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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 03.01.23
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Gerry Dulac
9:49
OK kids, we will start our chat is just a couple minutes, so get ready....
9:51
OK, here we go...fire away!
Guest
9:51
Gerry:  If the Steelers draft an offensive tackle high, would you expect them to replace Chuks or Moore?  There seems to be sentiment in the local media that Moore is the weak link, but Chuks is set to make $17 million more than Moore over the next two years.  Do you see much difference in play between the two?
Gerry Dulac
9:54
I don't think they are interested in replacing Okorafor and I don't have a problem with him at right tackle. And , if they are going to use theier top pick on an offensive lineman, I would suspect it would be a LT, only because LT is the most important position on the line and they are usually the ones that go high. That being said, I will tell you to keep your eye on Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz, easily the best center in the draft and maybe the best lineman in the draft.
MD1
9:54
Gerry:  What future do you see for Leal?  He is mentioned when the 2022 draft class is lauded, but he didn't play much.  Do you think he is too much of a tweener to really contribute long term?
Gerry Dulac
9:55
I see a good future for him. And I think you haven't been watching closely -- he played A LOT in 2022 and contributed a bunch
MD1
9:55
Gerry: after years of having a roster that didn't really need rookies to come in and play right away, do you think that the Steeler Nation fanbase gets overly optimistic about rookie performances?  Expectations for Pickens are really high despite a rookie season that was less than Claypool's and we see how that turned out.  There seems to be widespread sentiment that we have our long term QB despite only getting 7 TD passes from him.  Has our optimism exceeded the true results or am I just living in my fears?
Gerry Dulac
9:57
That's why I always exercise caution, not just with Pickens, but with Pickett, as well -- all players heading into their second year. Your example of Claypool is a good one. Let me see what you do in year 2 when defenses are more prepared for you and understand your tendencies
SMF
9:57
Hi Gerry:  Thanks for the Chats:  Do you think the Steelers could get Rudolph to take a 5 yr. QB2 contract?  He could have a 10-yr. Charlie Batch like career and play when Pickett goes down with injury.  There is little chance other teams will give him QB1 money.  Then cut Trubisky and let Witherspoon, Bush, and Alualu walk to free up enough $$ to sign FA  ILB Tremaine Edmunds.
Gerry Dulac
9:57
Rudolph has no interest in that and the Steelers have no interest in not having Trubisky, unless finances would get in the way.
Joe
9:58
Hi Gerry - we are never surprised that we are always surprised on draft day.  Teams make odd moves.  That said, if the consensus holds and the top 3 tackles and CB's are off the board at 17, should the Steelers look to trade back for more picks?
Gerry Dulac
9:58
They already have three in the top 49. If anything, I could see them trading No. 49 to move up a couple spots in the first round.
Turk in MD
9:58
Hi Gerry.  The team has a history of drafting positions of need and also signing low-budget free agents for those same positions.  They have a lot of bodies at DL.  Granted this is a new FO, but do you expect them to sign a DL (other than Larry O) in free agency?
Gerry Dulac
9:59
They don't need veteran bodies on the defensive line via free agency. They need a young stud from the draft, a Cam Heyward or Stephon Tuitt type.
Rich
10:02
Gerry....of the players who could realistically be there at #17, what player would the Steelers run to the podium to select?
Gerry Dulac
10:02
I'm just not sure which players that might be.
Rich
10:02
Gerry....your article last week inadvertently pointed out that the Steelers have far fewer coaches on their staff than other teams employ-Texans 18, Arizona-20, Bengals 21, Chiefs 24--STEELERS-- 14??? Would you care to comment on why this is,  and also if this needs looked at,  or do Tomlin and crew have so much more brainpower and work ethic that they can outperform staffs with 10 additional coaches. who BTW all just earned a Super Bowl Ring?
Gerry Dulac
10:03
It wasn't inadvertent BTW....and you would have to ask them why they employ fewer coaches than every team in the league. I will point up that some teams are ridiculous with the amount of coaches they employ. Totally unnecessary.
