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Steelers receiver Markus Wheaton takes big hit from Bills defender Stephon Gilmore against in the first quarter Saturday  at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript: 9.1.15

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript: 9.1.15

Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin

Guest: Hello Ed, based on Bryant’s suspension and the play of other players in the preseason, do you think Coates because of his spot in the draft and or Murphy with his play so far will see more playing time?

Ed Bouchette: Ben Roethlisberger said today and Mike Tomlin pretty much confirmed that Darrius Heyward-Bey will pick up the slack for Martavis Bryant.

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Scott from Erie: I don't understand why the Steelers would spend a sixth round pick on Scobee. I get that they did it to avoid him being claimed on the waiver wire by another team, but it doesn't seem worth it unless they plan on keeping him around more than one year.

Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant will miss the first four games of the season.
Ed Bouchette
Martavis Bryant's unspecified issues go beyond suspension for marijuana use

Ed Bouchette: Maybe they plan on keeping him around for more than one year. They indeed were worried that he would have gone elsewhere and they did not like the alternatives that were available to them at the position.

Adam: Do you think the defense is really that bad? They often dont use fresh looks and it takes time for the defense to gel.

Ed Bouchette: It was bad last year. They may not be any better.

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Guest: any word yet on tuitt possible playing week 1?

Ed Bouchette: No, but I think you will see him play against the Patriots

Adam: What's your feeling on Brady's case against Goodell? Sounds like a ruling is coming by Friday.

Ed Bouchette: Whatever the decision, I think we will see Brady suit up vs. the Steelers. If it goes against him, he is likely to appeal and get an injunction to allow him to play while he does.

JJ: Looking down the road would it make sense to start taking taller db's in earlier rounds of the draft?

Ed Bouchette: It would make sense if they are any good. It's not like they are trying to draft corners under 6 feet, but have determined that when it came to their turn, there was no one over 6 feet worth taking instead of the ones under 6 feet. make sense?

Taz: Hi Ed - for such a polarizing figure, why no statement from the Rooneys on Vick? It leads to people projecting opinions onto them in social media absent a statement.

Ed Bouchette: Art Rooney II, the club president, spoke about it on KDKA-TV at length.

SoCalMichael: Do suspended players count towards the 53-man roster while they are on suspension? That is, when the Steelers do final cutdowns, are they cutting down to 53 PLUS Bell and Bryant?

Ed Bouchette: No, they will be on the suspended list and do not count against their 53. So two players will benefit, at least temporarily, from those suspensions.

Guest: Can you clarify how many times Martavis Bryant has tested positive, and when those positive tests occurred? Was he fined or suspended for any of them before this one?

Ed Bouchette: No one has provided a list, but according to the CBA, the first positive test puts a player in the system. A second positive causes him to be fined two game checks, a third he is fined four game checks and a fourth he is suspended for four games (and loses four more paychecks).

By my addition, that would be a total of 10 game checks that Bryant has or will lose.

Justin: Any surprise vets on the bubble for the next round of cuts?

Ed Bouchette: I cannot think of any.

Troy43: Do you think that Bryant will follow the same path of Josh Gordon? Have you seen any improvement in his drug problem? What a Shame if he blows his career like that!

Ed Bouchette: I cannot render any judgment on stuff like that because I do not know the man that well and even those who do may not be able to tell.

Ralph The Plumber: Were the Steelers looking at Fred Jackson at RB or Tim Jennings at CB?

Ed Bouchette: If they were, they kept it a pretty good secret.

Scott from Erie: How do you see the punting competition ending up? With all the kicker changes, seems like it would be wise to stick with the guy they know.

Ed Bouchette: I think whichever one does not make it with the Steelers, will be happily picked up by some other NFL team.

Guest: Ed - I'm more concerned about Safety play than other position. Seems like they get out of position/blow coverage a lot. Do you think this is Cover 2 learning curve or something bigger?

Ed Bouchette: The cover 2 learning curve should not be a great one for the safeties, who basically each drop into a zone on each side of the field. If I were you, I'd be more concerned about the cornerback play.

Go Steelers!: Hi Ed, please tell me the Steelers will cut Archer. Forget his draft position, why waste a roster spot on this guy?

Ed Bouchette: Because he was a third-round draft pick.

Guest: even when brant comes back, assuming he doesnt fail another test, is this the year you think wheaton really breaks out? the same things were said last year and while he didnt have a bad season i wouldnt have called it a breakout one

Ed Bouchette: Markus Wheaton caught 53 passes last season, second among their wide receivers. Not bad for a second-year player who was hurt much of his rookie season.

dave: Do you expect Mitchell to be ready for the opener? Also, do you still think Cortez Allen will be one of the starting CB's?

Ed Bouchette: Yes and yes, although Allen won't keep that job if he does not perform better than he did last season.

Jud: Your thoughts on how Dupree is coming along? How much do you see him playing early on (barring injury)?

Ed Bouchette: They would like to work the rookie into the lineup the way they did with LaMarr Woodley his rookie season.

Mike: Does Scobee's salary (I think $3.4M) take away any extension talks with Beachum and others?

Ed Bouchette: They won't be paying him that much.

Jud: Has Butler been made available to you this preseason?

Ed Bouchette: Yes, I've talked to him several times.

The Dude Abides: Ed, I got the Steelers going 5-11 this year, a complete inverse of last year. Tougher schedule, new Defensive Coach bad karma.

Ed Bouchette: If true, it would have nothing to do with a new defensive coach.

Jud: Do you play fantasy football or is thinking about it for work enough?

Ed Bouchette: Not only do I not play it, I don't think about it.

Guest: There seemed to be a lot of optimism and confidence about this team among media and fans two or three weeks ago. Less so now. Have your thoughts changed?

Ed Bouchette: I did not think much of their defense going in and that has not changed.

Guest: similiar to past seasons it seems as if our best preseason game was played against perhaps the best team we have played in the preseason...perhaps a good sign of things to come considering we have the toughest schedule

Ed Bouchette: You are quite the optimist.

Adam: Why doesn't the NFL change its stance on weed? Who cares if players take it? It's not performance enhancing.

Ed Bouchette: They did change their stance last September, although I agree with you, it probably should not be a source of discipline unless they are impaired while driving.

Jud: We'll keep 3 tight ends and 1 fullback right? Heath, Spaeth, and James and Johnson?

Ed Bouchette: That is what they normally do, although they have kept 4 TE at times, but I don't expect that.

Adam: Why can't the Steelers put Pouncey on the PUP list instead of short term IR list?

Ed Bouchette: To go on PUP, you have to be on it from the start of camp and stay there. He was on it and then came off and then got hurt. Can't go back.

Taz: Is anyone but Pouncey a legitimate candidate for the part-year IR?

Ed Bouchette: no

Jud: When do they have to designate someone for the part-year IR?

Ed Bouchette: They could wait, but if they want to start the clock, they will put Pouncey on the 53-man and the next day put him on the short-term IR.

Ed Bouchette: Thank you for another great chat. The regular-season chat starts next Tuesday.

First Published: September 1, 2015, 7:00 p.m.

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