You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 07.24.25
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Gerry Dulac
9:51
OK, I know it's been a long summer without your favorite chat, but we're back and just about ready to go.
9:56
OK kids, here we go....
Stairway to seventh seed
9:56
Gerry: the Chiefs just signed George Karlaftis to a 4 year $93 million extension.  Karlaftis is 24 years old and has 8 sacks in 10 career postseason games.  Do you think that a 30 year old TJW with one career playoff sack is worth almost $18 million a year more than Karlaftis?
Gerry Dulac
9:57
Here's the first shocker of training camp -- Stairway is the first question in the chat ....again! I'm not about to compare George Karlaftis to TJ Watt. We'll see which team made the right call.
Free Scotty
9:58
Taking a detour to your other sport, do you feel that right now Scotty is as dominant as Tiger was in his prime or is that dominance still a half step lower?
Gerry Dulac
9:58
Half step lower, but nonetheless just terribly impressive and awesome to watch
Stairway to seventh seed
9:58
Gerry: Although they increased his pay substantially, Jonnu Smith is still on only a one year deal and will be hoping to get another big contract.  He will probably have to adapt to playing less than Friermuth as Tomlin often favors incumbents even if Smith is the better player.  He will also have to watch Washington and probably even Heyward get playing time in Arthur Smith's everybody gets a turn offense.  Can you see Jonnu becoming this year's Melvin Ingram?
Gerry Dulac
10:00
I don't think Jonnu Smith has to worry about Connor Heyward, who has other bigger worries. And I don't think they brought Smith in to lead the band at halftime. He ain't gonna be watching a lot
FC
10:00
Hi Gerry, thoughts if Holcomb is healed and chances of making the 53?  He sure was very good before the injury.
Gerry Dulac
10:01
I think his chances are very good. His recovery had been nothing short of remarkable
Bill in LA
10:01
I'm not a chef, but I bring the heat.
I chase QBs like they’re fresh-cut meat.
When I rush, right tackles disappear.
Then I do my dance, and make crowds cheer,
My name sounds electric, my plays are shock,
I am your number one wrecking block.
They paid me so much, it's kinda absurd,
Now my wallet has cramps and needs an ice pack, word!

Who am I?
Gerry Dulac
10:02
Judging from that prose, I'd say Robert Frost. Is that how you spent your time away from the chat Bill??
Jersey Danno
10:03
Based on the Eagles' blueprint, I think the most important player on the Steelers may be Benton. Most of what I read indicates the staff is pleased with his development so far. Is that what you hear behind closed doors?
Gerry Dulac
10:04
It's quite a stretch on a defense that includes Heyward, Watt, Queen, Ramsey, Slay and Harmon to say Benton is the most important player. He's a nice piece in the puzzle, yes, but not the key.
Bill in LA
10:05
Gerry, I have noticed that you never really criticize Art Rooney, Omar Khan, nor Mike Tomlin. Will you admit that it's because you rely on them to provide you with inside information for your articles, so you need to stay in their good graces?
Gerry Dulac
10:06
Gee, Bill, two questions already and no mention of a quarterback
Harry Callas
10:06
Hello! Mr Dulac. We were discussing on the morning show what the Steelers will do at safety. Omar Khan have a very tepid endorsement of Juan Thornhill. Do you think they’ll sign a player there. Or will Ramsey be primarily a safety?
Gerry Dulac
10:07
Thornhill will be a fit in the team's nickel and dime defenses. But, when they have just four secondary players on the field, it will always be Porter, Slay, Ramsey and Elliott. Ramsey will be used at a variety of positions.
Guest
10:07
Gerry, how important will it be for Arthur Smith to open up this offense?  Will we actually see some semblance of an air attack more frequently, maybe even score some points in the first quarter this year?
Gerry Dulac
10:08
You mean like when Russell Wilson passed for 414 yards and put up 44 points in Cincinnati last year??
Ol’ Cowboy
10:08
Gerrard! Who will be the 2nd outside WR opposite DK Metcalf when the Steelers take the field vs the Jets week 1?
Gerry Dulac
10:09
I'm betting they open up with 3 wide receivers when they take the field vs. the Jets. Run with it
Rob in CT
10:09
Does Broderick Jones still look slimmed down a bit
Gerry Dulac
10:09
He did when I saw him yesterday
Guest
10:09
Gerry, any chance the Steelers give Trice a shot at the safety position?  He seems to have the size and speed to do so, or will he end up having very little playing time behind Slay, Ramsey and Porter?
Gerry Dulac
10:11
Probably the latter when you look at all the secondary players they acquired, including Brandin Echols. That's four new guys to go with Porter and Elliott.
Negative Nancy
10:11
Gerry. The Steelers should be concerned about their depth beyond their starters on the o-line. Calvin Anderson and Dylan Cook are backing up their tackles. Why haven’t they signed some veteran insurance?
Gerry Dulac
10:12
Name me one team that doesn't have concerns about depth on the offensive line. A lot of teams have concerns about finding starters on the offensive line
itsallmoot
10:12
Who is the player the Steelers can least afford to lose to injury?  I thought about Metcalf and Boswell (we're the kings of not getting in the end zone) but I still think the Dline lacks depth so think it's Cam.  As good as TJ and Rogers is/was, there is at least a little depth behind them.  Not so much on the Dline.
Gerry Dulac
10:12
You might be right about that
Ivan
10:12
Hello Gerry,

Hope you're having an excellent camp. Omar says he feels good about the current Steelers roster, but I think we're just one injury away—especially to DK, Thornhill, or the OL—from having a very long season.

Do you think Omar will add a veteran WR, FS, or OL before the season starts?

Take care!
Gerry Dulac
10:14
I would not put Thornhill among the guys they can least afford to lose. Unless there is a significant injury, I think they are done adding veteran players
DT
10:14
Hey Gerry, hope all is well! Do they get a FS or Wr2 next? I can’t imagine they feel comfortable at either position. Thank you!
Gerry Dulac
10:14
I hate to tell you, right now they feel very comfortable. Maybe by the end of camp they'll feel otherwise
Pittfan
10:14
Hi Gerry. Do you feel like the Steelers did everything they could this off season to make the roster better or do you believe there were some missed opportunities?
Gerry Dulac
10:15
I don't think there's any question they did everything they could possibly do...and then some. You have to give them credit for that. Not afraid to make moves and not afraid to spend money.
Pittfan
10:15
Hi Gerry. Omar said they are not currently negotiating contract extensions but he left the door open. I can only think of Calvin Austin as a candidate. Will he be able to show enough in camp for the Steelers to open that door?
Gerry Dulac
10:16
Austin is about the only one, but I don't think he has shown enough yet to merit a new deal
Yunzer Jake
10:16
Welcome back Gerry.  Hope you had a great break.  As we wade into football again, it seems to me that the O Line is the key to the Steelers' season - if they can open some holes and keep Rodgers most of the time, the team has a better chance to play ball control offense, win the time of possession battle, score some points and keep the defense rested.  Is there something different they can do in terms of drills, coaching, play selection, etc. that will help the O Llne succeed?
Gerry Dulac
10:18
The lines of scrimmage -- offense and defense -- are always the key for any winning football team. And, despite all the public angst about the O-Line, the Steelers have two young No. 1 picks and a No. 2 pick on that line. Plus a second-year guy who was a No. 4 pick. They have certainly gone out of their way to build that unit.
Connecting…