The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
NATHAN KLEIN FROM FREDERICKSBURG, VA: If you were given the reigns of the Steelers NFL draft next year, the QB is one position that everyone seems to think will be the main target. Outside of that, how would you envision the priority of positions to draft? I would think adding younger players to eventually replace our aging defense would be a top concern as well as more offensive linemen to protect our new QB (if they do that at all).
ANSWER: I've heard of people who are draftniks, but you are on a whole other level. The Steelers don't know definitively how many picks in the draft they will have and where those picks might fall; they have no idea how the college football season is going to unfold and the impact that will have on the pool of players available; they have no idea which players might declare themselves eligible for the draft despite having some college eligibility remaining; and they have no idea how free agency is going to unfold, both in terms of which players might become free agents and how active they plan to be. And none of that even touches upon the rest of the 2025 season and how that turns out, which also figures to have an impact on their draft plans. You're six months too early with this. My suggestion to you is to enjoy this season of college and professional football, because it'll be over before you know it, and you're going to be left with nothing but X-Games to watch on weekends.
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MATT VALCHO FROM HOLLY SPRINGS, NC: I like the athleticism of our inside linebackers (Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson), but does their size and speed take away from their run-stopping abilities? It seems in the past we always had one ILB who was heavier (Levon Kirkland, James Farrior, Vince Williams, Elandon Roberts), who helped control the opponents' running game.
ANSWER: I don't think weight was the determining factor in making those 4 former Steelers inside linebackers you mention good vs. the run. And I don't believe the weight of Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson is the main issue with the current state of the Steelers run defense.
BILLY LAVERDURE FROM FARGO, ND: Seems Pittsburgh has been drafting inside linebackers who are not heavy enough to stop the run or shed blockers, and they've signed a linebacker from New England. Do you believe he'll be a starter later, if at all this year?
ANSWER: You are referring to Ja'Whaun Bentley (6-foot-2, 250 pounds), who entered the league with New England as a No. 5 pick (143rd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft from Purdue. In 7 seasons with the Patriots, Bentley, 29, appeared in 83 games with 68 starts, and in those he had 2 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 280 solo tackles, and 29 hits on the quarterback. Bentley played 3,665 defensive snaps, and just for the record, at 250 pounds, he is 8 pounds heavier than Payton Wilson. Right now Bentley is on the practice squad, and my guess is that he was signed more as a depth piece in response to Malik Harrison going on the injured reserve list than he was brought in to be a starter. But it's a long season, and we'll see how things unfold.
BRIAN GRABBATIN FROM COLUMBIA, SC: Will you walk us through a week in the life of a member of the practice squad? Please include what might happen (e.g., game day elevation, signed by another team).
ANSWER: A regular season week in the life of a practice squad player is exactly the same as the week in the life of a player on the 53-man roster, with the exception of game day. Practice squad players attend meetings, lift weights, keep up their conditioning, take part in practice, eat in the cafeteria, all of that daily stuff. The roster moves made to bring practice squad players up to the active roster for the game are done the day before the game, and then after the game those players revert right back to the practice squad. If another team is interested in signing a player off the practice squad, that means that team must keep the player on its active roster for at least the next 3 games. As a result, that's a move that would be made early in the week, so that the new team will have the player for practice leading up to its next game.
CJ McMUNN FROM NASHVILLE, TN: What is the difference between defensive offsides and encroachment? And is there a difference in penalty yardage?
ANSWER: Defensive offside happens when a player on the defense lines up in the neutral zone and does not correct himself. Encroachment is when a defensive player who had lined up correctly moves into the neutral zone without making contact with an offensive player before the snap. Both penalties are assessed at 5 yards.
ERIC SCHIER FROM DOWNINGTOWN, PA: The Sept. 18 installment of Asked and Answered finished with a comment from a reader about Aaron Rodgers proving everyone wrong in terms of being a leader. I find this curious after Rodgers publicly shamed Calvin Austin III for his play on the end zone interception. Granted, Austin made a blunder. But I think a true leader doesn't throw a player under the bus and all the "he's a great kid" stuff doesn't negate what Rodgers did.
ANSWER: I couldn't disagree more with your characterization that Aaron Rodgers "publicly shamed" Calvin Austin III for getting in the way of what looked like a touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth. One of the thing I personally respect about Rodgers is that he is a teammate in terms of offering guidance and help when asked while also expecting accountability from players to do the right thing. Austin is a young player, and I seriously doubt he was offended over being told by a 4-time MVP and a first-ballot Hall of Famer that he made a mistake on that play and wasn't supposed to be where he ended up being. And also, Rodgers said that in response to a question; he didn't go out of his way to criticize.
