Ask Ed: More James Harrison?

Good morning,

A mail bag full of questions for Ask Ed:

--- YOU: Can we now officially say that Jarvis Jones was a poor first round pick, or at least poor value for draft position? Zero sacks this year. He can’t get on the field for more plays than a 38-year-old James Harrison that was supposed to see limited snaps. And the times that he does flash something, he whiffs on the tackle (twice in the backfield against the Rams).

ED: I saw Jones do some good things Sunday in St. Louis, but I do not study video. Let’s go to a place where they do study tapes, Pro Football Focus. There, theyhave Jones with 91 snaps and James Harrison with 113. More, but not a great disparity. Neither has a sack. I have had issues with some of the PFF ratings. Nevertheless, it’s all we have to go on here. They rate Jones’ three games virtually as neutral, a minus 0.9. They rate Harrison as a minus 1.3. He does not yet look like a great draft pick, but I’m going to give him a little more time. And Harrison is 37, not 38.

--- YOU: At what point do we label Shazier as fragile? I know he was durable in college, but taking on guys in the NFL is much different.

ED: Ryan Shazier missed seven games with two separate injuries as a rookie last season, ankle and knee. He missed last Sunday with a shoulder and it appears he will not play again Thursday. I would not call him fragile and the injuries do not seem chronic since they all are different. Again, let’s see how it plays out a little bit before you jump to conclusions.

--- YOU: I don’t want to sound like the people I ridicule when the officiating seems to go against the Steelers, but part (only part) of me believes that had Barron been wearing a Black N Gold uniform and hit any number of QBs the same way, he not only would have drawn a penalty, but also would have drawn a corresponding fine.

Am I watching these games through Black n Gold colored glasses, or does my comment have merit?

ED: I’ve said all along it was an illegal hit. After watching it many times, I don’t think it was dirty because I do not think there was an intent by him to injure Roethlisberger. However, it clearly was against the rules and I would look for him to get fined.

--- YOU: I was at the game in St. Louis. It seemed like there were more Steelers fans in attendance than Rams fans. Yet there seemed to be a lot more noise when the Steelers O was facing a critical play. Do you think they were playing crowd noise over the speakers? I wish I had scalped tix instead of using stubhub. With all those empty seats, I probably could have gotten into the game for $5.

ED: I do not think there were more Steelers fans than Rams fans but it was close, and, no, I don’t think they piped in noise. The Steelers fans may have helped them win when their noise probably helped caused two false starts by the Rams on a fourth-quarter drive that reached the Steelers’ 7 but wound up with a field goal that kept St. Louis behind 9-6 rather than put them ahead with a TD.

--- YOU: With Ben out, the defense has to play at least as good as they did last Sunday to have any chance against Baltimore. With Shazier not back yet, I don’t see anyone else on that defense being disruptive to QB except may be James Harrison in his old days. He had been limited in his snap count. But they will have 10 days to rest for next game. Might he be able to play full game?

ED: I do not think they want James Harrison playing a full game. They have put pressure on the QB from all kinds of places, including their leading sacker, Stephon Tuitt (2.5).

--- YOU: While watching the game, the St. Louis D line was dominating the Steelers O-line virtually every play - I felt like it was inevitable that Roethlisberger was going to get hit hard. A lot of credit goes to the Rams' line - they are beasts - but what could the Steelers have done differently knowing that these guys were basically teeing off every play? Draws? (didn't work) Screens? Roll Ben out?

ED: Unlike many, I do not pretend to know what they should do on offense better than their offensive coordinator. Ben was hit by a defensive back, by the way, who stumbled into him.

--- YOU:

A ) If you have trouble scoring inside the 20, and even when ball is on the 2, why do you think you can convert a two point conversion ?????

B) Coach Tomlin, do you want another situation like last year with Blount !!! Run Williams....it's a long season, or have you forgotten last year ?????

C) Apparently, the Rams made adjustments after 1st Qtr, why can't you make an adjustment to their adjustment ????

ED: Wait I sec while I check my stats. OK, there it is. I thought maybe the Steelers had lost that game in St. Louis instead of a 12-6 victory to go to 2-1. Let’s take these like this:

A) – Mike Tomlin’s team was 3-for-3 on PATs and 6 of 7 in the red zone entering that game in St. Louis. Yes, they missed the 2-point conversion. You sound like someone who demands perfection and throws the club when the ball does not land on the green every time. The Steelers were 1 of 2 inside the red zone in St. Louis, one touchdown, one field goal. Their defense stopped the Rams the only time they got inside the red zone.

B) -- It’s not Mike Tomlin’s job to ease the feelings of a 10-year veteran who knew the score when he signed a contract with them in the spring. And I think DeAngelo Williams would be a bit upset if he knew you were comparing him to LeGarrette Blount, who walked out on his team during a game last year.

C) --- I’m not sure what adjustments you are speaking about, but the Rams scored just six points and while the Steelers scored only 12, that was a good Rams defense that beat the defending NFC champs, Seattle, in their opener.

--- YOU: Have you seen enough of Alejandro Villanueva to think he makes Mike Adams expendable when he gets off the PUP?

ED: Yes and no. Do not forget that Kelvin Beachum is in the final year of his contract and there is a chance he won’t be here next year. Who plays left tackle then, and who is No. 3?

--- YOU: How much of an effect do you think it will have on Bryant when he returns from suspension due to the fact he will have missed 4 weeks of team meetings? Seems like it would take a little while for him to get re-acclimated with the team.

ED: He will not have missed all four weeks, for one. For another, he’s been around through training camp and all the preseason games and Ben Roethlisberger said he’s been talking to him often so I’m sure they’re keeping him up to date and have given him access to videos, etc.

--- YOU: Why do I keep hearing that Bruce Gradkowski played his last game as a steeler (stated during last week's broadcast as an ex.)? I understand he's on IR this year and that his contract is up at the end of the season, but why wouldn't we re-sign him for another few years? Seems like a quality backup we'd want to keep around similar to Batch. Unless we're planning to keep Vick for more than a year? Thanks.

ED: If they deem his shoulder to be OK, I’m with you, that they could sign him to a 1-year contract the way they often did with Charlie Batch.