Let's get to it:
MARK RICE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV: I watch opposing teams throw 5-to-10 yard slants over the middle a lot vs. the Steelers defense and be successful. Is Russell Wilson's height a problem for that?
ANSWER: In my opinion, yes it is. The photo that led you into this installment of Asked and Answered provides an example of what the middle of the line of scrimmage can look like for Russell Wilson, whose listed height is 5-foot-11. To provide a bit of historical perspective on that, I have included the analysis of Wilson as a pro prospect that appeared on NFL.com leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft, where he was selected in the third round (75th overall).
Strengths
"Wilson is an accurate passer. He is a very mechanical quarterback who is consistent in his drop step and thoroughly understands how to move within the pocket and evade when the pocket collapses. He is an athlete and can torque his body to make any sort of throw on the run, and is accurate in this setting. He is a born signal-caller who shows command of the offense. He has the arm strength to make the deep throws and the touch to put it on a receiver in stride. He is effective when scrambling and is a classic play-extender."
Weaknesses
"Wilson's height will be his biggest inhibitor at the next level and the largest reason for his late-round value. It remains to be seen if he can throw effectively from the pocket at the next level."
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TODD WALTER FROM LINDEN, NC: Are you concerned about the trend in the offensive line? It seems like in the past, walk-ons like Ramon Foster, Matt Feiler, and Alejandro Villanueva solidified the line. Now, draftees like Kendrick Green and Kevin Dotson are just cut loose, while a top pick like Broderick Jones is regressing.
ANSWER: There was a time when the Steelers didn't devote premium draft picks to offensive linemen nor did they allocate significant capital to spend on unrestricted free agents at those positions, and so mining for nuggets such as undrafted players, including Ramon Foster and Matt Feiler and adding/developing a hidden talent such as Alejandro Villanueva after he was cut was how the team stocked/fortified that part of the team. But expecting to have consistent success that way is just not realistic, and so the Steelers went back to spending premium draft picks on those positions and being more open to spending on UFAs. Yes, there have been some misses, but there also have been some hits. And that's true of every team's drafting over a period of time, because the NFL Draft is not an exact science. To deal with some of the specifics you cite, Kendrick Green was a bad pick as an overreaction to Maurkice Pouncey's surprise retirement, but Zach Frazier looks like someone who will hold down the center position for a decade; Kevin Dotson turned out to be a better fit with the Rams than he ever was going to be with the Steelers, but UFA Isaac Seumalo has been a capable replacement for him at left guard. And can you please give Broderick Jones more than 15 minutes to make the transition to the NFL? He was drafted as a redshirt sophomore and will complete his second NFL season as a 23-year-old. Troy Fautanu was looking good at training camp as a rookie before he was injured, former seventh-round pick Spencer Anderson is a position-flexible backup who is a valuable piece on the 53-man roster, and former fourth-round pick Dan Moore Jr. has started 66 games at left tackle since coming to the team in 2021. Ryan McCollum has been a nice find after Detroit waived him, and he filled in nicely earlier this season when Frazier was injured. I'm not going to claim this Steelers offensive line is a finished product, but I do believe you're cherry-picking some facts to fit your narrative.
SAMUEL PAM FROM BROOKLYN, NY: I do not know where you come down on having playoff games being streamed only, but fans outside of the local Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas are going to be blacked out just like the Christmas Day game against the Chiefs. While Rob King and Craig Wolfley do a fine job, I clearly believe the NFL does not seem to care at all about their fans who have chosen not to switch to streaming. Any thoughts?
ANSWER: I can sympathize with you, but it's not accurate to claim, "fans outside of the local Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas are going to be blacked out," because the game is available to be streamed. A game that was "blacked out" within City of Pittsburgh limits was the 1972 AFC Divisional Round game, one that became iconic because of The Immaculate Reception – and I know that because I listened to that on AM-radio.
