Welcome to Joe Starkey's mailbag, where the Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 The Fan radio host answers your questions about sports, life, Larry Murphy and everything in between. If you want to ask Joe a question, tweet him at @JoeStarkey1 or email him at jstarkey@post-gazette.com. On to the questions …
A, @WVs_Own: Russell Wilson 14.5 QBR last game, 43 for the season. Justin fields 53 QBR this year. Russ 4/11, Fields 8/11 TDs in the red zone. Why no more talk about Russ’s poor play? If you listen to TV and radio, it sounds like we’re getting great play. Numbers suggest otherwise.
Starkey: Thank you, Dr. A. I’ll trust your numbers, even if nobody knows what QBR actually means. Russell is playing well for the most part. He threw three touchdowns two games ago. His offense gained 400 yards in back-to-back weeks. He has unlocked the deep ball in this offense. The Steelers are averaging 235 yards passing per game with him, compared to 158 before he took over.
Having said that, the red zone is a bit of an issue. I saw other numbers that show Russ completing 29 percent of his passes in the red zone while Fields was at 68 percent, which obviously gives you the running element.
Media colleague Alan Saunders tweeted these numbers: “Both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson have led 11 drives inside the opponent's 10-yard line. Wilson: 4 TDs, 5 FGs, 3.9 pts/drive. Fields: 8 TDs, 1 FG, 5.4 pts/drive.”
Something to consider: Several of Russ’s incompletions in the red zone have been throwaways. He had four the other day (don’t you wish he had FIVE?).
I also didn’t have a problem with the play calling down there against the Ravens. Najee had some good runs, and Artie Smith gave him the ball again after that. There were two 50/50 throws to George Pickens. They tried different things that made sense.
Thing is, none of it worked, and they remain bottom five in red-zone touchdown percentage. So yes, I’m on board with giving Fields some snaps in the red zone, especially in the deep red zone. It can’t hurt.
Tim McAloon, @tjmcaloonsr: I listened to the Baltimore sports afternoon drive. They had their own version of the ‘Six Pack.’ First item: stop forcing throws to Dionte. They went on to say it was a useless trade.
Starkey: It sure looks that way, Dr. McAloon. It almost seemed like the Ravens wanted to involve Diontae early to stick it to the Steelers and show off their new toy. But they are realizing quickly that throws to Diontae often leave observers wondering, what just happened? Was it the quarterback’s fault or the receiver’s fault?
Usually, it’s the receiver’s fault. Take that deep fade down the left sidelines in the first quarter, for example, the one that pretty much marked the end of Diontae’s involvement in the game. CBS analyst Charles Davis opined that Johnson didn’t leave enough room on the sidelines to make a good throw.
“You have to help out your quarterback,” Davis said.
Oh well, at least Diontae didn’t fall down or run backward.
Ed Helinski, @MrEd315: In your opinion, which Harbaugh brother is the better NFL head coach?
Starkey: I like the question, Mr. Ed.
Jim is 51-22-1 (.696 pct) and 5-3 in the playoffs with one trip to the Super Bowl.
John is 167-103 (.619) and 12-10 in the playoffs with one trip to the Super Bowl — a victory over Jim.
That’s kind of a tie-breaker, but I’ll be honest: If I were starting an NFL franchise and had to hire one of them, I’d hire Jim. And I certainly don’t think John is a bad coach, although he suddenly has no idea how to beat the Steelers anymore. Having said that, he does have two playoff wins in the past four years, while the Steelers have not come close to winning a playoff game in seven years.
Owning the Ravens — beating them eight times in nine tries — is fun, but it hasn’t translated to anything meaningful for the Steelers just yet. Maybe this is the year.
Jim Dugger, @jrdugger: Should the Steelers try to re-sign both Fields and Wilson after the season? Would Fields (or Wilson) be open to that scenario?
Starkey: The way things are going, it’s hard to believe Fields would want to re-sign, Dr. Duggar. Wilson wants to play many more years and is playing well — although not as well as he was in his first few games. If that continues and he re-signs, he’s the obvious starter. Fields is young enough (he turns 26 in March) where he still might have a shot at being somebody’s starter, but not young enough to where he can afford to sit and wait behind Wilson. He needs another realistic shot at camp.
Now, if nobody wants to give him one — and it’s not too late to return — maybe he’d come back. But at the moment, I’m imagining him as one-and-done here.
Dog Stevens, @DawgStevens: Lev Bell or Jerome Bettis in their prime?
Starkey: Hmmmm. I mean, when Bell put up 2,215 yards from scrimmage in his second season, I would argue he was a better all-around back than Bettis ever was. But it’s not like Jerome was putting up paltry numbers. Dude had four seasons of at least 1,400 yards rushing. He was a monster. And he stayed good for a solid decade. So his prime was far longer. Based on dependability, durability and overall production, I’d take Bettis.
Zane Bloom, @zany_baseball: Bryan Reynolds had a comparable rookie year (it was better) than Merrill. He finished 4th in ROY, specifically behind 2nd place Mike Soroka (who had just six more starts than Skenes). Please put to bed all the arguments that Twitter fools are contriving about this ROY vote.
