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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript: 1.24.17

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript: 1.24.17

Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin our first chat of the Steelers post-postseason:

Mark: Ed, are you as angry and frustrated as us fans over the Steelers lackluster performance Sunday night?

Ed Bouchette: No, I don't get angry or frustrated unless I cannot come up with something to write about what they did. And that rarely happens. I understand why the fans may feel that way, though. Unless the Steelers win a Super Bowl, it's always been that way. It also gets more frustrating for them the further they advance.

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Guest: Do you think Bell was hurt prior to the game?

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Ed Bouchette: He said he had a lingering groin issue for awhile. Mike Tomlin said he knew about it, but that it was not a serious issue. His production and number of carries will tell you it was not an issue right up until it became one.

Adam: Will the NFL punish the Steelers for failing to disclose Bell's groin injury? Aren't they required to list a player on the injury report if they are injured even if they practice in full?

Ed Bouchette: If failing to disclose a minor injury is against the rules, then they would have to list all 53 players every game.

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Here is how the injury report works: If a player does not practice, or if his practice is limited, it goes on the report. If he goes through a full practice, nothing needs to go on the report.

That changes on Friday, when they have to list players as questionable, doubtful or out. There no longer is a "probable." Bell was never listed as "questionable" because they always knew he would play.

I think Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are in the clear on this.

The Wolf: Hi Ed. This domination of the Steelers by the Pats is getting ridiculous. Why don’t the Steelers assign someone to analyze the Patriots full time so that they don’t get "caught off guard" again?

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Ed Bouchette: The Steelers aren't the only team in the NFL trying to find a way to beat them.

 

Mark from CT: Ed, I have a question related to when a receiver is coming out of the huddle and approaching the line of scrimage he signals the offical on the sideline why is that? I am going to refain from asking the obvious questions about the game and Bens interview

Ed Bouchette: I've never asked anyone but I would guess he's making sure he is either on the line of scrimmage or off it enough if he's the flanker.

GSK: Hi Ed, what % chance does Ben retire?

Ed Bouchette: Blutarsky

Ben: Hi Ed, what positions do you see the Steelers targeting early in this draft?

Ed Bouchette: I would go after another OLB who can rush the passer. I know they've spent high picks there recently but you have to get one. After that, I would think WR, CB, maybe TE. Don't overlook RB either

Jojo Callahan: Any chance Ben walks into Dan Rodney's office and sends an ultimatum. Change or I'm out?

Ed Bouchette: No.

Scott from Amsterdam: Ben's comments about returning next year are alarming...not because I fear he will actually retire, but because it sounds like he's lost his competitive fire to play the game. Do you think it was just an overreaction to the loss?

Ed Bouchette: Really, I'm not sure what he's thinking. Maybe he's actually thinking of retiring.

Weegie: Although not surprising, Is this a message from Ben to the Steeler Organization that his window is closing and actions needed (free agency) to field a win now team?

Ed Bouchette: Could be, but I asked Mike Tomlin if Ben had told him that before this season and he said he had.

Guest: I know there's plenty of other stuff to discuss, but what happens in the players' exit interviews with Tomlin? Does he tell them what they need to improve on, and how they should spend their offseasons?

Ed Bouchette: Never been in on those. Bill Cowher started it when he first came to Pittsburgh. I did not know Chuck Noll to do it.

I assume the coach tells the player what he thought of his season, what he might need to improve upon and then ask him if he has any questions. Same as any boss might do in a worker's evaluation.

Wade: The big three healthy and a young defense can't get it done, what's the biggest needs this offseason to reach the super bowl. Do we need to fit our team to beat New England and nothing else?

Ed Bouchette: One of the big three was NOT healthy.

Adam: Should the Steelers change their long-term QB strategy with these comments by Ben and take a QB high in the draft to groom until he retires?

Ed Bouchette: Taking a quarterback "high in the draft" does not necessarily solve your problems. Ask the Cleveland Browns. Dallas found one in the fourth round.

You don't just grab a QB in the first round if you don't think he has the talent to become the next Ben Roethlisberger. They say it's not a good draft for QBs this year either and the Steelers pick 30th

mtsteel: Does Keith Butler get addressed from Steelers management about his preparation this week or does he get a pass because its the mighty Pats we lost to? Thanks Ed

Ed Bouchette: I would vote Keith Butler as assistant coach of the year for how he handled a defense in transition from the great ones of the past and from the beginning of this season.

