Asked and Answered: Game Day Week 12

Let’s get to it:LINWOOD LANGS FROM HAMDEN, CT: I have seen Brian Allen play some special teams for a few plays. Will he be the replacement for Joe Haden, or will the Steelers draft Haden’s replacement in the 2018 draft? Also, I have not heard much about Allen’s development. I am excited to see what he can do. Love to see him shut down Rob Gronkowski this year in sub-packages. ANSWER: Whoa, whoa, whoa. First things first. Joe Haden is signed through the 2018 season, and when his current contract expires, he will have just turned 30, which is not too old to play the position in the NFL. As for replacing Haden now, Coty Sensabaugh is a cornerback with NFL starting experience, and Brian Allen is a rookie project who began his college career as a wide receiver. Allen is just transitioning to the position, and by the way, Sensabaugh recorded an interception in his first start for the Steelers. “Seeing what he can do” happens in training camp and the preseason. The Steelers are 8-2 right now, the top seed in the AFC, and trying to get themselves in position to win the Super Bowl. MARINO VEDOVA FROM ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: Do you think Joshua Dobbs will get some playing time this season? ANSWER: Let’s hope not. TAYVON REED FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: Do you think Brian Allen would be a more solid man cover corner than Coty Sensabaugh? ANSWER: Not this season. TYLER GAESER FROM ORLANDO, FL: How does overtime work in the playoffs? If the game is still tied after the first 10 minutes of overtime, do they just put another 10 minutes on the game clock until someone scores? ANSWER: The rules for overtime are the same in the playoffs as they are in the regular season, except that playoff games cannot end in a tie. So, if nobody scores in the first 10-minute period, it’s on to subsequent 10-minute periods until somebody does score. THOMAS PLOSKINA FROM GLASSPORT, COSTA RICA: In the game between the Steelers and the Titans, Antonio Brown had a reception and then ran for about 15 yards and the ball was fumbled forward and recovered by Martavis Bryant. Was Antonio credited with only the yards until he fumbled, or the total yards? ANSWER: In that situation, the receiver in question (Antonio Brown) is credited with the yards gained on the reception until he fumbled the ball. ZACH FAGAN FROM MECHANICSBURG, PA: Was there ever a time that the Steelers went undefeated? ANSWER: No. The best regular season record in franchise history came in 2004 when the Steelers finished 15-1. FRANK BIGLER FROM SWEET VALLEY, PA: Why aren’t the Steelers using William Gay? Our all-time sack leader, he is still the best player in a black-and-gold jersey. ANSWER: It’s perfectly fine to be a James Harrison fan, but he isn’t the Steelers’ best player. HOWARD ASHCRAFT FROM LANSING, MI: When a player is suspended does the team receive a roster exemption to activate another player to fill out the roster? ANSWER: Yes. Cam Sutton was the player added to the 53-man roster when Marcus Gilbert was suspended.LOGAN SCHAFFER FROM BISMARCK, ND: I have seen many questions on the short week created by a Thursday game and the schedule leading up to it. What do the days following a Thursday game entail? Does the team practice over the weekend, or is it a few days off and business as usual Monday? ANSWER: After the Steelers defeated the Titans, Mike Tomlin gave the players off until Monday. That likely had a lot to do with the fact it was 10 games into the regular season and the Steelers won. CHRIS DENOMY FROM CHATHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA: Is there a monetary bonus for being named player of the week or just bragging rights? ANSWER: There is no monetary bonus. MICHAEL WALLACH FROM NARRGANSETT, RI: When the announcers are saying Ben Roethlisberger is using a "hard count" does that literally mean he is counting to a certain number and then throws the ball, and the receiver is also counting and then turns around at that count to catch the ball? ANSWER: No. A “hard count” is a tool the quarterback uses in an effort to draw the defense offside. That’s accomplished by the inflection in the quarterback’s voice. SCOTT GRECO FROM TAMPA, FL: Thank you for the beautiful piece on Dick Hoak. Every long-time Steelers fan gains an appreciation over the years for how special the Rooney family and this organization are. You write often about many talented, loyal, and decent men who have played for, coached for, or otherwise served this organization, and your words help document and cement their legacies for all of us. ANSWER: Every writer needs good material, and the Pittsburgh Steelers never cease to provide that. MICHEL PARISAY FROM KENNESAW, GA: With the AFC being the home team in the Super Bowl this year, which would give the Steelers the choice of jersey color, could the Steelers choose to wear their color rush uniforms? ANSWER: The Super Bowl is a game that’s completely in the control of the NFL, regardless of which conference is designated the home conference in a particular year. In other words, the NFL would have to open the game up to alternate/color rush uniform choices, and that hasn’t happened. Maybe in the future, but not yet.