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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 02.07.24
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Gerry Dulac
9:35
OK kids, we will start our chat in about 15 minutes, so plenty of time to gather your thoughts (not mine) and prepare your questions. Or you can just fire them haphazardly.
9:52
OK, let's get started...
Culture Club
9:53
The wide receiver room has been a mess for a long time. Are there any potential WR coaches out there that might straighten out these dives? The head coach hasn’t fixed it. The offensive coordinators haven’t either. Neither did the WR coaches. Does Smith have this trait as OC to improve the effort and attitude of these guys?
Gerry Dulac
9:55
Nobody does. All those WRs are divas (or wanna-be divas) who think they should get the ball and nobody else. Smith can improve the production; I can't promise an attitude change. That comes from the top.
Succession Plan
9:55
Any chance that Smith was brought in as a potential replacement for Tomlin (hopefully sooner rather than later)? Kraft did this with Mayo. Do you think Art is thinking along those lines?
Gerry Dulac
9:55
Not at all
Draft Success
9:55
Last year’s draft seems to have the potential to be the most successful draft in over a decade. The new addition was Weidl. How much of a role do you think he played in this success? If he was potentially the difference maker, any chance we can keep him around for a while?
Gerry Dulac
9:56
Well, of course he had a lot to do with it. His role is to evaluate talent and compile the draft board from which Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan make their choices. Andy has done a great job and I'm sure he will continue to do so.
Lacking Leadership
9:56
Cowher built a Super Bowl team with not only talent, but he had so many leaders on that team. He had strong offensive leaders (Bettis, Hines, Heath) and strong defensive leaders (Smith, Keisel, Farrior, Troy). This feels like the difference maker when two talented teams go head-to-head. Does Tomlin even consider this in the draft and free agency? I can’t think of many strong leaders that he has brought in for a long time. It seems to show in the team culture.
Gerry Dulac
10:02
Let's not forget the coaches Cowher brought to his staff as well. He hired nine different guys who went on to become NFL head coaches, including three from his first staff -- Dom Capers, Marvin Lewis and Dick LeBeau. And you can't just draft "leaders," they evolve. But you also have to make sure you bring in guys with high character. Today's locker room is devoid of the types of guys the Steelers used to have, even when Tomlin became coach.
Wide Meceivers
10:02
Do you think the Steelers will waste another day1 or day 2 pick on a WR? There are plenty of talented receivers (with better attitudes) taken on day 3. Every receiver we have taken early in the draft under Tomlin has turned out to be a punk.
Gerry Dulac
10:04
Not on Day 1 for sure. I wouldn't rule it out on Day 2, though, maybe in the third round. One reason: Diontae Johnson is a free agent after the season and I'm guessing they will probably move on from him. Other reason: Steelers never turn their back on a quality skill player. If one if there they like, they will jump at him.
Lesson Learned
10:05
Kenny is going to be named starter based purely on the round he was drafted. The on the field performance doesn’t warrant this role. Tomlin has always had a fatal flaw that he went with guys based on that criterion. Burns, Jones, Bush, Harvin, Ziggy, etc. The list goes on and on. He finally played the best QB, but that was only because he had to in order to keep his useless streak alive and get into the playoffs (where he kept a much more significant streak going). Shouldn’t he learn from that and play the guys based on performance and nothing else?
Gerry Dulac
10:06
A lot of what you say is very true.
10:07
Poor Pittsburgh10:06 So, we keep Mike Tomlin and lose Ron Cook?? Pittsburgh sports are sure heading in the wrong direction!
But you keep Ray Fittipaldo and lose Matt Canada!
Happy Gilmore
10:07
Gerry, How long of an extension do you anticipate for MT? How many more years can he last without winning a playoff game?
Gerry Dulac
10:08
I would expect the extension to be the usual -- two years. But I will point up the last one was three years (longest he has received) and the one before that was for one year and an option (shortest he has received).
EggRobo
10:09
If you could sign one FA for the Steelers, who would it be?
Gerry Dulac
10:09
Haven't thought that far ahead.
OC Hire
10:09
Did we ever really have a chance with the up and coming guys like Kubiak or Kliffsbury? They must be aware of the Tomlin coaching tree and how he likes complete control over everything.
Gerry Dulac
10:10
Not really. Kingsbury was never on their list to be interviewed. And I don't know about Kubiak
Bill
10:10
If after this coming preseason Arthur Smith were to believe that Mason Rudolph was the better quarterback than Kenny Pickett, and wanted to start Mason, what are the chances Mason is the starter?
Gerry Dulac
10:12
I'd say about 30-70. The Steelers didn't draft Pickett to be the backup. And, hey, let's be fair. I don't know what everyone expected (even though I do), but he is 14-10 as a starter and at one point was 12-5 in a 17-game stretch. That ain't exactly a disappointment for a young QB.
Sal
10:12
Happy Wednesday Gerry! I know we have 4 coach open positions on the Offensive Side. Do you foresee a pass cordinator /HC assistant to be one of them ?
Gerry Dulac
10:14
No. And I don't count 4. A WR coach, possibly a new QB coach (I emphasize possibly). Not sure about the RB coach. But the TE and OL coaches are back
TheSatndardisStability
10:14
I spit out my Cheerios when I read Sullivan may be back because the QBs like him. Isn’t this same reasoning they retained Canada? Pickett showed no progress in his mechanics and pocket presence in his second season. Terms like comfort and familiarity need to be excised from this stagnant organization.
Gerry Dulac
10:15
Do not confuse the roles of the QB coach and the OC, which, obviously, you did. And I will let them know to strike those words from their organization.
Broken❤️cook fan
10:15
GM Mr. Dulac, wondering if you would lbe willing to share your favorite Ron Cook memory?
Gerry Dulac
10:16
I have too many, born from years of traveling with him and working alongside him. But thanx for asking.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:16
Any news on whether Mason is considering resigning with the Steelers?
Gerry Dulac
10:16
Not yet
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:17
If the Steelers go after Justin Fields, who goes Mason or kenny?
Gerry Dulac
10:18
Good question. If Fields is a possibility, it will likely be because the Steelers don't re-sign Rudolph, for whatever reason.
Lenny from NY
10:18
Good morning Gerry. Being that Smith’s philosophy is run first, do you think in today’s NFL that philosophy could take you to a SB?  Too many explosive offenses to go against. Your thoughts?  Thanks
Gerry Dulac
10:21
I agree with the second part of your question/observation. But don't think for a minute the Steelers are going to be run heavy and ignore the pass. I will point up, too, that in Smith's second season as OC in Tennessee, when Derrick Henry ran for over 2,000 yards, Ryan Tannehill had the most productive season of his career -- 3,800+ yards, 33 TDs and only seven interceptions.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:21
Since there are not a lot of round, one, defensive lineman, do the Steelers go corner, offensive tackle, or center with the first pick?
Gerry Dulac
10:23
That's going to one of the problems -- there are not many stud DL, if any, in the first round of the draft. Which tells me they will take the highest-graded player at one of those positions of need that is available.
Rahn
10:23
Would you trade Dionte Johnson for a second in order to: 1. Alter the attitude in the room and 2. Get an extra second to get a center/defensive lineman? Win-win to me. Then grab a FA receiver like Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel or Michael Pittman to replace Johnson.
Gerry Dulac
10:24
Trust me, that won't totally alter the attitude in that room. But I like your scenario, only if they get a second-round pick in return. Considering they got a No. 2 for Chase Claypool, that is reasonable to assume.
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