The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
MIKE FOSTER FROM EWA BEACH, HI: The Steelers are 7-6 and lead the division with 4 games to play, 2 of them against division opponents, and the finale is at home against the only other contender for the division title. Instead of talking about the No. 3 QB, what's up with James Pierre? He's a great gunner but has played well when he's been put in at CB. Why hasn't he played CB more? Why hasn't he been signed to a long-term contract? If his above the line play continues, do you think he could get a long-term contract?
ANSWER: Let me start by relaying what Coach Mike Tomlin recently said about James Pierre:
"You get out what you put in. There are no shortcuts in this business. That's what I mean when I talk about football justice, and certainly James Pierre is a reflection of that. He's been through a lot. He came in as an undrafted rookie in the Covid draft of 2020. He made the roster as a young man under those circumstances. He's been a core special teams contributor. He's ascended at times as a defensive player, sometimes with less success than others. He has worked continually. Over that entire process he has been nothing but available. He's played more games than any Pittsburgh Steeler since he's been in this organization. And he's continually gotten better. I think this recent uptick in defensive participation is a reflection of just the overall trajectory of his progress. And I view the totality of that as football justice, because he is a strong, mature professional who puts his hand in the pile daily, and he deserves the fruit of that labor. And he's getting it."
What you should understand is that Pierre has shown steady improvement during his time with the Steelers, and with all due respect he wasn't ready for extended playing time on defense before this season. And even during training camp and the preseason, Pierre was not on the original 53-man roster for no other reason than there were better players on the depth chart ahead of him. But he continued to work, and because he stayed healthy enough to continue practicing, he improved himself and then when given an opportunity he took advantage. People may view Tomlin's saying of, "One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity" as a coaching cliché, but in Pierre's case it was true. While people watching from the outside may view Pierre as someone who has arrived, I don't believe he has that attitude in his DNA, which is a good thing. Because undrafted rookies often have to earn their roster spot every season, and then earn playing time after that.
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JON WHITE FROM LANCASTER, LANCASHIRE, UK: Guardian caps are probably not the long-term concussion solution but also they currently stand as the best available addition. The low uptake rate and the league no longer enforcing their use in the preseason stands at odds with what happened against the Ravens this past week. I can't remember if it was three or four players in the protocol, but one could assume that some of those may have been prevented by using the caps. Do you have any insight on how the players feel about the caps, and could you see an increase in their usage with both what happened in the last game and also as the road gets narrower?
ANSWER: It is up to the individual player when it comes to using a Guardian Cap during the regular season. Jabrill Peppers has worn one in regular season games, as has Dolphins RB De'Von Achane. Data is still being collected on Guardian Caps, but I don't believe there will be an increase in their use as a result of last Sunday's game vs. the Ravens.
TYLER JONES FROM SAINT PARIS, OH: There seems to be a lot of times in recent memory where the Steelers started fast and then ended the season poorly. Other than the 2019 season without Ben Roethlisberger, are there any other examples of the Steelers struggling in the middle of the season, but finishing strong on a win streak of 3-plus games? Just looking for some hope for this season.
ANSWER: With the Steelers now in their 93rd NFL season, there are a lot of possibilities from which to choose. Here are a few examples:
• In 1976, the Steelers started 1-4 and then won 9 in a row to finish 10-4 and win the AFC Central Division.
• In 1989, the Steelers lost their first two games by a combined 92-10 and then won 5 of their last 6 to get into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
• In 1995, the Steelers started out 3-4 and then won 8 straight before a meaningless loss in the finale to finish 11-5 and win the AFC Central Division.
• In 2005, the Steelers lost 3 in a row from Nov. 20 to Dec. 4 and then closed the regular season with 4 straight wins to get into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
• In 2014, the Steelers won 4 straight to end the regular season and earned a spot in the Wild Card Round.
In 2016, the Steelers lost 4 straight to fall to 4-5 and then won 7 in a row to finish 11-5 to get into the playoffs and advance to the AFC Championship Game.
• In 2023, the Steelers were 7-7 in mid-December and then won 3 in a row to finish 10-7 and qualify for the playoffs as a Wild Card.
DJ KLAKAMP FROM ERIE, PA: Do the Steelers have scouts in Canada? Have the Steelers ever signed a Canadian born player?
ANSWER: Chase Claypool, the team's No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia. But I'm confident the Steelers scouted him as a college player at Notre Dame.
CAMERON JAMES FROM MINT HILL, NC: When teams do something like the tush-push or use the Wildcat formation and have someone other than the QB taking the snap, if he gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage, is that considered a sack or a tackle for a loss?
ANSWER: I believe that would not be scored a sack because in the situation you describe there is no attempt to throw the football. It's clearly a running play, and so the formation alone would not make it a sack.
MICHAEL ROBERTS FROM ELIZABETHTOWN, KY: I know they didn't make any big plays, but do you think just the presence of big guys like Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling helped get DK Metcalf more one-on-one coverage?
ANSWER: I don't know that height alone would have been sufficient for the Ravens to alter their game plan with respect to defending DK Metcalf, but maybe the experience those two WRs added to the offense coupled with the fact the Ravens had no video on how the Steelers were planning to utilize them had some impact. But as time goes on and there is more video out there about how Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are used by the Steelers, future opponents figure to take an approach based on that.
BOB PEGHER FROM STATE COLLEGE, PA: Regardless of how the season ends for the Steelers, has Aaron Rodgers expressed any desire to return next year? Whatever the final decision, Steelers fans should relish watching him run the offense. Now that he's tasted AFC North football, I hope he stays around until a permanent replacement is ready.
ANSWER: Aaron Rodgers has not said anything definitive about 2026 one way or the other since signing with the Steelers back in June.
CJ McMUNN FROM FRANKLIN, TN: I was surprised to see Adam Thielen not only signed to the practice squad but also starting and playing ahead of second-year wideout Roman Wilson. Thielen had four days of preparation with the Steelers and they felt he'd be better. Or is Wilson hurt? Curious if you have any perspective on this, and if it might be a sign that Wilson's time is coming to a possible close in Pittsburgh.
ANSWER: Since Roman Wilson was not listed on the weekly practice report last week as being limited by any injury, I can only assume the decision to make him inactive was performance/experience related. But that was one game. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about Wilson's future with the Steelers based on that.
ALAN WARNER FROM EAST SPRINGFIELD, PA: I and a lot of fans share your dislike of the "tush-push." Why do the officials wait so long to blow the whistle? It seems like the whole controversy could be settled if the officials simply whistled the play dead sooner.
ANSWER: My guess is that the reason the "tush-push" isn't whistled dead sooner is because it borders on impossible for the game officials to get a good view of the play from field level in order to make those kind of judgments. Most of the good views of the play that show false starts or offsides or when forward progress has been stopped come from above, and that is only available for those watching on TV.
