Let's get to it:
GEORGE LEWIS FROM ASHLAND, KY: Do you know why Jaylen Samuels has not been an active part of the Steelers game day lineup?
ANSWER: Let me start with a few details about how Jaylen Samuels' season has gone so far: He has been active for every regular season game, but he did not play in either of the first two games – in Cleveland against the Browns or vs. Kansas City at Heinz Field. In Tampa against the Buccaneers, Samuels was on the field for six special teams snaps, and the following Sunday night against the Ravens he was on the field for seven special teams snaps. Last Sunday against Atlanta, Samuels was on the field for two offensive snaps and for four special teams snaps. So far, Samuels has yet to record a statistic in any category as a result of his playing time. Why? This may sound cruel but it's not meant to be: Samuels isn't playing more because at this very early stage of his career he's not better than the people playing ahead of him. Until that changes, his amount of playing time won't.
JOSEPH PARHAM FROM PHILADELPHIA, PA: Do you think Donnie Shell or L.C. Greenwood ever make it into he Hall of Fame?
ANSWER: I have my doubts, even though I believe a case can be made for both players. Donnie Shell played 14 seasons and had 51 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries; he was voted to five Pro Bowls; and was named first-team All-Pro three times. L.C. Greenwood still is third on the Steelers all-time list with 73.5 sacks, and he added 14 fumble recoveries. He was voted to six Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro twice. And the Steel Curtain is the only historically famous NFL defensive line with only one of its members enshrined in Canton.
STEPHEN SCHRADER FROM PORTLAND, OR: Like most rookies starting in the secondary, Terrell Edmunds has found himself in many of the opponents' highlights. The missed tackle at the 5-yard line against Kareem Hunt and the Chiefs was a big one. But then again, he has an interception and fumble recovery as well. So it seems like he's getting a lot of snaps. How would you rate his overall performance so far?
ANSWER: Terrell Edmunds is still learning his position while also having to learn how to play in the NFL. The idea was to have veteran Morgan Burnett serve as something of an on-site mentor for Edmunds, but injuries have kept him off the field, and so Burnett has been starting alongside Sean Davis, granted a third-year pro but also in his first season as an NFL free safety. I like Edmunds, and I believe he's showing progress. One quick anecdote about young Steelers safeties: during his rookie season, Troy Polamalu let a potential interception go right through his hands at the goal line, and it was caught by an opposing receiver in the end zone for a touchdown. It's not all smooth sailing for young players, but those who work hard and care about improving have a high likelihood of succeeding. I see Edmunds as falling into those categories.
ROB HARDY FROM SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, SLP, MEXICO: Why is it that, sometimes, the clock keeps on running after the ball carrier goes out of bounds on plays when officials cannot contend that the progress was stopped in bounds before going out. This happened in the game against the Falcons after Ben Roethlisberger ran out of bounds in the fourth quarter.
ANSWER: By rule, the clock does not stop on out of bounds plays until the final two minutes of the first half and the final five minutes of the second half. Outside of those time frames in each half, the clock will continue to wind if a player with the ball goes out of bounds.
JARED HAFEN FROM KILLEEN, TX: Will Ryan Shazier make an appearance at a Steelers game this year?
ANSWER: Ryan Shazier is at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex each day during the regular season, and he attends every game at Heinz Field, often watching from the Steelers sideline. He very much remains a part of the team.
MICHAEL KERR FROM LAPORTE, IN: I would like to know if there is a chance that Tony Dungy could be voted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He has done so much as a good representative of the NFL and the Steelers organization. Even though he played for the Steelers and cut his teeth in the Chuck Noll era, I believe his body of work and the honor that he has brought to the NFL deserve to have a special place in the Steelers organization.
ANSWER: As someone who played for the Steelers for two seasons and then served as the team's secondary coach and then the defensive coordinator for eight more seasons, Tony Dungy certainly qualifies according to the rules for induction into the Hall of Honor.
BOBBY HUGGINS FROM SEWELL, NJ: I wanted to know where the Steelers get those custom varsity jackets the Hall of Honor inductees wear when they're announced to the crowd at Heinz Field? Can they be ordered?
ANSWER: Yes. Start by visiting the website, jhsportsjackets.com. Once there, click on the "NFL" icon down the left side, and then scroll down and click on "Pittsburgh Steelers." I believe the jacket you're looking for can be found on the bottom of the page, and it currently is priced at $499.99.
CRAIG REILLY FROM AKRON, OH: I don't see the inactives list on the website for the Atlanta game. Who were the inactives?
ANSWER: The Steelers players on the inactive list for the game against the Falcons were Mason Rudolph, Marcus Allen, Morgan Burnett, Zach Banner, Darrius Heyward-Bey, L.T. Walton, and Vince Williams.
JAMES BRADFORD FROM KNOXVILLE, TN: Do you think the Steelers could have moved Bud Dupree over to inside linebacker last season alongside Ryan Shazier, and kept James Harrison at right outside linebacker and moved T.J. Watt over to left outside linebacker? Do you think it would've made a difference last season for the Steelers on the defensive side of the ball?
ANSWER: I think I just came down with motion sickness.
