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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 10.09.19
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Gerry Dulac
10:17
Good morning, everyone, we will start our chat in approximately 30-35 minutes so get those questions ready...
11:10
Here we go kids...sorry for the delay. Was in the locker room.
Chase
11:10
Do you see Pittsburgh bringing in any other quarterbacks if Mason is out for an extended period of time... we are one injury away from Paxton Lynch and in a AFC North that is still technically wide open that would surely be the end.
Gerry Dulac
11:11
I don't forsee Rudolph being out for an extended period, based on what I see and what I hear. But, if he were, yes, they might bring in another QB, but not to be the starter or backup, just to have a third QB
MTScott
11:11
Despite the constant talk that MT should be gone, I just don’t see it happening.  I think DR likes how he represents the team both on & off the field.  The new Era will happen only after BigBen chooses to retire - agree?
Gerry Dulac
11:11
It ain't happening
Lou
11:11
Hi Gerry! If the Steelers were to sign another WR FA, who is out there that could be good fit and worth getting?  I keep thinking adding Dez Bryant might be worth a look.
Gerry Dulac
11:12
Lou, I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. But, if a wide receiver was still out there to be signed, he's out there for a reason, meaning it's unlikely he's someone who can come in and play, let alone help.
CHOTTY
11:13
One can debate the virtues of Mike Tomlin has a head football coach (I know, he has never had a losing season) but why would the Redskins EVER consider bringing him in a talent evaluation/ player development role? In that regard, he has been undeniably poor. Is this just another example of Daniel Snyder's misguided ownership or is the market for NFL head coaches/ general managers THIS thin?!?!
Gerry Dulac
11:15
First off, don't take what you have read as gospel. Of course, Dan Snyder would like Tomlin. He'd probably like Belichick too. And Lombardi (wait, the Redskins already had him). But, let me also say this, no matter what you think and whatever his shortcomings are, if Mike Tomlin were a free agent he'd be the target of every team that didn't have someone like Belichick or Sean McVay or Sean Payton in place.
WhiteHouseRick
11:15
I appreciate JuJu has a right to "live his best life" away from football, but do you really believe that his obsession with his social media AND building "his" brand will not affect his primary job as a football player? Football, as they say, is the ultimate team sport and his social media imprint is 24/7 JUJU.
Gerry Dulac
11:17
Yes it is. At the very least, it's a bad look to be a frat party at a campus 90 min away in a week you're not practicing (but still playing) because of a toe injury. And, while that social branding didn't have anything to do with his fumble, it is still a very bad look -- or bad optics, as people like to say now. The quickest way to lessen your brand and lose your followers is to do things like that on the field.
Rick Sunner in Orlando
11:18
I know Nix has been out the last month but why on earth do the Steelers run from the shot gun on 3rd and 4th and 1? They can put an extra tight end in the fullback spot and slam it up the middle. It seemed to work on the Conner touchdown. In addition how bout a QB sneak with less than a yard to go. The success rate has to be over 85%. What say you Gerry?
Gerry Dulac
11:19
First off, I agree with you, but they do that to make the defense think it might be something other than a run. It's called out-thinking yourself
Patrick
11:19
It appears Tomlin does not trust his specialty teams, but that unit has not been great for some time. What changed, do you think, for Tomlin? Also, could this lead to a change in coaches in the offseason?
Gerry Dulac
11:20
It could. They have not been very productive. And when you have an offense that is not scoring touchdowns and has a ton of injuries, you need production from the special teams. And the Steelers aren't getting any.
Fan of Gary
11:20
Thanks for the chats Gary, Is this defense a Mark Barron upgrade from being elite (injuries excluded). With Bud most likely moving on where is our next OLB....currently on team, draft, FA? Thanks
Gerry Dulac
11:23
I don't have a huge problem with Mark Barron. And I think the defense is pretty good right now with the pieces they have in place with Bush, Nelson and Fitzpatrick. But they have to go out and prove it with more timely stops. They did on the first possession of overtime, which is what they HAD to do. But JuJu's fumble changed all that. And if Bud leaves, which I expect him to, the Steelers will look to the draft to find a replacement.
Utah Jim
11:23
Excluding the Patriots game, the Steelers last 8 defeats were by an average 3.5 points and pretty much went down to the end of the game.  Have you ever seen a team come up with so many ways to lose close games at the end?  It’s like they are going through some of the worse luck ever.  Maybe bad teams just find ways to lose.
