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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 11.01.23
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Gerry Dulac
10:50
OK kids, sorry for the later start, but I'm ready to go in just a few minutes....
10:54
Here we go....
Here We Go Again
10:54
For the third straight week, Pickens hurt the team with selfish immature behavior.  He would have had the sideline catch if he didn't walk very slow back to the huddle and allow Jacksonville time to challenge.  Plus his pregame words helped to stoke the Jacksonville defense.  This has become more of the norm for Tomlin receivers than the exception.  When will he finally learn how to correct this?
Gerry Dulac
10:55
The question is not when will HE learn to correct this. It's when will THEY do something to stop it.
Indiana Fan
10:55
In the old days, veteran players would keep younger players like GP more under control - is that missing from this team?
Gerry Dulac
10:56
With today's athlete, I think it's probably missing from a lot of teams. It's only going to get worse when Cam Heyward is gone
Indiana Fan
10:56
If the Raiders can get rid of HC & GM - why can’t we get rid of our OC?
Gerry Dulac
10:56
I'm going to guess this might be the most popular question I get today
Guest
10:57
Were the Steelers real close to trading for Johnson? If so, what stopped it? Too much of a return or ability to sign him to a long term contract?
Gerry Dulac
10:58
No. I'm not aware of it being a possibility.
Ken
10:58
Hi Gerry.  You are probably going to be asked this a few times if not already.  If the Raiders could fire their head coach during the season, why can't the Steelers release their Offensive Coordinator too?
Gerry Dulac
10:58
You are right -- I'm guessing I will be. And, hey, they could if they wanted.
KDUB
10:59
Hi Gerry! How close were the Steelers trading for Johnson? If close, what was the determining factor? Too much to give up and or ability to sign him to a long term contract?  Ty
Gerry Dulac
10:59
Like I said, I'm not aware that it was even a possibility
Indiana Fan
10:59
From top to bottom - please rank our starting OL?  This group has underperformed considering only one newcomer!
Gerry Dulac
11:01
That's hard to do for several reasons: 1) I'm not qualified to assess and grade OLinemen individually; 2) I don't study tape of each OL and break it down; 3) sometimes there are other factors that determine why a running play didn't work or protection broke down. It's called missed assignments.
Jim_Bow_Dean
11:01
Have you ever seen an offense whose margin of error is so thin? A couple of mistakes and they are doomed.
Gerry Dulac
11:02
Nope. You are 100 percent correct. Mike Tomlin, unwittingly, even said as much the other day when he bemoaned that the three takeaways weren't on their side of the field, never mind they prevented at least 9 points and possibly 17.
Gus
11:03
Good morning, Gerry, Thank you for the chats. I was hoping you might give us your thoughts on why coach Tomlin and or the front office have been unable or unwilling to recruit, attract and or hire more of what other league principles would considered top of the line coordinators?
Gerry Dulac
11:05
Well they had them when Bill Cowher was coach -- Mike Mularkey, Ken Whisenhunt, Bruce Arians, all of whom went on to become NFL head coaches. Arians stayed on with Tomlin and wanted to be retained by Tomlin, but the Rooneys said no. And the Steelers did hire a decent one in Todd Haley after Arians was let go. Otherwise, the rest have been internal hires. I sure hope the next one comes from the outside.
Fundamentally Flawed
11:06
The Steelers are awful at fundamentals - tackling technique, pass catching, basic communication, discipline, eliminating silly penalties.  Shouldn't a coach with 17 years experience figured out how to teach these basics by now?
Gerry Dulac
11:07
Sometimes it's not the coaches' fault. Sometimes it's the fault of the players who either don't pay attention or can't be bothered by fundamentals. But I will also tell you the reduced practice time, especially the limit on padded practices, hurt player development more than anything. Once training camp ends, teaching fundamentals is out and game-planning is in.
SMF
11:07
Hi Gerry:  Thanks for the chats.  Tomlin really does have a problem.  His comment that the defensive turnovers against Jacksonville “weren’t the kind that teed up the offense” is delusional.  Three Defensive turnovers is a bucket full for one game.  The more appropriate comment is “I am unable to hire and direct enough talented Offensive coaches and players to take advantage of the Defensive turnovers we were handed in the game.”
Gerry Dulac
11:07
Pay the man!
KDUB
11:08
I know Matt Canada is not the sole reason for offensive ineptitude. However, his resume coupled with his sample size is enough to raise critique. Having said that, why are they so determined to continue with this predictable debacle? Is it fear of admitting that they are wrong because MT has to be the smartest man in the room and needs to be in control? Is it because of not wanting to pay his salary?  Or do they really attribute it to lack of execution? Or should you pay me, The Man?
Gerry Dulac
11:09
It raises more than critique. It raises anger, frustration and severe criticism. And, yes, if I just didn't just dole out some cash to the previous chatter, you'd be getting a nice check, too
Brian M
11:09
Good Morning Gerry.  Thanks as always for the chats.  In looking at the current Steeler roster, I see 4-5 players on both sides of the ball, including ST, that would probably start for another team.  I know it can't be that simple, but the Steelers are just not as good as other teams and they don't have the coaching to overcome this.  Am I wrong?
Gerry Dulac
11:10
It took me 5 minutes to figure out what the heck "ST" was, which, I assume, is referring to special teams. To be honest, I'd bet you could probably do that with most teams, with few exceptions.
Dan
11:11
Gerry, has the book on Kenny P been written or do you think with a different offensive coordinator he could get better?
Gerry Dulac
11:11
Too early to be written, just as it was way too early to dump all that excessive preseason hype on him.
Indiana Fan
11:11
Are teams allowed to fine players for stupidity like Taunting Penalties?
Gerry Dulac
11:11
The league does that.
Pat Meyer
11:12
Going into the season, I really thought the offensive line was going to be a bright spot for this team. It seems as about the same or maybe not quite as good as last year.  Were Seumalo and Herbig bad signings or did I just expect too much based on their play leading up to this season?
Gerry Dulac
11:13
I'm with you, as are a lot of people. The line was the most improved unit on the team in 2022 and everyone, including me, thought the addition of Seumalo and even Broderick Jones would make it even a notch better. That hasn't been the case so far.
SMF
11:13
Hi Gerry:  Thanks again for the chats.  Your piece on James Harrison last week had me re-watching a lot of the amazing Superbowl XLIII.  Compared to KP today, I was looking at Ben’s timing, and what became obvious is he pumped faked a lot and then turned to the other side for open receivers.  It clearly gains time for the QB.  KP never seems to do that.  Is that ever taught or encouraged anymore?  The small hands issue?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
It's way too early to say what Kenny Pickett can or can't do. Just as it's way too ridiculous to think he is or is going to be Ben Roethlisberger.
G Hollywood G
11:14
TE room is currently a mess.
Gentry languishing on Cinci practice squad…. Would he be viable option and would he want to come back?
Gerry Dulac
11:15
Well, if the Steelers claimed him off the Bengals practice squad, he would have no choice. Must be more to it.
Jon
11:15
Hi Gerry. What actually happened with the KP injury designation at halftime? Television broadcast was reporting a probable return and Tomlin seemed to contradict that in his press conference..
Gerry Dulac
11:16
Nothing surreptitious. He thought he might be able to return, he tried to throw at halftime, discovered he couldn't, and that was that. BTW, despite what he said yesterday, it still has not been determined for sure if he will play against the Titans.
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