Four burning questions before camp?

[whisper]

https://sports.yahoo.com/4-burning-questions-steelers-heading-134323887.html

Those are their four burning questions?????????

Mason, Sutton, Flores and RB?

1st of all, Mason isn't a "burning question." The only thing burning about him is if one of the other 2 QBs go down. Other than that, he's out, regardless of how he performs in camp or PS games. What, the team is gonna sit their crowned FA pick up in Trubisky over Mason? Naaaaaw, don't think so. Is Picket in danger of losing a place on the active roster being a 1st round pick? Yea, right.

With Sutton, can he win a starting CB spot? Probably not without injuries. He may lock down the Nickle spot though. Levi and Spoon will probably be the starting CBs.

And the back up RB is a burning question? Hardly, not with how Shades brags about "running the wheels off" the starting RB. It's true we don't have a legit #2 RB, but that's the team's fault to begin with. What team in the NFL would be satisfied with McFarland and Dump Truck as their back up RBs? None I know of.

For some real "burning questions" how about how good or bad the OL will be, with back up quality OTs on both sides? Or how will the DL fair with ham and eggers across the line except for Cam and a 35-year-old Tuaua? Or how many games can we expect to win with either Trubisky or Pickett behind center?

[Northern_Blitz]

Ya, I think Mason is the least exciting thing about our QB room. But since everyone is a pretty big question mark, I guess it's possible that he end up starting. I'd be pretty surprised though.

I like Cam, but I think both CBs we added are outside so I'd imagine he'll be in the slot...maybe he's on the outside when we only have 2 CBs, but we didn't seem to like the idea of moving him around last season (just like we didn't seem to like the idea of trying Chase in the slot on offense).

I hope that Flores can improve the defense. I think it could be a difficult year if he and Tomlin end up butting heads on stuff and it becomes public. Lord knows we need help with the run D now that we know that Tuitt is out. We couldn't overcome having what was almost a 1 man DL last season (if Cam only counts as 1 man). Hopefully Flores can help design stuff to overcome whatever deficiencies we have on the line. I think Tomlin (and Cowher before him) do better when they have very good Xs and Os guys as coordinators. Maybe Flores can be the new Wicker Basket Lebeau.

RB: I won't be surprised if we pick someone up on the cheap after cuts. Or if one of the UDFAs shows enough to become RB2. But under Tomlin RB2 has only really mattered if RB1 goes down. I hope that we more away from this philosophy into a RBBC offense, because I imagine that we will be a very run heavy team this year.

[Prowler]

I like Mason Rudolph and I don't believe he's nearly as bad a most fans think. In my opinion he was never given a fair chance. He's never played in front of a decent O-line. In his case it matters because he doesn't have the mobility of Trubisky or Pickett both of whom can make plays on the run. This was the reason Ben looked so terrible for the last few seasons. Not sure why the Steelers even drafted Mason in the first place, if they were not going to surround him with a good OL. It's like putting a square peg in a round hole.

Cameron Sutton is okay. I'd rather have guys who can create turnovers starting at CB like Wallace and Witherspoon. I don't really want a versatile CB who excels at nothing. They should have kept Mike Hilton, imo.

I have given up on both Snell and McFarland. I really like the film on the UDFA Durant from Duke. I think he can be the backup to Najee if he is solid in pass protection. Otherwise, I think he ends up on the practice squad and Snell becomes the backup due to being decent pass protection.

I'm not convinced the OL will be much better. Clearly Daniels is an upgrade, Cole as well but only because Green was so terrible last season. I think the DL will be solid if Alualu is healthy, however the team is taking a big chance going into the season with an old NT coming off a major injury. Although, I do think Alualu is severely under appreciated.

[WindyCitySteel]

I don't see any scenario where Mason is on the roster unless he blows everyone away in camp and starts. He'll ask for a trade if he loses the job, especially if he loses to Pickett.

[whisper]

Ya, I think Mason is the least exciting thing about our QB room. But since everyone is a pretty big question make, I guess it's possible that he end up starting. I'd be pretty surprised though.

I like Cam, but I think both CBs we added are outside so I'd imagine he'll be in the slot...maybe he's on the outside when we only have 2 CBs, but we didn't seem to like the idea of moving him around last season (just like we didn't seem to like the idea of trying Chase in the slot on offense).

I hope that Flores can improve the defense. I think it could be a difficult year if he and Tomlin end up butting heads on stuff and it becomes public. Lord knows we need help with the run D now that we know that Tuitt is out. We couldn't overcome having what was almost a 1 man DL last season (if Cam only counts as 1 man). Hopefully Flores can help design stuff to overcome whatever deficiencies we have on the line. I think Tomlin (and Cowher before him) do better when they have very good Xs and Os guys as coordinators. Maybe Flores can be the new Wicker Basket Lebeau.

