Gerry Dulac: OK kids, let's get our chat started. I'm coming at you a day earlier than usual so hope you dont mind....
mrbig: What is the biggest upgrade this offseason... I'm thinking Queen, A Smith or the punter-
Gerry Dulac: Queen definitely, but don't under-estimate the punter.
Mike from NY: Hi Gerry. Do you see the Steelers making any surprise cuts today? Do you see them picking up a WR cut from another team?
Gerry Dulac: I really don't, but you never know. And I think the possibility of picking up a WR is pretty good.
Andrew from Johnstown: Good morning Gerry! What will be the starting OL in Atlanta? Thanks.
Gerry Dulac: That's still to be determined. But if they think Fautanu is healthy, it will be, left to right Moore/Jones, Seumalo, Frazier, Daniels, Fautanu. But it could be Moore, Seumalo, Frazier, Daniels, Jones.
Tom: I get the backup QB is always the best player on the team thing, but why is there even talk about Fields starting. He is Uber athletic and talented but just not a good quarterback. He barely has double digit wins in his career. Fans can be fans, but what is with professional coaches and GM's constantly thinking players will all of a sudden become superstars?
Gerry Dulac: 10 wins in three years. 10! I think people should remember that.
the real guest: Gerry, I think Omar and Andy are going to make a lot (4 to 5) of waiver wire moves. What say you?
Gerry Dulac: No, I don't think it's that many, I say 2-3
MG: Do you have a particular road-trip restaurant that you look forward to every year? Any city
Gerry Dulac: Yes, Indy
Dave: Hi Gerry, I believe you've reported that Fautanu will be the starter at RT and that his injury is not serious enough to keep him from starting Week 1. Have the Steelers made any decisions on starting LT?
Gerry Dulac: Not yet. Let's see how Fautanu is coming along. But I'm curious to see how they handle it.
Guest: Defensive line - will it surprise with upside from Leal, a healthy Ogunjobi, or is it just a strong preseason driven off of facing second team offenses?
Gerry Dulac: I'm not sure it was a strong preseason.
Mar: Do you think Nick Herbig and Keanu Benton will be the future of Steelers and how do you think Joey Porter has looked so far
Gerry Dulac: Yes. But that's still not enough. They need to go get another Cam Heyward for the defensive line. What they have is not enough. They need to pay attention to the DL the next two years the way they did the OL.
Dave: Hi Gerry,With no immediate game to prepare for and the added distraction of cutdown day, what is the tenor and focus of the Steelers' practices this week?
Gerry Dulac: Not what you think they might be.
Guest: You said Pruitt eventually a lock if so is heyward in danger? Will they really keep 4 TEs active for gameday?
Gerry Dulac: I didn't say a lock, I said I think he will make the team. But it has no effect on Heyward. He makes the team.
Yates: Hi Gerry- Recognize the new OC likes to use TEs and the 4 most people think will be on roster offer unique value propositions. But four seems excessive. Wouldn’t it make more sense to use one of those slots at a different position?
Gerry Dulac: It will be 3 TEs plus Connor Heyward.
Ryan: Gerry what do you think about the play of Nick herbig he looked good this pre season
Gerry Dulac: Well I think they need to find a way to get this guy on the field even more. I think eventually he forces Alex Highsmith out.
TomB: Thanks for chatting Gerry! How do players cut after today but before game # 1 get paid?
Gerry Dulac: Depends on their contract
Jake: Terrell Edmunds worth a look for depth since he got released?
Gerry Dulac: No. But nothing surprises me
Kris from Philly: Does John Metchie III seem like a realistic trade target the Steelers can pivot too if Aiyuk doesn’t work out (which I assume it won’t)?
Gerry Dulac: Trade? For a guy who caught 16 passes last season?
Yates: Gerry/. Which former Steeler that is on another team’s roster would you love to have back on the team? Would you take Dotson over Daniels?
Gerry Dulac: Right now, I'd take Diontae Johnson
Kris from Philly: What percentage would you guess on the Steelers making a WR trade before the season starts next Thursday?
Gerry Dulac: Not sure, but the percentage keeps shrinking
Jeff B: In your opinion-What is the position that most likely gets attention from the cut list?
Gerry Dulac: CB, WR
AiyukMetchiePatrick: WR Question: Why do people call it a WR “Core” now? Its Corps.
Gerry Dulac: Are you saying they pronounce that way or spell it that way?
Yates: Gerry/. Five games into season how will Art be using Fields?
Gerry Dulac: Same way he uses him the first four games.