Statistics show that more people are getting away from cable TV – "cutting the cord" – and the NFL is adapting to what is a trend. My personal situation is that I have added a few streaming services in addition to my cable TV package, and while I'm not thrilled with the numbers I see on the monthly bill, it has become a necessary evil that I do not see being reversed. Admittedly, I am lucky to live in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and there still are sporting events I cannot watch because I don't subscribe to all of the streaming services that carry them. And the revenue derived from adding streaming services benefits both the owners and the players, because that money is shared and contributes to the annual rise in the salary cap.
MATT VALCHO FROM HOLLY SPRINGS, NC: Shouldn't Cam Heyward be one of the top candidates for Defensive Player of the Year? What would your ballot look like if you had a vote?
ANSWER: I don't see enough games involving teams other than the Steelers and their opponents to have a solid perspective on the top defensive players around the entire league. But since the turn of the century, the only interior defensive lineman to win the award has been Aaron Donald, who won it in 2017, 2018, and 2020 with a grand total of 45 sacks in those seasons. Cam Heyward is an All-Pro caliber player having another All-Pro caliber season, but voters are attracted to gaudy statistics and often don't look beyond that.
JOE ASHER FROM TAMPA, FL: Division rivalries are so much more heated than other games, especially in the second game. I'm looking forward to playing the Ravens for the third time this season, and hopefully advance in the playoffs. How many times have the Steelers had to play an opponent three times in a season, what were the outcomes?
ANSWER: The Steelers have played a three-game series against a division rival 12 times in franchise history. They are listed below.
• 1978: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Houston, with the third being a win in the AFC Championship Game
• 1979: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Houston, with the third being a win in the AFC Championship Game
• 1989: Steelers were 1-2 vs. Houston, with the third being a win in the Wild Card Round
• 1994: Steelers were 3-0 vs. Cleveland, with the third being a win in the Divisional Round
• 2001: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Baltimore, with the third being a win in the Divisional Round
• 2002: Steelers were 3-0 vs. Cleveland, with the third being a win in the Wild Card Round
• 2005: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Cincinnati, with the third being a win in the Wild Card Round
• 2008: Steelers were 3-0 vs. Baltimore, with the third being a win in the AFC Championship Game
• 2010: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Baltimore, with the third being a win in the Divisional Round
• 2014: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Baltimore, with the third being a loss in the Wild Card Round
• 2015: Steelers were 2-1 vs. Cincinnati, with the third being a win in the Wild Card Round
• 2020: Steelers were 1-2 vs. Cleveland, with the third being a loss in the Wild Card Round
HOWARD RADZIMINSKY FROM SCOTTSDALE, AZ: The Steelers have started 5 different quarterbacks in the last 2 years, and despite not having a franchise quarterback we were 20-14 with 2 playoff appearances. Fans want to fire coaches, GMs, etc., but until we have a quarterback who rivals the talent of the other 6 quarterbacks in the AFC Playoffs this season, we can't be the team that everyone wants. Is it coaching or quarterback play that's the key? I believe that if we had any of those other 6 AFC quarterbacks, we would be running a much better offense.
ANSWER: Steelers history certainly supports your theory, because between the retirement of Terry Bradshaw and the arrival of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers made it to one Super Bowl, and they lost that game to the Dallas Cowboys because of awful quarterback play. The NFL is a players' league, and no player is more important to a team than the quarterback.
TOM HENSON FROM MARTINSVILLE, IN: I heard Dale Lolley and Matt Williamson on The Drive talking about the Steelers playing four consecutive non-Sunday games. Did you tip them off about that after reading my question to Asked and Answered, or did they come up with it on their own? Hee-Hee. The Steelers have an awesome website, and I love all the informative and relevant content – not the least of which are your answers to all the questions.
ANSWER: Those guys on The Drive do a very good job of informing and entertaining, but if I have one complaint it is that they don't do my work for me – as they did in this instance – often enough.
WAYNE EPPEHIMER FROM JAMESTOWN, NY: Just curious. Going into Week 18, if the Steelers had lost, which they did, and the Chargers had also lost, which they did not, who would the Steelers have played in the Wild Card Round?
ANSWER: If both the Steelers and the Chargers had lost their Week 18 games, the Steelers would have gone to Houston to face the Texans in the Wild Card Round.
