JotCast | Paul Zeise's sports chat: 08.05.21

Paul Zeise's sports chat: 08.05.21

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Zeise

12:06

OK welcome to the chat and this is a big one - the Steelers play tonight!

12:07

Let’s get started with this in mind - what will you be watching for tonight? I will be watching the corners, Kendrick Greene and the linebackers and of course the quarterbacks

Jim

12:07

If not for Josh Dobbs familiarity with the Steelers and their offense, do you think he would be in the NFL at all? Didn't play at all in Jacksonville and beat out here but Haskins. Very great and intelligent guy, but maybe not cut out for the NFL?

Zeise

12:08

I think he has a huge future..... as an aerospace engineer. He is not a starting NFL quarterback but he has some ability so it isn’t a shock that he is still hanging around the NFL

V. Fontaine

12:11

If I were in charge of the ACC, and thank goodness for the conference I'm not, I think I would try to beat the SEC to the punch. The SEC is clearly angling to create a super league. So I'd call the PAC-12 and discuss a merger. Add BYU and Boise State to even the numbers for a 28 team "Coastal" League with eastern and western conferences.

Zeise

12:13

I think that would be silly. The ACC just needs to grab West Virginia and someone else, maybe a team like Central Florida or South Florida and have 16 teams. ThAts what it is gonna come to - four 16-team mega conferences

Jim

12:13

I am excited about seeing Harris, but is it wise to play him more than a series tonight? Or any preseason game for than matter?

Zeise

12:15

I doubt he will play more than a series or two and if he has more than three or four carries they aren’t doing it right

David Howell Evans

12:15

What is your over/under for Pirate losses this year?

Zeise

12:17

Well I think I said 98 at the start of the season so I’ll go with that number still. Why not, right?? I think there is a chance they could still lose 100 but I bet it won’t be much more than that

Jay Daven

12:17

Paul, because of last season's major injury and this year's internet posted fiasco, in your opinion is Devin Bush mentally and physically prepared for this season?

Zeise

12:17

We are about to find out aren’t we?? He better be, they need him to be!

DR. L

12:18

Hello:

Zeise

12:18

Hello!!!

V. Fontaine

12:18

Let's assume the best for this Pirates rebuild and the team is a legitimate contender in 2024. Is Derek Shelton still the manager then? I realize the team is terrible and expecting him to win more games is not reality. But I've been underwhelmed by him as a manger.

Zeise

12:21

I can’t imagine they won’t allow him to work through this rebuild and give him a chance to win when the roster is better. Of course his record could be like 180-306 by then!

Danno

12:21

Do you think game planning is easier when there are more quality receiving targets ? On paper there seems to be an awful lot of talent in the skill positions

Zeise

12:22

No it is or probably harder - now they have to figure out how to utilize all these guys and how to best fit the game plan to all these different receivers

DR. L

12:22

Do you get the sense that the Steeler staff is concerned about the lack of reps with the full starting 0-line to date? It seems that they are relaxed because there is one 'extra game', but there really isn't that much time to build cohesion.

Zeise

12:23

I don’t know if they are concerned yet but I’m sure they are getting anxious. You need the offensive line to have continuity and this group has not played together at all

On the move

12:23

Of MLB, NFL, NBA, which one expands next and what are the most likely cities? In a sort of similar vein, where do you see the remaining Big 12 schools landing? Is Kansas basketball, and whatever markets it brings, enough of a draw for the Big Ten to offset the wretchedness of its football program?

Zeise

12:24

Great question - I will say the NBA and it will be with some international franchises. They have been trying to expand like that for a long time

Jim

12:24

Since Haskins offers much more athletically than Rudolph, wouldn't it be better to have him as the back up, teams would have more to worry about with him. Also use him occasionally like the Saints used Hill?

Zeise

12:27

Ben Roethlisberger isn’t going to be a happy camper giving up snaps for a gimmick package and can we watch Haskins play some preseason games before we start drawing up offenses for him. He may be a great player but he has a lot to prove

Jesse Pinkman

12:28

Rank the Pirate managers over the past 20 some years from best to worst: Lloyd McClendon, Pete Mackanin, Jim Tracy, John Russell, Clint Hurdle. None of these guys were close to the caliber of the previous lineup of Murtaugh, Virden, Tanner, Leyland, and Lamont were they?

Zeise

12:32

Hurdle is obviously the best of this group and Russell is the worst. Tracy was probably better than he showed here and McClendon gets lots of points for the stealing of the base routine! But you are right these guys aren’t among the best in franchise history

DR. L

12:33

Do the Steelers really think Brooks is the answer in the slot? Hilton was somewhat of a liability in coverage, so is it that they prefer physicality to coverage there?

Zeise

12:37

Again I think this is the night we start to find out these things. And the thing about Hilton is he was good in run support and pass rush. So that is what they will look for in his replacement

daniel1111

12:37

Hi Paul, Do you really thing BB will play another season? You gotta know when to say it's game (career) over. Right?

Zeise

12:39

I assume you mean Ben Roethlisberger and I think this will be it for him. It has to be, he is getting older and he has always said he wants to retire with his body in great shape so he can enjoy his kids

david

12:39

What is this mystery surrounding TJ Watt not practicing? Is this like a semi holdout vs give us a hometown discount?

Zeise

12:42

I think it is like a hold out but not quite a hold out. They are working on a very large deal and until he gets it done it seems he isn’t gonna take any chances with injury. He is working out with the team every day though

12:42

Hi Paul, no question, just a comment to say that I am glad that baseball season is over and football begins!

Zeise

12:42

This seems to be a very popular sentiment in these parts!!!

DR. L

12:42

Agree or disagree? The only way the Steelers keep Ju Ju around for more years is if he keeps swallowing a discount to stay...

Zeise

12:46

I think there is no chance of that happening. None at all. The salary cap is going way up and the market for receivers will return this year, he will get paid, especially if he has a big year

Joe

12:46

I know that Tomlin does not have to discuss injuries at this point in the process but have there been any leaks regarding the severity of any of the guys who are not practicing? Friermuth, Dotson, and Chuks are most concerning.

Zeise

12:53

It sounds like most of the guys who have been out have been more precautionary than anything else.

lamberto55

12:53

if you were a betting man, who would you bet on becoming the 32 qb - haskins or rudolph????

Zeise

12:55

I’m still betting the depth chart will be Ben, Mason Rudolph then Haskins

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