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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 01.18.23
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Gerry Dulac
10:00
OK kids, we're going to get started in just a few minutes. Had to delay our chat by a day because of a conflict so let's get at it...
Stairway to seventh seed
10:02
Gerry:  66-0 in the first quarter of the last five playoff games.  Yes there were turnovers, but in four of the games the opponent scored a TD on its first drive.  In three of them that happened before an offensive turnover.  Tomlin said after the game that Buffalo hurt us early with the TE, but we adjusted.  Is waiting to "adjust" to obvious strategies in games where the opponent has done playoff prep the reason the Steelers are falling so far behind early?
Gerry Dulac
10:03
I commend you on your math -- 66-0 is correct. That's part of it, not being prepared for what the other team wants to do, but turnovers were a big part, especially getting behind 28-0 to Cleveland.
Stairway to seventh seed
10:04
Benton looked good early in the year, but seemed to tail off and then really seemed to get pushed around Monday.  Rookie wall or another highly drafted bust?
Gerry Dulac
10:04
He is no draft bust
Seferg
10:04
For those who want Tomlin gone, the reason to change coaches is if you can replace with someone better.  The Steelers finished better than 19 teams and 12 of those had a losing record.  I view Tomlin's shortcomings as 1-unwillingness to hire coordinators who might have different ideas than he wants to hear and 2- be willing to put the best players on the field and admit mistakes. How much of that do you agree with?
Gerry Dulac
10:05
I agree with the first part. I don't know if it's an unwillingness, but it has been a failure.
Tom
10:05
When the Steelers went empty backfield on the 3 yrd line, what % of Piitsburgh fans asked "What the heck are they doing?"  out loud?
Gerry Dulac
10:06
Oh, I'd say about 80. The number isn't higher because in today's NFL, most teams do that.
Stairway to seventh seed
10:06
Do other teams assign inside LBs to cover highly drafted TEs 30 yards downfield ever let alone with ILBs pulled off the couch?
Gerry Dulac
10:07
Only if the TE was pulled off the couch
Steelerbybirth
10:07
Hello Gerry - Please correct me if I’m wrong here.  First of all Tomlin led this team to the playoffs for the third time in six years.  In spite of all our issues Tomlin led this team to yet another consecutive winning season!  Tomlin has led this team to 2 super bowls in his first four years, having won one of them. Tomlin has led this team to the playoffs 8 times in the 13 years since our last super-bowl appearance.  Tomlin has won 3 playoff games in the last 13 years.  True, we haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 but there are 8 other NFL teams that have done worst.  Our playoff record is 8-10 since Tomlin has been our coach.  Tomlin has been our couch for 17 years now.  He has established a winning record as the standard and has lived up to that standard year in and year out.  17 years without a loosing record.  Tomlin is a revered, respected hall of fame coach and we are to be fortunate to have him?
Gerry Dulac
10:08
I hate to tell you, you were refuting your own argument with some of your facts (not all of which were correct).
Tom
10:08
Tomlin gets a lot of praise for being a coach whom players like. But what other coach has had to say "We want volunteers not hostages." because players left in the middle of the season? Or had players quit and through tantrums in games (AB, Pickens etc)? Or was unable to attract any coveted big name free agents in 15+ years bevausectheyvwanted to play for him?  I just don't see his "likability" helping or showing any positive benefit at all except to  the Steelers.
Gerry Dulac
10:09
The players aren't supposed to like the coach; they're supposed to respect him, listen to him, play for him.
Arnoldcfrom Turtle Creek
10:10
When Noll left, Cowher brought new life into a  team that was up and coming with it's Blitzburgh defense and Slash smashmouth offense.. When Cowher left,  Tomlin took over a defense ready to be dominant with an offense ready to blow up with Bettis and a big time QB in young Ben. If Tomlin leaves now,...... what is there?  I don't see this as a great time to just try to inject a new coach. We'll be just like all the other average teams making a change thinking the grass is greener, right?
Gerry Dulac
10:12
I wouldn't call the Steelers average after a 10-7 playoff season. Only 14 of the 32 teams made the postseason. That's not average. I'm not calling the season a success by any means, but it's not average. And, if a new coach were to come along, he would inherit an entire offense, a young QB, two All-Pros on defense and one of the best kickers in the league. That's not too shabby.
