Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 10.21.26
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Gerry Dulac
10:59
Bonjour mes ami from Paris....Time difference doesn't matter to us. Let's get started....
Stairway to seventh seed
10:59
Gerry:  McCarthy's dubious play calling after the Dean pick and his questionable timeout that allowed Tampa to get organized and use a K-ball have been well discussed.  However, the Steelers had three other major brain cramps.  The Bernard 4th down, Rodgers taking a sack to "set up" a 58 yard FG, and an illegal shift penalty caused by once again not getting to the line of scrimmage on time.  The latter wiped out a 3rd down conversion to set up a 1st and goal.  Going into OT I was trying to remember when the Steelers last lost a game due to so much sheer stupidity.  Do you remember such a time?
Gerry Dulac
11:00
There have been several for sure, but you forgot to mention one thing -- they still won. I've seen brilliantly coached games lost before, too
Stairway to seventh seed
11:00
Gerry: the Steelers won in Ireland last year despite a questionable late arrival overseas.  This year, the Saints arrived on Monday, but the Steelers will arrive Friday.  Especially since the Steelers are coming of a nearly 5 quarter game, do you expect this to be a disadvantage?
Gerry Dulac
11:01
I certainly can see where it's a big advantage for the Saints, no question. But they did it last year and played one of their best games of the season in Dublin
Ryan
11:01
If anything happens to our players while in Paris, Roger Goodell should be held personally responsible.
Gerry Dulac
11:03
Players? They will be surrounded by extra security. How about the fans? But let me tell you, I've been all around Paris the last two days, at ALL the tourist spots, and I haven't seen anything remotely resembling an issue, except for the traffic.
Scott via Louisville Ky
11:04
What are most looking forward to seeing or doing in Paris?
Gerry Dulac
11:05
I stopped here last year after Dublin, so the newness of it is gone. Still, it's an amazingly beautiful city and you keep getting blown away ever time you see the Eifell Tower, day or night.
Scott via Louisville Ky
11:05
Do the writers get to fly with the team, in the back, like  Air Force One.
Gerry Dulac
11:05
They do not. It's all commercial travel for us.
No tank
11:06
Why do fans think that early draft picks equal guaranteed future success?
Gerry Dulac
11:06
Some GMs think that too
Alan in Bama
11:06
Good morning Gerry, if Rodgers does finally retire at the end of the season, do the Steelers draft a quarterback or go with what they have already?
Gerry Dulac
11:06
Depends. I will tell you they haven't ruled out drafting a QB, especially if they think there is one with a bigger upside than the two they have
Marty
11:07
Bradshaw won 4 Super Bowls calling his own plays.  Does Rodgers have the OK to call plays if he sees something he likes or the plays come in in late?
Gerry Dulac
11:07
Yes he does. The game was different in Bradshaw's day. They didn't have audio helmets with the plays being sent in from the coaches box or sideline
Scott via Louisville Ky
11:08
Rogers said the offense started working once we got Metcalf involved. Was that a dig at the coaches for not getting him involved or a slight dig towards Metcalf for finally making some plays. Maybe neither and the guy can’t help himself when he talks?
Gerry Dulac
11:08
Neither. It could have been a dig at himself for not getting the ball to him sooner. He was just referring to the impact he made when they started connecting.
RAM
11:08
Gerry, what do you make of the offense’s slow starts. Is it play-calling, lack of performance or a combination of both? Is MM still the play calling guru or has the modern day defenses passed him by? After seeing the Steelers not being able to score from the 3 yard line makes me lean toward bad play calling.
Gerry Dulac
11:09
Well, they're not actually that slow at all. Except for last Sunday, they have been scoring on the opening possession just about every game. It's continuing to do what they did on the opening possession, that's been the issue. Consistency.
No tank
11:10
Fans are still questioning the Pickens trade.  Why do they think that success on one team means success on all teams?
Gerry Dulac
11:11
There's nothing to question. He was a bad teammate who skipped or was late to meetings and showed up late on game day. Nobody ever questioned his talent. Just his presence.
Ryan
11:11
Do you think the steelers should pick up Najee Harris?  He is better than what they have now & he knows the system.
Gerry Dulac
11:11
He is not and no they should not. Nor will they. Another locker room guy
Peter
11:11
It seemed like Jalen Warren was on the bench most of the second half. He is our best back and is a great yards after catch receiver. Plus first and goal on the three, you'd think he could manage one yard a carry given our investment in online. Help me understand this.
Gerry Dulac
11:12
Wish I could. I haven't checked the snap counts after halftime, but I don't think it's as bad as you make it out to be.
Time management
11:12
When the Steelers had 1st and goal from the 3 with little time remaining, why not call a sensible play, like a bounce pass lateral or tackle eligible jet sweep, or a halfback pass to Rodgers?
Gerry Dulac
11:12
Haha. Gotta love the sarcasm
HOF City Guy
11:12
Hi Gerry- sounds like the Pittman signing will go down as a huge bust. Injury or not. Can we really finish the season with the WR room as is? Same issue as last season. Any sellers who have a decent WR they may move?
Gerry Dulac
11:13
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. He's not a bust, just unlucky
WR Trade
11:13
Do you think the Steelers will trade for a WR before the deadline?  Possibly some other position?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
No. And not after signing MVS. They're just trying to apply band-aids for now till their receivers come back
Scott via Louisville
11:14
Does McCarthey not trust his offensive line yet?  He says he wants to run but almost never does on 3rd down.
Gerry Dulac
11:14
Some of that could be on Rodgers when they have run-pass options. He trusts his offensive line
Mafia Lawyer from Dallas raised in Lebo
11:15
Hey Jerry I’ve read your columns and followed your chats for years . Love your old school no bs style . I really got sick of Tomlin ‘s act and personally don’t think he was a great coach .  That said I really liked the McCarthy hire and find it refreshing to have an offense that can score and the potential to improve .  What say you ?
Gerry Dulac
11:17
Well, I say this, no matter what you think of Tomlin and I get you were weary of his act, nobody should ever question whether he's a great coach. His record supports that. But it is nice to an offense that is averaging more than 27 points ppg the last 4 games
Greenwood
11:18
Hi Gerry. My dad was a Saints fan, and it was a standard refrain every Sunday for 40 years that the Saints had a habit of running the ball well all the way down the field, then get on the 2 yard line, try three passes, and then kick a field goal. I was reminded of that Sunday when JW was running well, and they mixed Dowdle in, and rushed (or dump passed) down to the 2 yard line, then started throwing the ball. You can run 5 or 6 yards a clip but not run two more? I know goal line defense tightens up, and the announcers said Rodgers was trying to fool Bowles with that first pass. But do you think it’s Rodgers wanting to pass (and feed DK) or MM’s pass heavy offense mentality that drives that? Or am I missing something?
Gerry Dulac
11:19
Whatever it was, it was a horrid sequence of play-calls, especially not running to waste time off the clock. Given the situation, might have been the worst sequence of plays call I've ever seen.
ThatTeamDownTheRoad
11:19
Your opinion on the Steelers calling a timeout when Tampa was rushing their kicking team onto the field, not to mention if they can even get the K ball out there in that situation.
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