Nate from Fort Wayne
10:03
Morning, Gerry. Do you think Art Rooney II has the final say in every single draft pick or just the 1st or 2nd rounders?
Gerry Dulac
10:05
Art Rooney II is in on every draft choice, and I wouldn't say he has the final say but I will say he has the final say if he thinks a player has bad character issues.
SMF
10:05
Hi Gerry:  Just curious:  Money aside, did the Steelers actually try out CB William Jackson; was he any good or he was too injured to get on the practice field?  I only ask considering if healthy he still could be a real deal talent wise.  No other Team is likely to give him a big contract, and if he wants to play he may take a Steeler friendly contract.
Gerry Dulac
10:08
They never tried him out nor did he ever practice. They signed him because they liked him in the draft and were prepared to select him until the Bengals jumped in front of them and grabbed him. Obviously, with a $9.2 million salary and a $12.1 million cap hit in 2023, they have NO INTEREST in keeping him at that amount.
The Honorable Rod Mohammed
10:08
I feel like the Steelers have truly lost their way.  I would like to know when will Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers draft a true NOSE TACKLE Instead of trying to run a 3-4 defense without one. Saiki Ika will save LBs career. What are your thoughts.
Gerry Dulac
10:08
They don't need a nose tackle because they rarely play a 3-4 defensive front.
Matt
10:08
Given our mutual desire to see GM Khan retool the trenches, what is your choice if the top 3 DLs, top 3 OLs, and top 3 DBs are all gone by pick 17?  Do you pick the 4th best of one of those 3 positions or do you go elsewhere like ILB, etc?
Gerry Dulac
10:09
They will not and should not waste their top pick on an ILB. Your ILBs are only as good as the defensive line in front of them, which should answer your question.
Rich
10:09
Gerry since we are approaching the 2023 draft, can we take a minute to revisit why the Steelers used a seventh round pick in 2022 to draft a SECOND QB who didn't deserve a momentary glance in training camp? Quite a swan song for K Colbert!
Gerry Dulac
10:11
What the Steelers have done when they have had a top personnel guy retire is let him make the last selection in the draft. So I can only assume they let Kevin Colbert make the pick of Chris Oladokun in the seventh round. I don't believe it was roundly received, either internally or by me.
Don Kedic
10:11
Gerry, is Joey Porter Jr participating in all the drills in Indy ?
Gerry Dulac
10:12
I don't know that answer. Will find out tomorrow when we get the chance to talk with him
Don Kedic
10:12
Gerry, obviously GMOK is going to say publicly they want Trubisky back.  My question is what do the Steelers really want to see transpire with the backup position.  You can get a good backup for $5MM.
Gerry Dulac
10:14
Their QB room, because of Pickett's rookie contract, is among the most inexpensive, if not the most inexpensive, in the league now after being done with Rudolph. I don't think Trubisky's $8 million salary in 2023 is any different than signing another backup for $5 million. Plus, I bet that backup is not as a good as Trubisky.
The Honorable Rod Mohammed
10:14
Why would the Steelers consider keeping Mitch Trubisky if he was ineffective last season?  If you want to smooth things over because you need a back up,  Mason Rudolph  won the quarterback competition last year & was never given an opportunity. He has been productive with a Pittsburgh Steelers in past years. You have nothing with 10 except for someone wearing Kordell Stewart with jersey
Gerry Dulac
10:14
I got as far as "ineffective" and stopped ready your question.
fredward
10:14
Hi Gerry, can you please explain why the Steelers pick 17th overall, but then don't have their own pick till 49th when the Dolphins forfeited their first round selection. Is there some coin flip thing going on that pushes the 2nd round pick back?
Gerry Dulac
10:16
No.
Don Kedic
10:16
Do the Steelers have enough confidence in Dan Moore Jr to start 2023 with him at tackle ?
Gerry Dulac
10:16
That's what we're going to find out. I will say I don't think they think he's a liability, though.
Poni Pickett
10:16
How concerned are the Steelers about Kenny Pickett and his concussion history ?
Gerry Dulac
10:17
Medical research has shown just because you've had one concussion doesn't mean you are any more likely to have a second.
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