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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 03.31.26
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Gerry Dulac
1:41
Good morning (or is it afternoon) from Phoenix....we will start our chat in about 10-15 minutes so get ready.
1:55
OK let's get started...
Stairway to seventh seed
1:56
Gerry: the Steelers have been really wrong a lot in predicting when aging stars will either proverbially fall off the cliff or at at least decline significantly.  Patrick Peterson, Darius Slay, TJ Watt, and Allen Robinson are examples.  Russell Wilson to some extent as well.  They are building an entire season around a QB who will turn 43.  What are the chances in your view that Rodgers' abilitiy will be as good as last year?
Gerry Dulac
1:58
The difference between Rodgers and the other players you mentioned -- Peterson, Slay and Robinson -- is the entire offense is built around Rodgers. The other guys were one-year role players. I do not lump Wilson in that group because he did get them to the playoffs and at one point had them at 10-3 and in first place in the division.
Gene
1:58
Any chance they draft a TE since Heyward and Smith are gone.
Gerry Dulac
1:59
Absolutely!! And I bet even before the end of day 2. This isn't going to happen, but there would be some sentiment to take one at No. 21 if a certain TE were still on the board.
Dave Moody
2:00
Do you see Will Howard as a viable option if AR decides not to come back?
Gerry Dulac
DraftAWr-plz
2:01
Gerry - do you think the big lull between free agency and the draft sometimes hurts teams because it gives teams too much time to convince themselves that obvious needs aren’t so obvious?
Gerry Dulac
2:01
That's one cynical way of looking at it....
Vegas Steeler
2:01
Hi Gerry! No question just a comment of appreciation of great columns, articles, and answer sessions you keep putting out. In fact, you have been on your game so well lately, that you managed your time well here and have not had to resort to your famous one word answer segment! Keep up the great work and I hope we get to continue to hear from you after May.
Gerry Dulac
2:03
Thanx, but usually my one-word answer segments were done when time was running out but I still tried to squeeze in as many questions as possible.
Linus
2:03
What is your opinion of the new Steelers’ coaching staff and how would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10?
Gerry Dulac
2:04
I like it, starting with the top dog who calls the offensive plays.
Cory McKenzie
2:04
Why do the Steelers keep waiting on Rodgers?   Its not as though he has won anything recently.   Has he in the past, sure.   But not lately.   Anyone can see he us not what he once was,,neither was Wilson.  Seems like the Steelers are stuck in average mode and are fine with that.
Gerry Dulac
2:06
Well, they are not fine with that. But I wouldn't say they are stuck in "average mode" when they've been in the postseason five of the past years. What would that make the rest of the league where the vast majority of teams can't claim that??
rick51244
2:07
Would you trade 2nd round pick and Rudolf for Mac Jones?
Gerry Dulac
2:07
Not only no, but heck no
Stairway to seventh seed
2:08
Gerry: there is a narrative out there that the Steelers have to be very cautious in taking a 1st round QB like Simpson because taking Pickett "set them back 5 years".  Pickett was obviously a bad pick, but did it set them back 5 years?  Long gone are the days where 1st round busts eat up a big portion of the cap.  The player I wanted them to take in that draft, Devonta Wyatt, would be a good piece to have on the DL, but he is not exactly Joe Greene.  I am guessing Trubisky and Pickett would have gotten them comparable or better records in 2022 and 23 than Pickett did so it is not like Pickett's pick cost them a shot at Caleb Williams a few years later.  It was a bad pick, but I don't think it cost them anything other than Devonta Wyatt.  Do you think the Pickett pick was "special" in its cost?  Wasn't the Broderick Jones pick which cost them say Christian Gonzalez and a 3rd rounder WAY more costly than Pickett?
Gerry Dulac
2:10
With the benefit of hindsight, you can go back in any draft and find choices that could have been made and weren't. I don't think Pickett set them back. But, in the end, he didn't advance their cause, either.
yo yo
2:10
Does Mike Tomlin get a pension from NFL / Steelers or both?
Gerry Dulac
2:10
Steelers
Alan
2:11
When the Steelers needed a yard last season and Aaron Rodgers stepped away hands in pockets, why didn't the coach just send in Mason Rudolph to boost the push?  I don't see the allure of another Rodgers season, why do the Steelers?
Gerry Dulac
2:11
Safe to say, they see it a little bit different than you
Brian
2:12
It used to be an kind of an unwritten rule that if a player was signed in the offseason, they were rarely let go.   With so many draft picks, even if we're able to move some to 2027, do you think that will still be the case or do you think they will give the rookies an actual chance to unseat the veterans?
Gerry Dulac
2:12
I don't think they will end up making 12 draft choices. If they do, it's a waste. There's not enough roster room for them. Use the picks for some packaging.
yo yo
2:13
Will Howard "Cons".  Has anything changed?
Inconsistent Accuracy: Despite a solid completion percentage, he often misses throws at all levels, particularly with a narrow base in his footwork.
Pressure Management: His performance drops significantly under pressure; he is often considered to be more effective when kept clean behind a strong line.
Limited Arm Talent: Lacks elite arm strength and struggles to make difficult throws in tight coverage, with some passes lacking necessary velocity.
Processing Speed: He can struggle to read defenses when they change concepts after the snap, leading to risky decisions or forced checkdowns.
Prototypical Concerns: Some analysts see him as a "product of his environment," arguing his success at Ohio State was heavily aided by elite teammates, rather than his own elite talent.
Limited Mobility: While big, he is not considered a dynamic rusher, tending to be a straight-line athlete rather than having high-end "wiggle".
Gerry Dulac
2:13
That's some scouting report
George
2:13
If the rumor of Rodgers seeking $ 30 million are true, would we give him that much money for 1 year?
Gerry Dulac
2:13
Don't believe everything you hear
Tom Ray
2:14
Hello Gerry, An NFL team with a 63 plus year old twice fired HC, very little at QB, not a playoff win in nine years and an Owner who thinks they are just "a bit shy" of reaching the SB deserves a lot more scrutiny than you have given. Why? When are you going to begin taking the Steelers to task? Seems like SOS to me. Back to the '60's.
Gerry Dulac
2:15
Really? I double-checked and didn't see any evidence of five playoffs appearances and two division titles in six years in the 60s
Turk in MD
2:15
Hi Gerry!  With WR, S, and OG as the priorities what are you thoughts on this ranking of a possible1st round pick: Tyson, Lemon, Thieneman, Ioane, Boston, McNeil-Warren?
Gerry Dulac
2:16
Did you say Sadiq?
Rick Woods
2:16
Gerry, is there a difference in content or purpose between the interviews held with players at the combine and those conducted as “Top 30” visits before the draft? Do players typically get just one or the other?
Gerry Dulac
2:17
No, they can get both, like Carson Beck. The top 30 visits are more specific and personal
Phil in Johnson City
2:17
No question, Mr. Dulac - just wanted to express my appreciation for all that you've contributed to our understanding of Pittsburgh sports over time.
Gerry Dulac
2:17
Thanx man. Keep watching though
Turk in MD
2:17
Gerry, thank you for all of your excellent coverage of our beloved Steelers over the years.  Not sure what happens after May, but wish you nothing but the best.
Gerry Dulac
2:18
OK, ok, let's not get too sentimental. Or possibly premature.
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