GREG BRYANT FROM ONTARIO, CANADA: The more times I watch the botched kickoff return vs. Seattle, the more I don't believe it was a touchdown. NFL rules state that to recover a fumble, merely touching the ball isn't enough. George Holani jumps on top of the ball and rolls out of bounds, but before he rolls out of bounds he tosses the ball back into the end zone where a Pittsburgh player recovers it. He never had possession. I don't understand why no-one has brought this up. Am I missing something?
ANSWER: It was brought up. But as I explained, the call on the field was a touchdown, and because it was called a touchdown the play was automatically reviewed. After the review process, which I have no doubt included input from the NFL office in New York, the play was ruled a touchdown. That's the end of it. There is no recourse after that.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The remainder of this installment of Asked and Answered will be devoted to submissions remembering Dale Lolley, who died on Sept. 17 following a battle with cancer.
SAM DeBOARD FROM EVANS, GA: Is there any special event or time that reminds you of Dale Lolley? He seemed to think like me in his SNR podcast and in his writings. I know I am going to miss him.
ANSWER: I have a lot of fond memories of Dale, and those result from a lot of time spent with him. At Saint Vincent College for training camp, we spent a lot of time working together and living together in the dorms – first in Bonaventure and then in Benedict Hall. And in the evenings when the work was done for the day, Dale was a regular part of a group that took some time to unwind a bit and socialize before doing it all over the next day. And the day after that. And the day after that. Those shared experiences are what I will remember most and miss the most.
BRYCE KYBURZ FROM AUSTIN, TX: Remembering Dale Lolley. Living in Texas, I keep up with the Steelers through the Steelers Audio Network outlets. I love The Drive, especially your segment with Dale and Matt. I loved listening to Tunch and Wolf doing In the Locker Room - never missed an episode. I am surprised by how much I am impacted by the loss of people who I do not know and listen to for a couple hours on my phone or computer a couple hours each day. I was heartbroken when Tunch and Wolf passed away and devastated reading the news of Dale's passing and then listening to Matt make it through the first segment of The Drive without him. The fact that I feel a sense of loss and grief is a testament to the people who are sharing the information. They are genuine people and that realness comes across the airwaves and they become the friend we watch the games with and share a drink with – win or lose. We all love the Pittsburgh Steelers and this love is shared by the people behind the microphone just as much as the people sitting behind the wheel of a car diving home from work. Thank you to everyone at the Steelers Audio Network for being a part of my life and sharing our love of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
CHRIS BALMER FROM ALLENTOWN, PA: I want to offer my condolences for Mr. Lolley's family and friends. I had a hard copy subscription to Steelers Digest 20-plus years ago. Mr. Lolley and Mr. Wexell were the first reporters I had any interaction with in the interwebs.
JOHN MUSGRAVE FROM FORT WAYNE, IN: I just read your tribute to Dale Lolley and found it very moving and informative. He loved the Steelers and loved engaging with the fanbase. I cherish some of the debates he had with me via his YouTube channel (The Drive with Matt), and even though we did not always agree on things, he took the time to read and respond to the comments and engage in discourse with the fanbase, because at the end of the day, Dale was just that – a true fan of the Steelers. He will be missed. God Bless Dale and his family.
GLEN WHITTEN FROM AGUADILLA, PUERTO RICO: Thank you for the beautiful tribute to Dale Lolley. It has become an unfortunate yet common occurrence these past few years. My sincere condolences to his family. friends, and colleagues. We will miss him and the sterling example he set as a writer, a broadcaster, a Steelers fan, and above all, a human being.
RAY GREHOFSKY FROM BLACKSBURG, VA: Just a thank you for your wonderful words on Dale Lolley. There is a short list of true writers left covering sports today. Dale Lolley was exactly that. A writer, and a great one. I am sure he was a good friend, and I just wanted to say what a wonderful job you did with a very difficult hill to climb.
GARY CRAIG FROM LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND: No question, just my condolences to the Lolley family and all of you who have worked with Dale Lolley over the years. I have enjoyed reading Dale's articles and listening to him and Matt Williamson on the SNR Drive. Always a pleasure to listen or hear about his insights on the game and the Steelers. He will be missed by Steelers Nation worldwide.
