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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 08.17.23
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Gerry Dulac
9:47
OK kids, we're going to start our chat in just a few minutes, so get ready.....
9:57
OK, here we go kids....Fire away
Stairway to seventh seed
9:58
Gerry:  I have heard from time to time from local media sources that Cam Heyward is putting together a "hall of fame career".  Cam has been a quality player on and off the field for a number of years, but he has played in exactly ONE playoff win in his career.  Isn't it hypocritical of the Steeler Nation to support players like Hines, Harrison, and LC for the Hall primarily on the basis of their championship pedigree and then promote Heyward as HOF worthy?  One playoff win!  LC once had 4 sacks in a Super Bowl win.
Gerry Dulac
9:59
L.C. Greenwood, of all the former Steelers who aren't in the HOF, is the one player who should be. Cam Heyward is a tremendous player, but he will have a harder time getting in the HOF than Hines and JH.
Conroy
9:59
Gerry, would you agree that the peak of Tomlin's coaching tenure with the Steelers was half-time of the 2010 Season AFC Championship game vs the Jets when the Steelers led 24-3? And since then it has been a slow and steady decent into mediocrity?
Gerry Dulac
10:00
I wouldn't go that far. But there have not been many shining playoff memories after that, that's for sure
Tom
10:01
Preseason gameplans are usually pretty vanilla as to not show your hand for the regular season. Were you suprised then that the Steelers offense  ran the nifty play to get Pickens open over the middle for the TD and went to Austin deep multiple times? To me, it looked like Canada was more worried about saving his job already than playing it smart for the opener.
Gerry Dulac
10:01
I don't think that had anything to do with it. It was a simple crossing pattern, not anything more. The only thing nifty about it was the play Pickens made.
Bill B.
10:02
As a fan I have zero hope and  that Steelers will ever contend for the SuperBowl under Tomlin.They have no shot this year. You know it. Deep down everyone knows it.  3 playoff wins in 12 years, 11 with a HOF QB, and a team with the best talent in the league for the decade from 2011-2020 and only 3 playoff wins is inexcusable and unforgivable. Tomlin is the only coach in NFL History that would continue to get a pass - not get fired - with these terrible results.  Can you explain WHY?
Gerry Dulac
10:02
Bill, I like how you speak for me and what I think. I'm guessing you're going to be upset when he gets into the HOF someday.
SMF
10:02
Hi Gerry:  Thanks for the Chats:  There is always talk about the ILB pass coverage skills, I’m just as concerned about the Strong Safeties.  I always liked Terrell Edmunds effort, but he was so often a step and a jump slower than receivers he covered on pass routes.  I think that is why the Steelers let him go.  Do you think Kazee or Neal have that burst to stay with or catch up to receivers?   Minkah has it.  Killebrew, Thompson, and Norwood don’t.
Gerry Dulac
10:05
Kazee has it for sure. The others...not so sure. Killebrew is a special teams standout who will only play defensively if needed. Yes, Edmunds didn't have that Minkah burst, but who does. That being said, I thought they should've re-signed Edmunds, especially after he accepted less to sign with the Eagles than he was making w the Steelers.
SMF
10:05
Hi Gerry:  Thanks again for your great insights.  Isn’t it part of every NFL team with a big tough RB to run play action passes from the QB behind the center?  Nagee seems the perfect fit for this.  Doesn’t that help disguise things for the receivers as well?  Is Canada not capable of designing such plays or too stubborn to know he is behind the times?  Are they doing this at all in training camp?
Gerry Dulac
10:06
I will tell you that is exactly what they are hoping to run...and run a lot. That was their plan last year and it will be part of the objective this year. But, for play-action to work, the threat of a running game has to be there first. Without that, play-action is not very effective.
StanSavranwasthebest
10:06
Harris has averaged a pedestrian 3.9 yds per carry. Is this the year he produces like a first round pick? He’s healthy and they have improved the line. He has no more excuses.
Gerry Dulac
10:07
Especially after Jaylen Warren's yards per carry was a whole yard better than his in 2022.
Mark
10:08
As the teams sit now in preseason, which Steelers position group(s) - if any - are the best in the AFC North, and which are the worst in the division?
Gerry Dulac
10:10
That's a good question. It requires me to think too much about the rest of the division. The OL would be up there among the best. OLB would be the best. The QB room is the deepest, if not the best. CB might be the most questionable
Hi Bats -
10:10
Hi Gerry - do you see any area where the Steelers might still be looking for upgrades?  4th corner, 4th tackle?  Thanks
Gerry Dulac
10:10
Maybe CB, though not right now.
Se7en
10:10
Do you think Mitch Trubisky should be a starter in the league? Did Mike Tomlin give him a fair chance as the Steelers’ QB?
Gerry Dulac
10:11
I think he is better than some of the other QBs I see in the league. And you've heard me say this many times before -- when he had to replace Kenny Pickett, that was probably the best QB play they received all year
Se7en
10:11
Hi Gerry, love the chats. How would you rank our offense and defense respectively in the AFC?
Gerry Dulac
10:11
Offense -- average at best, until proven otherwise.
Defense -- potential to be top 10, or better
Big Nugget
10:12
Didn't see him much but Najee had his stutter step again that was a problem the first half of last season. Why can't they correct it. Tomblin needs to sit him down and tell him the facts. Harris gets paid enough and is all grown up. Time to say enough is enough. Are they going to wait 8 games again before correcting him?
Gerry Dulac
10:12
Let's hope not
55 year fan
10:12
Hi Gerry, what do you enjoy most about training camp? Thanks.
Gerry Dulac
10:12
The end
Hi Bats -
10:12
Hi Gerry - with more familiarity, do you see Kenny engaging with Ben more to manage expectations and hype around high expectations?  Or is that more Mitch.
Gerry Dulac
10:13
Nope, not at all. One of the things the Steelers really liked about Trubisky is the way he worked with Pickett and mentored him last season, even after he was benched (unfairly, I might add).
Se7en
10:13
Gerry: with what you’ve seen in training camp and the first preseason game, how far away are we from really having favorable odds of beating Kansas City or Cincy?
Gerry Dulac
10:14
Still far away, but the gap is closing ever so slightly
Guest
10:14
Morning Gerry, always appreciate and enjoy your coverage.   Mike Tomlin on national media interviews are very interesting, yet his pregame show with Bob is boring.  Can we get Ryan Clark or Ben to do those pregame interviews?  Thanks
Gerry Dulac
10:14
I'll tell Bob
Stlrdave1
10:14
Good morning Gerry, I've thought that the change of the organization in identify and focus is very encouraging. I'm excited. No one wants to see it more. Now comes when it counts. But the focus does seem to be enforced more if that makes sense. Thanks for taking my comment
Gerry Dulac
10:14
You are welcome, but to what "identity" are you referring?
Mark from Erie
10:15
Are there other factors. ie, character- that kept other teams from picking up Mason Rudolph?  He just seems to be a decent QB.
Gerry Dulac
10:15
It is not character, I can tell you that. He is top notch.
Se7en
10:15
This is an uncomfortable question and I don’t know if you are allowed to answer it straight on. Are you beat writers tired of Mike Tomlin? Do you think A
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