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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat: 1.30.18
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Ed Bouchette
1:55
Welcome from frozen tundra Super Bowl. At least it’s a dry cold. Let’s begin
Murph'
1:55
Any feeling where Stillers on concentrating in the draft... besides "beast
Ed Bouchette
1:57
They have to address defense again and again. They need an ILB to replace Shazier desperately, and a safey and keep finding corners. Bigneed on offense will be RB if Bell does not return
Brad
1:57
Hello Ed, I have always been an avid Tomlin supporter. His record alone is the main reason. However after the Jacksonville game, my feelings are starting to shift. Some of his play calls were outright mind boggling. Do you think its possible, that Tomlin is an average coach, with a great GM, blessed talent and strong ownership?
Ed Bouchette
1:58
Average coaches do not compile his kind of record. However, I understand some of the criticisms
Jack
1:58
Thanks for the chat, Ed.  Do you think Art Rooney will mandate any changes to the defensive coaching staff, firing Joey Porter and/or Carnell Lake for example, after arguably the worst defensive performance in Steelers post-season history?
Ed Bouchette
2:00
No, I don’t. I believe he will let Tomlin handle the staff. Plus, Tomlin got much more involved in that defense, calling many plays and leading many meetings so if there is blame on that end, it should start with him
Mike
2:00
Why is the Steelers secondary average when the dbs practice against the best receivers, Brown, Bryant, Ju Ju, in the league?
Ed Bouchette
2:01
I could practice tennis against the Wimbledon champ and I would still be a tennis bum
JerseySteel
2:01
Hi Ed - will Mike Mitchell be released this offseason?
Ed Bouchette
2:02
I think they need to get younger and better there
JerseySteel
2:02
Hi Ed - I read an article this week that Rosie Nix averaged 11 snaps per game this season. Could that low snap count be part of the reason the running game took a step back and will the new OC use Nix more often?
Ed Bouchette
2:02
I think he should, especially the way the tight ends block
NPG2003
2:03
Ed, you've covered the entire Tomlin era... in your opinion what seasons have been Mike Tomlin's best years as Steeler head coach? Have we seen his best coaching already?
Ed Bouchette
2:04
I have not reall thought much along those lines but you’d have to consider his first two, adding everything up and what he had to overcome
Krugerrand
2:04
Mock drafts: National outlets lack detailed knowledge of each team.  Local outlets have limited expertise outside of their own teams.  Is there any chance you and your colleagues at other newspapers could do a mock-draft the week before the NFL Draft where the writers pick who they think their team would most-likely choose?
Ed Bouchette
2:05
We do that all the time, some of us on several occasions
NPG2003
2:05
Ed, I thought Ben had an exceptional season, all the way through the 2nd Jacksonville game. But can a 36 year old Ben carry the team in 2018? Even with Bell, I think we will be playing from behind a lot, especially against the Offenses we face in 2018.  Can the Steelers of 2018 get back to the Super Bowl on the strength of Ben, or MUST the Defense have a top 10 year?
Ed Bouchette
2:06
The offense will still be loaded but as that Jaguars playoff game showed, you still need a good defense
Dave
2:07
Are the league's practice rules prohibitive when it comes to allowing coaches to teach players to do things like tackle better?  It's been a big problem for the Steelers and in wondering if there's any reasonable way for the coaches to attempt to fix it.
Ed Bouchette
2:07
Talking and listening to others, it is a league-wide problem
Dave Cos
2:08
My first son was born in October. By next season I would like to get him his first jersey. I'm torn between JuJu and TJ Watt. Please help me make this crucial decision.
Ed Bouchette
2:08
Get a size one in TJ and a size two in JuJu
bob
2:09
Looks like Tomlin misjudged what Harrison had left. How long do you think the Steelers let these coaches underachieve? Defensivly. Did Tomlin take more hands on with the defense this year?
Ed Bouchette
2:09
Yes to your last question and the disbelief what the Steelers did with Harrison is rampant among people at the Super Bowl
ALB
2:10
Hi, Ed.  Is it really just wishful thinking to hope that the Steelers' defense will ever be good enough to win a championship during Ben's playing time?
Ed Bouchette
2:10
Many of us were fooled into thinking that was happening this year
Shane
2:10
Do you think it’s time to draft a qb, that is drafted with the intention of being the Steelers’ starter?
Ed Bouchette
2:11
No. Ben is in line to play at least another 3 years. Too much needed elsewhere
jim
2:11
It seems to me that Tomlin thinks the defense will be fine and doesn't need retooling. I think that is delusional, do you get that impression? He made no changes from the previous year (other than the Haden gift) and expected better results.
Ed Bouchette
2:12
They added Haden and Hilton and Watt and Cam Sutton. They will add more in 2018
jim
2:13
I think that Bell is a product of the Steelers schemes to use the RB almost as another wide receiver. I don't think he would be nearly as productive on other teams, especially with his wait and see running style. Do you think it would be foolish of him to try to jump ship seeking the big money? He should talk to others who have done so and bombed.
Ed Bouchette
2:13
If another team offers him big money they must disagree with your opinion
jim
2:14
Is there a way to get out of Shazier's contract without cutting him? It is extremely unlikely that he will play this year or next, shouldn't we have an option to avoid the cap hit? Seems unfair to the team for such a tragic incident.
Ed Bouchette
2:15
His 2018 contract is guaranteed. The only way to reduce the cap hit this year would be to sign him longer term and spread it out
jim
2:15
Were you at the senior bowl? Did the Steeler coaches seem to talk to any one player/players more than another?
Ed Bouchette
2:16
No, I was not..
jim
2:16
If we let Bell walk and signed some quality defensive FA's, then we would be free to draft a RB in rd 2 or 3. Do you think the Steelers are mulling that over or are they hell bent on signing Bell.
Ed Bouchette
2:16
I believe they are considering all options
Al in NJ
2:17
Ed, is there any chance of Ladarius Green playing football again?
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