You ask. I answer. It\u2019s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. We had a banner first three weeks. This is no time for a trap game. Apologies for the delay this week. Most of the questions come via \u201cX,\u201d but you can also hit me up jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let\u2019s go \u2026<\/p>\n
We begin with an edited (by me) email from a man named Mike McCorkle: \u201cHello Dr. Joe. Lots of folks going on about Will Howard (who knows what he is) and Mason Rudolph. I\u2019m not super interested in running it back with Rodgers. That would just be more of the same, I\u2019d assume \u2014 maybe with a McCarthy bump, but still not likely Lombardi worthy. With the draft thin at QB, and the Steelers ripe with picks, what about dealing one or two of those for a guy like Kyler Murray or (my personal favorite), Mac Jones?\u201d<\/p>\n
Starkey: That is an interesting and somewhat lengthy question, Dr. McCorkle. I was once a big Murray fan, but he really seems to have flamed out even though he\u2019s only 28.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not overly hyped about Jones, either, but I\u2019d rather the Steelers trade for him than run it back with Rodgers. I\u2019d rather they do just about anything than run it back with Rodgers \u2014 not that Rodgers played poorly. I just feel like we know the ending to the movie before it begins.<\/p>\n
Jones might have a chance to succeed here in McCarthy\u2019s west coast system, of which there are many variations. Jones played OK in Kyle Shanahan\u2019s version of it this past season, with 13 touchdown passes, 269 yards per game, six interceptions and a 5-3 record in place of Brock Purdy.<\/p>\n
I saw an interview from two years ago where Shanahan was asked if his offense is similar to McCarthy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I would say that,\u201d Shanahan told Greg Papa of NBC Sports. \u201cMike is an awesome dude, he\u2019s been running this system for a while. It\u2019s always a little different with each quarterback but I\u2019d say theirs (Dallas\u2019) is a little more west coast than ours just from the type of drop-back game they have.\u201d<\/p>\n
One small issue: The 49ers might not want to trade Jones.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs any player on our team, including myself and (general manager) John (Lynch), you always listen to people and trade offers,\u201d Shanahan said Jan. 21. \u201cBut we\u2019re also not into getting rid of good players. So I\u2019d be very surprised if Mac wasn\u2019t around us next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t exactly shut the door. For the right price, I\u2019d take a shot. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe I just want something different.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n
Yes, you do. You explained as much in your question.<\/p>\n
Skip Bittman, @skip_bittman: Are you getting a sense of the anger among Steeler fans after Will Howard was snubbed in the Hall of Fame voting?<\/p>\n
Starkey: Hahaha. I can always count on you, Dr. Bittman.<\/p>\n
Justin Belback: No offense to Andrew McCutchen\u2019s farewell tour, but hasn\u2019t he had a 3 year farewell tour now?<\/p>\n
Starkey: Yes, he has, Dr. Belback, although I still think the Pirates should have been more up front with McCutchen<\/a> going into the offseason and given him the chance to participate in PirateFest even if he wasn\u2019t on the team.<\/p>\n Beyond that, they owe him nothing. This was a fun, unexpected three-year reunion. The Pirates upgraded at DH with Marcell Ozuna. That is pretty much the end of the story.<\/p>\n If McCutchen is interested, the Pirates could have him on call if there are injuries later in the season. Surely, he\u2019ll be honored at PNC Park one day and perhaps even have his jersey retired. He was the most popular Pirate since Willie Stargell and the man who led the team out of a 20-year playoff drought.<\/p>\n Patty Piroli, @mppiroli: Them letting Cutch go is so wrong. The fans didn\u2019t get to say goodbye. I think Nutting could have had him leave with a year of celebration for Cutch and the fans. We Still Want Cutch.