Welcome back to your weekly Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. As always, we’re here for the next hour to answer whatever is on your mind. I’ll have to leave right at 3:30 and will check any late questions later on.

To your questions!

Dave Hancox: We read earlier about what a gong show the Jack Bicknell era was. Things haven’t improved much with the O-line coaching since. We know that Matt Canada was a terrible OC. He was fired mid-season but it appeared the only MT fired him was because of team morale (ie. not specifically because MT was concerned about his performance). My feeling is one of the most important roles a leader has is to hire good people. There has long been a feeling that MT’s hires are terrible. Would you agree with that assessment? If so, why is AR so willing to hand the reins to MT to make these types of hiring decisions?

Alex: I don’t want to be pedantic but Mike Munchak replaced Bicknell. So things did get better after him….then they got worse.

It’d be unfair and too broad to put a blanket phrase on Tomlin’s hires. Some good, some bad, some in-between. But I wouldn’t say it’s one of his greatest strengths, obviously. Especially not lately.

As to why he’s given that power. Look at his paycheck. $50 million contract, longest-tenured active head coach in the league. You pay a man the big bucks…he gets to make the big bucks decisions. And he’s the head coach and it’s his staff and I don’t think owners should meddle much because they just don’t know them as much and won’t be working with those guys day-to-day. So I don’t think Rooney is taking an incorrect approach at least, in principle.

Ralph Neeley: AK, have you decided to edit your 53 man roster prediction yet after receiving much criticism for leaving Black off the roster in favor of Loudermilk? Just busting your chops man, I respect your opinion. I struggle to come up with a decent question at this late hour (for me). Thank you for all that you do. You’re loved and appreciated man, keep doing what you continuously do. Good night.

Alex: Ha, I will take my lashing on that. Won’t change it this time…maybe the next edition. But I think some are trying to peg Black at nose tackle when the team is calling him an end. He should be playing nose tackle, I hope he does, but that’s not what the team is outlining. It puts him in a deep and muddy competition with all the other names in the mix.

Could he make it? Definitely. But it’s a free-for-all competition where Pittsburgh hopes it brings out the best in everyone.

Ha, all good. I survived mock draft season. I’m hardened to criticism (and that’s fine in principle; everyone should be open to hearing a different perspective). Appreciate you stopping by!

Mark O’Connor: Hi Alex, thank you for all your draft coverage! The depot team nailed it again as usual. Could you see Bishop and Kent sharing the NCB role like Hilton and Sutton? It looks like Kent can tackle really well but isn’t great at coverage. It would be cool to see him on CB blitzes with his speed.

Alex: Thanks Mark! I think Kent having an immediate role is a big stretch even knowing this time threw Bishop out there to start 2024. They have more options this year. Bishop returning and Echols can play inside, too. Who knows, maybe Trice gets a look or they use more big nickel.

Kent has to make the roster and that’ll be by beating out James Pierre on special teams.

Nick Schultz:

Well you had Dan Jackson pegged and apparently the Lions read your reports.

I have Robert Woods slotted as the big bodied, over the middle, possession downs receiver (i.e. Hines Ward, JuJu) best case scenario. In a perfect world, where do you see him contributing most?

Alex: Ha, thanks. I realized that the next day. Such a Dan Campbell player.

Ideally, Woods doesn’t have to do much. Austin keeps playing well and Roman Wilson takes off. And Woods is used in run packages, 12/13 personnel and catches 15-20 passes all year and moves the sticks on most of them. Your assessment of his role is accurate but if the young receivers play well, they’ll have more value. Freiermuth will be the safety valve/sure-hands guy over the middle.