Ask V: Pittsburgh Steelers Mailbag

All that and the defense has forced 10 turnovers in three games since acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins. Sadly the Steelers are 1-2 with the two losses coming by a combined seven points with him. Plenty of positives heading into Week 6, so let’s dive into the Pittsburgh Steelers Mailbag and see what Steelers fans are wondering ahead of the Chargers game.

From @Browntime3: What do you think the Steelers’ final record is going to be? Do you think they are going to the playoffs?

These next four games are crucial to the rest of the Steelers season. After Sunday Night Football vs the Chargers, they have a bye week to get healthy. Then, a three-game home stretch starting with the Dolphins followed by the Colts and Rams. Let’s assume Pittsburgh beats Miami and Indianapolis but lose to both Los Angeles teams, they’re 3-6.

Pittsburgh’s last seven games can be their road to the playoffs if they rally together at home. There next three games after the bye week are at home. The last seven games are: at Cleveland, at Cincinnati, vs Cleveland, at Arizona, vs Buffalo, at New York Jets, at Baltimore in that order. Assuming they split with the Browns, beat the Bengals and Cardinals then lose to the Bills, they’re 6-8 with two final road dates with the Jets and Ravens.

Give me a respectable 7-9 with a win over the Jets and the Ravens sweeping the Steelers for the first time since 2015. Also, 7-9 is not a failed year considering they gave up their first-round pick for their cornerback of the future.

From @IMake_Her_Nell: Do you think these rumors about Mike Tomlin to the Redskins are valid?

When I first saw the report I laughed at the possibility of Tomlin leaving the Steelers via trade. The Steelers have had three head coaches since 1969. Let that sink in. 50 years later and the Rooney’s aren’t moving Tomlin not even for multiple first-round picks. Sure, they’re 1-4, but if the refs didn’t hand the Ravens a victory, this would be a different conversation. Tomlin’s only options out of Pittsburgh are being fired, or his contract running out which isn’t until the end of the 2021 season. Sorry Washington, but he’s not your answer to this puzzle.

From @noowaayyjose: If the Steelers are to target a QB in a trade, who do you see them or would like to see them get?

I don’t think there is a trade market for the Steelers right now. They shot themselves in the foot trading Josh Dobbs to Jacksonville especially since Gardner Minshew is playing lights out football. It’s unfortunate they’ve dealt with Ben Roethlisberger being out for the season, but piling on Mason Rudolph’s concussion and Dobbs gone it makes them very restricted to keeping the quarterback play in-house. Maybe the Redskins will trade Haskins for Tomlin straight up (knee-slap).

When Big Ben has gone down in the past, they’ve always relied on backups like Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich, Landry Jones (XFL) and even Michael Vick in his most irrelevant state. It’s a Steeler thing, but they rely on the defense and play-calling to put themselves in winning situations. Lately, they achieve this up until the final minutes of a loss.

From @The_Real_Stavi: Do you think the Steelers can win with Hodges at QB, and why do you think they held back with Rudolph at QB?

Devlin Hodges didn’t have the notoriety of Mason Rudolph at Oklahoma State, but he threw the ball a ton. During his senior year at Samford, he completed 388 of 550 passes for 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and eight rushing touchdowns. We only had nine pass attempts and two rushes as his sample size versus Baltimore so this will be a true test on primetime NBC.

Rudolph has been put in positions to make plays and play a turnover-free football and for the most part, he’s done that with only two interceptions to seven touchdowns in four games. He’s also been backed up by a revived defense and Hodges will have the same. The Chargers haven’t impressed on offense since Week 1 and now that Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are splitting carries the defense can keep it close and low scoring. LA has six turnovers in their three losses this season inclduing three in last week’s 20-13 loss to Denver at home.  

The Steelers have a bye week after Sunday Night Football in LA. Then, a three-straight home games versus Miami, Indianapolis, and the LA Rams so this will likely be Hodges only start. The Steelers have their eyes set on a 4-4 record with Rudolph behind center when the defending NFC Champs Rams come to Heinz Field in Week 10. It’s a stretch, but it’s the mindset that hungry Steelers defense has along with the coaching staff. They believe they can win no matter who is playing quarterback whether it’s likely or not.

Week 6 Score Prediction: Chargers 23 – Steelers 17

Follow Vaughn on Twitter @VaughnDalzell and his Week 6 NFL picks with spreads here. Also, be sure to check out Overtime Heroics Forums page to discuss anything sports related!