You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 01.21.26
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Linebacker Lounge
10:45
If you had to guess more or less, that 3 assistants are retained by new staff?
Gerry Dulac
10:47
Not only fewer, but none. That's my guess. OK, maybe one, but it won't be anybody that will cause the talk shows to light up
Bill 87
10:47
Hey Gerry, I see alot of Steeler fans clamoring to see Will Howard be the next Steeler QB. Do you think that because of his injury last camp means that he will not have taken a meaningful snap in almost 2 years ( and the previous meaningful game was college) , his skills and sharpness might have suffered to a point where that hurts his chances?
Gerry Dulac
10:51
No, I don't think that's it. It's more that the Steelers don't really know what they have him with him because he's never played in any NFL games, preseason or otherwise. So, they can't make draft decisions based on a player they've never seen in a game
Steelers55
10:51
Good Morning Gerry. Am I wrong to feel like a McCarthy hire would be a major letdown. Given that the average Steeler coach tenure is 18 years, doesn't the fact that he is 62 make it a tough hire?
Gerry Dulac
10:51
You are not wrong. And I don't think you are alone
Hamster
10:53
Is Mason Rudolph under contract for next season? Any chance he could be the answer at quarterback  for the Steelers? I actually think he could be.
Gerry Dulac
10:53
He is under contract but they will view him in the same role -- a quality backup.
Chuck
10:53
Gerry, please tell me the Steelers will hire Scheelhaase. They haven't had a good offense since 2018. He could bring McVay's Oconcepts to PGH and seems like the young, dynamic leader like Cowher and Tomlin--just on the other side of the ball. If he's the OC, he probably leaves in a year. Any chance Scheelhaase is the top guy?
Gerry Dulac
10:57
I'm not going to say he's the top guy because some of these candidates still have to interview in person with AR2, and he's the one who will make the call. But I will say Scheelhaase was an impressive interview, which fits with what other NFL people think of him. Hmmm, so was Tomlin...
Monty
10:57
Do you think the Steelers will add more names to their coaching search? Jags OC Udinski and Seahawks OC Kubiak seem like two guys they should talk to. Will they?
Gerry Dulac
10:59
I was told they were going to add a few names, but because they've done their virtual interviews (and time is running out), that tells me those new guys might be former NFL head coaches.
Uncle Leo
10:59
Hey Gerry - what draft pick compensation would lead you to trade watt? Any first rounder? A second and a fourth? Tnx -
Gerry Dulac
11:01
I think the ship has sailed with getting a No. 1, especially with the size of his contract. A 2 and 4? Maybe.
Wide Right
11:01
Gerry, what letter grade would you put on the situation the new coach will inherit? Based on the age of the defense, pending free agents, and QB situation, I view it as no better than a C.
Gerry Dulac
11:01
Every team has free agent issues. But I'd say a little better -- C+ or B-
Mark in Ravens Country
11:02
I am curious as to how the Steelers interview for the HC position. How do they go about determining who is the right leader for the team? What kinds of questions do they ask? After all, they only do this once every 15-20 years.
Gerry Dulac
11:03
Are you say they might be a little rusty at it?? They determine it in face-to-face meetings after getting preliminary info and background work. I'm not sure about all the questions, but important ones would be their philosophy and how they can bring to the coaching staff.
Russ
11:03
Hi Gerry, I was curious how Brian Flores meshed (or got along) with the organization during the short time he was here? He seems to be a pretty good coach (at least defensively) and comes off as a little “no nonsense” to me. Perhaps we could use some of that right now. Thanks!
Gerry Dulac
11:04
I think the people on the staff liked him. But how everything went down in Miami might be  concern to some teams looking for a head coach
Pistol Pete from Sto Rox
11:04
Any chance the Steelers move Watt? Missed their chance to get a first rounder for him, but I think a second rounder & a fourth rounder plus getting out from his contract would be a net win for them.
Gerry Dulac
11:06
Perhaps, but they would still be on the hook for a lot of money because of the $108 million he was guaranteed.
JP
11:06
Gerry, why can’t they just get all the Rams’ coaching candidates and start a coach forest?
Gerry Dulac
11:06
You mean instead of the tree that hasn't existed since Bill Cowher stopped planting them??