Tommy: What is your opinion of the defensive game plan? In 2011 they played press-man coverage and had Cortez Allen stick to Gronkowski. Yes different players now vs. then but wouldn't it have been better to disrupt their timing and maybe get to Brady compared to playing zone aal game and getting picked apart?

Ed Bouchette: Maybe whatever strategy was chosen against Tom Brady would not have worked, but I thought they'd try harder to get some pressure on him. I would not have dropped James Harrison and Bud Dupree into pass coverage as much as they did.

Jay: Who is a higher priority for 2017! Brown or Bell?

Ed Bouchette: I think you can get both deals done, unless the player prices himself out of range. You could use the franchise tag on Bell and if Brown declines your offer, well, he has one more year under contract.

Guest: Do you think the Steelers would have won if Bell hadn't gotten hurt?

Ed Bouchette: I'm not going that far even though losing a star RB can be crippling.

Le'Veon Bell does not play defense either.

StillaYinzer: Ed is there any chance the Steelers move on from Mike Mitchell? He has been "ok" but has never been the play-maker they envisioned when they signed him. In addition, his cap number is significant.

Ed Bouchette: No, I think he stays.

Tat58: If Ben indeed retires (I dont think so), do you think Tony Romo could land here?

Ed Bouchette: I haven't thought that far ahead, but I would say no -- he's old and hurt alot.

GLENN: Hi ed, do you think tomilns game plan had any chance for a win on sunday

Ed Bouchette: If all those receivers did not drop those passes and if they scored from the 1-foot line and if someone on defense actually could cover Hogan, perhaps.

CuriousInColorado: Did you get woken up in the hotel with the fire alarm?

Ed Bouchette: No, I slept through it like a baby -- because we stayed in a hotel in Stoughton, Mass.

Go Steelers!: Hi ED, why didn't the Steelers defense at least try playing some man to man? No way they could have left Hogan and others any more wide open.

Ed Bouchette: As open as they were, they should have sent the 10-man blitz on Brady because, as you said, they couldn't have been more open had they done so.

AJ: I think Ben actually had a good game vs NE, the fault was with the WRs & defense. I don't blame him for being frustrated. But please tell me that whenever he does retire, the Steelers would not be crazy enough to go with Landry Jones as the starting QB!!!

Ed Bouchette: OK, I'm telling you.

Craig: I know all the talk will be on Bell's contract and extending Brown, but how high is getting Tuitt extended on their offseason todo list, and do you think it will happen. He and Heyward moving forward with an ever-improving Hargrave could be a nasty D-line!

Ed Bouchette: I think you will see them try to negotiate an extension with him.

Tat58: The signing of Karlos Williams has to do with Bell´s future in the team? It seems that we like trouble players.

Ed Bouchette: I don't think that has anything to do with Bell.

Rags from Baltimore: I believe the Steelers were a year away from the super bowl this year. Young team that grew a lot this yr especially on defense. Offense needs Bryant back or another tall WR Whats your thoughts

Ed Bouchette: I will write an analysis for Sunday but, yes, they can use Bryant but right now cannot count on him because of his past. It's gravy if he plays the whole 2017 season. Tall receiver? How about just a good one. They have tall ones who were unable to handle passes on Sunday.

Adam: What did you think of those plays when Brady completely changed the play at the line and beat us bad everytime he did so? Was the defense utterly unprepared?

Ed Bouchette: Well, they did not look very prepared to me.

Bill: Do you think stunting Harrison and Dupree inside pass rushing would have been better than asking them to drop back in coverage? They're our best pass rushers and you automatically take them out of what they do best.

Ed Bouchette: Anything is better than having your best pass rushers drop into coverage often.

Guest: Pittsburgh should start preparing for Ben's departure even if he doesnt retire. Any qb prospects that peak your interest?

Ed Bouchette: Wentz, but I don't think the Eagles will give him up.

It's supposed to be a poor year for college QBs in the draft.

Weegie: Do the Steelers look at free agency, in particular #2 wide receiver and R. Outside Linebacker?

