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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 07.30.20
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Gerry Dulac
10:28
OK, kids, we will start our chat in about 15-20 minutes, so get those questions ready....
10:44
OK, I see we have questions already so let's get started. Go....
ALB
10:44
Will there be any kind of deadline set by the NFL or individual teams for players to decide whether to opt out this season?
Gerry Dulac
10:45
Yes it is Monday, though I wouldn't be surprise if that deadline wasn't extended.
chuck Mac
10:45
Do you believe the season will start on time?.....give us some hope Gerry, I'm dyin' for football!!!!!
Gerry Dulac
10:46
I'm still skeptical....I think there is a possibility, whether a good one or not, they will chop the first four games and put them at the end of the schedule, thereby starting around Oct. 8. This is a very fluid situation, one that can change not just weekly, but daily.
BB
10:46
Gerry - with the Steelers adding another running back to an already crowded room, is there a shoe to drop with someone opting out of this season?  Thanks for the chats.
Gerry Dulac
10:50
I don't think so, and I'm guessing you're suggesting that James Conner, a cancer survivor, might decide to opt out of the season and they signed Smallwood as a safeguard. I think they signed Smallwood for the same reason they sign other players all the time -- to take a look at him and decide if he can help improve their depth. But, in this case, Smallwood is the type of back they don't have (until they drafted McFarland) -- a fast, big-play type of back.
CoalportKid
11:00
Does the salary cap freed up from when a player forgoes the season for COVID get added to next years cap?
Gerry Dulac
11:02
I don't think so. I'm sure the pro-rated portion of signing bonus still counts, just as it would if a player is cut or traded. Not sure what happens with base salary, but I'll check.
Pedro
11:02
Biggest question mark at camp seems to be the starting o-line. Pouncey, DeCastro, and AV are locked in. What do you think happens at RT and LG?
Gerry Dulac
11:03
I think Matt Feiler will go back to RT and Steve Wisniewski will be the left guard when the regular season starts. The Steelers want their five best players on the field, and four are Pouncey, DeCastro, Villanueva and Feiler. So it comes down to who is more effective -- Wisniewski, Banner or Okorafor.
Buzzard Bill
11:03
Hi Gerry, it seems that there are still some folks out there that believe signing Mr. Big chest is a good idea. Baltimore, for one.  Why would any team want to sign an aging, disgruntled WR who would probably be suspended for most of the year anyway?  Do they think that he would react well to sitting on the bench if signed?
Gerry Dulac
11:06
I'm with you...puzzled as well. Problem waiting to happen, if and when he returns from whatever suspension he will face. But I do know this -- there are desperate GMs out there who will be do anything to appease their owners that they are trying to get better and sell tickets. That, though, is short-sighted, naive and foolish.
PhilCanada
11:06
Love your Gerry. I always wondered why Troy P. didn't get moved to the mack/weakside middle linebacker in the final 2 years of his career, which I think could have extended is time wearing the Black and Gold uniform. Would love your thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
11:07
That type of specialty football wasn't employed when he was playing, though with his free-lancing style he was basically playing the role of a lot of different positions, especially that one.
Potter
11:07
If Ben is 100%, do the Steelers air it out this year like in 2018? Or do they recommit to run game per AR2’s wishes?
Gerry Dulac
11:09
Look, they will always be a pass-first team as long as they have No. 7. Basically the entire NFL is. But that doesn't mean they don't wany to run the ball more productively and more efficiently. Having BR back will help the running game immensely.
CD in SC
11:09
Gerry - which position battle are you most interested in watching play out this “training camp”?
Gerry Dulac
11:11
There is only one -- and that's the battle at right tackle, which will be influenced by how quickly Wisniewski gets adapted to the offense at left guard. If he does, there is no battle at right tackle. And all the other battles are for depth purposes. But I will be interested to see how new DE Chris Wormley performs in sub-package defenses.
Ernie
11:11
With Ebron and McDonald on the roster, will the Steelers use more two TE sets this season?
Gerry Dulac
11:13
Yes they will, which is why they acquired Ebron. He and McDonald are a good complement to each other. And they are two quality TEs, which makes having both of them on the field at the same time that much more appealing. The Steelers got away from using two- and even three-tight end sets last year, mainly because they only had one NFL quality TE.
CoalportKid
11:13
Assuming a season, what is your early over/under for wins for the Steelers, Ravens, Pats?
Gerry Dulac
11:13
Ravens 11, Steelers 10, NE 8
Tom in Dallas
11:14
If the local governments in any of the NFL cities limit size of gatherings, what will these teams do about training camp?  I assume the have a plan B to move to another location.  Where would the Steelers move if they could not work out at their facility?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
Those size of gathering restrictions would not affect the Steelers or other teams. They are outside and spread out over a large area. I don't expect that to happen.
BB
11:15
Gerry - The Patriots have a lot of players opting out....do you think we will see a rush of others from other teams before the Monday deadline?
Gerry Dulac
11:16
I don't know about a rush, but I think you will see others. As I said earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if the league extends that deadline. I think players would want to see what happens with the spread once there is contact, and that's not until Aug 17.
JP
11:16
What hoops does Justin Lake have to jump through before getting the okay to practice?
Gerry Dulac
11:17
The same as everyone else, though he has the advantage of being tested daily, unlike a normal person. In other professional sports, two negative tests in 24 hours or three in 72 hours is enough to return.
Buster
11:17
Of all the players in all pro sports who have tested positive thus far, have you heard of any who have gotten extremely sick? Is it possible that fine tuned athletes don’t have to worry much about the effects of the virus?
Gerry Dulac
11:18
Not one, though that doesn't mean there haven't been any. I think the immune system and conditioning of an athlete could have a better chance of staving off the extreme effects of the virus, but I'm no doctor. I'll have to check on that one.
GSMP
11:18
Has there been any discussion about expanding the active roster for this season beyond an expanded taxi squad? If a Marlins situation happens to an NFL team, and odds are that it will, you could easily lose half of your roster or more. On a related note, will the NFL change the IR list rules to take the virus into consideration?
Gerry Dulac
11:19
I'm sure they have. I think everything is subject to change or adapting in this environment.
BigEdBarr
11:19
Hey Gerry! Hope you had a great vacation. I have my doubts that the 2020 season will be played in full. I just see so many "what if's" involved, what do you think Gerry?
Gerry Dulac
11:20
Big Ed, thanks, and I agree. There are so many potential variables working against them that I remain skeptical too.
NC Steel
11:20
Hi Gerry, What are your expectations for how Ben will perform in his first few games back? He has a history of not performing well upon returning from injuries. Thanks!
Gerry Dulac
11:21
I have no expectations. We shall see. But you can't compare to past injuries because this one has a lot more to do with his ability to play like he always did, even though all the medical evaluations have shown no issues whatsoever with his recovery.
Doyle37
11:22
How much weight do you think the average Steelers fan has put on since the pandemic started ? I say at least 5 lbs.
Gerry Dulac
11:22
Depends who the fans are.
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