Chill Dave
11:07
Hi Gerry, I am most intrigued by Scheelhaase, but wouldn't it be a challenge for a 35 year old to put together a staff in a year with so much turnover?  It's notable that the Steelers had assistants in wait when they hired Tomlin.  Do you think this makes Scheelhaase an unlikely candidate?
Gerry Dulac
11:08
It might make any young coach an unlikely candidate then. I don't think that will be a determining factor if they really like/are impressed with someone
Whatcha say?
11:08
Hi, Gerry!  Any insight as to whether the Steelers are going to be patient and wait until after the SB to make a decision on their HC?  It seems as though the best candidates are still in the hunt besides McDermott.  Which way do you think the Steelers are leaning - offensive or defensive minded being more important or are they looking more for a leader/figure-head that will put together a quality staff?  It seems as though we need an offensive minded HC.  If you look at the teams remaining or that were in the playoffs, the majority had offensive minded HCs - McVay, Payton, Shanahan, Johnson, Coen, Canales, LeFleur, Sirianni, Harbaugh.  The majority of the other HCs that have defensive backgrounds have former HCs that were offensive-minded - McDaniels, Kubiak, and Smith.  Do you notice which of those 3 is home right now?  So it seems pretty obvious what type of HC we need, right?
Gerry Dulac
11:09
I don't think they can afford to be patient, nor do they want to be. They are going to rush this, even though they are a week behind other teams, but I think they know they can't wait till after the Super Bowl
Mikey C
11:09
Time to move forward. What do you think is needed to improve the rushing defense? New players or new schemes? I’m assuming the answer is both but anything specific?
Gerry Dulac
11:10
A 4-3 front would help, but to me it's still about the players. I think Harmon and Black are good steps, along with Benton, but it's still think after that. Although I think Logan Lee has a chance if he can take a big concerted step.
62 Stack Monster
11:13
Good Morning Gerry, Are Arthur Smith, Teryl Austin and the rest of Tomlin's staff still employed by the Steelers and will the brass insist that the new head coach keep those coaches if they haven't moved on?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
No. Those guys have been told to seek other jobs, and they have been doing that. There is always the slim possibility the new coach might want to bring someone back for his staff, but he is not being told to keep anyone. The fact that Danny Smith left for another job already should tell you that.
Russ
11:14
Gerry, JPJ had a pretty great year. Would a 1st round CB to play opposite be a direction they should go, or do we have higher priorities at another position? (I’m not counting QB when we pick so late in the first round).
Gerry Dulac
11:14
WR priority No. 1 after QB (if they can get one they like)
Lambert58 Fan in Indiana
11:15
Good morning GD! Arthur Smith is being interviewed for an OC position. Am I missing something here? I thought his offensive scheme(s) were abysmal, something from the mid 1980’s. I can’t recall any other organization having back to back OCs as bad as Canada and Smith. I understand AS was hamstrung with WR talent. But calls like 4th & 1 and you throw a jump ball to Scotty Miller or 3rd & 4 and you pitch to Gainwell. Plus ignoring Freiermuth all season. Your take?
Gerry Dulac
11:17
I disagree with your assessment. For starters, players who are in the game in certain situations (like Miller as you suggest) are determined in that moment by the position coach. And where the ball goes is up to the QB, depending on the coverage. I'm not dismissing the play-call, especially the fourth-and-1, ut there's more to it than blaming Smith. And he by no means should be lumped in the same sentence with Canada
Pittfan
11:17
Hi Gerry. ARII gets a lot of blame for the Steelers mediocrity. I think he's more like his dad than people credit him for. Is it possible he was going to make a change and allowed Tomlin to go out on his terms rather than fire him? Much like what happened with Noll?
Gerry Dulac
11:18
He wasn't going to make change. He even said he was planning to talk to Tomlin about making another run in 2026 when Tomlin told him he was stepping down
Rick Woods
11:19
Gerry, I follow your advice and ignore Steeler related takes from the national media “insiders”, but please talk me off the ledge and tell me there’s no chance they hire Mike McCarthy and bring back Aaron Rodgers.
Gerry Dulac
11:19
It is not a package deal by any means. In fact, it might be no deal on both fronts. And stay off the ledge
Connecting…