<\/p>\n Starkey: I completely understand your sentiment, Dr. Piroli. And as I mentioned, the Pirates did not handle this situation as delicately as they should have. But they did make their team better, which is the first order of business.<\/p>\n Cutch will have his day at PNC Park. He should be celebrated. And who knows, he might still wind up here if the Pirates need him later in the season. I wouldn\u2019t rule that out, although it seems clear he isn\u2019t thrilled by how the offseason went.<\/p>\n BigDTigerBurgh, @TigerBurgh9798: I can\u2019t come to terms w\/ \u201crun it back w\/ Rodgers.\u201d If the @steelers see something in Will (Howard), great. In the meantime, why not pair him w\/ Malik Willis & let the best man win for \u201826? It\u2019s a low risk, potential high reward move.<\/p>\n Starkey: I\u2019m with you, Dr. Tiger. Please see the Mac Jones\/Kyler Murray question above. I just wrote about Willis as the kind of the quarterback the Steelers should be <\/a>seeking<\/a>.<\/p>\n Featured Local Businesses<\/p>\n Low-risk, high-reward is precisely how I would phrase a Howard-Willis competition. If it goes horribly, then you get a high pick for once (the fear is that you might turn to Mason \u2014 if he\u2019s still around \u2014 and finish 8-8-1).<\/p>\n BTW, I\u2019m getting a kick out of the \u201cDrake Maye is a fraud\u201d crowd. Maye had an MVP-level season and a bad playoff. He also played in the Super Bowl. I\u2019d take him. The Patriots have a future at the NFL\u2019s most important position. The Steelers don\u2019t. Not as we stand here today.<\/p>\n J, @Crossland895: Hey Joe! I just returned from a wonderful trip in Atlanta and visited the College Football Hall of Fame. Were you aware that the Steelers\u2019 first ever draft pick, William Shakespeare, was an inductee in the same class as OJ Simpson? I know it\u2019s not much of a question, but I thought you\u2019d have fun with it!<\/p>\n Starkey: I am aware, Dr. 895, and I wrote an entire piece on William Shakespeare (the football player) for a different publication in town. He was a star at Notre Dame who eschewed the NFL to fight in World War II, where he became a hero. Dick Butkus is also in that College HOF class, I believe.<\/p>\n Steve, @Steve3209839331: How does Omar Khan still have a job?<\/p>\n Starkey: It has been a mixed bag since Khan took over for Kevin Colbert, Dr. 3209839331. I think the three drafts have been largely good (Zach Frazier, Nick Herbig, Derrick Harmon, Troy Fautanu, Payton Wilson, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, Mason McCormick, Darnell Washington, etc.) mixed in with some duds. But some of the signings and acquisitions (Patrick Peterson, Juan Thornhill, Darius Slay, etc) have been brutal, and the records are what they are: 10-8, 10-8, 10-8, 9-8. Gotta be better. Gotta find a quarterback.<\/p>\n Ed Helinski, @MrEd315: With a new coaching regime in place, who do you suspect will be parting from the Steelers? Might we see some bombshell decisions?<\/p>\n Starkey: Great question, Mr. Ed, and I\u2019ll be watching closely on the likes of Patrick Queen and Jalen Ramsey. That doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m expecting anything. I just means I\u2019ll be watching closely. As will you, from the sounds of it.<\/p>\n Art, sell the team, @de6658: Should Dubas try to trade away veterans at the deadline?<\/p>\n Starkey: No, Dr. Team, he should try to trade FOR veterans to help the team. The Penguins are good.<\/p>\n Burke O\u2019Toole, @BurkeMan513: Doctor Starkey, which offseason addition do you think will have the biggest impact on the Pirates offense?<\/p>\n Starkey: Brandon Lowe. 30 home runs. You like that?<\/p>\n That Guy, @Baron_Scicluna: Why do you always blame Austin for all your mistakes and things you forget about during each show?<\/p>\n Starkey: \u201cAustin\u201d is better known as \u201cCity Limits\u201d on our radio show, Dr. That. And a lot of times it is his fault. Other times I am simply looking for somebody to blame.<\/p>\n Thank you for asking. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You ask. I answer. It\u2019s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. 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