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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 06.03.21
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Gerry Dulac
10:35
OK kids, we will start our chat in about 15 minutes so get those questions ready....
10:49
OK, let's get started....
Chase from NC
10:50
Hey Gerry,

Where do the Steelers seem to stand on Haskins?  I know Ben has given him recent praise, but does Tomlin and Co. see him as a possible long term option at QB?  If so, do we see him have a chance at unseating Mason for QB2 this year?
Gerry Dulac
10:53
I don't see him as much as a viable option, either bumping Mason Rudolph as the top backup or certainly as the long-term option at QB. There's a reason Washington dumped him the way they did and why other teams didn't jump on him. He looks great throwing the ball in shorts when he has a specific target. You can see why people thought he was a No. 1 draft choice. But that doesn't count for anything. Not the same as going through your progressions during a game.
Guest
10:53
A lot of people are going to miss Tunch.  I remember when they drafted him.  Any fond stories you would like to share?
Gerry Dulac
10:54
I have too many fond stories to share here. I covered him as a player and worked with him for more than 20 years on the Steelers Radio Network. One of my favorite people. None like him.
Ryan
10:54
One of the big question marks this coming season will be Alex Highsmith stepping in to replace Bud. What's a realistic goal for him in his second season? Would u say 8 sacks?
Gerry Dulac
10:55
I don't look at it as a question mark at all. He got to start 4-5 games at the end of the season when Bud got hurt and showed more in his first year than Bud did in his first year. I think it's very realistic for him to get 8 sacks, especially playing with TJ Watt on the other side.
SteelersfanSLC
10:55
What's with all these "fans" that constantly say Ben is fat and/or lazy? Are they blind and just ignore the fact he was one of the first ones in the building once players were permitted back?
Gerry Dulac
10:57
Those people don't know the first thing about him or his conditioning. He has come to camp the last 4-5 years as good as I've seen him. He has a nutritionist and a trainer. And he's a big man anyway -- 6-5, 250.
Joe Snarky
10:57
Hi, Gerry. Like the rest of us, I'm wishing Tunch the best in the months and years ahead. What's your favorite Tunch story / memory, either from his broadcasting days or playing days? He seems like one of those guys that everyone has true affection for.
Gerry Dulac
10:58
Everyone loves Tunch. There is nothing to dislike about him. He is a wonderful family man, spiritually empowered and dedicated to his profession. I can't say enough nice things about him.
TexStill
10:58
You think Chase is gonna have big #1 receiver numbers this year or will this be a much more spread around offense with respect to WR numbers?
Gerry Dulac
10:59
I think you will see it the same way you have seen it -- with the ball being spread around between 5 receivers and now six with Freiermuth. JuJu will still be his No. 1 target.
david-
10:59
Russ Grimm was a HOF player, respected coach, had Bill Cowhers support & reportedly nearly got the Steelers HC job.  Adam Gase got two opportunities! Are you surprised Russ never got a shot as a HC?
Gerry Dulac
11:01
To a degree, yes, especially when he was a hot name for some openings. But I think what happens is when you lose out on several opportunities, other teams start to think there must be a reason those other teams failed to hire you. And then they lose interest.
SteelersFaninPatriotsNation
11:02
GM Dulac, do you roll with either Pierre or Layne as your outside CB when Sutton goes slot, or are you aggressively looking outside the organization for a veteran CB? Is the Steven Nelson bridge burned beyond repair?
Gerry Dulac
11:03
As of right now, that's the plan. But that's what training camp is for -- to decide if you need to get some outside help. Right now, I don't think that plan has Steve Nelson in it.
JB from the Poconos
11:03
Thank you Tunch Ilkin for the incredible play & colorful commentary for the Black & Gold. Best of luck fighting that dreadful disease. Our thoughts & prayers are with you!
Gerry Dulac
11:03
What he said.
Ry
11:03
Seems like Ben is really embracing the change over to Matt Canadas offense and his comments make it sound like it's gonna be pretty different to what he's been playing in. Do you think we'll see more pistol formations and such?
Gerry Dulac
11:06
Unlike last year, when he still had Randy Fichtner's offense at his full disposal, Ben does not have any choice this year. This is the new offense and he will run it, so he has no other choice but to embrace it. There are no other options on which to fall back. And Ben knows that. It's an adjustment for sure for an 18-year veteran who has basically run the same offense with the same terminology all these years. But he will adjust and be fine.
putinbatch
11:10
Any ideas on who will replace Tunch? Put in Batch!! (p.s. we'll miss you Tunch!)
Gerry Dulac
11:11
I'm sure Charlie is a viable option. He is already a part of the broadcast team as the postgame call-in co-host
Tim
11:12
Didn’t see the earlier questions on Tunch. App problem.
Gerry Dulac
11:13
No worries.
Dude
11:13
It’s National Repeat Day
Gerry Dulac
11:13
I will send it to the Dept. of Redundancy Dept.
Cap Master
11:13
Thanks for the chat! Can you give us a realistic idea of what kind of FA we can afford to get with our current cap situation knowing we have depth issues at CB, OLB, and OT, please?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
I don't think you will see any kind of FA pickup that will create salary-cap issues, unless there is a significant injury to a key player before the regular season begins.
VICO NOLL
11:14
Hi Gerry! Do you think our new tackles are good enough?
Gerry Dulac
11:17
That's what everyone is going to find out. I think Chuks Okorafor might have been their most consistent lineman last year in his first season as a full-time starter, but he's moving to left tackle -- the most important position on the line. But Zach Banner has started only three quarters in the NFL and is coming off ACL surgery. Need to see a lot more of rookie Dan Moore Jr. to see what he's about.
Tim
11:17
you’ll never hear it as an excuse but how much do you think the crazy 12 days of the schedule last year played into Ben (and others) feeling and looking worn out. They’re an older team at a lot positions. Point being that there may be less to worry about on that front this year.
Gerry Dulac
11:18
I don't think it had any impact at all. Yeah, I know, the schedule gets disjointed and disrupted, but every team can complain about some sort of disruption last year
kevin in Punxsy
11:19
Hi Gerry.  Having been a Pitt FB follower for decades, I saw what OC Canada's offenses can do.  That one year was phenominal.  If he can get 80% of that with the Steelers, they will be formidable.  What say you?
Gerry Dulac
11:20
That's what we'll find out. But this is not college, this is the NFL, and it stands for Not For Long if that offense doesn't work. That being said, I like what I see from the offensive line schemes and techniques.
Chooch
11:20
With Harris now in the backfield, has the 3 and 1 empty set been scrubbed for the play calling?
Gerry Dulac
11:21
We'll see when they start playing games. But I'm guessing not.
Sorry Randy
11:21
Hello, Mr. Dulac! What percentage of snaps will Ben be under center compared to shotgun under my replacement's OC reign?
Gerry Dulac
11:22
He will be under center more than in the past, but how much remains to be seen. But don't think for a minute he will be predominantly under center, or even half the time.
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