Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 11.06.24

Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gerry Dulac: OK kids, we're back after a bye week and we'll start our chat in about 10-15 minutes.
Gerry Dulac: OK, let's get started...

Stairway to seventh seed: Gerry: the Chiefs gave up a 5th for Hopkins. The Ravens gave up virtually nothing in cap space or picks for Diontae. Diontae was out of the picture for the Steelers to re-acquire, but how can we be anything other than disappointed with the deal for Williams? Isn't this a classic example of waiting too long to fill a desperate need and being left with limited options?
Gerry Dulac: By disappointed, I assume you mean because the Steelers didn't get Hopkins? And because the Steelers gave up the same (5th rd pick) to get Williams? Well, you certainly can't blame the Steelers for not trying, going all the way back to their pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk. And would you feel this way if Christian Kirk didn't get hurt?

Lou: Hey Gerry. What do you think of the idea to ditch NFL conferences/divisions and just have one league and let’s say the top 14 teams get into the playoffs with seeds 1-2 get the first round off?
Gerry Dulac: Lou, I don't like it. Sounds like a college football plan

Sal: Happy Wednesday Gerry! Is there a real possibility Fautanu returns this season ?
Gerry Dulac: Not for the regular season. They have their fingers crossed he could possibly return for the postseason, but I don't know if that's realistic

Sal: thanks for all of your chats ! Really appreciate it
Gerry Dulac: Glad you enjoy

Stairway to seventh seed: Preston Smith is listed at only 265. Is he just depth as a 4th OLB or can he give our awful interior defensive line play a lift at that weight?
Gerry Dulac: No. He is an OLB depth guy

Tony in Augusta: Hey Gerry! Which players will be impacted the most, either positive or negative, from the trades for Mike Williams and Preston Smith?
Gerry Dulac: Roman Wilson. Whatever little chance he had of playing just got minimalized. You can throw Scotty Miller in there too.

Sara Jay: Gerry you’ve alluded to the Steelers not having interest in DeAndre Hopkins. Can you expand on that? Why didn’t they feel like pursuing him in a trade?
Gerry Dulac: I'm not exactly sure why it wasn't going to happen, just that I heard it wasn't going to happen.

Dr Cornfedder: Hello Mr Dulac. Proposed Najee extension: 3 years, $24 million. Who says no? Najee or the Steelers?
Gerry Dulac: Steelers.

Harry Callas: Hello! Can you explain to me how the Steelers are getting their moneys worth in Pat Freiermuth?
Gerry Dulac: They are not. And I agree

George in Washington: Gerry, if Broderick Jones stinks at right tackle, who’s to say that moving him to left tackle next year makes him better?
Gerry Dulac: Because he's more comfortable on the left side??

Ken Anderson: Hey Gerry. You’re in the locker room quite a bit. Do you think the majority of the locker room is pleased or disappointed with the results of last night’s presidential election?
Gerry Dulac: I don't have political discussions with the players, nor do I care to. But, I'm guessing with their paychecks, they might lean to the right

Yates: Hi Gerry- Absent Russ injury, how do you expect Steelers will use Fields if at all going forward?
Gerry Dulac: I thin that's still to be determined. Mike Tomlin will continue to say that's a possibility because he wants the other team to think it is. But he has never been a fan of pulling his starting quarterback from the game to use another one. So we'll see.

JerryMarkbreit: Halfway thru the season who are your most surprising and disappointing players?
Gerry Dulac: Surprising -- Zach Frazier. He is better than anyone imagined. Disappointing -- Roman Wilson. Only because his injury prevented him from getting a chance.

Yates: Gerry- will both of the new Steelers get 15 or more snaps on Sunday? Will Herbig only see field in obvious pass situations going forward?
Gerry Dulac: No. I'd be surprised if it were more than 10.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo: Have you heard the latest on the injury front with Frazier, Herbig and Trice? Which will play this weekend?
Gerry Dulac: Frazier should be back this week, Herbig probably not till next week vs the Ravens. Trice is getting closer but he has to come off IR

Cam: Steelers vs commanders give me a score prediction
Gerry Dulac: You'll have to wait another day for that when my picks are posted.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo: Will Sutton be slowly incorporated into the D or will he start immediately at the slot corner over Bishop?
Gerry Dulac: They will work him in, but, rest assured, he'll be back in there eventually

Mike from Iz: Hi Gerry, I've been following the Steelers since '86 and the TE Washington is starting to remind me of Eric Green. Do you see the similarities? I hope he gets more targets in a big fan.
Gerry Dulac: Yeah, they're both big. I think Green ran smoother routes, but he wasn't the blocker Washington is. Glad to see the Steelers involving him in the pass game

Matt: Gerry, is a 5th round pick too much for Mike Williams?
Gerry Dulac: Maybe, but that seems to be the pick they were willing to give in other potential trades.

