Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 04.29.26
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Gerry Dulac
9:55
OK kids, we'll start our chat in just a couple minutes....
10:02
OK, let's get started...
Stairway to seventh seed
10:02
Gerry: for those of us that thought Offensive tackle was as desperate of a need as WR, is there a silver lining to the Lemon debacle?  The Eagles traded two 4th rounders to take Lemon in the first.  If the Steelers would have matched that offer and taken Lemon, they would have in my view needed to take OT Markell Bell at 53.  Bell ended up going 68th so that would have been a bit of a reach.  By standing pat at 21 they got Iheanachor, used one of those 4th rounders to trade up for Bernard and then had a pick left for Wetjen.  Would you rather have Iheanachor, Bernard, and Wetjen or Lemon and Bell?
Gerry Dulac
10:04
Well, Lemon was the guy they wanted and that failed. But, to your point, that's why I think Bernard kinda holds the key to the draft success. If he turns out to be really good, then getting him and Iheanachor is a great get.
Bill In LA
10:04
Makai Lemon seemed to have a strange demeanor and was kind of spacey when he was interviewed after his name was called. Right away I didn't regret that the Eagles took him. Steelers may have dodged a bullet?
Gerry Dulac
10:04
Bill, some other people think that as well. Of course, the Steelers know all about dealing with spacy diva receivers
Stairway to seventh seed
10:05
Gerry: I think Heidenreich was a great pick.  That said this draft was long on folk hero candidates in addition to the local Naval Academy grad:  a QB from PSU, a hay bale toss champ with a mullet, a gimmicky return man, and the best Polish yinzer name in the draft.  They will also welcome to the home of the Immaculate Reception the son of ANGEL, GABRIEL Rubio.  That last one is admittedly a Biblical reach on my part, but Art Rooney is front and center in the draft war room.  Are we really supposed to believe that marketing considerations played no part at all in these picks?
Gerry Dulac
10:06
I think it had everything to do with that last pick. A feel-good moment, obviously planned and orchestrated in advance. Why else hold on to that seventh-round pick? And what better way to use it, even if he doesn't make the team. A great theatrical way to end the draft in your hometown.
Bill In LA
10:07
Could you compare and contrast the skill levels and intangibles of Will Howard and Drew Allar to your knowledge at this time for us?
Gerry Dulac
10:07
The biggest is Allar's arm It's stronger and he can make all the throws
Kenny P.
10:07
I predict Allar will have fewer wins as the Steeler's starting QB than Kenny P. did, agreed?
Gerry Dulac
10:08
That could well be, especially because Pickett became a starter four games into his rookie season
Bill In LA
10:08
Given the Steelers were comfortable with aging and slow future hall of famers QBs like Russell Wilson/Aaron Rogers, why didn't they just stay with Ben for a couple more years?
Gerry Dulac
10:08
I don't think Russ was slow, but I get your point
Pittfan
10:09
Hi Gerry. 3rd round vs. 6th round. McCarthy pick vs. Tomlin pick. Does Allar have the advantage over Howard or will there be a competition for what could be one spot? Do you think either would make it to the practice squad?
Gerry Dulac
10:10
The Steelers were drafting a QB only if he had a bigger upside than Howard, so apparently they think Allar has a bigger upside than Howard, which means he might have the advantage. And, no, don't think either end up on the practice squad, especially the third-round pick. He's not going anywhere. No third-round pick ever does.
Surly in sheraden
10:11
Does using 10 picks make sense when at least 3-4 draftees likely won’t make the team?  Could they have instead packaged as many picks as it took to get a true difference maker (perhaps Downs or Tyson) earlier in the first round?
Gerry Dulac
10:12
No it doesn't, not at all. But seven of their picks were scheduled for Day 3, and you're not going to package those picks, even all of em, to move up that high in the first round.
AZ Steeler Fan
10:12
Hi Gerry, would you cut bait with Aaron Rodgers, or wait for him the Art Rooney 2 is? Is the juice worth the big picture squeeze?
Gerry Dulac
10:13
At some point soon, I'd say thanks but we're moving on. I don't think many fans would complain at all. The optics don't look great -- for him or them.