Gerry Dulac
11:26
To your point, excluding the NE game, the Steelers have outscored their opponents, 96-81, but are 1-3 in those games. Have I seen this before? Yes, last year's team. I'm a firm believer in that your record says who and what you are. Good teams find a way to win those games. Not-so-good teams find a way to lose those games. The Steelers are a 1-4 team.
Utah Jim
11:26
Should Finney get a chance to start?  I don’t know if Foster is part of the run game problem, but they need to try something.
Gerry Dulac
11:29
Their issues aren't any one player. Conner averaged 3.9 yards and the team averaged 4.1 yards rushing against the Ravens. That's not great, but that's not abysmal. They just don't run it enough or stay committed to it.
HITMAN$HEARTNAR
11:29
I just finished viewing the "all-22" and am left just depressed by our offensive line play. It is indeed OFFENSIVE - we are old, slow and poorly coached. Why has the coaching change and complete collapse in the quality of play at the position not been more a talking point? For me, it is PROBLEM #1. The game is won in the trenches.
Gerry Dulac
11:32
It is a big problem, for sure. They are no explosion runs or consistent "chunk plays" in the ground game. Why? I think there are several reasons. But they had six 100-yard rushers last season -- five by Conner -- and he had seven runs of 20+ yards. Both were among the most in the league. He has one run of 20+ yards and no 100-yard games this season. Is it him, the line, the loss of Mike Munchak or commitment to the run? Or all of the above? I could do a thesis on the subject, Unfortunately for you, this is a 30-minute chat.
Jim
11:33
The Steelers in recent years seem to have a facility for doing the exactly wrong thing at exactly the right time to cost them games (fumbles, penalites etc).  Winning teams seem to avoid those mistakes, losing ones can't get out of their own way.  Is it really just an attitude adjustment for the Steelers in crunch time or is it something else?  They have way too much talent to be 1-4.
Gerry Dulac
11:35
Well, I'd go easy on that too much talent thing. You certainly can't say that now with this offense. The defense has upgraded its talent significantly and I think you see that with the takeaways. But that's what losing teams do -- they find ways to lose, not win, whether penalties, fumbles or poor decisions.
Guest
11:35
What do you see as a key to a Steelers victory in LA?  A banged up back field and no consistent run game spell trouble to me especially with a third string Quarterback.
Gerry Dulac
11:36
Yep. So they better get some defensive or special teams TDs. I think they have a much better chance of getting the former and not the latter.
Steel one
11:37
Hey Gerry - last week i asked you about needing to release Moncrief by week 10 to regain a comp pick....you responded that the process didn't work that way but i continue to hear other media members talk about it! Can you shed any further info on the subject. Thanks!!
Gerry Dulac
11:38
Is it true and here's why. Read this story I did last week after our chat. You sent me scurrying for the answer.... https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/10/04/l-j-fort-relea...
Ryan
11:38
Hey Gerry, I think the fact we stayed in the game despite being down to our 3rd string QB says and how close all but 1 of our losses has been says more about how good of a coach Tomlin is. Your thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
11:39
You are in the minority but you are also closer to the truth than the ones who think otherwise
Steve
11:39
Good morning!  Any truth to or thoughts on the Redskin plane being in Pittsburgh yesterday?
Gerry Dulac
11:39
Oh yeah...I saw Tomlin get on board
RJT
11:39
Afc north isn’t very good this year. Am I crazy for thinking the Steelers can still win the division?
Gerry Dulac
11:40
You are right on both fronts. Not saying it will happen, but it's not far-fetched. Put together back-to-back wins and they will be hanging in there.
Jake
11:41
Gerry,  Do you think the Duck can get the Steeler's a win Sunday?  The kid can throw it for sure but can Fichtner put together a game plan that will utilize his talents.  So far not convinced.  Seeing Samuels throw deep in the Steerler's end convinced me he is not the answer at OC.
Gerry Dulac
11:43
I don't think the Steelers will sculpt together a game plan to fit Duck's talents as much as they will want him to fit into their game plan, just as they did with Rudolph. Don't forget, this will be his FIRST NFL START!!
OK, kids, we out of time. Thanx for the questions. See ya next week
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