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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 02.03.21
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Gerry Dulac
12:38
Ok kids, we will start our chat in about 15 minutes so get your questions ready....
1:00
Ok, here we go. Fire away....
Jimbo
1:00
Your old colleague Ed told The Fan that (1) it still might not work out to have Ben back next season and (2) he wouldn't be surprised if the Steelers drafted a QB in the first round. What are the chances of either happening? I really want them to move up for a QB.
Gerry Dulac
1:05
Of course anything is possible, and I wouldn't fall over if either of those happened. I said the other day that it appears to me the Steelers want BR to make up their minds for them. But, I will tell you this, if Art Rooney II wants Ben back, he will be back. And I think he does, I have been told by both sides that money/contract will not be an issue, and it won't. As for drafting a QB on the first round, that wouldn't surprise me but I don't think that is happening. And, at where they are picking, is the QB on the board better and have a higher grade than what the Steelers had on Mason Rudolph.
Jeff
1:05
Gerry thanks for your great reporting.   Ben is obviously less mobile but why is there never reporting of him over weight.   His body compared to when he came in is 30 lbs different.  Brees Brady Rodgers you can’t say same.   I know he’s taking hits but being overweight hurts his mobility/extending plays which made him great
Gerry Dulac
1:07
Because he doesn't report overweight. I hate to disappoint you, but Ben has come to camp each of the past 3-4 years in the best shape of his life. He has a nutritionist and trainer to work with him. He is a big man, 6-foot-5, 245-250 pounds. It is what has made him who he is. Brees is 6-foot and a slight build. Brady had to bulk up when he got to the NFL. Can't compare.
Salvador
1:07
Hello Gerry, Thanks for all of your chats! I love them! What should be expected of the coaching changes Tomlin has made. Seems like he is not doing drastic changes, so I am not sure we should expect different outputs from this next year. Thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
1:09
Just because they have promoted internal coaches doesn't mean they will do the same old things. On the contrary, they want to do things differently. The bigger moves will come when they decide to change their scheme and personnel, and that is certainly the intention. Give them time to do that. If they don't, then rip them to your hearts desire, because they would deserve the criticism.
Ralph
1:10
Hi Gerry.Do I see any chance Pittsburgh movin up in draft to get a quarterback like Trey Lance.
Gerry Dulac
1:11
I don't know what the Steelers think of him. But I don't think they will have to move up in the draft to get him if they like him.
Justin
1:11
Hey Gerry. Any truth to the rumblings that the Steelers ended up with Klemm as the O Line coach because it was turned down by others outside the organization? If so, why is that the case? The lack of solid assistant coaches seems to be a growing concern.
Gerry Dulac
1:14
Not sure where those rumblings came from (???) but there was really only one other guy they interviewed who could have had the job and that was former Packers assistant James Campen. And why would he turn it down? An unemployed assistant coach who has a chance to work with arguably the best franchise in the NFL? No, what I was told was that Adrian Klemm was very impressive with his ideas and concepts in his interview with Mike Tomlin and Matt Canada and that's why he was promoted.
Guest
1:14
Mr. Dulac, a great deal has been said and will be said about the need for the Steelers to rebuild their offensive line.  But if either Harris or Etienne were there at #24, would they select that kind of player? It has been a while since the team has had a RB that is feared the way the kid from Cleveland is.  I am old enough to remember when Franco came into the league and seemed to make the whole offense -- including the offensive line better.  And to give the devil his due, I think Bell did that too. I just think that unless the next Faneca or Munoz is there, this would be the way to go.
Gerry Dulac
1:14
I agree. If Harris is there at 24, I jump all over him.
Ralph
1:14
Hi Gerry.Do u see Pittsburgh moving on from Ben because them not being able to agree on money or him demanding to have certain players there for him to come back.Thanks
Gerry Dulac
1:17
First off, money will not be an issue. And they don't care what Ben might want or even demand. Despite what some people want to naively believe, they have never consulted him on any move they make or acquiesced to any wishes he might have had. Never. The Steelers will decide what they want and what they think is best. And if they want Ben back -- and Ben wants to come back (which he does) -- he will be back.
redsteeler69
1:17
Gerry do you think the fans are a little spoiled. If we aren't in the super bowl, lets replace the coach, the Qb and anyone else that didn't have a perfect season. They need to look around the league and appreciate what they have in the Steeler organization.
Gerry Dulac
1:17
My man, I didn't have to read any more than your first 10 words to deliver this answer-- YES! Absolutely. But they are no different than most fans.