Bubby Don’t Mop Up For Nobody: Is Keanu Benton hurt? At times, it looks like he is playing on rollerskates being handled by one blocker.
Gerry Dulac: I'll tell him

Bill in LA: George Pickens has had 5 starting quarterbacks in his 2 1/2 years. How do you think that has affected his mindset and production?
Gerry Dulac: I don't

SteelGotIt: Mike Williams is better than the options we have right now outside of GP, However, it does almost feel as if this trade was them settling... Did the Steelers have other names coming into yesterday that they felt comfortable with their chances opf acquiring?
Gerry Dulac: Yes. Christian Kirk. And then he got injured and was out for the season and there went that.

Mike: Does Bill in LA only ask you questions or does he also share the love with Brian and Ray??
Gerry Dulac: I'll have to ask him. I don't see their chats so I'm not sure. I can say this about Bill's questions -- somewhere in there is an underlying theme that has to do with Kenny Pickett.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo: Good morning Gerry! Will the Steelers additions at the trade deadline be impactful or just depth pieces?
Gerry Dulac: I think they can be impactful depth pieces.

Bill in LA: This past off season, why do you think so many teams did not re-sign their star running backs, only to sign a star running back from another team? Why do do you think they give up on their own stars just to pay someone else’s free agent?
Gerry Dulac: Bill, that's why, when I see some of these moves, I'm of the belief I could be an NFL GM

Junior High: Hi Gerry, coming up the Steelers have Jaden Daniels, Lamar Jackson twice, Burrow twice, Jalen Hurts and last but not least Mahomes. Realistically how many wins do you see in there? Bonus prediction: Steelers upset Chiefs especially if they are undefeated. I will take your answer off the air.
Gerry Dulac: No doubt, it's a tough second-half schedule. But I don't think the Chiefs will be undefeated on Christmas.

Befuddled: Gerry, do you ever reach out to your fellow beat writers around the country for inside info? For example, would you ever reach out to a Panthers writer to find out what DJ did to get himself exiled from the Carolinas? They received virtually nothing in return so I have to guess they just wanted him out of their locker room.
Gerry Dulac: Sometimes I do. But, in this case, I think I already knew the answer

BPOS: I recall Williams cancelled his visit to the Steelers earlier in the offseason after signing with the Jets, so didn't seem like we were high on his wish list, presumably due to the QB uncertainty at the time, but maybe other factors. Not that the Jets needed approval from Williams to be traded to the Steelers, but do they at least take into consideration if the player has some aversion to going to a specific team?
Gerry Dulac: He didn't have an aversion to coming to the Steelers. He had an attraction to the $10 million the Jets were offering him for one year.

Andrew Poni: Why did the Steelers not want Deandre Hopkins who was had for a 5th that can flex to a 4th with a SB win? He’s a better player than Williams.
Gerry Dulac: I can't answer that with certainty so I won't. All I know is I heard that wasn't going to happen

Wayward: Gerry, how do you see the Steelers integrating Preston Smith?
Gerry Dulac: He will be part of a rotation they use to give Watt and Highsmith a break. I think it was a great pickup.

Andrew Poni: Is it true that Mike Tomlin is not a fan of Tyler Boyd because of the comment after a game a couple years back he made regarding the Steelers being quitters?
Gerry Dulac: I don't know who said it was true.

Guest: Good morning, Gerry. What’s your take on the second half of the season now that the Steelers finally made a few trades? Thanks.
Gerry Dulac: Well, I think they have better positioned themselves for the second half of the season. They just didn't stand pat because they are 6-2 and leading the division and that's a good thing

Mullsy: Was there any attempt to try and trade for a right tackle?
Gerry Dulac: None

Kris Muller: Gerry, which player(s) coming back this week will have the most impact?
Gerry Dulac: Frazier

Kris Muller: Will Fields be back as QB2 this week?
Gerry Dulac: Yes

Jay: Thanks for the chats. Is Preston Smith mor of an PLB or can he play D end? Thanks.
Gerry Dulac: He has played DE before, but he is an OLB/edge rusher, and that's how he will be used.

