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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 09.29.21
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Gerry Dulac
11:10
If he retires, it has nothing to do with wins and losses. And I think you are making a rash judgement. Have you looked at their past two drafts and FA signings/trades over the past couple years such as Ingram, Schobert, Nelson, even Ebron. I know you want splash free agents, but they don't operate that way and good thing they don't.
Christian
11:10
Hi Gerry. At start of season I said they’d need 6 games to roll into shape. I’m still saying that. While below many people’s expectations I still think most areas can and will get consistently better. One exception I now think may not is Ben. Unfair or overly pessimistic?
Gerry Dulac
11:12
I think you started out correctly with your observation, then you morphed slightly into pessimism. I think your original premise holds true for the latter. Give it more time. Not fair to judge anyone or any team after 3 games.
joaquin gea
11:13
Can Big Ben overrule MT decision of having his vet day off? Seems like he needs it at least to review the playbook with his WRs.
Gerry Dulac
11:13
He reviews the playbook plenty. And he doesn't need to practice every day.
REID
11:13
Hi Gerry, until this O line "jells" do you think Stillers have better chance of winning with 7 in more shotgun and no huddle?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
Yes I do and the numbers prove that. But they do need to run the ball and there's only one way to get better at doing so.
MrCJJr
11:14
Hi Gerry, thanks for the chat. While I agree that the offense (i.e. the line, new scheme, etc.) is a work in progress, I think the injuries on defense have put more pressure on the offense (i.e. throwing almost 60x, playing from behind of course). IMO, I think if Cincinnati was that good, they would've scored more that 24 pts. especially against a depleted defense. What say you?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
I agree.
RyanW
11:14
If the offense doesn't show significant improvement do we get a new OC to break in a new QB next season?
Gerry Dulac
11:15
Those are decisions that will be made at the end of the year, not now. But I don't believe you will see that happen unless there is a complete breakdown.
What is going on?
11:15
From your observation of Ben at training camp and practice, can he still throw to the intermediate and deep middle of the field?
Gerry Dulac
11:16
Yes he can.
Fineline
11:16
All through camp and preseason we heard how great Ben looked. Now we see an occasional off target deep throw and 25 three yard dinks. Is he unwilling or unable to throw 15-20 yards down the middle of the field?
Gerry Dulac
11:17
That is a question that still needs to be answered and, quite frankly, I'm just surprised we haven't seen more of that and less than what we saw all of last year. I'm not sure if part of that is the new faces on the offensive line and the fact he's been sacked eight times already after being sacked just 13 times all of last season.
Chuck Muncy
11:17
Thanks for your good work. Obviously, the line is a mess right now, but with time, do you think it can improve enough this season to at least be effective?
Gerry Dulac
11:20
I do. I'm willing to give the three young guys/new starters -- Green, Moore and Dotson -- more time to develop. They were all high draft picks for reason and they're playing now for a reason, too. And that's because they are good players. I realize I'm in the vast vast minority. I'm willing to give them, the offense and the team more time than three measly games to pass judgement.
Mercury
11:20
Why do they refuse to put Derek Watt in front of Harris and block for him like a fullback should block? They used Watt more against the Bengals, but in non-blocking ways. He even lined up at wideout.
Gerry Dulac
11:21
Yeah, he played seven snaps against the Bengals, three more than he played in the previous two games. And I'm not sure why they don't try him more as a leader blocker. What can it hurt? That they would average only 53 yards a game rushing??
JerseySteel
11:25
Hi Gerry - are the plethora of 2 yard passes due to Ben's lack of mobility/declining accuracy down the field, the lack of time from the Oline, or both?
