Tuesday, 24 July 2012 14:39

Written by Ed Bouchette

Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon and welcome back. Let's begin.

JamesinNYC: Biggest surprise you see at end of training camp...dark horse candidate if you will?

Ed Bouchette: Don't know how dark but watch for two rookies, RB Chris Rainey and LB Sean Spence. The vets could not say enough about either during the spring.

Algiff: In Your opinion Wallace in at the beginning of camp?

Ed Bouchette: It would be more guess than opinion because I truly do not know. I could see him doing either.

DSF: Has anyone picked up Dixon?

Ed Bouchette: I have not checked, but I also have seen nothing where anyone signed him either.

Taz: Ed, welcome back! Is it possible we've made it through one of your vacations without any major, earth shattering Steelers news?

Ed Bouchette: Did they not release Jonathan Scott and sign Max Starks?

Taz: Hi Ed. Was Jonathan Scott released to make way for Max Starks, or was that roster space the one allocated to the OL from Eastern Mich?

Ed Bouchette: They had the room when they signed Starks. Signing Starks allowed them to release Scott, who would have made too much as a backup.

Steelcrazyafter all years: What are the chances Spence LB breaks into starting lineup by next year.

Ed Bouchette: By 2013? He has a chance.

JamesinNYC: Will Max Starks set a record for most 1 year contracts in team history?

Ed Bouchette: I believe Charlie Batch is way out in front on that one.

Dude_From_Cali: I've forgotten how to type, it's been 6 weeks off chat. is D or K on the left? welcome back, Ed. :)

Ed Bouchette: You mean, as in Dark Knight? Wow, it's pouring here right now. Hope this doesn't happen tomorrow while I'm standing in front of a dorm waiting to talk to players as they arrive.

Dude_From_Cali: so is Decastro's final year fully guaranteed or no?

Ed Bouchette: No, I don't believe it is, but no one's told me the full details of the contract yet.

MARK JONES -HARTWELL GA: WHO REPLACES FARRIOR?

Ed Bouchette: Fellow by the name of Larry Foote.

Steelcrazyafter all years: who do you see as the main backup or % of carries behing redman- love the chats ed.

Ed Bouchette: I see them split. I see Rainey getting some. I want to see Baron Batch during a full training camp and one of Jonathan Dwyer or John Clay will have to separate himself in camp/preseason games.

Taz: Hi Ed. The Steelers have had two QBs in recent years - Dennis Dixon most recently and Brian St. Pierre a few years ago - I thought had the potential to be long-term backups with the org. Both expressed resentment at their role with the Steelers and left on sour notes for greener pastures. St. Pierre's career is over, and Dixon didn't exactly make a FA splash. When will guys realize that #3 on the depth chart for the Steelers is still a really great gig?

Ed Bouchette: It is, but when you believe in your heart that you have the ability to start in the NFL and you don't get that chance, or you think a coach or organization is holding you back, it can be difficult.

Alan Gifford: Have you heard anything on whether Mike Adams has done well with the few thigns so far?

Ed Bouchette: No, he only had that final week in the spring sans pads so TC will be the first chance we really get a look at him.

JamesinNYC: Any real chance DeCastro does not start?

Ed Bouchette: Depends on what's real, I suppose, but as long as he doesn't come in and pull a John Rienstra, the job should be his.

BuckeyePhil: who opens at starter at Left tackle at beginning of camp?

Ed Bouchette: If Max Starks opens on PUP, I would think they'd put a veteran there right away just because they won't want to put the rookie in first. Chris Scott? Trai Essex? If it's Adams, then you know this coaching staff changed more than one coordinator.

Steelcrazyafter all years: Do you see any especially Dwyer or Clay not making roster

Ed Bouchette: They don't have the room for all of them -- Redman, Rainey, Dwyer, Clay, Batch AND a fullback (with Mendenhall on PUP). So, yeah, someone has to go.

MARK JONES -HARTWELL GA: DOES DREW BUTLER MAKE THE TEAM

Ed Bouchette: Drew Butler, for those of you unaware, is an undrafted rookie punter from Georgia who will compete with Jeremy Kapinos. I've never seen Butler punt, but I'm betting on Kapinos.

Dude_From_Cali: will some team pick up Kemo EAT-u or is he done in NFL?

Ed Bouchette: I am surprised he hasn't been signed by someone yet.

Dude_From_Cali: only you could see this image in practice when Rainey vs Spence. 2 human bullets going at each other, who wins out?

Ed Bouchette: We may have to wait for Backs on 'Backers for the answer to that one.

bubs: Is the other corner job Keenan Lewis's to lose? Or will Curtis Brown or Cortez Allen give him a run for the money?

Ed Bouchette: I think it is someone's to win.

BuckeyePhil: can rainey and b. batch both make team or is it one or other?

Ed Bouchette: No, they both could make it. Even though many have tagged Batch as a third-down back, I believe he can do more than that.

Steelcrazyafter all years: cant resist- can the bucs finally make a serious run at the postseason ( pinching myself)

Ed Bouchette: They've shown they are capable up to now. I think they need another bat and competent fielder in the outfield.

Ed Bouchette: Or 2

Guest: How soon do we see the line of Pouncy, Gilbert, DeCastro, and Adams?

Ed Bouchette: It's up to Adams. and toss in Willie Colon to make it a complete line.

Ed Bouchette: Oops, there goes my electric

BuckeyePhil: haely in booth or on sidelines? have you heard yet?

Ed Bouchette: I asked him that before OTAs ended, and he said he wasn't sure yet. I'm betting the sidelines.

Ed Bouchette: I get a feeling something may happen soon with Wallace.

adamill: Ed, any talk on Tomlin's contract? Wouldn't now be the time the Steelers would normally extend his deal?

Ed Bouchette: It's possible they have done it and are waiting to release the news as camp opens.

bgigli: can you see Batch and Johnson being the third QB, since johnson is PTeligible and Batch can becalled up anytime if an injury occurs at the QB position.

Ed Bouchette: No, I see Leftwich and Batch

bubs: With a lot of new blood and a new O.C. is this one of the more interesting camps you've covered in recent years? At least since Mike Tomlin was hired?

Ed Bouchette: Most interesting to date for me was when Ben Roethlisberger went through camp knowing he could not play in the first four games.

bubs: Is there a strategical advantage to the O.C. being on either the sidelines or booth, or is it simply a matter of personal preference?

Ed Bouchette: Personal preference

The Torpedo: Ed do you think that they will try to sign Antonio Brown of Emmanuel Sanders so to avoid this Wallace like situation?

Ed Bouchette: Always possible but I cannot remember them ever signing a player long-term after just two years.

spoole58: Ed, isn't there a big probability that we see a down year because of all the new blood and the changes this year? Just saying...

Ed Bouchette: You should go read my blog from this morning because I write about that. Remember, "change" is not a four-letter word.

bubs: Your official Dark Knight review?

Ed Bouchette: Go see it.

Ed Bouchette: Thanks, all. I must go now because it's 2 p.m. and I think something's happening. See you next Tuesday.