Let's get to it:
JASON PRASTER FROM SAN ANTONIO, TX: Once Joey Porter Jr. moved into the starting lineup in 2023, he pretty much covered the opposing team's No. 1 receiver, whether on the left or right side of the field. With the addition of Donte Jackson and his outstanding play so far this season, I don't believe this has been the case? What skill-set comes into play that determines which side of the field a cornerback plays?
ANSWER: While's it's not on every defensive snap and often the TV broadcast doesn't show it, but Joey Porter Jr. still does a lot of matching-up with the opponent's No. 1 receiver. Here's what Coach Mike Tomlin said about the overall strategy involved in scheming a defense that utilizes a "matchup cornerback."
Q. Something Joey Porter Jr. showed as a rookie was a willingness and an ability to match-up all over the field with the opponent's top receiver. When employing that tactic in a game, what demands does that put on the other cornerback?
A. First of all, everybody likes to talk about the guy who travels, but you better have somebody on the opposite side of him who's capable of that as well. And it's not as big a challenge unless you play right and left corner historically. When you play right and left corner historically, then the other guy has to get footwork and line of vision perspectives from both sides of the ball. And so it is a challenge for him in that regard. But if you go field and boundary and things of that nature, where guys are generally working from both a left and right perspective, there's very little placed upon a guy who's a partner with a traveler.
Q. Is Donte Jackson able to handle that role?
A. No question. I've seen Donte over the course of his career play on the left side of defenses, on the right side of defenses, and so it's less of a discussion for him.
- Download and listen to the Asked & Answered Podcast here: Apple Podcast | Spotify
MICHAEL VELLUCCI FROM ATCO, NJ: I have no idea what year, but do you have any recollection of a player named Zack Valentine winning a Super Bowl as a member of any of the Steelers teams?
ANSWER: Linebacker Zack Valentine (6-foot-2, 220) played his college football at East Carolina, and he entered the NFL as the Steelers' No. 2 pick (56th overall) in the 1979 NFL Draft. He spent four years in the NFL, all with Pittsburgh, and appeared in 56 regular season games with no starts. He was primarily a backup at linebacker and played special teams. Valentine was in uniform for Super Bowl XIV, and he was credited with 1 tackle in that 31-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
VICKI SCHERER FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: According to the NFL.com, it looks like Davante Adams is going to be traded to the Jets. If that happens, do you think he would play Sunday night against the Steelers?
ANSWER: That trade of Davante Adams to the Jets is now official, and I have no doubt his injured hamstring felt better immediately after being informed that he'd be joining his good buddy Aaron Rodgers.
ROD KEEFER FROM EDMOND, OK: Can you remind us what Coach Mike Tomlin's record is in Monday Night Football home games?
ANSWER: The Steelers' home record on Monday Night Football since Coach Mike Tomlin was hired in 2007 is 9-1. The only loss came in 2020 to Washington, 23-17.
ISRAEL PICKHOLTZ FROM ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Seeing people saying, "He is 4-2. Leave him in," makes me wonder if anyone wanted Mike Kruczek to stay in when Terry Bradshaw came back from injury in 1976?
ANSWER: Or screamed at Chuck Noll when he pulled starter Joe Gilliam after a 4-1-1 start to the 1974 season and replaced him with Terry Bradshaw. Who then was benched in favor of Terry Hanratty. Who then was benched when Noll decided to go back to Bradshaw.
THOMAS WARD FROM LADSON, SC: When Roman Wilson came out of college it was reported by many he was "NFL ready" because of the offensive system he was exposed to at Michigan under Coach Jim Harbaugh. I get that the injury set him back, but if he is healthy how in the world can he make an impact on the sideline? Is there any better training than on-the-job training?
ANSWER: Being "NFL ready" because of the style of offense a receiver played in college against college defenders having to play college schemes because not every college team has NFL-caliber players at every position – that is a whole lot different than what a professional is expected to know and be able to execute within much more complicated schemes against much better defensive personnel also operating in much more complicated schemes. This is not a video game. Even if he's hyped to be "NFL ready", a rookie is a real person, someone in his early 20s, and he's in a competition where he's required to make a series of split-second decisions at top speed against professionals doing the same thing to prevent him and his team from being successful. Mistakes may be made during games and guys may do the wrong thing, but it's a different situation when a player doesn't know what to do and hasn't yet developed the instincts to guide him in the right direction. On-the-job training can cost a team a game, and at the end of this regular season there will be a team or two that missed the playoffs by a game. This is a business. Roman Wilson played a handful of snaps against the Raiders, and his playing time will be expanded as he shows he knows what he's doing. But that has to happen at practice.
