Asked and Answered: April 11

LARRY MORRISON FROM PENSACOLA, PA: If Jalen Carter happens to fall to 17, do you believe the Steelers will select him?
ANSWER: I am confident that is something the Steelers will discuss/debate, weighing the risk/reward of selecting Jalen Carter vs. the other players possibly available at 17th overall in the first round. The issue likely would be re-visited however briefly during the time the Steelers are on the clock, but the heavy lifting on that possibility would have been a topic during the grading and ranking of the prospects. Who else might potentially be available at that spot would be a significant factor if the decision was mine, but it’s also possible a definitive decision on Carter’s character might get made before the picking begins on April 27.

ERIC CHRISTOPHER FROM PHOENIX, AZ: When a draft-eligible player is invited by a team for a personal visit, does the team foot the bill for all of the player’s expenses, such as airfare, hotel, and meals?
ANSWER: The procedure is really no different than an interview for a position at any other multi-million-dollar company. The company flies the candidate into town, puts the person up in a hotel, and around the time spent on meetings and tours and introductions, there are meals shared. The social component of the interview/visit is important, too.

MIKE PALOMBO FROM MCMURRAY, PA: When discussing a player’s value on special teams, you always hear about tackles. But on the return teams, other than the returners, how do the Steelers evaluate a player’s value? Are there any metrics besides numbers of holding and blocking in the back penalties?
ANSWER: Not to sound like an old man, but it’s not always about metrics. There is an art to scouting and identifying talent, and a lot of times it comes down to grinding – digging in and scouring video. Then, you add in what was learned during the on-campus visit by the area scout, maybe mining some sources for inside intel. That’s usually the way those guys are found.

TONY…