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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 06.16.22
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Gerry Dulac
9:39
OK kids, we're going to start our chat in 5-10 minutes so get ready....
9:51
OK kids, let's get started....Go!!
Mediocre Mike
9:51
Gerry,  Did you ever think you would see the day the Steelers would be the worst IN THE NFL at offense run game and rushing defense? The offensive rushing game has been at the bottom of the league 4 straight years after Tomlin was given a mandate to fix it after 2017 when they ranked #20. For this futility he was given a 3 year extension. Now the run defense is last in the league. Steelers are tied for 21st in playoff wins in the last 11 years with 3. They are 25th in win % at .333. They havent won a playoff game in 5 years, the longest streak since the 1971 season ended. They have given up an average of 42.7 ppg in the last 4 consecutive playoff losses and fired 2 OCs after those losses while scoring 42 and 38 points.  Why is Tomlin so protected?
Gerry Dulac
9:53
Nope. The two staples on which the Steelers have always built their foundation -- running the ball and stopping the run -- have disappeared. And their playoff performances have been embarrassing. As for your last question, it's a good one.
Retire21
9:53
Gerry: Is it an oversimplification to say the Omar area has arrived with this relatively quick Minkah signing rather than at the very end of preseason as it seem we have come to expect?
Gerry Dulac
9:53
Uh, maybe just a pinch.
Bill
9:53
What were Mitch Tribitski's deficiencies that led to the Chicago Bears giving up on him?
Gerry Dulac
9:56
Probably that they used their No. 1 pick in 2020 on a QB -- Justin Fields. Hard to say exactly without being around them on a regular basis. But he won more games than he lost (29-21) and did get them to two playoff appearances. It was probably that he never played well enough to live up to his No. 2 overall draft position. But who's fault is that -- his or the lofty expectations heaped on him by the Bears organization in charge of evaluating him??
Retire21
9:56
Can you really argue with these has-beens like Westwood, Louie O, Poulter, Sergio, taking the $$$?
Gerry Dulac
9:57
Nope. Not at all.
Bill
9:57
Would it be fair to say that Art Rooney II is a weak owner?
Gerry Dulac
9:57
It would be unfair.
Retire21
9:57
The five previously No. 1 QBs drafted by the Steelers have mostly done well. Ted Marchibroda, the first one aside, but Len Dawson led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl, Mark Malone got the Steelers to the AFC championship game and then there's Terry and Ben. Pickett will equal Malone, I'll say. You?
Gerry Dulac
9:58
If Pickett equals Mark Malone, there will be a lot of disappointed people in the Steelers organization.
Set-man
9:58
Thanks for the great chats! I would think the Steelers are in a good spot with their quarterback situation. Before it all started , people were stating how MT would be ideal and how Pickett would be great but out of our range.  Now that they are here, the naysayers come out: MT couldn’t cut it in Chicago and Pickett shouldn’t have gone in the first when we had other options. Can’t imagine where we would be if MT went to the Giants and Pickett was not available.
Question is what happens to Rudolph through all this? Can Pickett really develop in the pre-season if he is QB3? Would a team actually trade for Rudolph for a fifth rounder? Would the Steelers cut Rudolph if there were no trade partners?
Gerry Dulac
10:03
I look at it this way: The Steelers did not draft Pickett on the first round to be a game-day scratch as the No. 3 QB. And they didn't immediately jump all over Trubisky in free agency to be a backup. So, unless both immediately prove to be bad moves (which I don't expect), I don't see that scenario changing. And that means, out of fairness, it  is unlikely they will keep Rudolph after all these years as the No. 3 guy. Of course, an injury can change all this in a heartbeat
Alex
10:03
I believe the defense will have to carry the load at the beginning of the season until the offense finds its footing, do you anticipate any defense additions prior to the season maybe the defensive line ?
Gerry Dulac
10:05
Probably not, barring injuries, though I never rule out the possibility of Joe Haden returning.
Alex
10:05
Signing Minkah to a deal prior to camp was a good move does this signify a change in approach for the Steelers front office ?