Gerry Dulac
11:25
Ben isn't Patrick Mahomes, but he's not Scott Mitchell either. I think the young new line has something to do with it, but they weren't young and new last season when he did that. Whatever it is, it has to change because teams are over-playing that attack. It's one thing to throw a 3-yard pass and get a 13-yard catch and run. It's another to throw a 3-yard pass and get a 3-yard gain.
kevin in Punxsy
11:26
Good mornin' Gerry.  People are saying that Ben can't/shouldn't be replaced because the Steelers have only played 3 games. I might agree, except for the fact that Ben went 1-5 in his last six games last season and he is now playing like he did in those last 6 games. I say give him two more and, if no improvement, then bring in Rudolph.  What say you?
Gerry Dulac
11:27
Well, I'd say that if he and the offense continues to play poorly, something will change. But I think that will take longer than two more games.
Hank
11:28
I think Steelers fans are panicking too soon. NFL has become a game of injuries. Every team is going to lose at least 1-2 starters and have others lose 2-3 games due to injuries. The best scenario is to have your injuries early in the season and be lucky not to lose more than two starters for the year. If you lose them early your replacements get experience and will get better over the course of the year, except for superstars such as Watt there is not much difference between the starter and the guy on the bench.
Gerry Dulac
11:28
OK, how did this intelligent guy sneak into the chat?
Gregg from Shaler
11:31
I haven't pushed the panic button, per se, but to me it's clear that Ben (nor either of our backups) are the answer for this year. Is the likelihood of benching Ben nil simply because he's a Steeler legend. I would get that to an extent inasmuch as Eli's benching struck me as harsh at the time. But truthfully, there seems to be so much value in assessing Mason and Haskins for the future with live game action. And if we win a few and Ben stops hurting maybe we reinsert him ala Osweiler and Manning. What say you?
Gerry Dulac
11:32
I'm not going to hold my breath on that one. Benching Ben is highly unlikely, unless there is a complete collapse and something needs to be done to change things. And we have never seen that in his 18 years in the league.
Mercury
11:32
Do you think throwing in the wildcat occasionally might open things up some? Or wouldn’t Coach Ben allow it?
Gerry Dulac
11:33
I have no problem with a play or two like that with Najee Harris. But only one or two.
Yancey
11:33
The more games on Sunday I watch, the more it looks like the Steelers aren't running a modern day NFL offense. It looks as stale & predictable as ever. Who is most to blame? Are they allowing Ben to push back too much on change?
Gerry Dulac
11:35
Look, I'm not going to argue it looks stale and predictable at times. But there have been other times where it looks like the old, productive attack. The second half of the Indy and Browns playoff games last season. The second half of the Bills opener. Problem is, they don't start that way and don't continue to play that way.
JB
11:36
It seems to me we are lacking team speed both offensively and defensively. Especially, in areas where it is critical such as Receiver, linebacker and defensive backs. What do you think Gerry?
Gerry Dulac
11:36
Their defensive speed is more than fine. But they could use a burner WR on offense.
REID
11:36
Hi Gerry, with the aging of the O line and the declining performance over the past few years, should this have been a priority to rebuild before '21 season?
Gerry Dulac
11:38
I would say drafting three OL (all starters) on the first four rounds the past two years is part of rebuilding. And what they drafted ahead of those guys - Claypool, Highsmith, Harris, Freiermuth -- was more essential. Now, next draft is a different story. Guard will be No. 1
kevin in Punxsy
11:38
Gerry, yesterday, Tomlin sounded like someone who won't admit that there is a serious problem with the O.  He "basically' said that it wasn't time to panic and he did not forsee any changes unless tied to something like Chuks has. I disagree with him on both points.  What say you?
Gerry Dulac
11:39
I don't. It's not time to panic. And he's never going to admit there's a serious problem on offense. Not after three games.
RJT
11:40
Are the Steelers coaches looking at last years offense or just his years?  It’s been a trend for the past 9 games now and they don’t seem to want to switch up there approach (schematically)
Gerry Dulac
11:40
I think that was why the crowd was booing after just two series against the Bengals. They were watching the same old thing
Dave N
11:40
Is it finally time to say Ben doesn't have "it" anymore, time to move on?
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