Wild Bill H
10:13
Does Mike Tomlin have the Steelers over a barrel? We can't afford to just dump him thinking we will find someone better (95% of the league has failed at that) He would have to agree to a trade, which he wouldn't because a team willing to trade is probable not worth going to.  So basically we pay him more with an extension or he gets to play out his one year left and take whatver job he wants in the NFL next year.
Gerry Dulac
10:13
He does not have them over a barrel, trust me. If you know the Rooneys, you would know that not to be true
Wild Bill H
10:13
Wouldn't you like to be Tomlin right now?                                                  1.)    You demand a contract extension now with a raise for never having a losing season and making playoffs again.   It puts fans in seats.  It is a business.                                    2.)   You don't get an extension, play out the last year and Steelers have to match other offers to keep you or get the job of your choice.                                 3.) If the Steelers let you go, you get a new job. The new Steelers head coach has no qb, an oft injured defense, young players who egos don't match production, etc. You'll look even better when they fail to get to .500.
Gerry Dulac
10:15
What you outline is true with any coach. But he won't have to demand a contract extension because they plan to give him one. Now, whether he wants to accept it is a different matter. That is his prerogative. Bill Cowher did that. He decided he didn't want to come back, but he had the option
ALEX from Kentucky
10:15
What are the odds the Steelers win the SuperBowl next year with Tomlin? How  about with a new coach? Even with a great team the odds are low, so why not appreciate winning more than losing?
Gerry Dulac
10:15
Zero
Guest
10:16
Isn't this idea of we need a new coach so we can win Superbowls ridiculous? Teams may improve like Buffalo, Miami, or Dallas, but they still aren't winning SB's. Maybe Rams and Eagles did but went right back to losing. I'll take those "silly" winning seasons over the fantasy of SuperBowl victories anyday.
Gerry Dulac
10:16
There are many franchises who have never won a Super Bowl, even been to one. It's not easy
Sullivan
10:16
So Pickens can pout, quit plays, and fumble his catches all year long and play, but Chuks says one thing and is benched? No way Jones and Chuks would have been worse vs Buffalo than the Moore and Jones combination fiasco.
Gerry Dulac
10:17
So, you think the way Broderick Jones played was a "fiasco?"
Sullivan
10:18
Is anyone in the organiztion brave enough to explain to Pickens that he clearly isn't a Pro Bowl caliber player? Making a highlight catch in training camp over a rookie JPJ doesn't outweigh fumbling the first play in a playoff game. Who will humble him?
Gerry Dulac
10:18
It's not a question of explaining; it's a matter of him listening.
Sullivan
10:18
In respect to recruiting FA talent, retaining talent, player discipline, player dedication, how do you view Tomlin's player personel coaching history? Media praises him but aren't there many more egregious faults than successes?
Gerry Dulac
10:20
He is not alone when it comes to player personnel. In fact, the GM and the scouts handle the majority of it. If he had more egregious faults than successes, the Steelers wouldn't have won more games than they lost the past 17 years, right?
Sullivan
10:20
Is Tomlin really a great  players' coach or just a pushover? His history of guys forcing their way off the team and presently players quiting on plays in games, shows lack of respect. Heyward may revere him but most guys seem to care less let alone fear him, no?
Gerry Dulac
10:20
No.
Tomlinisms
10:21
Honestly, isn't the standard of winning SuperBowls sort of unrealistic? As a season ticket holder, I would much rather have the winning seasons year in year out. If you don't have a "dynasty" QB, (which generally 30 teams a year don't) winning seasons should be the standard for paying fans.
Gerry Dulac
10:22
On the whole, I agree with you. All the people who complain that 17 winning seasons isn't good enough would be hollering even louder if the Steelers were 7-10, 6-11 or 5-12. That being said, the franchise who says its stated goal every year is the Super Bowl needs to take a harder look at why they have lost their past five playoffs games and haven't won a postseason game in seven years.
Tomlinisms
10:22
Should Minkah be back next year? Teams love names, but production gets you to SuperBowls.
Gerry Dulac
10:22
Yes
Tomlinisms
10:23
Are fans too dumb to realize that the NFL is set up for parity? There may be one dynasty team but 31 average or below average teams. Also, everyone else is going to be in contention for a year or two then drop off. See Rams, Bengals, Eagles. Or get new coaches and still never get to SB...see Bills, Dolphins, Chargers, Browns etc
Gerry Dulac
10:23
The answer to your question is yes
Howie M
10:23
Does someone honestly need to sit down and tell Pickens that he is truly not Pro Bowl worthy yet? If you let him go on thinking this, he has basically peaked as an inconsistent player.
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