Starkey: First of all, Dr. Z, you had me looking up Mike Soroka stats. What a fall from grace! He went from a rookie All-Star with the Braves in 2019 — with a 13-4 record — to going 0-10 with the pathetic White Sox this past season.
Anyway, listen, Merrill had a great year, and in a lot of years, the everyday-player argument would hold merit with me. I even wrote about that late in the season, saying Merrill would be a worthy pick. But that was before Skenes’ final two appearances, where he went seven total innings, struck out 12, walked none and gave up zero earned runs. That’s a pretty good finishing kick.
Bottom line, as good as Merrill was, nobody is wondering whether he might become the best baseball player of all time. People are wondering if Skenes has a chance to become the greatest pitcher.
Chaos, @bigbengill: Why will we not consistently throw to the middle of the field? We used Washington twice in the middle for big gains. But we will not target the middle usually. It’s been years now! Why?
Starkey: Great question, Dr. C. I wonder if it’s because the sidelines are safer? Which would mean the Steelers are living in their fears.
Maybe everybody was traumatized by those Mitch Trubisky picks against the Ravens? It’s not like Russ is afraid to throw down the seams. I’d sure like to see more of it — and the Ravens have been extremely vulnerable for most of the year in that part of the field. I’d definitely like to see No. 88 utilized more often.
Speaking of which …
Joel Alexander, @Joel_Closer: Can we officially begin the discussion that Pat Freiermuth is not good? I’m sure the “under-utilized” crowd will call foul. Basic math suggests this being an overpaid player who absolutely does not make a difference. Disclosure: I do not root for Pitt and went to Michigan State.
Starkey: Let’s be honest here, Dr. A: Pat Freiermuth is a middle-of-the-road tight end. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be utilized more (if I may use a double negative). It seems like most of his catches are important plays. It feels like he is capable of exploiting the middle of the field more if the ball comes to him. Nobody’s saying he’s Tony Gonzalez. They just want more passes in his direction.
To your specific question, I would say Freiermuth is average. So I guess you’re actually right. I didn’t expect to come to that conclusion, but here we are.
Mike D, @doolander22: Why is Paul Skenes so awesome?
Starkey: Many reasons, Dr. D, but the part that actually impressed me the most was his ability to discard the 100 mph stuff for long periods of time and rely on a multitude of other pitchers to baffle people. He realized quickly that major league hitters can crush pure heat and began to approach games like a 10-year veteran. Scary proposition moving forward.
Yinzersaurus, @jbfrompgh: Cleveland Thursday night: trap game, or biggest trap game ever?
Starkey: This is a game you get through by any means necessary. I’m of a mind to compliment the Steelers if they simply win. Find a way. Thursday games are ridiculous for everybody in the league. It’s particularly challenging coming off a brutally physical game against the Ravens. History shows both the Steelers and Ravens have issues in games following their meetings.
So yeah, just win. Yes, the Browns stink, but Mike Tomlin only need remind his players how some recent trips to Cleveland have gone. Refresh some memories on what Cleveland did to them in recent Thursday games. Jacoby Brissett carved them up like a Thanksgiving turkey, and Myles Garrett attacked the quarterback with the quarterback’s helmet. The horrific loss to DTR last season might as well have been a Thursday game.
This is a survive-and-advance type of game.
SevenTenSplit, @JMO72687681415: 8-2. Seven games left. How many more wins guarantee a playoff spot?
Starkey: Three would be 100 percent. Two would be pretty close. One might even do it, Dr. Split, but I wouldn’t want to take that chance. I wouldn’t worry about it, either. I’m thinking 12-5 at this point. You?
Jay, @Crossland895: Greetings and congratulations, Papa Joe! Who will be the star for the Steelers on Hard Knocks? My money is on George Pickens. Bonus: Do you think Pomp should come out with his own Dean Martin-style Christmas album?
Starkey: Yes to Pomp, of course. He sounds a bit like vintage Elvis Costello. Pickens has a chance, for sure, but I’m thinking some low-key possible stars could be DeShon Elliott or Danny Smith.
Bookie in Wexford, @JimPittfan: How do the Steelers approach the short week vs. the Browns concerning playing time for their veteran players given 10 games into the season?
Starkey: I’ve been thinking about this myself, Dr. B, in respect to Heyward, Watt and Minkah, in particular. Hayward only played 64% of the snaps against the Ravens after playing 86% against the Commanders. I’d have all hands on deck for this one. The Steelers are a deeper team this season. This is a game in which to utilize their depth.
UncleTonyRusso, @UncleTonyRusso: Should the Steelers — on Christmas Day, as a surprise — announce Chris Boswell after the offense or defense? Big game. We need the crowd on all cylinders. Place would go NUTS! Most popular Steelers kicker in my lifetime!
Starkey: I like the way you think, Uncle Tony. Let’s do it!
First Published: November 19, 2024, 4:43 p.m.
Updated: November 19, 2024, 8:11 p.m.