Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 10.24.12

Wednesday, 24 October 2012 14:10

Written by Gerry Dulac

DiamondSteel: Has Decastro been working around the South Side facility? How is he looking on his recovery.

Gerry Dulac: Yes, he has been working and he seems to be coming along fine and on schedule, though nobody is quite sure what that schedule is. I asked him about it last week and he said he's not sure whenm he'll be back. He's eligible to come back after the Giants game, but it won't be that soon. It's more likely it will be closer to December if and when he returns.

Gerry Dulac: Let me clarify the previous answer ....when I say working, I mean working on his rehab, not with the team. That is still a ways off, as they say.

Gerry Dulac: OK, I'm waiting.....Perhaps there are some web difficulties

Rick in LA: Troy's calf injury, is he getting close to returning? Is he running?

Gerry Dulac: He is not close, and I have not seen him running. I think he's going to be out for a while, certainly longer than he was the first time. But he might start doing some running soon. If he is doing it, we do not see it.

DiamondSteel: RGIII going to give fits to the defense?

Gerry Dulac: Uh..yeah. What's most impresive about him is that he's completing 70 percent of his passes and has thrown just 3 picks, both of which lead the league. And man is he fast. Faster than anyone they've seen, including Mike Vick.

bubs: Gerry - do the Steelers have a potential RB controversy on their hands?

Gerry Dulac: No, they have a nice running back problem, not a controversy. Funny, after one game how a problem with the running game becomes a running back problem. Let's wait, though, before we coronate Jonathan Dwyer as Arian Foster. When Rashard Mendenhall is ready to return, he will start.

bubs: This game seems to have shootout potential written all over it -- the Redskins pass D is god awful -- do you see Haley, Ben, Wallace et al. attacking early, downfield and often?

Gerry Dulac: I'm with ya. And I think they should attack through the air, based on the problems the Skins have been having. You will see my score prediction soon...I think it's going to be high-scoring.

bubs: That's a better way to put it -- a nice running back problem to have. I guess what I mean is Could Dwyer or even Redman (when healthy) potentially make Mendenhall expendable in free agency? Or is Menders clearly the superior back.

Gerry Dulac: I think they believe Mendenhall is clearly their No. 1 back. Of course, that doesn't mean circumstances (salary cap?) might not change their mind and cause them to reconsider. But I think their intention is to keep Mendenhall, if healthy.

Gerry Dulac: OK, kids, that's all the time I have today. Thanx for the questions. See ya next week.