JotCast | Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 03.29.23

Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 03.29.23

Gerry Dulac

10:22

OK kids, it's another sunny day here in the desert, which has absolutely nothing to do with us starting our chat in about 30 min. I just thought I'd tell ya.

10:44

OK kids, let's get going...fire away!!

Zach B

10:44

Is the interior line more of a concern to the Steelers than the tackle position? Even after the additions they have already made ?

Gerry Dulac

10:44

Not at all.

Chief

10:45

Who is your top CB, OT, and DL that you think have potential to be available at 17?

Gerry Dulac

10:48

CB Kelee Ringo. T Darnell Wright. DL Bryan Bresee. I can tell you they love two of those guys

Zach B

10:48

What type of slot WR are the Steelers looking for ?

Gerry Dulac

10:49

I don't think they are necessarily looking for a slot receiver as much as a WR who can play several of their positions, including slot. Kinda like...hmmmm... Calvin Austin III

Lovemaker

10:49

I know this is an impossible exercise because no one can predict how the draft board will fall, or exactly what a team may be thinking for that matter. But just for fun, humor if you would.....With the 17th pick of the 2023 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select.........?

Gerry Dulac

10:51

Bryan Bresee

10:53

Gerry, Thanks for the chats. Do you ever wonder about free agents who choose to walk away from an opportunity to return to the team? Thinking of Edmunds (obviously; not sure if they made an offer to Bush). For every Mike Merriweather (long, long ago, but I think they tried to keep him) and Hargrave, there seem to be a lot more Bud Duprees, Artie Burns, LeVeon Bells, Antonio Browns (perhaps a poor example for a number of reasons). They might make it for a while, but none ever seem to get close to what they were with the Steelers.

Gerry Dulac

10:53

You're right about that, and part of the reason is because the Steelers find players who are good fits for the way they want to play but arent always good fits for the way another team wants to play. And, FYI, they did not make an offer to Bush

Ed in Carrick

10:53

Is there a reason the Steelers haven’t hired a senior offensive assistant like Byron Leftwich or someone else?

Gerry Dulac

10:55

I can't give you a good reason. But I think they should. Have advanced that thought since they decided to keep Matt Canada.

SMF

10:55

Hi Gerry: Thanks for the Chats: It really looked like Pickett, Najee and Freiermuth saved Canada’s job with the comeback wins vs. LV and Baltimore. The good vibes for all took the heat off the OC. But most of their big plays were on the fly and unscripted. What evidence is there Canada has changed, modified or improved his predictable and vanilla play calling? Does he even acknowledge change is needed?

Gerry Dulac

10:55

There is none yet. That will only come once the season starts. He better acknowledge change is needed. Or there will be a change of address after the season.

Jay

10:56

Morning Gerry. Which 2nd tier CB or T do you like at 32? Would you take someone like Forbes? say 49 if he falls? How about Josh downs or Nathan Dell?

Gerry Dulac

10:58

I like Mazi Smith at 32. Or C John Michael Schmitz.

SMF

10:59

Hi Gerry: Thanks again: Do you recall--have the Steelers ever had a player come back from 2 ACL surgeries on the same knee? I ask as a hypothetical would the Steelers consider WR Beckham on a 1-2 year incentive laden contract? I know he has Diva Disease but before his second ACL he really was open a lot in both Cleveland and LA.

Gerry Dulac

11:01

I don't know the answer to the first part of your question, but my guess would be that someone has. And I don't know if the Steelers would consider him. One AB was enough.

Guest

11:01

Do you think the Steelers are improved enough to make the playoffs and win a game or two or about the same as last year?

Gerry Dulac

11:01

Yes I do, especially because they were just a game away from making it last season. And they should be better.

Rich

11:01

Gerry if a team trades for Lamar do they still need to give up two #1 draft choices? Or can that be negotiated? To me if I have to guarantee that contract AND give to #1, no way a team does that!! This is beginning to remind me of a Lev Bell situation!

Gerry Dulac

11:02

A trade is different than a team signing him to an offer sheet as a non-exclusive free agent. That requires two No. 1 picks in return

Gerry's Fairy

11:03

Howdy Gerry, who are the major draft prospects to watch out for round 1? Are Bresee, Paris Johnson, and Broderick Jones all on that watchlist? Thanks.

Gerry Dulac

11:03

I'm sure all three are.

Guest

11:03

Gerry, Thanks for taking the time for these chats, really enjoy them. Anyways, do PRO teams ever bring in starters or even 2nd string starters to college PRO days or any type of pre draft workouts to see how potential picks stack up against actual professional players? I am sure the union might frown on it, but was curious if it is even an option.

Gerry Dulac

11:04

No they don't because both the players and the union would frown on it, as you say. Plus, there's no competition at pro days. Just drills and testing. There is no stacking up against other players

KN Phoenix

11:05

Hello. Thank you as always for the chat. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported last week that Steelers are bringing in Bud Dupree for a visit. Since that time, I have not heard anything. Do you know if the visit already happened or when is he coming in for a visit ? Do you think that it is a done deal since I would think that they would have already discussed the contract ? Thank you very much.

Gerry Dulac

11:06

I was told yesterday he is scheduled to come in for a visit about a possible reunion. There is no done deal; in fact, there might not be a deal at all. But it would be a great move by the Steelers if they can make it work because it gives them a big-time backup at OLB

Carlo Gambino

11:06

With Weidl in charge of the draft board this year, I anticipate focus on the offensive and defensive fronts. What position group will be drafted that isn't being written about today-are there any surprises that could happen? Trades, etc...

Gerry Dulac

11:08

Given the plethora of draft babble, I doubt there is any position group that hasn't been discussed or written about. And, every year, the Steelers always say "everything is on the table" on draft day, referring to the possibility of trading up or down.

Duke

11:08

Do you think we could have cut Trebisky and sign cam Sutton and Trell Edmondse we would be a better team then we are now just five mill less to work with

Gerry Dulac

11:09

No. Let's go easy on the Cam Sutton and Terrell Edmunds losses. They are nice players but nobody is going to lose sleep over their departures. Good guys, though

Mike P.

11:09

Gerry, you've been a proponent of drafting a defensive lineman early, which makes sense to me. But I'm not sure there's a lot of great options at 17. Do you have a guy at 17 you'd run to the podium for, or would you be more comfortable with someone in the early 20s if you could trade back?

Gerry Dulac

11:10

I tend to agree, though it remains to be seen what happens with Bryan Bresee and even Lukas Van Ness. Unlike the past two years, when it was apparent the Steelers were going to draft Najee and even Pickett, this is a harder call because they can go in several different directions.

RAM

11:10

So who are you liking for the Masters? Scottie? Rory??

Gerry Dulac

11:11

I'd love to see Rory win to complete the grand slam. He deserves it.

RAM

11:11

Gerry, with Canada being on the bubble this season, who is out there and realistically available to be our new OC?

Gerry Dulac

11:11

That's not something I would even look at till after the season.