Q&A: September 19

BOB LAND FROM LOS ANGELES, CA: What counts as a fall, what counts as a target and what counts as a catchable ball. Is there an official stat for drops and catchable balls?
ANSWER: Targets are a stat kept by the home team’s stats team, and it’s something that is recognized by the NFL. Catchable drops and balls are not official NFL statistics and can be considered the same as beauty: it’s in the eye of the beholder.

CHRIS WELBURN FROM GLASTONBURY, CT: I saw at least twice last week a player remove his helmet (without medical reason) while on the field, but no flag was thrown. Is it no longer a penalty?
ANSWER: I believe this is a situation where intention is judged by officials on the field. Taking off his helmet on the pitch being a sanction was to deter players from doing so as a form of celebration or taunt. And I’m in favor of officials calling less penalties in games.

AARON WALKER OF NEWPORT NEWS, VA: We only had two blitzes last week against the Bills. By far the least I can remember us blitzing in a game and the result was great. With the amount of money spent on the top four, do you see this as a trend or a specific plan against a happily passing team?
ANSWER: Be careful with this case to look for “trends” after a match. Moreover, the key is to put pressure on the passer. If it can be done by only rushing four, that’s great. If it can be done by rushing three, that’s better than great. But if a defense doesn’t put pressure on the passer, there isn’t enough cover to stop the completion, unless the quarterback throws a bad ball or the receiver drops the pass.

MATT VARGO DE LAS VEGAS, NV: Will the Steelers wear their colored jerseys this year? And what about the current homecoming jerseys?
ANSWER: I believe the Steelers have identified a game at Heinz Field where they will be wearing their colored jerseys. However, I have doubts about the flashbacks this year.

KEITH CARTER FROM JACKSONVILLE, FL: I just wanted to thank you for answering my question in the September 16 Q&A. It literally made my day. I have been dealing with PTSD since my combat missions in Afghanistan, and most of the time I isolate myself in my small apartment and have completely cut myself off from the outside world. The highlight of my Tuesdays and Thursdays is Q&A reading. Seeing my question in Asked and Answered made me feel alive. It meant the world to me.
ANSWER: You’re welcome. Thanks for your service and keep reading. I hope I can keep you informed and entertained every time I do another episode of Asked and Answered.

MARK WESTRICK FROM SANFORD, NC: I know not all players want to be coaches after they retire, but I also know that some players while playing are outstanding leaders on and off the field. When players are these “special” types of people, do coaches or front office staff ever approach them about training when the time comes?
ANSWER: What it would take, in my opinion, is that the first step in the process would be for the person to show an interest in coaching and then pursue one of the avenues available, such as an internship, to test the waters and see if the profession is right for him. Coaching is hard work and time consuming, and for a former NFL player who could have racked up quite a bit of money over the course of his career, it might not be worth it. Perhaps the player would rather spend time supervising their own children rather than a group of young professionals.

JOHN ZIMMERMAN FROM JOHNSONBURG, PA: I’m 49 and have been a Steelers fan my whole life. I’ve seen a lot of Steelers linebackers come and go. Who do you think is the greatest linebacker to play for the Steelers in the past 50 years, current company included?
ANSWER: Every time I have been asked this question, my answer is the same: Jack Ham. In 2013, the Professional Football Hall of Fame selected its 50th anniversary squad and selected just three linebackers, to accompany four defensive linemen and four defensive backs. That makes 11 players, which underlines the honor of being selected. The two outside linebackers selected for this team were Lawrence Taylor and Jack Ham; the middle linebacker was Dick Butkus. This is what was written about Ham by the Hall of Fame on the occasion of the team’s 50th anniversary announcement: “Smart, instinctive, excellent football IQ. Ham was a sure tackle who could diagnose plays very quickly, and he was also able to handle the fastest back in cover. The 1970s were the decade when running backs really started to get involved in the passing game, ultimately resulting in the third fullback. Ham could handle them all. It is said that, from zero to 10 yards, Ham was faster than any other Steeler. Some in the organization thought he was the best player at the club. Ham certainly belonged to that conversation with “Mean” Joe Greene, as he also played a pivotal role on all four of the 1970s Super Bowl-winning teams. Ham’s 53 career wins (32 steals, 21 fumble recoveries) remain the highest number ever recorded by a non-defensive back. Toughest Cut: Nobody – Taylor and Ham stood out from the crowd. ”

CHRISTOPHER GIBSON OF MANALAPAN, NJ: Looking at the depth chart on Steelers.com, there’s no save for Chris Boswell or Pressley Harvin III. Is there anyone designated as the kicker and / or emergency kicker at this match day event or how well can one cover the other?
ANSWER: There is no rule requiring that a backup be listed at each position. Coach Mike Tomlin said a plan was in place, but chose not to reveal it so those emergency “backups” wouldn’t have to answer questions about it.

ANGEL MONTES FROM LOMPOC, CA: I noticed there was a question in a previous Ask and Answered about if the Steelers have ever used a draft pick to keep a player from another team. The answer was no. I was wondering if you think another team did this to the Steelers, with a good example when many project analysts asked the Steelers to take William Jackson III, and right before it was our turn to pick the Bengals. rushed over and chose him.
ANSWER: This offseason, it was no secret that the Steelers and Bengals needed help at the cornerback position. As the 2016 NFL Draft unfolded, three cornerbacks came off the board long before the Bengals (picking No.24 overall) and Steelers (picking No.25 overall) were at the meter. Jalen Ramsey went to Jacksonville No. 5 overall; Eli Apple went to the No. 10 New York Giants overall standings; and Vernon Hargreaves went to Tampa Bay No. 11 overall. William Jackson III and Artie Burns were both seen as part of the next group of cornerbacks, and even though the Bengals picked Jackson before the Steelers had a chance, Cincinnati was still on the hunt for a corner half. It’s not like the Bengals picked Jackson when they needed a wide receiver, which was the subject of the original question. As it turned out the Bengals and Steelers both blew it up, as they should have fought Xavien Howard, a cornerback the Miami Dolphins selected 38th overall and was voted First Team All -Pro in 2020 and already has 22 interceptions in 57 career NFL games.