DAVID HALL FROM GASPEREAU, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA: I see our schedule has us playing 3 games in 10 days, twice. Do all the other teams as well?
ANSWER: What I can tell you about the schedule-makers is that once their job is done and the gigantic jigsaw puzzle that is an NFL regular season schedule is completed, there is some misery in each team's schedule. As NFL coaches like to say about dealing with their players: "I don't treat everyone the same. I treat everyone fairly." I'm confident that's how the NFL approaches making up the schedule.
VALERIE ROSE FROM LIVINGSTON, NJ: As much as I love what goes on during the game, and the plays and stats, I am also curious about behind the scenes on gameday. Do the Steelers provide postgame meals at the stadium for the visiting team before the visiting team departs to head home/airport?
ANSWER: During my many years traveling with the Steelers, the unofficial rule about road games was "five hours after kickoff, wheels up." That means the team wanted to have played the game, fulfilled media responsibilities, showered, treated the walking wounded, packed everything, left the stadium, arrived at the airport, boarded the plane, loaded the plane, and were in the air five hours after kickoff. That didn't always happen, but that was the goal. The Steelers always provided food for their traveling party, and it was available in to-go containers because players, coaches, and staff would rather get on the plane and get started on the trip home. Every year in Cincinnati, for example, the Steelers would coordinate a spread of barbecue from Montgomery Inn, and during his career Ben Roethlisberger would supplement that with a lot of pizzas from a place he learned to love while growing up and attending college in that part of Ohio.
DALE GELLER FROM CAPE CORAL FL: Not a question but a comment. For those who can't hear the game on SNR, download an app called Radio Garden and search for WDVE. If you start listening an hour or so before game time, you can listen to the game as well.
ANSWER: Thanks for sharing.
JAY SIMMONS FROM DALTON, GA: Just a piece of information to help other Steeler fans, who are part of the Steelers diaspora. This solution "ain't cheap," as my father would have said. I have the SiriusXM Premium package. The Steelers announcers are on Channel 826. The gameday programming usually starts 3-to-4 hours before the game and postgame runs close to 3 hours after, which both were just added this year. It's just as if I am sitting back in Moon Twp., but from 600 miles away. When the Steelers are on TV here, I can mute the sound and listen to broadcasters with some knowledge. Also now the ads are the local ads, which bring back lots of memories for me. Great way to hear the radio broadcast from miles away. Alert: for some reason there is a time delay vs. a TV broadcast, but I find it easy to sync.
ANSWER: Thanks to you as well.
ROY PERRIN FROM RALEIGH, NC: In the Oct. 15 edition of Asked and Answered, you got a couple of questions regarding the SNR broadcasts of games. On the NFL+ app, there are options to listen to the home or away radio broadcasts. That's how I keep up with the Steelers games that are not visually broadcast on television or the app. I hope this helps.
ANSWER: I do as well. And thank-you, too.
FRANK McINTYRE FROM BLOOMFIELD, NY: I know our defense is playing great, but I was just wondering if there is any interest in bringing Robert Saleh on board as defensive support as I understand that was his strength. Just curious?
ANSWER: Robert Saleh still was operating under the 5-year contract he signed in 2021 when the Jets hired him to be their head coach. That called for Saleh to be paid $5 million per year, and in the NFL coaches' contracts are guaranteed. That means the Jets have to pay Saleh the full $5 million for 2024, and they also owe him $5 million in 2025. I would imagine there is offset language in that contract, which means if another team hired him, whatever he would be paid would be subtracted from the Jets' financial obligation to him. I see absolutely no incentive for Saleh to take the kind of job the Steelers would be able to offer, because he still would be making the same amount of money he could collect by sitting on his couch and waiting for the 2024 season and the 2025 offseason to unfold. Then maybe he re-evaluates.
RICHARD TOLBERT FROM STEVENS POINT, WI: Any update on Cole Holcomb?
ANSWER: He still is on the physically unable to perform list and not ready to return to football action.
DWAYNE RUTLEDGE FROM NORTH CHARLESTON, SC: Now that Davante Adams was traded to the Jets, should the Steelers ask about WR Mike Williams?
ANSWER: For readers who might be unaware, Mike Williams (6-foot-4, 218) is 30 years old, and he entered the NFL as a No. 1 pick (7th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his career (7 seasons with the Chargers, plus 2024 with the Jets), Williams played 94 regular season games with 64 starts. In those games, he was targeted 529 times, with 319 receptions for 4,951 yards (15.5 average) and 31 touchdowns. So far in 2024, Williams was targeted 17 times, with 10 receptions for 14.5 yards and no touchdowns. At this point, I just don't know that the Steelers are as desperate to acquire "a receiver, any receiver" as their fans are desperate for them to do that.
