Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin
kjacksonpgh: Ed, since the Steelers did not address the QB in the draft do you believe they will be satisfied to take their current QB’s on the roster into this upcoming season?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, I do. It is the same lineup they were going to have last season until Bruce Gradkowski's shoulder never came around.
Black Mamba: Could you explain the process of signing undrafted free agents? Is it a mad dash for the best available with a first come first serve policy? Or do teams usually get who they want? I guess every team's board of best available is different, but I've never quite understood what it's like and I would appreciate some insight, thanks!
Ed Bouchette: Yes, it is sort of a mad dash after the draft, but it begins during the draft when they make the phone calls to potential undrafted rookies. It's up to the rookies, who are true free agents, to decide where they want to go. Some of the best will have a handful or more of offers. Some look at the money in the form of signing bonuses, but the smart ones will evaluate where they have the best chance of making a team.
Robert: Hi Ed. Who's gonna start in game one of the regular season between Hargrave and McCullers? And Cockrell or Burns?
Ed Bouchette: I really do not have a crystal ball because that will be decided in the preseason. Even the coaches cannot tell you the answer today. I believe McCullers will start game one, as for the cornerbacks, I still believe Burns could start game one.
YinzerinBmore: Ed, 1st time writing in! So, the RB situation... With Bell starting the season less than 100%, and Williams coming off an injury (not sure of his status), will there be much competition behind those two and what do you think of our current depth there? Thanks!
Ed Bouchette: The Steelers rarely have more than 3 halfbacks and you just named two. I am not sure how you know that Bell and/or Williams will not be ready, though. There will be competition for No. 3 but that back only sees the field if the first two are injured.
kjacksonpgh: Ed, do you believe with a year under his belt that Sammie Coates will have an opportunity to have a breakout season? Or to at least have an impact similar to Bryant did his first year.
Ed Bouchette: That was a rare "breakout" rookie season for Bryant, so I would not think Coates will have that kind of impact. Yes, he will get the chances and his coaches already have been talking him up. I hear he is in great shape, by the way, and taking this opportunity seriously.
Travis: Also, the more important signing Decastro or Bell and why?
Ed Bouchette: I don't know that there is one more important than the other. they need them both.
Steve: Ed, what Steelers are in a contract year?
Ed Bouchette: Markus Wheaton, Le'Veon Bell, David DeCastro, Jarvis Jones, Lawrence Timmonns, to name the more prominent.
Alex: Who do you think will start at FS opposite Mitchell?
Ed Bouchette: MItchell is the free safety. I believe Sean Davis will earn the starting SS job.
rd: ed do you think the steelers will run any 4 men front with hargraves and mcullers.
Ed Bouchette: No, I don't see that.
Roose: Hi Ed, I think Manny Sanders signed for something like $5million per year in Denver - clearly he's an upgrade on Wheaton and Bryant (since he has such off the field issues). Wouldn't it have been worth it to lock him up with Brown to make for the best receiving duo in the league?
Ed Bouchette: They usually sign one receiver to a big contract, and that was Antonio Brown. They've done quite well throwing and catching the ball without Sanders, as good as he has been with Denver.
Zack B: Why not bring in some pass rushing depth...maybe Freeney or O'Briend Schfield?
Ed Bouchette: Why do people always want the Steelers to sign other teams' castoffs?
BurnsandDavisShow: Good afternoon, Ed. Is there any indication of what role Doran Grant will compete for? How much do you see him contributing next year? Thanks.
Ed Bouchette: Some have conjectured he could play safety. He may get a shot at both, but they've brought in a lot of talent ahead of him at both positions.
Brandon: Why not look at Zach Mettenberger? He is probably better than Landry.
Ed Bouchette: And you know this why? He was Tennessee's sixth-round draft pick in 2014 and was 0-10 as the Titans' starter. That team thought so much of him that they cut him, which obviously now makes him more attractive in the eyes of some Steelers fans.
Steve: Is Suisham still a Steeler?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, he is, but I would not go out and buy his jersey.
Steve: Ed who has the better chance starting first game Davis or Burns?
Ed Bouchette: In my opinion, Sean Davis at safety.
Mexico City Steele...: Senor Ed, what is the real reason the Steelers and Panthers get rid of Brandon Boykin?
