Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin
Comment From Neil: Is Jarvis Jones going to take a leap forward this year or is he essentially Ziggy Hood playing OLB?
Ed Bouchette: That really is up to Jarvis Jones. He was off to a good start in 2014 when in the third game he tore up his wrist, virtually ruining his second season. He did not play the way you'd expect a good first-round draft pick to play in his third year. James Harrison reiterated just a bit ago that Jones is the starter and he has no problem with that.
Comment From truesteelerfan: Have we heard anything about what Bell is seeking for in his next contract?
Ed Bouchette: No, but it would be a hefty raise.
Comment From Luis: First time chatter, long time reader here Ed. I wanted to ask about the misses of 08, 09, 06 first round picks. Do you think the 2012/2013 playoff drought was a result of missing on those picks?
Ed Bouchette: They did not make the playoffs in those two years because Ben Roethlisberger threw two bad interceptions in close losses at Dallas and to Cincinnati in the 14th and 15th games of the 2012 season, and because they lost by 2 points at Baltimore in late November of 2013.
You can't blame any of it on draft picks. I've said before, they got a few good years out of Rashard Mendenhall. Ziggy Hood never lived up to his billing. I'm not sure what you mean by '06 because Santonio Holmes helped deliver a Lombardi Trophy before his exit.
Comment From Kevin in Punxsy: What are your thoughts re: Ben R wanting to go for 2 pts after every TD this year?
Ed Bouchette: Go for it.
Comment From truesteelerfan: At this time of year when we see articles about one 4th string OLB cut, so a different 4th string OLB is signed - do you recall any of these swaps resulting in any surprisingly good players?
Ed Bouchette: James Harrison, who was added just before training camp in 2004 after Clark Haggans was injured lifting weights that summer.
Comment From me: Why haven't they restructured Timmons' contract yet?
Ed Bouchette: I'm not sure what their plans are for Timmons, but if it is to do another deal, they have plenty of time. Many of their big contracts were finished during camp, including Antonio Brown's second deal.
Comment From Mike: Hi Ed, thank you for putting the Blogs back on the Steeler Nation app, much appreciated
Ed Bouchette: I know nothing about that technology but we will pass your thanks along to those who did it.
Comment From Francios: Hi Ed, love the chat. Question about Ben; I know everyone is all for players making as much as they can, but with well over $100 mil in career earnings already, wouldn't it make sense to take say $11 mil a year instead of $21 mil and say "go get a lock down corner"?
Ed Bouchette: That's easy for you to say, but he should get what other great quarterbacks are getting, in my opinion. Why just him? Why not others on the team giving up salary to go towards a "lock down corner.''
By the way, they gave a ton of money to Cortez Allen thinking he could be that guy and where did that get them?
Comment From Guest: I saw where Shazier is the fastest Steeler at the OTA's. Wouldn't he be better utilized as a strong safety or hybrid the way troy was?
Ed Bouchette: They used Troy Polamalu in linebacker positions a lot, so, yeah, Shazier can be used at linebacker a lot.
Comment From samwilli: with the addition of Green at TE, do you see us moving to an even more pass heavy offense given his current skill set and the fact that he's not as strong of a blocker as Heath?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, I can, not just him but with all the other good pass receivers they have, including their halfback, Le'Veon Bell.
Comment From truesteelerfan: Is it often that politicians look towards athletes for vocal support - As much as most of us love Ben - is he really someone we will change our vote for because of Ben's potential endorcement?
Ed Bouchette: I do not have any facts to back any of it up, and I'm not sure anyone does, but if any, say, Pittsburgh Steelers player would endorse a candidate, would that carry any weight in New England? Dallas? If Tom Brady endorsed a candidate, might that have the opposite effect for Steelers fans?
