You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 05.20.20
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat
Tom
11:34
Gerry, and on the topic of special teams, Tomlin has failed miserably for a number of years to develop a respectable return game on either punt or kick off. Thanks
Gerry Dulac
11:34
I disagree. Do you remember Antonio Brown?
Troy
11:34
Do you see a scenario where teams will offer all their games via PPV in the vent no fans are allowed to attend?  May offset some of the loses for the teams revenue?
Gerry Dulac
11:34
None.
Troy
11:34
Biggest hole you think still needs to be filled and potential players to fill them?
Gerry Dulac
11:35
ILB. The potential players are listed in earlier answer -- Vince Williams, Ulysees Gilbert III, Marcus Allen, Antoine Brooks.
JDaven
11:35
Gerry, which teams in our division do you think will be affected more by the loss of practice time due to the virus and why?
Gerry Dulac
11:36
They will all be affected, but the team with the biggest amount of rookies and first-year players will feel it the most
Mo Nongahela
11:36
I believe Al Villanueva is in a contract year.   What kind of offer do you think he should get after the season, assuming his performance is consistent with the past few years?
Gerry Dulac
11:38
It depends who you think is making the offer. I'm not sure the Steelers will be in any hurry to re-sign AV. It depends what happens this season -- how he performs, do they think they have a player ready to step in? As a starting left tackle who has made two Pro Bowls, he will command a big contract. I'm not sure the Steelers will want to, or be able to, give him one.
Troy
11:38
Gerry,  I see this offense being deadly and back to their 2018 numbers should they stay healthy, with the addition of Claypool, and Ebron to go along with Ben and a decent running game.  If the defense can perform at the level they did last year aren't we a definite contender in the AFC?
Gerry Dulac
11:41
I would not use the word "deadly" to potentially describe the offense. Let's not get ahead of yourself. But I think with the addition of two big and tall weapons who can run, that will certainly help the offense big-time with BR back. And, yes, with the defense and QB back, they definitely are a big-time contender in the AFC. But they have to go show it.
Troy
11:41
Gerry, realistic expectation for the starting O-Line?  I have to think they only move Feiler to guard if the candidates at RT fail?  Thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
11:42
Quite the opposite. The only way he's going to guard is if their left guard candidates fail. And I don't see that happening at all with Stefen Wisniewski and rookie Kevin Dotson. Matt Feiler is their right tackle.
Maurice
11:42
Gerry assuming Ben is healthy, which QB would you rather have only for this 2 coming years starting for your team: Ben or Lamar Jackson?
Gerry Dulac
11:43
Ask me when Lamar Jackson wins a playoff game.
MikeMc
11:43
The Steelers have a great group of starters on both the O and D line , but what are your thoughts on the depth behind them?
Gerry Dulac
11:46
The depth on the defensive line is average at best, suspect at worst. It's not befitting a rotation system that Karl Dunbar likes to use, though I understand the reason he likes to use it. As for the offensive line, you can count on three fingers how many teams in the league have quality depth on the O-line. Lot of teams have problems finding starters on the offensive line. I think the depth is serviceable, especially with the addition of Dotson.
JDaven
11:51
I agree with Troy but more of a deadly defense than an offense but one that controls the clock. Gerry, do think the offense will be committed to the run game more this year? Committed like they practice and stressed turnovers last year and everyone responded.
Gerry Dulac
11:54
You can stress turnovers all you want, getting them is an entirely different matter. Every team talks about taking the ball away. Not every team does it. As for running the ball, it's not a question of commitment, it's matter of producing. The Steelers ran the ball 42.1 percent of the time last season, far more frequently than they did in 2018 (32.6 percent of the time) when James Conner made the Pro Bowl. It was even more frequently than in 2017 (41.5) when Le'V Bell had 1,291 yards rushing. It's not about commitment. It's about execution.
mvandrews7
11:54
Hi Gerry, Can you give us an update on what teams are allowed to do not that facilities are starting to reopen? Not sure what part of the preseason process we are in due to Covid-19. Thanks!
Gerry Dulac
11:56
Just because facilities are starting to reopen doesn't mean anything right now for the  players and coaches. They are still not allowed at their facilities, only a limited amount of front-office personnel. Players and coaches won't be allowed at the facility until every team in the league is allowed to have players and coaches. And, as we have seen, different states are operating under different guidelines because of the pandemic.
ZO
11:56
Please rank the RBs (Conner, Snell, Samuels, McFadden) in order of number of snaps you expect them to see this season.
Gerry Dulac
11:56
You just did.
Willie
11:56
It seems that over the years the Steelers have always had one especially big hitter on the defense. That seems to be lacking now -- is it because of the way the game has changed ? or are we lacking th one big hit man, or am I just all wet ?
Gerry Dulac
11:58
You better find a towel. But there is no question the rules have outlawed that type of stuff. Oh, you still see it from time to time, but not nearly like before. $25,000 fines will do that to a player.
Jeff
11:58
Why can an offensive line be great pass blocking and great running line but the Steelers O line can only pass block.
Gerry Dulac
12:01
Unless you have done a scientific study of every offensive line, I don't think there are many, if any, who are great (your word) at both. Some are better in one area than the other. The Steelers line is built to protect BR, and rightfully so. Do they do that better than run block? Yes, because they employ the type of technique necessary to do so. Also, do not think for a minute the run game isn't affected when BR isn't the QB.
Buster
12:02
Do you know if Rudolph and/or Washington are good friends with Matthew Wolff?
Gerry Dulac
12:02
I do not, but I will ask him when I see him. If I see him.
Troy
12:02
Gerry, given the injury history of Connor why is Tomlin so hesitant to use a RB by committee approach?
Gerry Dulac
12:03
They do have to use a committee approach -- when Conner is injured, which is frequently. But he is their best back...when healthy. That's why.
mvandrews7
12:03
Gerry, Can you explain to the readers that constantly complaining about being "committed to the run" is nonsense. Teams that have QB's that can sling it don't commit to the run. You only need to run when you want too, i.e. 4 yards a pop to keep teams off balance. A 60% 40% mix is just fine. Maybe even 70% 30% is good enough. Thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
12:03
Pay the man!!
That's all the time we have today, kids. Thanx for the questions.
Connecting…