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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 03.17.21
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Gerry Dulac
10:28
OK kids, we're going to start our chat shortly so get your questions ready for today's session...
10:43
Ok, here we go...fire away!!
21-58-66
10:43
Gerry - With Aluala and Williams leaving, and the Steelers safeties not being the best angle takers or tacklers, are they now pretty weak against the run down the middle of the field?  Thanks.
Gerry Dulac
10:44
Yes they are. Their best two run-stuffers were right down the middle. Not anymore.
21-58-66
10:44
Gerry - What is your take on the receiver FA market?  Maybe JuJu not going to get the contract he was hoping for?  Thanks.
Gerry Dulac
10:45
It is a little slow right now, no question, which is a little surprising. I'm not sure what he was hoping to get, but it might be a little lower than expected.
daniel11
10:45
Hi Gerry, Is there anyway the Steelers go after C Andrews of Patriots? Chucks-Dotson-Andrews-DeCastro-Banner might work out right?
Gerry Dulac
10:47
If they're going to sign someone of significance in free agency, center makes the most sense. They need a starter there. I don't think they gave B.J. Finney a one-year deal for $3-4 million to be their starter.
MTScott
10:47
Do you feel the Steelers are planning to have Finney start at Center or will they try to get someone else via FA or Draft?
Gerry Dulac
10:47
See above answer
David
10:47
With the release of Vince, the ILB depth looks extremely thin. Bush is coming back from injury, UGIII is injury prone and Allen is a converted from S. I don't think Spillane can be trusted as a full time starter. Do you try to re-sign Williamson for a vet minimum or what?
Gerry Dulac
10:49
It's thin because there's nobody else who plays Williams' position. UG3, Marcus Allen and even Williamson are all ILBs who play Bush's position -- lighter guys who can run. If they re-sign Williamson, which could be in a play now, it won't be for the veteran minimum. He commands more than that.
MTScott
10:49
What’s the latest thinking / projections on SN & JH as our starting CBs for next year?  I’m assuming Sutton moves to the slot position.
Gerry Dulac
10:49
That is correct.
John
10:49
Gerry thanks for all you do.   The best part of our team... the defense is gutted.... this is def starting to look like an 8-8 team.   Holes everywhere.  What do you think
Gerry Dulac
10:50
I think you might be right. The holes are now at NT and ILB and depth at OLB, though they knew that would happen with Dupree
Ben
10:50
Gerry any chance we have enough money to sign Hudson(raiders) or Andrews(pats).   Both quality centers on market      I can’t figure out why they haven’t restructured tuitt and/or extended someone to get more cap space
Gerry Dulac
10:52
Who says they haven't restructured Tuitt? Or won't? Same with Steve Nelson. But they will make one significant move in free agency and center makes the most sense....if the right guy is there to be had.
cmascaro
10:52
Gerry, do you have sense that the Steelers are going to go all in and this will be Ben's last season or is the philosophy going to remain the same, building through the draft and they may take a step backwards next season?
Gerry Dulac
10:53
They never plan on taking a step backward. But they also knew this would be a tough offseason. But, by bringing Ben back, it's not for a farewell tour. They are all in, at least, in their minds.
MTScott
10:53
Obviously this year is Salary Cap Hell, what is the projection for next year?
Gerry Dulac
10:54
I'll worry about next year then. It can't be worse. The salary cap should recover.
Steelers515
10:54
Why haven't we seen the Steelers extend Steven Nelson or David Decastro? They could clear up some space so make a few small moves in free agency. Any chance either of those players get signed soon?
Gerry Dulac
10:55
They have not talked to DeCastro about any extension. But they can certainly restructure Nelson, which I expect them to do, if they haven't already.
Roy
10:55
Why not try to sign RB Marlon Mack for a 1 year prove it deal? Then, we can address so many holes like OT, C, ILB, OLB, TE, etc.
Gerry Dulac
10:57
I could see them signing a veteran RB as a backup, but, if they do, that won't happen till much later, maybe around the draft. It is better and cheaper to draft a RB in the first or second round.
Guest
10:58
Hi Gerry, with so many holes now (OT, C, ILB, RB, Edge,TE) which way do you think they'll go with the 1st pick?
Gerry Dulac
10:58
Same -- RB or OT. Nothing has changed.
MTScott
10:58
With the losses we’ve experienced thus far & assuming JuJu also leaves, what are your projections for the upcoming draft in order of importance?
Gerry Dulac
10:58
RB, OT, ILB, DL/NT
STEEL72
10:59
I felt Mike Hilton was a player who had intangible football skills like so many others do not. I understand the value of outside corner, but was there no world in which he could have been brought back? Straight up play maker.
Gerry Dulac
11:01
Obviously, they never thought enough of Mike Hilton to offer him a multi-year contract because they never did. Hilton is a one-dimensional player, a system player who fit in well along the line of scrimmage in their fire-zone schemes. But he can't play on the outside and is not very good in coverage. The Bengals have to be careful how they use him.
Artie Bridge
11:01
Gerry, A few weeks ago, you wrote that Connor was a mediocre feature back, but an excellent secondary one.  If that's the consensus view among GM's then 1) maybe no team makes him an eye-popping offer; and 2) we could afford to bring him back in a reduced role.  Thoughts?
Gerry Dulac
11:04
I never called him mediocre nor did I say he was an "excellent" second back. What I said is he is not a feature back but is a pretty good No. 2 back. And I doubt any team is going to make him an "eye-popping" offer. The market is slow for RBs, but I believe some team will look at his 2018 Pro Bowl season and think he is a pretty good pickup.
Jeff
11:04
thanks for the chats Gerry.  Not surprised with any of the losses including Fieler.  It is not like we ran the ball well when he was at RT.  Why not try a different approach with the younger tackles including a possible draft pick?  Fieler was ok, don't we want great?
Gerry Dulac
11:06
I disagree. Feiler was their best tackle and they let him get away for what was not an outlandish amount. And he's 28. Biggest mistake so far.
Moshe’s brother
11:06
Good morning Mr Dulac.  I will be introducing Joe Greene’s slanted three point stance to my high school Freshmen today .... trying to get better gap integrity.  When I tell the story of the Greatest to 14 year olds, to whom should I give credit to this unprecedented stance?  Or any other insights to #75’s stance that I can provide...  thank you !
Gerry Dulac
11:07
I'm not sure because Joe Greene was slightly ahead of my time, but I believe it would have been George Perles (maybe Bud Carson) who might have come up with that. Might have been Greene himself. I'm not sure. Sorry
Billy Bats
11:08
Since Juju can’t get #1 wr money and the market has spoken that he’s a #2 any chance he comes back on a cheap 1 year prove it contract with heavy incentives.
Gerry Dulac
11:09
Give it more time. The market is just starting and it's a little slow. Doesn't mean he won't get a big offer. One thing for certain, JuJu does not need a "prove-it" contract as you suggest. He has already proven it.
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