Comment From truesteelerfan: with all the NFL concussion news in the headlines and movies - do you think they will ever pass a rule that drastically changes (and ruins?) the way the game is played - such as no touching the QB?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, I could see that some day happening. Jack Lambert suggested a long time ago they put dresses on quarterbacks. Some day, maybe they will wear flags instead.
Comment From Jay_From_Indy: In your opinion Ed, does losing Heath Miller’s blocking abilities cause such a significant drop off that it could affect the over-all offense’s ability to move the ball consistently?
Ed Bouchette: What they will miss with Heath Miller was his ability to block and receive, competently, so that defenses never knew what he might do and they also could keep him on the field in the no huddle offense to do either.
Comment From Rob: Ed, would you be willing to take a pay cut in order to sign a lockdown reporter?
Ed Bouchette: We have enough of those.
Comment From dave: Do you think they're serious about going for two after each TD?
Ed Bouchette: No, but as Ben R suggested today, they probably will do it more often than they did it last year, when they led the league.
Comment From guest: Hi Ed, The annual off season NFL top 100 is on tv to occupy our minds or maybe it's to get us talking :) Anyway it looks like Ben will be on the list this week in the 40-31 range. Even though he was injured for 4.5 games do think that's a fair placement for him? On top of that I predict that AB will be #1 but in saying that I think that's being generous due to the fact that when Ben missed those games AB was non existant.
Ed Bouchette: I ignore completely all those rankings.
Comment From BlacknGold81: Who gets into the Hall of Fame first....Troy Polamalu or Hines Ward?
Ed Bouchette: Or Alan Faneca?
I don't think the issue should be who gets there first, but who gets there.
Ed Bouchette: They just took the field, and here I am chatting.
Comment From Freda: What's your prediction on Bryant? Does he come back or is he cut after this year?
Ed Bouchette: They are not going to cut him unless he just cannot perform.
Comment From PGH fan in Cali: Over the years the Steelers have found ways to lose games against teams they probably should have won and won games against teams they probably weren't picked to win. How do you see that playing out with this years not so tough of schedule?
Ed Bouchette: On the morning of the first game, I go through the schedule and predict individual game wins and losses for the entire season. I'm not ready to do that in June. And just when you think schedules are not so tough, they find a way to become just that.
Comment From TShip: Hi Ed, Happy flag day. Any word on extensions for 66 or 26 and if so does that mean restructuring on any other contracts?
Ed Bouchette: No word. Actually, when they do David DeCastro's contract, it should create salary cap room in 2016.
Comment From Fredward: Who do you think is returning punts Week 1?
Ed Bouchette: Antonio Brown
Comment From Guest: Hi Ed, great chat as always! Do you think they could have utilized Troy in a hybrid MLB role this past season instead of cutting bait?
Ed Bouchette: No, I think they should have brought Jack Lambert back instead.
Comment From Jay_From_Indy: Does the coaching staff have the ability to further develop Ladarius Green's blocking abilities or would that be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, because he is just a natural pass catching Tight End?
Ed Bouchette: He will have to block in their offense. How capable he is remains the question.
Comment From Luis: Ed, can you speculate on what happens with AB's contract? I assume he'll play out this year but what do you think happens with one year left?
Ed Bouchette: I think they will sign him to an extension.
Comment From Myron Cope Jr.: Any rookies you see starting day one of the regular season?
Ed Bouchette: My best bet remains Sean Davis at safety.
Comment From raise the cup: After years of not getting turnovers, it seems like last season's Def turned the corner in that area. Was is primarily a change in scheme with Butler, or a coincidence?
Ed Bouchette: Not sure about confidence, but Butler put a heavy emphasis on that and I think that helped.
Comment From Luis: Is it true Ben gets to call a lot of the plays?
Ed Bouchette: When they run the no-huddle, he calls them all.
Ed Bouchette: Thank you for another great chat. We'll shut things down now until training camp. See you from Saint Vincent College.
First Published: June 14, 2016, 2:22 p.m.
Updated: June 14, 2016, 7:51 p.m.
