Tuesday, 08 January 2013 14:10

Written by Ed Bouchette

1:28

Ed Bouchette:
Good afternoon, let's begin
1:30

Comment From Eleven
In this morning's You and Me, you said it was too early to groom a replacement for Ben. Why? What is the difference between bringing in a talented backup and making sure he is game-ready on any given Sunday, and grooming a replacement? Every other position has a backup that is being "groomed" in case of injury to the starter. I think it is clear from the last two seasons that Ben was brought back too soon following injury and the team paid for it with an early exit. Grooming replacements should be an ongoing job for the coaching staff in my opinion.
1:34

Ed Bouchette:
Having a young backup and grooming one to take over for Roethlisberger are two different matters. No good quarterback in his right mind will accepting waiting 5 years to become a starter. There's nothing wrong with drafting one in the middle or late rounds and having him as a backup. Everything else would depend on injuries, his development, etc.
Brett Favre was 36 when the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005 and Rodgers served as his backup for THREE years. So, you're not going to go looking for Roethlisberger's replacement when he's 30. Again, nothing wrong with having a young guy in the mix, though.
1:35

Comment From Bobo
Ed, I know it's super early but will Heath be 100% by the time season starts? I tend to not think he will heal as quickly as Peterson.
1:36

Ed Bouchette:
He had three knee ligaments damaged, two repaired by surgery. It took Rashard Mendenhall into the fourth game before he played. But then, look at what Adrian Peterson has done and why do you think Miller can't do that? Basically, yes, it's too early to tell.
1:37

Comment From Dude_From_Cali
Ed: when is the official time frame to see exiting Steelers players possibly signing with other teams? March??
1:37

Ed Bouchette:
Free agency begins March 12. The Steelers can sign their own players before that.
1:37

Comment From Greene
Was Ben playing hurt/injured the last few games?
1:38

Ed Bouchette:
There's a difference. I don't think he was 100 percent, and judging by his comments after the last game, I don't think he thought so either.
1:38

Comment From Dude_From_Cali
Ed: if another HUGE OG became available, would Steelers pick him at 17 and bypass LB?
1:38

Ed Bouchette:
I don't see any reason why they would pick another guard in the first round.
1:38

Comment From Greene
Our last three 1st rounders have produced very little, correct?
1:40

Ed Bouchette:
David DeCastro was hurt, so you are technically correct there, but they would draft him again. He looks like a future Pro Bowler. Cameron Heyward remains a backup after two seasons. Maurkice Pouncey is a three-time Pro Bowl center. I think you are pretty far off.
1:40

Comment From GjSteel
Hi Ed, do the Rooneys going to evaluate the management of the team every year...front office...coaches etc...
1:40

Ed Bouchette:
Yes, team president Art Rooney II is in the process of that now.
1:41

Comment From Sam
Good Afternoon Ed, do you think Art Rooney's wish to not renew Bruce Arian's contract has been validated a bit more in the past week regarding health and desire due to 1} Arian's interview about getting the juices flowing again and 2} Arian's visit to the hospital?
1:42

Ed Bouchette:
No, I don't think health had anything to do with it. As for getting the juices flowing again, I believe Arians meant after he received the disappointing news from the Steelers that he would not be back. You have to put it in that context, not that he wasn't excited about his job with the Steelers.
1:42

Comment From LittleWorker
Ed, considering the offense we saw in the final game against Cleveland is likely to be the same offense we see in 2013 (plus Miller), could that influence the team to keep Wallace? That lineup invokes fear in no one. I think the team will miss MW more than Steeler Nation thinks.
1:43

Ed Bouchette:
I think you are correct, that the offense would miss Wallace. But they only have so much cap money and they offered him what they believed to be a fair contract last year. There's little reason to believe they will offer him more, or that he would take that same deal (or less).
1:44

Comment From DormontyDawson
Ed, In your opinion, how much does the human tendency of "once bitten twice shy" impact personnel decisions. Let's say random NFL Team X selected two defensive linemen in Round 1 in successive years, and neither panned out. Such past mistakes theoretically should have no impact on Team X's decision to draft a D-lineman in this year's First Round. But theory and practice are two different things. This year's draft looks to be weighted toward DL. Would it be wise for Team X to avoid a DL merely because of past disappointments?
1:45

Ed Bouchette:
Hold it, I'm trying to find my old logic textbook. Or is it logarithm I'm looking for? The Steelers would draft another defensive end or tackle if they believed he was talented enough. I don't think having Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward would dissuade them.
1:46

Comment From Okiesteelerfan
Ed I think with a few more Spalsh plays and two fewer tuenovers ( in Dalllas and against the Bungles) we wouldhave been OK . I think we still have the foundation for a playoff team. We are just a few players away. look at Indy and the Reskins. Your thoughts?
1:46