Andrew Poni: Gerry, love the chats. With GP and MW occupying the outside how will that affect snaps in the slot?
Gerry Dulac: I don't think Mike Williams is going to come in and automatically move ahead of Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin. He will be part of the chess pieces Arthur Smith uses.

Andrew Poni: Gerry, over under Roman Wilson receptions this year including playoffs…5 catches.
Gerry Dulac: Maybe the over/under should be on the amount of games

Andrew Poni: Should the fan base be concerned that the Giants and Jets shredded the Steelers run defense or is Adams really that important to the run game.
Gerry Dulac: I think more than the fan base is concerned. But I wouldn't say the Jets, who ran for 54 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per carry, "shredded" the defense.

Yates: Hi Gerry- Have fans forgotten that the Steelers drafted Roman Wilson but he has been hurt all season? All this talk about not coming up with a plan after DJ was traded seems to forget this. And I think the DJ trade was a win for the Steelers.
Gerry Dulac: Bingo.
Gerry Dulac: Dawn Footballl10:22Will we ever see Justin Fields play in some goal line packages? It feels like he could be utilized bette
Gerry Dulac: I think you will at some point. But, unless it's highly successful, I don't think you will see it a lot

Retire21: Do you think the rest of the NFL wonders whether the Steelers are the Fields--4-2 team with 298 yards a game, 15.5 first downs and 21 points per game ...or the 2-0 Wilson team.....417.5 yards, 21 first downs and 31.5 points per game?
Gerry Dulac: I don't think they wonder. They see the difference on film. Who wouldn't??

Tim: More encouraged by the williams or smith signing, and why? Both fill needs for sure
Gerry Dulac: I have no problem with either. I think the Smith signing was more important, especially after the injuries there this season. And it's THE most important position on the defense.

Dan: Gerry - who are these imposters throwing the deep ball successfully two weeks in a row. Did Ben & Brown sneak into uniform and on to the field? Goodell won’t be happy if the Steelers get caught!
Gerry Dulac: Haha

Uncle T: can you rank the trades at the deadline and what do you think the odds of signing Najee after the season
Gerry Dulac: I like the deals because I think they were necessary and show that the Steelers are not just going to stand pat even though they are 6-2. And I have always believed they will sign Najee after the season, so long as he wants to stay here

Tom M.: Did the Steelers overpay for Williams? The Ravens got Johnson much cheaper and he is better.
Gerry Dulac: We'll find out. So let me get this straight -- everybody wants the Steelers to get a No. 2-type receiver and, when they do, they question whether the price was too high (which it wasn't)???

58Lambert Fan: Gerry, Thanks for the chat. We all love watching the Bo’s do his thing. And at the risk of jinxing them, how about some love for LS Christian Kunitz and holder Corliss Waitman? Those guys are money every placement. And Waitman has made PHIII a distant memory punting the ball.
Gerry Dulac: Absolutely. No bad snaps ever. And Waitman has been one of the unsung heroes after Cam Johnston's injury

Yates: Gerry- Which of the players coming back from injury this week are sure locks to get a hat against Washington?
Gerry Dulac: Frazier. Maybe Patterson

Tom M.: I know it wasn’t the plan, but should the Steelers plan to resign Moore? At this point, Jones may only be suited as the backup swing tackle next year. As we’ve seen with injuries, they need 3 capable tackles. Conversely, should Jones be handed the starting LT position next year based on his draft position?
Gerry Dulac: Believe me, it's not a far-fetched thought.

Bill in LA: Wasn't a 5th rounder kind of high for WR Williams for 9 more games, based on recent WR trades?
Gerry Dulac: Would you have thought that if it were Christian Kirk? It might be, but we'll see.

WarmBeer ColdWomen: Would have like the Steelers offering a #1 to Giants for Dexter Lawrence, if we could have kept him for a couple of years...do you know if he was ever on the block?
Gerry Dulac: That was never going to happen here

Atlanta Dan: Hi Gerry Agreed the Steelers are not getting their money’s worth on Freiermuth. Since Arthur Smith previously has emphasized the tight end in his offensive scheme, is it a matter of Muth not getting open on plays designed for him or Smith having assessed that Muth does not have the skill set to merit being a recurring target in an with Wilson or Fields at QB?
Gerry Dulac: I don't think it's either, especially the skill-set part

