JotCast | Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 12.5.18

Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 12.5.18

Gerry Dulac

10:53

OK kids, let's get our chat started...Fire away!!

10:56

Do you think Samuels is ready to carry the load or do you really think it will be more "by committee?"

Gerry Dulac

10:57

Jaylen Samuels was not the type of RB in college who got a lot of carries. He was more of a pass-catcher. So I expect him to be used more like that. I would be shocked if he got more than 15 carries in a game. I think the workload will be split w him and Ridley.

Ron

10:57

Good morning Mr. Dulac. Think the Steelers might be interested in Kelvin Benjamin?

Gerry Dulac

10:58

I know this...there was interest in him when he was being drafted. But the coach who really liked him is no longer here.

Larry in KY

10:58

Last Sunday's Steelers game was the worst officiating I have seen in 65 years of watching NFL games. Any word on fallout yet?

Gerry Dulac

10:58

No. But it wasn't pretty

CoSteeler

10:58

Can you explain why we saw the Chargers top wideout being covered by linebackers on a number of plays? Was this by design, bad play calling or blown coverages?

Gerry Dulac

10:59

It was because the Chargers figured out what the Steelers were doing defensively and moved Allen around to get him on LBs.

10:59

I have never been one to pile on the "fire all the coaches" bandwagon, but at some point Butler needs to be held accountable. When the opposing QB says outright, we know this team doesn't make adjustments so we just found a huge glaring flaw in their scheme (you know a slow ILB covering a top 10 WR) and kept going at it because the team across the line simply doesn't have the ability to adjust....that has to be cause to at least consider making a change at the DC spot, correct?

Gerry Dulac

11:00

I give this answer every week it seems....it's not always Keith Butler. Mike Tomlin is heavily involved in the defensive play-calling. He is not without blame, nor is he not without credit when it's working. Like it did in the first half, in case you forget.

Tony

11:00

In your opinion, what are the realistic chances the Steelers will be able to compete to re-sign Jesse James given the need for dependable, quality tight ends in the league?

Gerry Dulac

11:01

Very realistic.

Joel

11:01

Hi, Gerry. The Sunday night championship celebration with the greats in the house brought home to me what is an overlooked problem for the 2018 Steelers: lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball. In other words, we fans are overthinking this as we agonize over every botched play and near miss. With the loss of Ryan Shazier the Steelers no long have a Hall of Fame player on defense and history shows that this is indispensable. I think the Steelers need to get more radical in their draft/free agency approach and either trade up or sign an impact free agent on defense to take advantage of the last years of the Ben window. Thoughts?

Gerry Dulac

11:04

You don't just draft Hall of Fame players, or great players, routinely. I have no problem with Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, TJ Watt, even Sean Davis. And I think Terrell Edmunds will be very good. Losing Shazier hurt, no doubt. He was their playmaker, their Troy Polamalu.

Bob in TN

11:04

Are the Raiders as bad as their record?

Gerry Dulac

11:04

As a great coach once said...You are what your record says you are.

GSK

11:04

Hi Gerry, even though there was no flag on the TD pass and TD punt return is there any reason why the refs can't huddle and correct an obvious mistake? They do have time since all scoring plays are reviewed.

Gerry Dulac

11:05

They do all the time. That doesn't mean they got it correct

john

11:05

Off the top of your head, any idea what Ben's record is when he throws 40-50 times a game? I don't believe his record is a winning one.

Gerry Dulac

11:05

I want to say he's like 3-7 when he throws 50+ times in a game

11:05

In your opinion, does this team make the play-offs?

Gerry Dulac

11:05

Yes.

Bob in TN

11:06

I don't get all the slamming on the defense in that Chargers game. Take away the punt return and a touchdown on a fluke play in the end zone and it was a decent night against a tough team. Am I missing something?

Gerry Dulac

11:08

No you are not. You are correct. Despite the second half, the Chargers still only rushed for 85 yards. And the 46 yard TD pass that came about because the refs didn't call the false start was the longest since Week 3. And the pressure on Philip Rivers was incredible. Let's give credit to a Hall of Fame QB just plain ol beating them w some great throws. The defense have been doing a lot of things right. They didn't protect a 16-point lead, but not all of that was their fault.

GSK

11:08

Hi Gerry, what is your best guess as to when Connor returns?

Gerry Dulac

11:10

No sooner than New Orleans, maybe not till the playoffs. Ankle sprains such as his typically take 2-4 weeks to heal, especially for a RB who relies on cutting and leverage.

dave

11:10

No matter how bad the Raiders are, they ALWAYS give the Steelers trouble. Would you be surprised if the Steelers lost on Sunday?

Gerry Dulac

11:11

Not if history is any indication. Their past three losses there are to Raiders teams that were 2-14 in 2006 and 4-12 in both 2012 and 2013

john

11:11

maybe we shouldn't throw 50+ times a game?

Gerry Dulac

11:11

Maybe

GSK

11:11

Hi Gerry, what's up with the Gilbert injury, any idea how it happened and when he might be back?

Gerry Dulac

11:12

Nope. He tried to come back a couple weeks ago in practice and shut it down after one day. I can only assume he aggravated the injury. I don't expect him back this week, either

Johnson

11:12

Do you think you can find Jessie James type players in the draft and save some money at the tightend position

Gerry Dulac

11:13

I don't think Jesse James is going to cost that much money, certainly not to the point you have to worry about it

E.J.

11:13

Sunday Night's game was a carbon copy of the Tampa Bay game in week 3. Inexplicable second half collapses were the Norm in the first 4 weeks of the season. Is it possible the Steelers peaked too soon?

Gerry Dulac

11:13

Not at all.

Steelphilly

11:13

Do you think other defensive coaches would be fired if they continually tried to cover AB with linebackers?

Gerry Dulac

11:13

They're not trying to do it. The Chargers schemed to force them to do it.

Jim

11:13

What are your thoughts about the Texans? Do they have a legitimate shot at getting a bye.