Ed Bouchette:
They're saying the same thing in virtually all of the 20 cities whose teams did not make the playoffs.
1:47

Comment From Dude_From_Cali
Ed, what makes an OL prospect who can play center well but not guard duty, such as Legursky? pulling or other strength factors?
1:48

Ed Bouchette:
Legursky has played guard well enough to start on occasion. Guards help centers, not usually the other way around.
1:48

Comment From LittleWorker
Ed, what is your prediction for the Super Bowl matchup and winner? If I had money, I'd bet Denver-Seattle with Denver winning.
1:48

Ed Bouchette:
I like Denver and Atlanta. Denver wins.
1:48

Comment From Ken
Aren't the Steelers in trouble at WR? Lack of size, probable loss of Wallace, bad year from AB, Sanders hasn't been good since his injury in the SB. Seems like a first round pick is in order.
1:49

Ed Bouchette:
I wouldn't look for them to draft a receiver in the first round, but without Wallace, they are mighty thin.
1:49

Comment From JGreene
I can't remember, but how much did we offer Wallace per season last off season, 7-8 mil?
1:49

Ed Bouchette:
I never came across precise numbers but others, I believe, pegged offers of $10 million average annually.
1:50

Comment From Okiesteelerfan
When is time to call Hood a first round bust ?
1:50

Ed Bouchette:
First-round busts do not start for 1 1/2 seasons on the No. 1 defense. However, he has not lived up to the expectations of a first-round draft choice.
1:51

Comment From dave
They can't keep both Colon and Foster, can they?
1:52

Ed Bouchette:
You would think not, but then we sometimes are fooled about what players attract what offers, if any, in free agency. For example, I was surprised Max Starks could not find another team to sign him the past few years.
1:52

Comment From Eric
I like Mike Tomlin and Todd Haley as Steeler coaches. Should I have myself committed?
1:53

Ed Bouchette:
And you call yourself a Steelers fan! A long time ago, I learned this on a weekly basis while covering the Steelers and the reaction of fans and, yes, some media:
Win, Super Bowl!
Lose, Fire the coach!
1:53

Comment From Wild Bill
Hello Ed, beyond the offensive line coach position, could there be any other staff changes coming?
1:54

Ed Bouchette:
There could be, but none I'm hearing about at the moment. I might know more later in the week.
1:54

Comment From JimW
Were you concerned at all with the performance of DeCastro, seemed to really struggle with pass protection. I think they really should try and resign Legursky and Foster.
1:55

Ed Bouchette:
DeCastro did allow, I believe, 3 sacks but they do not seem troubled by his pass blocking ability.
1:55

Comment From Okiesteelerfan
Do you think Colbert can find a few players in the late rounds or FA that can make a splash for the team? His latest high round draft picks don't seem to be producing. Am I missing something here?
1:57

Ed Bouchette:
Show me a team whose late-round picks produce? How about Kelvin Beachum, their fourth pick in the seventh round? He looked pretty good at tackle for that pick. So too did TE David Paulson, their second pick in the seventh round who played every game and started four. Antonio Brown was a sixth-rounder, as was Jonathan Dwyer. I think you are way of base on this one.
1:57

Comment From mike
starks has played himself out of the steelers price range, i'd say...what do you think....he certainly won't come cheap this time around....
1:57

Ed Bouchette:
With three young tackles, all of whom have started, I believe they will let Max Starks go in free agency.
1:57

Comment From JimW
After watching the BCS championship last night, what's your opinion on drafting Lacy in the 2nd rd?
1:58

Ed Bouchette:
I didn't watch the game.
1:58

Comment From Will
Back in the 80's, unless you were a true great, you were on the downside in your 10th, 11th, 12th year. What's changed? Keisel, Casey, Harrison, Clark all should be replaced.
1:59

Ed Bouchette:
If this were the '80s and they were not producing, I might agree. But all three had good years. I thought Keisel and Clark were Pro Bowl quality.
1:59

Comment From LarryG
Are the Steelers players and staff just holding exit interviews now? What other activity is ongoing?
1:59

Ed Bouchette:
As of Monday, MikeTomlin was still interviewing players. He has more time on his hand this year. Coaches, I believe, are next up.
2:00

Comment From mike
is the franchise tag enough to scare teams off of keenan lewis, that's 2 firsts, right?
2:00

Ed Bouchette:
If they put the franchise tag on him, no one else will sign him. It's too stiff a price.
2:01

Comment From Lucas
The general consensus around Steelers blog sites is that OLB is priority number one going into the offseason and draft. Given Harrison's age, large contract, and injury issues, do you feel the outside linebacker position takes precedence this offseason? Worilds seems to be improving well.
2:02

Ed Bouchette:
A defense that counts on its outside linebackers to do so much will always be in the market for one.
thanks, all for a great chat.