for the Browns to have to defend. Maybe you were at the concession stand for Pat Freiermuth's 20-yard touchdown catch down the middle, and you somehow missed the Steelers rushing for 120 yards, a total that included a 20-yard gain by Najee Harris and a 14-yard gain by Jaylen Warren. Did you at least enjoy the weather last Sunday?
VALERIE ROSE FROM LIVINGSTON, NJ: What is a nickel package? I heard one of the announcers mention it about 2 weeks ago during one of our games.
ANSWER: A nickel package refers to the occasions when the 11 players on the field for the defense include 5 defensive backs, and those defensive backs can be any combination of cornerbacks and safeties. A dime package is similar but in this alignment the defense on the field consists of 6 defensive backs.
JORGE FERNANDO PAZ FROM MEXICO CITY, MEXICO: I saw the Steelers are badly outscored in the first quarter. Can you please give me the scores by quarters this season?
ANSWER: Through 13 games this season, the Steelers have been outscored, 72-45, in the first quarter; they outscored their opponents, 87-64, in the second quarter; outscored their opponents, 90-16, in the third quarter; and they outscored their opponents, 101-86, in the fourth quarter. As the numbers show, the Steelers are treating their opponents worse in the third quarter than those opponents are treating them in the first quarter.