Monstars: Do you think this front off regrets trading dj prematurely
Gerry Dulac: I don't think they regret it because they got a starting CB they like. But it will affect them, and not positively.
Matt: A lot of Steelers fans complained all year about Diontae Johnson, we trade him now everyone acts like the sky is falling! Its not like he was Antonio Brown, he wasn't that good! Also is Bill in LA Kenny Pickett?
Gerry Dulac: I don't think anyone thinks the sky is falling, certainly not anyone connected with the team. But they will miss his production -- and his route running -- until someone else emerges.
Guest: Better chance of getting better depth piece at wr or cb today
Gerry Dulac: CB
Dom: Who will be the starting nickel corning come game 1?
Gerry Dulac: I'm thinking Beanie Bishop, but they like what they see of Thomas Graham, who is also a three-year vet
Tom M.: Wilson will be the starting QB. Will they also use Fields in some packages designed for him? If so, how many plays per games will he get?
Gerry Dulac: We'll find out, but I don't think it will be more than 2-3 plays. If they are successful plays, maybe he gets a couple more moving forward.
Guest: Why are we ok with just sitting in limbo with aiyuk?
Gerry Dulac: By "we," you mean you and the fans or the Steelers?
Yates: Time for bold prediction Gerry. How many ppg will Steelers average this year? How probable is it that it is higher than last season?
Gerry Dulac: Saying it will be higher than last year (17.9) is not a bold prediction
Guest: Patrick from broncos on radar for us? Do you think he's an actual option
Gerry Dulac: Not sure he's any better than Van Jefferson
Jeff B: Odd thought but does the rise of Nich Herbig make Highsmith a trade option? Draft picks or a vet player in a position need?
Gerry Dulac: Not that odd a thought, but don't think it's anything on the immediate horizon
Lou: Hey Gerry! If there is a WR out there that might get cut, do you think one of these guys could help the team? People said ohhh juju if he was good why is he cut.m?
Gerry Dulac: Now there's a sensible, logical conclusion. Congrats!!
Mike: Gerry, with a change in OC/QB(s) - what do you think the comfortability is with #3 being allowed to audible out of plays and possibly even use the no-huddle?
Gerry Dulac: I would think he will have the offense at his disposal, which is one of the reasons he was brought in
Tampa Too: Gerry. What is your prediction this year for wins and losses?
Gerry Dulac: I think they're better than last year, so 11-6
Lou: if juju was so bad…well he got brought back by KC so he can’t be sooooo bad! ;-)
Gerry Dulac: That's right
Zamo: Morning Gerry! I’m excited for the season but really nervous if an injury hits Pickens. The offense “may” even look worse than last year since any opponent will simply stack 8 in the box. Love what Weidl/Khan have done last 2 years but the WR room is a hodge podge of nothing behind GP. Really hope they can pull something off this week to add to that room. They screwed the pooch at this position IMO. Cheers bud
Gerry Dulac: Mike Tomlin always tells you, you can't live in your fears. Yes, that would be a blow to the offense. But the hodge podge of nothingness is a little extreme. Still, I get your point. Cheers
Steelbeav: Gerry, It seems that over the past several years, nearly all young QBs with excellent athletic ability have resisted taking on the “slash” role early on in their pro careers for one reason or another. It appears Plumlee may have those capabilities based on a pre-season glimpse. Your thoughts on if John Rhys will embrace this role if given the opportunity? Thanks!
Gerry Dulac: I don't think he will be given that role, but I have thought the same thing. That's how Julian Edelman got started
OH Steeler Fan: Assuming Fautanu is good to go in Atlanta, who would you start at LT?
Gerry Dulac: That's what we're going to find out. One way or another, at some point, it's going to be Broderick Jones. They're not going to put him back on the bench
AK: G - B Jones looked out of place on the right. I think he had trouble transitioning. He took so many steps on pass block he backed into QB
Gerry Dulac: He started 11 games there last season
Guest: Why are the steelers ok with waiting in limbo in aiyuk situation?
Gerry Dulac: Nobody said they are OK. What do you want them to do -- sweeten the pot? Give away a No. 1 ? That ain't happening
Yates: Would you bring Peterson or Sullivan back or roll with Beanie and or Graham?
Gerry Dulac: Peterson is not a slot corner. And it's not like Sullivan was Mike Hilton.
Mike: Herbig has continued to project upwards with no immediate ceiling in sight - is he considered the rotating the LB for both sides or just one particular?
Gerry Dulac: He will be No. 3, which means he will the first guy off the bench on both sides
ty hink: Good morning gerry, for several years now I have watched Loudermilk get bullied and pushed around on the line. He has good size for the position, but is frankly a waste of a big man. Seems like they gave him as much opportunity as they could and I know our DL needs depth, but do you think his time has come to an end and will be cut today?