RB: I won't be surprised if we pick someone up on the cheap after cuts. Or if one of the UDFAs shows enough to become RB2. But under Tomlin RB2 has only really mattered if RB1 goes down. I hope that we more away from this philosophy into a RBBC offense, because I imagine that we will be a very run heavy team this year.

The hope of RBBC is fleeting; Shades brags about "running the wheels off" his starting RB as if it's something to be proud of. I think the hope for a decent backup RB is with one of the 2 UDFAs we picked up.

I think some of the horrid rush D is in the design and play calling of the D. Remember when we shut down the Browns' vaunted rush in Cleveland? Watt was asked about it, and he said (I'm paraphrasing here) "It was just about focusing on stopping the rush." This D seems Hell bent on making sacs, regardless of what it does to the rushing D, it seems. When Watt does focus more on stopping the rush, he can do so, but Shades is so preoccupied with sack #s that he forgoes stopping the rush, to an embarrassing extent.

[Prowler]

I don't see any scenario where Mason is on the roster unless he blows everyone away in camp and starts. He'll ask for a trade if he loses the job, especially if he loses to Pickett.

It's too bad for him. By all accounts he has been very professional in his approach. Mason works extremely hard at his craft and he is a real student of the game. Regardless of his outcome with the Steelers. I feel like some of the immature players on the roster can learn a lot from Rudolph.

[whisper]

I like Mason Rudolph and I don't believe he's nearly as bad a most fans think. In my opinion he was never given a fair chance. He's never played in front of a decent O-line. In his case it matters because he doesn't have the mobility of Trubisky or Pickett both of whom can make plays on the run. This was the reason Ben looked so terrible for the last few seasons. Not sure why the Steelers even drafted Mason in the first place, if they were not going to surround him with a good OL. It's like putting a square peg in a round hole.

Cameron Sutton is okay. I'd rather have guys who can create turnovers starting at CB like Wallace and Witherspoon. I don't really want a versatile CB who excels at nothing. They should have kept Mike Hilton, imo.

I have given up on both Snell and McFarland. I really like the film on the UDFA Durant from Duke. I think he can be the backup to Najee if he is solid in pass protection. Otherwise, I think he ends up on the practice squad and Snell becomes the backup due to being decent pass protection.

I'm not convinced the OL will be much better. Clearly Daniels is an upgrade, Cole as well but only because Green was so terrible last season. I think the DL will be solid if Alualu is healthy, however the team is taking a big chance going into the season with an old NT coming off a major injury. Although, I do think Alualu is severely under appreciated.

I don't think they "planned" on having such a sh-tty OL, they just found themselves there and even when there, they still chose to not upgrade the OTs, as if they don't matter. Chuk is below average, but they chose to over-pay him and keep him as starting RT. Why? God only knows. Moore is a 4th-round rookie from last year, who played, well, like a 4th-round rookie. It appears he is our staring LT this season, which is a below average LT. Both OTs are below average, but that is the game plan they put forth. Haeg and Chaz Green is who the back up OTs are....can you say practice squad players? Pgh seems obsessed with playing inferior players at the OT position.

As far as the DL goes, pinning our hopes on a 35-year old NT coming off a major knee injury seems foolish, but that is apparently their game plan. Don't color me surprised when he goes down to injury.

[NorthCoast]

I don't see any scenario where Mason is on the roster unless he blows everyone away in camp and starts. He'll ask for a trade if he loses the job, especially if he loses to Pickett.

Nothing against Rudolph and hope he does well but here's the problem at least based on last preseason. Rudolph failed to score any points even though his numbers look reasonably good.

Snaps = 67
Att/cmp = 27/36
Cmp% = 75%
Yds = 299
TDs/INTs = 0/0
Yds/att = 8.3
Rating = 99.2

So it wouldn't shock me if he again comes out and looks good in camp and preseason.

[Northern_Blitz]

Nothing against Rudolph and hope he does well but here's the problem at least based on last preseason. Rudolph failed to score any points even though his numbers look reasonably good.

Snaps = 67
Att/cmp = 27/36
Cmp% = 75%
Yds = 299
TDs/INTs = 0/0
Yds/att = 8.3
Rating = 99.2

So it wouldn't shock me if he again comes out and looks good in camp and preseason.

I think he's shown that he's low end starter / good back up.

Maybe that biases low because so many guys were hurt when he was a starter.

But if he was a clear starter, we'd know by now I think.

[whisper]

I think he's shown that he's low end starter / good back up.

Maybe that biases low because so many guys were hurt when he was a starter.

But if he was a clear starter, we'd know by now I think.

As would the team, and they signed a fairly prominent FA and used a 1st round pick on a QB. 'Nuff said.