Yates: Yates- if 84 is healthy it seems like 83 has limited value to offense. 84 can really help the O in my opinion. I can’t wait to see what we can do if 22 and 30 and 84 are all healthy. Is there a better trio in the NFL?
Gerry Dulac: I think I spent so much time deciphering your numbers I forgot the question. But it's a decent trio for sure

Ross: Will the pick up of edge rusher from the Packers help our rushing defense???
Gerry Dulac: The fact he has also played DE should help in the run defense. He knows how to set the edge

Matt: What round compensatory pick would Mike Williams net us if he leaves in free agency after this year and how does that compare to the worst of our 2 5th round picks we gave to get him? Also is it true that we only owe him $6-700k for rest of year? If salary is accurate and we get a compensatory pick next year, he seems virtually free
Gerry Dulac: The Steelers will owe Williams slightly more than $2 million this season. But I don't think the Steelers will get any type of decent comp pick for Williams because it doesn't work that way. It's based on the number of players you lose versus the number you sign -- and the Steelers signed a lot more than they lost, starting with Russell Wilson and Patrick Queen.

Ryan: Gerry With us getting Mike Williams will the top 3 receivers be Pickens one Williams 2 Jefferson 3 or what do you think
Gerry Dulac: Other than Pickens being viewed at No. 1, the Steelers don't look at their receivers in terms of numerical standing. But Williams has to prove himself to be a reliable and productive receiver before he will become a regular fixture in the offense.

J.C: Were you surprised by the Dylan Cook move to the practice squad?
Gerry Dulac: Should I be?

Brian in VA: Were there no defensive lineman out there available or are the Steelers comfortable with what they have?
Gerry Dulac: I'm not sure if they were shopping for one, but at least they addressed the two positions that needed it most

SteelGotIt: Cordarrelle Patterson return on Sunday?
Mike P.: Do you think the true value of Queen will become obvious when the Steelers face a number of QBs who love to run in the coming weeks? Will he be playing a spy role, or do you think Wilson is on the field more to serve in that capacity?
Gerry Dulac: Wilson will probably handle that role in second- and third-down situations, but Queen is plenty capable. Good question.
Gerry Dulac: As for the previous question about Patterson -- don't know just yet

George Thorogood: So, 2025 draft: 1. DL, 2. WR, 3. DL, is that about right? Or reverse numbers 2 and 3?
Gerry Dulac: You've heard me say they need to address the DL the way they have the OL the past two years. If their No. 1 pick isn't a DL, shame on them

Tall Guy: i like the idea of using Fields at times but can Wilson be the guy who gets the snap on those plays? Put fields as a RB or WR because he botches too many snaps and could mess up a great opp in the redzone.
Gerry Dulac: Safe to say, I don't think that's how they are going to use him -- if they do use him.

Mikey C: Im curious how you view the “click bait” words that outside sports media uses to lure you in
Gerry Dulac: Trust me, they don't lure me in.

I'm Antwaan Randle El ?: Hey Gerry, how do these trades affect the sandwich game at Primantis. Russ Wilson got the "DangeRuss", any chance we see Mike Williams or Preston Smith on the menu soon?
Gerry Dulac: How about the PrestonHam sandwich?

Linebacker Lounge: Credit to you for finally saying not getting moneys worth out of 88… Thanks
Gerry Dulac: After all, that's why they gave him the contract they did. They expected him to be their No. 2 or 3 receiver. It's not 88's fault.

Alex: Who’s gonna stay, Wilson or fields after this year?
Gerry Dulac: Right now, that should be obvious. And I will repeat for the 100th time what I was told before the season: Both Wilson and the Steelers intend to sign a new contract after the season.

Linebacker Lounge: You were always against 80 catching passes, citing his knees… have you changed your opinion?
Gerry Dulac: I wasn't against it, I cited it as a reason that maybe that's why it wasn't happening. I was always in favor of throwing him the ball some

NC Bruin: Gary, thanks for the chat. Isn’t a fifth round pick high for a 9 game rental? And now we have no picks removed for day three?
Gerry Dulac: They can always get those picks back. Don't fret. But, if Mike Williams can help them win a playoff game and maybe more, I don't think you or anyone else will view the nine-game rental cost as too high

Rjt: Besides The first 3 games the defense has been very leaky. They give up a lot of yards to bad offenses. Is there any reason to believe they will get better?
Gerry Dulac: They are ninth in yards allowed and second in points allowed. But I think the run defense is a little leaky. And that's because they play so much nickel defense with only 2 DL.
Gerry Dulac: Ok kids, that's all we have today. Thanx for the questions