Let's get to it:
DARIN FLIPPO FROM JONESBORO, TN: Please give your opinion on the Diontae Johnson trade given the current state of the offense. What value has that trade given us thus far?
ANSWER: The Steelers traded a starting wide receiver in Diontae Johnson for a starting cornerback in Donte Jackson, and there also was a swapping of draft picks with Carolina getting pick No. 240 from the Steelers, and the Steelers get pick No. 178 from the Panthers.
By the tone of your question I surmise you are more of a fan of offense than defense. Anyway, so far this season, Johnson, 28 years old, has started all 5 games for Carolina and played 80 percent of the offensive snaps. He has been targeted 45 times, with 23 catches for 262 yards (11.4 average) and 2 touchdowns. Jackson, 29 years old in November, has started all 5 games for the Steelers and played 95 percent of the defensive snaps. He has 2 interceptions that he returned 51 yards, 4 passes defensed, and 17 tackles, including 1 for loss. Jackson has value to the Steelers beyond his statistics because he's capable of playing opposite a cornerback who often follows the opponent's No. 1 receiver, which allows for more flexibility in coverage schemes. Not all outside cornerbacks can do that.
Not having Diontae Johnson undoubtedly has impacted the pass offense in a negative way, but having Donte Jackson undoubtedly has impacted the pass defense in a positive way, because he clearly is a significant upgrade over the cornerbacks the Steelers were lining up opposite Joey Porter Jr. last year. In my opinion, it's more difficult to find a cornerback who's tied-for-third in the NFL with 2 interceptions and can tackle, than it is to find a receiver who's averaging 11.4 yards per catch. If you want to trade player-for-player in the NFL, you have to give something to get something.
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NICHOLAS PELCHAR FROM PURCELLVILLE, VA: When a team like Dallas that has a good tight end, which the Cowboys always seem to have, and a top receiver, why don't we drop T.J. Watt back to cover the tight end on those third-and-long passing downs sometimes to keep the opponent guessing?
ANSWER: When it's a third-and-long situation, the quarterback is going to have to hold onto the ball and throw it down-the-field if he hopes to convert and keep the drive alive. And in a situation where a quarterback has to hold onto the ball, T.J. Watt – as one of the NFL's most prolific sackers of the quarterback – is most valuable to the Steelers working at his specialty. Having him drop into coverage can be utilized in some situations as a way to keep the opposing quarterback off balance – ask Kurt Warner about what he learned about that in Super Bowl XLIII – but third-and-long is not the time to have your best pass-rusher in coverage.
WAYNE PHILLIPS FROM SPRING HILL, FL: Please help me understand the lack of usage of our tight ends in the passing game, particularly Pat Freiermuth. I thought in Arthur Smith's game plan he used them a lot.
ANSWER: I wouldn't be so quick to label what we're seeing now as "Arthur Smith's offense." There has been something of a revolving door along the offensive line, which has impacted the running game, as have injuries to Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson. And then we cannot forget the quarterback situation. Justin Fields has performed better than any reasonable expectations, but it cannot be overlooked or dismissed that the plan was for Russell Wilson to be the starter in 2024. Wilson was signed for his abilities as a leader and a been-there, done-that NFL quarterback, but also because he has shown he sees the whole field and throws the football with anticipation, timing, and accuracy. The injuries, including the one to Wilson, are contributing to a lack of usage of the tight ends in the passing game, in my opinion. Here is a quote from Coach Mike Tomlin about Pat Freiermuth: "We just did long-term contract business with (Freiermuth). He's a tight end, but he is a receiver in that he is a central component of what we do in the passing game."
WILLIAM YOUNG FROM BADEN, PA: Justin Fields has lost two games in a row. He may not have been the reason for the losses, but when healthy, would you start Russell Wilson at quarterback?
ANSWER: I don't believe for a minute that Justin Fields was singularly responsible for the losses to Indianapolis and Dallas, but I do believe that there are things Russell Wilson can provide that the Steelers need at this stage of the season. He is a veteran presence at a critical position, and he has the statistics, the Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl ring on his resume to hold young players' attention. Wilson is experienced in ways that only a long and successful career can provide, and being voted a team captain showed what the locker room thought of the way he presented himself as a professional and a teammate. Russell Wilson was cleared medically to be a full participant in this week's first practice, and so if there is no setback there I believe it will come down to when he shows that he can do the things he used to do on the field in terms of movement, anticipation, accuracy, and poise. Once that box is checked, I see Wilson getting a chance to play in a game.
MIKE PALOMBO FROM MCMURRAY, PA: When defenses are ranked based on points allowed, are total points allowed by the team used, or do they exclude points given up when the defense wasn't the field, like a pick-6, a scoop-and-score, kick returns, and safeties?
ANSWER: The NFL puts together a statistics package each week during the regular season, and when it calculates points-allowed-per-game, it's simply total points allowed divided by the number of games played. Then teams are listed in order of fewest to highest points-per-game allowed. And it works the same way in the category of points-per-game scored. Individual teams might do a deeper dive into these statistics, but the NFL does not.
CHRIS HUGHES FROM VACAVILLE, CA: I'm going to the game in Las Vegas when the Steelers play the Raiders on Oct. 13. What color jerseys will the Steelers be wearing?
ANSWER: The Steelers will wear white jerseys for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders in Las Vegas.
ROY PERRIN FROM RALEIGH, NC: Coach Mike Tomlin was asked on Oct. 8 about Isaiahh Loudermilk's skill-set being compatible with moving to be an edge rusher, and his answer was simply that his skill-set is not conducive to that kind of inclusion. It seemed a little out of character for him to comment on a player's limitations so conclusively. Was it frustration at the question being asked, or does he not consider that to even be a remote possibility and he was just being honest?
ANSWER: Here's a third possibility: You mis-heard his answer. Here is the answer to the question about Isaiahh Loudermilk from Coach Mike Tomlin's news conference: "He and (DeMarvin) Leal are defensive linemen who are participants on special teams. Both guys are on kickoff (coverage), and I think that speaks to their unique skill-sets and allows him the position flexibility to slide outside and give us some big-man presence when lines get short, certainly."
ROD KEEFER FROM EDMOND, OK: Do you think we might reach a point where close plays, missed calls, and the like could be decided by polling the viewing audience? Surely we have the technology for fans to buzz in, tabulate votes, and reach a consensus in real time more quickly (and accurately) than seven humans on the field with limited views can.
ANSWER: I sincerely hope I am dead and buried long before the NFL would even consider such an absurd system that has the "viewing audience" determine the outcome of close plays during games. The "viewing audience" is not without a rooting interest, or a betting interest, and those watching with a beverage in their hand might have to take a breathalyzer. I am certainly on record as being a regular critic of NFL officials, but that doesn't mean I'm self-important enough to believe I should have a vote on the outcome of close plays.