Gerry Dulac
10:06
No. They were going to sign him to a new deal at one point or another before the start of the season. And, no matter who is the GM, the person responsible for making that type of monster deal is still the same -- Art Rooney II.
Stlrdave1
10:07
Good morning. I keep hearing about the NFL and their code of conduct. What could be more damming to their shield than these countless number of cases piling up on Deshaun Watson?
Gerry Dulac
10:09
Actually....nothing. If the league does what the Browns failed to do -- investigate BOTH sides of the allegations -- there is no way they don't suspend him for at least one season.
Salvatore
10:09
Draft decisions aside. Will you be comfortable having Mitch a terrific training camp and being the QB for 2023?
Gerry Dulac
10:10
I can't look that far ahead. And neither will the Steelers. But, I do know this, unless you have a franchise QB in front of him, teams don't draft a QB on the first round and have him sit for very long.
Surley
10:10
KC paid JuJu hardly anything.  Couldn’t the Steelers have paid him the same and used a draft pick on another need, instead of picking two wide-outs?
Gerry Dulac
10:11
I think that was up to JuJu. I'm not going to condemn him. He came back last season to be with Ben when he could have signed for a few more pennies elsewhere
Hickster
10:11
Predictions on any surprise cuts this year ? Also would you say the toughest cuts could be at wide receiver, even with JU JU gone they seem pretty loaded there. Thanks!
Gerry Dulac
10:14
Actually, WR should be very simple -- DJ, Claypool, Pickens, Austin, Boykin and Olszewski. The "surprise" cuts could come at RB, where any one of the three backups could be gone
Coach15
10:14
Is it wise to sign D Johnson to a BIG contract, why or why not?
Gerry Dulac
10:14
Not wise. Not now.
TomB
10:14
Thanks for the chats Mr D! Are there any caveats in the “guaranteed” portion of the recent NFL contracts for injury, retirement, or other non-performance issues?
Gerry Dulac
10:15
No. If they money is guaranteed, it's guaranteed, regardless.
Coach15
10:15
What has OC Canada ever done that Tomlin/Steelers think he has an NFL offense?
Gerry Dulac
10:15
Someone pay this guy!
Salvatore
10:15
Good morning dear Gerry! It is noticeable the change from Kevin to Omar. We were expecting Minkah to sit down during Training Camp and now he is signed before. So it seems that probably Omar Khan can be a sparkle in the org with more energy and youth. What are your thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
10:20
I don't know that anyone was "expecting" Minkah to sit down during training camp, like the TJ Watt situation. But it was certainly a possibility after the Steelers already established a pattern for that. I can't tell you the exact inner workings of why Minkah's deal got done a lot earlier than Watt's. Maybe it had something to do with the salary cap not being greatly expanded after being flattened last year. But, as I stated earlier, the person responsible for Minkah's deal getting done is the same guy who got Watt's deal done -- AR2.
TSH
10:20
Hi Gerry, a lot going on w/ the Steelers and thank you for your coverage!  M. Rudolph question….  I want to give M. Rudolph another year but  IF he were traded, the Browns might be a team in desperate need of a QB with the uncertainty with Mayfield and Watson.  Would the Browns sweeten the trade offer if Browns are desperate before the season?  What would a desperate offer?  Thanks Much!!!
Gerry Dulac
10:22
That's the way the Steelers will get something for Rudolph in a trade -- if another team has an injury (or suspension) at QB heading into the regular season. That's how they got a 5th round pick for Josh Dobbs -- the Jaguars had a bunch of QB injuries toward the end of camp. Desperate teams do desperate things, especially for a QB.
Coach15
10:23
Will Steelers defense be good enough to control the opponents offense, so that Steelers offense can attempt to put together LONG drives & play some ball control--?  BC I don't think their offense can go up  & down the field & score 28+ points @ game, & their defense can't be off the field for one set of downs & right back on defense-
Gerry Dulac
10:25
That's the million-dollar question that, after what we've seen the past couple years, might not have an immediate answer. But, I think if you look closely around the league, the best and most dangerous teams are ones who can throw the ball, no play ball-control. That sounds nice and looks wonderful on paper, but if you can't attack through the air you have a tough time winning in the NFL. Not always, but usually
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