Ed Bouchette: You may be able to find a young receiver somewhere but the tried and true are hard to come by n free agency. Same at OLB. You can find an Arthur Moats and afford him in free agency. Hard to find someone accomplished, and then come up with the cash to pay him

NewEnglandStillersFan: If you had to choose between dismissing Haley or Butler this offseason, who would you choose and why? There are no coordinators named Neither!

Ed Bouchette: Why in the world would you want to dismiss either? Because the Steelers did not win the AFC championship? You certainly are joshing

Andy: How many years would you estimate Ben has left?

Ed Bouchette: Maybe none if you take him at his word

AJ: Do you think Ladarius Green will ever be a reliable player? Seems his concucussion history has made him too fragile to play a full season.

Ed Bouchette: I don't know how the Steelers can count on him for 2017. I would look elsewhere.

StillaYinzer: Ed, any chance the Steelers explore trade options with AB? Contract year, questionable attitude and declining production...

Ed Bouchette: I would not dismiss that, but then who would Ben throw to? Also, I disagree with the terms questionable attitude and declining production. His attitude as far as playing the game is great. His production would be fine if they had another receiver to take the pressure off.

Adam: Assuming Ben did retire, what would the Steelers do? FA or Draft?

Ed Bouchette: Punt

Ed Bouchette: Free agency would be tough but maybe a trade?

Adam: Why would Ben complain now after he has the best O line of his career and a team that was one game away from the SuperBowl? I just dont get the timing.

Ed Bouchette: It's the first time he's gone public. Mike Tomlin said it's not the first time he's expressed those sentiments.

Ryno: Do you think Brown keeps acting like a diva next season, or will Tomlin tone him down?

Ed Bouchette: Does a leopard change his spots?

Guest: should the D switch back a 4-3?

Ed Bouchette: They don't have the linemen for that and their OLBs are not suited to that. Now, you might be able to make Shazier an OLB in a 4-3, but I don't see anyone else unless it's Timmons.

Guest: Does Ben have a special fondness for Sammie Coates? I get that sometimes you have no other options, but I would think a quarterback would lose confidence in a receiver who dropped that many passes. But Ben throws deep to him on 3rd and 1.

Ed Bouchette: Tell me which wide receivers other than Brown and Rogers you could throw to who does not drop passes or who has gained your confidence?

Jeff: Ed, if the Steelers are tired of AB's antics, and I'm not sure if they are or aren't, what do you think he could return in a trade?

Ed Bouchette: I believe you could get a first-rounder under normal circumstances, although he has only 1 year left on his contract.

Adam: Do you think Burns and Davis can develop into dominant players next year?

Ed Bouchette: I'm not sure what dominant is. Rod Woodson, Mel Blount were dominant. Donnie Shell and Troy Polamalu were dominant. No. But I do think they can be good players.

Breon: Do the steelers just need better players for their scheme? Such as a dominant edge rusher?

Ed Bouchette: Yes, I believe they do need another good outside pass rusher. The return of DE Cam Heyward will help but still need another OLB to ease the burden on James Harrison, who will be 39

Bill: What about developing Mettenberg? He has big arm and seems better suited for our offense than Jones?

Ed Bouchette: I do not see him as a starting quarterback. Neither did the two other teams he played for.

Adam: Do you think location played a real factor in the AFC championship game or would we have been pounded anywhere on any field?

Ed Bouchette: I think playing at home is a huge advantage for the Patriots, but not going to say the outcome would have been different in Heinz Field. The Pats won 2 AFC title games there too

JW: Do you believe the complaints about AB are overblown? He's not perfect but could certainly cause worse problems

Ed Bouchette: Hmmmm, since Mike Tomlin added to those complaints last week, I would say they are legit

Steelman: Have heard anything regarding what they'll do with Green? I know he's not retiring but do you think keep him or cut him?

Ed Bouchette: I don't think they'll cut him, but not sure what the future holds. I don't think they or even he knows. It's all in his head

Natalie: I know everyone really liked Green but what did you think of James. I thought Jesse James was great and a great TE

Ed Bouchette: Great is too strong, but I do believe he's improving and that's what you want to see from any young player

Guest: ED, do you see a change in our special teams coach, Danny Smith, special teams have been really terrible?

Ed Bouchette: I'm not sure that is Danny Smith's fault.

Ed Bouchette: Thank you for another great chat. See you whenever. I'll be covering the Super Bowl next week. Maybe we'll have one then.

First Published: January 24, 2017, 8:03 p.m.

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