CA Fan
10:13
Hey Gerry, wanted to get your thoughts on what happened during draft night with regards to M Lemon. I was under the impression that O Khan really liked him and when the Jets passed on him at 16 the Steelers had a good chance of trading up a few spots with either Det, Minm, or Carolina to move up and secure the pick.  With 12 picks draft capital was not an issue, maybe a 4th to move up a few spots. Any idea why they stayed put knowing a WR needy team could possibly trade up before pick 21?
Gerry Dulac
10:16
Well, Eagles gave up two fourth-round picks to move up two spots to 20, and the Steelers easily had that kind of draft capital and more to do the same. They thought they might have a trade partner with Tampa Bay at 15 and were willing to go up. But when Rueben Bain was still available, the Bucs stayed put and took him. Still, it looked as though Lemon would still fall to the Steelers....until the Eagles jumped ahead, knowing what the Steelers were likely to do.
Alan in Bama
10:16
Good morning Gerry, the draft results make me feel a bit like I sent Omar to Golf Galaxy for a complete upgrade but he got side tracked to Play It Again Sports. I got a set of Tommy Armour EQT’s, 20 dozen Top Flites and a pair of Squarz shoes. Please tell me there’s a lot of positives in this draft.
Gerry Dulac
10:17
Hahaha....trying to appeal to my golf side. There are positives -- Iheanachor, Bernard, Dunker. And Wetjen could be a surprise.
MikeM65 in Florida
10:17
I read that when the Steelers didn't get Lemon they were caught off guard and seemed unprepared.  I find that hard to believe.  They have a board, so wasn't Iheanachor simply the next person on the board?
Gerry Dulac
10:19
Believe me, they were prepared. And, yes, that's exactly the way it worked. That's why they just didn't grab another WR. They didn't have one rated higher than Iheanachor. What surprised them was Dallas making a trade with their hated division rival. That would be like the Steelers trading with the Ravens to let them better their team.
Zamo
10:20
Gerry, doesn’t it make sense to tell AR thanks but no thanks?  Let’s see what we have with Allar and Howard.  If they/we stink, we have a top pick next year and can hopefully grab our QB.  If someone takes the reins and surprises, awesome - even better.  We no longer have the Tomlin “win streak” to worry about.  I truly see this as a win-win situation. Waiting on AR for a 2nd year is annoying as well.  I know we’re spoiled fans and used to being in the mix every year but this muddy middle is tiresome.  I think most fans would agree.  Curious as to your thoughts.  Thx
Gerry Dulac
10:21
Believe me, I can see why it's annoying, even tiresome. It is to a lot of people. A lot of people think they should do what you suggest. But it hasn't reached that point of no return...not yet.
MikeM65 in Florida
10:21
I for one feel an offense is only as good as its line.  I mean you can have Tom Brady in his prime behind 5 7th rounders and he isn't going to have any time to do anything.  So... do you feel the Steelers made good picks with the offensive linemen they drafted?
Gerry Dulac
10:22
Absolutely. They have never addressed one position in their history the way they have addressed the OL the past three years. But they better start finding Pro Bowl players
Brian in VA
10:22
I’m glad the Steelers drafted a lineman in the 1st anyway but how boneheaded was it to call Lemon early?
Gerry Dulac
10:22
Happens all the time.
bill
10:22
Gerry, do you get some much deserved time off now to work on your golf game?
Gerry Dulac
10:23
I'm always working on my golf game. Sometimes I get more time to do so than others
MikeM65 in Florida
10:23
I read the article Ray wrote about rebuilding the offensive line.  It talked about the position options the Steelers have with several of the players.  My question is how do coaches know what would be a player's best position?  Physical build?  How they perform in certain drills?  Existing tape?  Evaluations in camp and preseason?  Something else?
Gerry Dulac
10:24
Probably all those. Personally, I've had enough of stock-piling the offensive line. Three years is plenty. It's time to go find some Pro Bowl-caliber skill players in the draft.
Takoma Tom
10:24
There’s some talk of Vrabel resigning and NE wanting Tomlin.  How much draft capital can the Steelers get?
Gerry Dulac
10:25
I don't think that's happening at all. I've been told Mike Tomlin doesn't want to coach again. We'll see if that holds true.
Butch
10:25
I see no reason to use the tag on Rogers unless someone is worried that he would sign with another team.  There must be some rumblings of such otherwise there is no need to use it. What say you Gerry?
Gerry Dulac
10:27
And there is no reason not to. A mere formality. And it protects the Steelers ability to get a comp pick. No-brainer
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