Lin
1:18
Gerry.    Ben can still play but what made him great he no longer has.   Yes he can still make throws but he’s a statue.  I just don’t see how that gets better.   Also, probably a 17th game.  So to win a super bowl he’d have to last 21 games.   No chance.   Time to move on.  What say you
Gerry Dulac
1:19
yeah, he looked tired weary and unable to throw in the second half of that playoff game (his 17th game) when he threw for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns
Linebacker Lounge
1:19
Does MT usually hire coaches that he can micro-manage?
Gerry Dulac
1:19
He doesn't always micro-manage. And I don't think that's why he hires the coaches he does.
Doug
1:20
Gerry why would Ben even want to come back.  They don’t have a super bowl team and if he plays the way he did last 7 games.    He will be boo’d big time with fans in stands.  Hate to see him go out like that
Gerry Dulac
1:20
Did you think they had a team that would start 11-0 and go 12-4 this year??? No you didn't. And neither did anyone else.
Paul from Sacramento
1:21
Hi Gerry, Love your chats and insight. Not sure what Klemm brings that will be different from his mentor.. but with the departure of Mcdonald (a good blocking TE) and Ebron being pretty much a non blocking TE, do you think it's time to go high in the draft for an all around (Heath Miller) type? Could help both running and receiving?
Gerry Dulac
1:22
Paul, I don't Klemm looks at Shaun Sarrett as his mentor...at least, I sure hope not. A mentor is someone like Mike Munchak, someone who has been around. And I don't see tight end being a high priority, but I think you will see it addressed in the middle rounds.
WV Black & Gold
1:22
Gerry, I tend to trust the Steelers to know what they’re doing more so than myself or fans in general, but I was surprised to see the Klemm promotion, especially with some of the other names I was hearing.  That doesn’t mean it’s a bad hire, but what can you tell us about him?
Gerry Dulac
1:24
Trust me, they know more than you, me and everyone else on this chat. I can't tell you a whole lot because there is no body of NFL work to pass along. All I can tell is what I said earlier -- the Steelers liked his ideas and what he had to say in the interview. Also, Mike Tomlin wanted a coach who played in the NFL, and Klemm did -- six season, five with the Patriots.
Utah Jim
1:24
Was it Chuck Noll or John Madden that said if you are thinking about retiring you already have?
Gerry Dulac
1:25
Chuck Noll. Who's thinking about it? Not Ben. He wants to come back. Only one I know who is thinking about retiring is Maurkice Pouncey, who has told some of his teammates, including the stars, that the Cleveland loss was his last game.
Fan
1:25
Hi Gerry, Who's the first  and the last to get the Ax. Vince, Haden, Pouncey, Decastro or Ben
Gerry Dulac
1:26
Vince, and that's it. Maybe Haden, but I don't think so. Pouncey will likely retire. And they won't cut Ben. He may not be back, but they won't release him.
BigChipsandDip
1:26
We need a huge nose tackle in the...jk. Your former colleague Ed suggested yesterday that its no guarantee that Ben returns. What odds would you put on them coming to an agreement.
Gerry Dulac
1:28
Of course it's no guarantee. Like I said earlier, I think the Steelers are hoping Ben makes up their mind for them. Kind of like, 'Hey, this is who we're bringing back. You sure you wanna play with this depleted group?' But the odds still favor Ben being back in 2021.
Larry G
1:28
Professor Gerry if you were giving a letter grade for Dan Rooney .. obviously A+.    If You were giving Art a letter grade since he fully took reigns it has to be a C- or a D.    The collapses, no playoff wins, and shenanigans ultimately fall at his feet.    From top down need to stop the crumbling
Gerry Dulac
1:28
I don't assign letter grades to owners
Rich
1:29
Gerry do you believe this regime of ownership, and Coach Tomlin has this sense of arrogance? These coaching moves along really make it hard to stay interested, I think it will be the same old same old. Do you believe there needs to be fresh eyes all over that offense?
Gerry Dulac
1:29
The last thing -- THE VERY LAST THING -- any member of the Rooney family has is a sense of arrogance.
Utah Jim
1:30
You are correct that the Steeler’s issues begin at the top. Is that AR2? Every year he says they need to run the ball better, but only holds the OC accountable. They are on their fourth OC in the last ten years and maybe that isn’t the issue.
Gerry Dulac
1:30
I believe the offensive line coach was held accountable. And wait till they make personnel moves. They will hold those players accountable too.
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