Gerry Dulac: That won't surprise me at all. I basically concur with your assessment. If he does make the team, that's just another sign of how little they have done to improve that position.
Steelbeav: What’s with the Garrett fixation over TJ by much of the national media? It seems like the media over emphasis edge rusher “win rate” while sacks seems much more impactful in influencing the outcome of a game? Your thoughts
Gerry Dulac: I don't have any because I don't listen to that nonsense.
Gerry Dulac: Roman10:36Gerry can you give us some insight into Roman Wilson’s route running ability and why he is not wr on outside as number 2 ? DJ was also smallish but had that ability and he was a number 1wr, so why not Wilson?
Gerry Dulac: I haven't seen him enough in camp and certainly not in any games to evaluate that.
Ned: Hey Gerry. Do you think there is a good chance we lose Andy Weidl to another team in the not too distant future?
Gerry Dulac: No.
Guest: When does JJ Watt sign with the team?
Gerry Dulac: When Ben Roethlisberger does
Rich: Hi Gerry. Would you renew Muth? I feel that they should take a wait and see approach. Not sure if his lack of production is due to the lackluster offense or his doing, but this is a by product of Tomlin’s decisions (Canada, quarterbacks) the past few years and it makes it hard to evaluate
Gerry Dulac: Some of it is because of injuries. But I would re-sign him.
Dom: Do you expect Cory Trice to be a starter next year?
Gerry Dulac: That depends on Donte Jackson. He's a free agent after the season. If he plays well, maybe they re-sign him. If not, maybe they move with Trice. But it's way too early to determine that
Ron: to me, it's either Dirty Red or Robinson, not both. I feel the same about Loudermilk versus Lee. What say you? Do you think they will keep 3 OLBs and with Leal an option there so that they can keep 5 ILBs
Gerry Dulac: That's a very real possibility. But Matakavich will likely make the team because of special teams. Same with Robinson, but he can also be a disruptive run-stopper in the defense.
OH Steeler Fan: Odds 97 and 88 get extended before Atlanta?
Gerry Dulac: 88 pretty good. 97? That depends on Cam I think
Yates: So would you really take drama king DJ back? Addition by subtraction in my view.
Gerry Dulac: I get ya, but I was looking at the position, not on the behavior
ty hink: Golf ? Gerry, does a green jacket, a gold medal and a bunch of other wins trump 2 majors for golfer of the year?
Gerry Dulac: Yep
Yates: Will Holcomb play this year? Will it be with Steelers or different team?
Gerry Dulac: It is looking less and less likely
Anthony: I realize Kyle Allen wasn't going against first teamers, but he seemed consistent and effective. Is there any realistic scenario where another team wants Justin Fields and the Steelers consider trading him?
Gerry Dulac: None
Jim_Bow_Dean: Did the Steelers botch the OL as bad as they did at QB post Ben? They drafted a guard and anointed him the starting center. They mismanaged Dotson. They traded up for a player whose natural position is LT but have him flip flopping at RT, stunting his growth at either. This year they draft a LT and move him to RT.
Gerry Dulac: I don't get the angst over losing Kevin Dotson, like was Alan Faneca or something. And, no, they didn't both the OL, not at all. All they have done is make it that much better
62 Stack Monster: Gerry, which receivers will make up the Steelers receiving corps? Will this be a consistent core group throughout the year?
Gerry Dulac: The consistent group will be Pickens, Jefferson, Austin and Wilson.
Friar Tuck: They gave up a 1 for Minkah why not a 1 for Aiyuk?
Gerry Dulac: Because he's not worth it
Ned: Is Mike Munckak available? Any chance we can lure him back?
Gerry Dulac: None
Guest: Aiyuk still possibly happening?
Gerry Dulac: As Kevin Garnett once said, "Anything is possible."
Yates: Break out players on both sides of the ball? Who you got Gerry?
Gerry Dulac: Offense -- Calvin Austin
Gerry Dulac: Defense -- JPJ
long time: I have followed the steelers since I attended a football clinic at Pitt Stadium given by Cannonball Butler in the mid 60s, A couple years later the Steelers were 1-13 and I still was a fan and have been ever since. I find myself more excited now waiting on the Titans games to catch some Mason than I am waiting on the Steelers. Rooney and Tomlin showed their true colors at the end of last season, and they are just not the same Steelers, now.
Gerry Dulac: I hear ya there Long Time.
First Published: August 27, 2024, 1:45 p.m.
