Wednesday, 07 November 2012 14:19

Written by Gerry Dulac

Gerry Dulac: All right, everyone, lets get our chat started ...

JAMESH: Has James Harrison reached a plateau in his recovery? Meaning, is this as good as he is going to get?

Gerry Dulac: Well, that s entirely possible, but I have to think he will get better, at least from a playing standpoint. I'm not sure -- and he has even said this -- his knee is ever going to feel good this season. It will be more a matter of how much his knee allows him to play at a reasonable level. He has been pretty much a non-factor in three games and I don't expect that to change a whole lot. Any resemblance to the former 92 and this 92 will be purely coincidental.

Todd: Gerry, thanks for the chats. I want to start out by saying I am one fan who appreciates what Ben brings to the Steelers. I read somewhere after the game that Ben seemed to be focusing on 1 receiver and not all during the game. I watched it again last night and it did appear to be the case. Did you see the same thing?

Gerry Dulac: I don't always watch him to see if he is staring down a receiver. There are times I think he does that. But I am not going to argue with his tactics when he is second in the AFC in completion percentage, touchdowns, fewest interceptions and passer rating. To paraphrase a curious woman in a restaurant in "When Harry Met Sally," I'll have what he's having.

JAMESH: As good as the secondary has been playing of late, do you think LeBeau will reign in Troy's freelancing a little bit when he returns? Playing with a more structured scheme seems to be helping.

Gerry Dulac: I'll go one step further -- do you think he will play Troy when he returns? After all, the team has won three in a row, ascended to No. 1 in the league in pass defense and held Andy Dalton, RG3 and Eli Manning to a combined 402 yards passing without him.

OK, before you or someone else accuses me of heresy, I'm kidding (at least, I think I am). Point is, there could be a little something to your question, though my guess is, as Ike likes to say, Troy will be Troy. You don't buy a Ferrari and ask it to perform like a crossover.

chicago_steeler_fan: To allude to Ed's point from today and Starks' comments, are the Steelers going to be RB by committee this week with Dwyer and Redmen? or not? and who do you foresee getting the bulk of carries?

Gerry Dulac: Redman will start, as he should, and I believe he will get most of the carries, But, as Mike Tomlin indicated, maybe the Steelers were using the committee approach to their backs earlier in the season because they couldn't find on who was productive, let alone three. Tomlin's history has always been to ride one running back. But, I'm not sure how much Chris Rainey wll be able to play, if at all, with bruised ribs. So Dwyer will still get some carries against the Chiefs.

Tprod: Gerry, any real chance they will try to keep Max Starks or they committed to moving Marcus Gilbert to left tackle, his preferred and natural position and find depth in the draft? This assumes Mike Adams stays at right tackle.

Gerry Dulac: Of course there's more than a chance. Max Starks is a lot like Charlie Batch -- every year is always thought to be his last but he keeps finding his way back on the team. Keeping all three in 2013 isn't going to cost them any extra money because Starks is playing for the veteran minimum anyway. And, one more thing, I think it will be Adams who moves to left tackle and Gilbert who stays on the right side if Starks is gone.

JAMESH: The woman playing that woman was Rob Reiner's mother, wife of Carl. Little trivia.

Gerry Dulac: You're right...thanx!!

Tprod: Gerry, Kenaan Lewis will be an unrestricted FA after the season, can the Steelers afford to resign him? If it comes down to a choice between him and Ike Taylor whom do they chose?

Gerry Dulac: The way he is playing right now, the Steelers will re-sign Keenan Lewis. He has been their best corner and does something that Ike Taylor doesn't always do -- challenge the ball. I don't believe Lewis is going to cost them a ton of money. There is no reason the Steelers can't keep both. But, if it came down to one, it might be Ike who's swaggin' out of town.

Stu: Is Pittsburgh Haley's next head coaching job?

Gerry Dulac: No.

steveo: Gerry ... aside from those replacement refs ... when is the last time you (personally) saw a game that was officiated that poorly ...

Gerry Dulac: Steve, I have maintained all year that if nobody ever said a word about the officials lockout and the use of replacement officials, nobody would be able to tell the difference. I say that because fans complained about officials and their bad calls before the replacement refs and they have and will complain about them after the replacement refs. Sunday's game in NY was just another example. You and everyone else would never know the difference.

JAMESH: Coach Dulac has one game to win and his choice at QB is Batch or Leftwich. Who does he start?

Gerry Dulac: I only pretend to be a general manager, not a coach.

Gerry Dulac: That's all the time we have today, kids. Enjoyed the questions. Hope you enjoyed the answers.

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