Ed Bouchette: The Steelers did not get rid of him, he signed as a free agent in Carolina and I have no idea why they cut him without even looking at him on the practice field. But then, why did the Steelers send a fifth-round pick to the Eagles for him and then not play him until the latter parts of the season?
Bruno: What do the Patriots do much better than the Steelers organization that they have more playoff success. Both teams have elite QBs
Ed Bouchette: I am not sure. One theory is that the Patriots play in what has been a traditionally weak division, the AFC East, for a long time and that helps them build up wins and get a bye. Another reason is they just have been better at what they do.
Ed Bouchette: And a third, of course, is the theory that they have won some of that by cheating.
Craig: Hi Ed, IN your time covering the Steelers, has there always been this much interest in in players 40 - 53 on the roster (or 60- 90 this time of year), or is this thinking that everyone signed could be diamond in the rough and end up as the "one" a new phenomenon?
Ed Bouchette: There always has been interest in those, including from Chuck Noll who often went above and beyond in giving those guys every chance to make the team.
Joren: Re Boykin: Come on, there's no way someone like you has not heard the real issues he had with the team, can you please elaborate and not dodge?
Ed Bouchette: As far as I know, Brandon Boykin was a model citizen in Pittsburgh and even held his tongue as he was being ignored. The coaches made their decisions purely on football ability and how he fit or did not into their system. I have no idea what happened in Carolina.
Yara: What ever happened to the NCAA interception leader they drafted at the end of the 2015 draft? How can someone so prominent in college not even make a team as a rookie?
Ed Bouchette: He's out of football. It happens all the time, including Heisman Trophy winners.
Travis: I feel, Mettenburger would be worth a fair shake, I think he's more competent than Landry and could push Gradkowski to see what he has left. He played very well against us; I think two years ago when locker went down?
Ed Bouchette: So you want the Steelers to sign him because he played one good game and it happened to be against them? Did you see the other nine he lost? Imagine what Arizona, then, must think of Landry Jones?
mtsteel: Hi Ed, thanks for the great chats. How do you feel about adding veteran DB help? If our DB situation suffers any type of set back, i.e one injury back there, we are in big trouble. We already have questions marks in the secondary, wouldnt it be smart to add veteran depth now on the cheap??
Ed Bouchette: Yes, if they can play. On the other hand, you do not want to be cluttering up the secondary with washed-up "name" veterans that get in the way of allowing you to play and develop your young talent. Will Allen is out there if some of these guys cannot handle it.
Tommen: Do you think Woodley would come back after the way he was treated here?
Ed Bouchette: LaMarr Woodley became a rich man here. Would he come back? I don't know, but I do know it would not be to play for the Steelers. By the way, how is that free agent bidding for him going?
dave: Do you get the feeling that Mettenburger's agent is on this chat?
Ed Bouchette: No, but maybe a family member.
FoolBack: Ed, I still feel our defensive line depth is pretty weak. With the versatility that we have with Heyward and Tuitt, I just don't feel there is much behind them but youth. Do you expect any further additions there?
Ed Bouchette: If someone popped free that they liked, maybe, but again, I would not hold my 3-point stance over it.
kjacksonpgh: Ed, with Keith Butler’s defense being simplified do you see at least our first 3 picks potentially able to get playing time sooner rather than later?
Ed Bouchette: Potentially, yes. It also has little to do with making a defense simpler as it does with job openings. Some people made a big deal that rookies could not crack Dick LeBeau's defense, but that defense was so loaded with talent that it was nearly impossible.
TX_Steeler: Do the member teams have any control over Blesto or is Blesto wholly independent?
Ed Bouchette: No, the member teams actually own Blesto
FlaFan: Hi Ed, any statistics on injuries to punt returners being greater than receivers getting injured when hit? AB is too good to not return punts.
Ed Bouchette: I cannot remember a punt returner in Pittsburgh having a serious injury. I do not know about any studies that were done and would have to research it, but I'd bet you can get hurt more easily running pass patterns over the middle than fielding punts.
Dennis: Ed, when do the OTA's start where veterans are allowed to participate?
Ed Bouchette: Next week
TX_Steeler: Do you think the last OLB spot will be between Chickillo and Feeney?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, it very well could be.
Ed Bouchette: Thank you for another great chat. See you next Tuesday.
Follow Ed Bouchette on Twitter @EdBouchette.
First Published: May 17, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
Updated: May 17, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
