Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 1.30.13

Wednesday, 30 January 2013 14:52

Written by Gerry Dulac

Steeltyke: Gerry, the Redshins special teams have definately not been special the last 2 years. Please tell me that the Steelers are interviewing other candidates besides Washington's special teams coach.

Gerry Dulac: I'm sure they probably are, but I'm also sure the list of candidates is not a lengthy one. Here's the way I look at it with special teams coaches -- if they are THAT good, they wouldn't be available. Special teams coaches get recycled all the time. For the most part, so do most assistant coaches. The rarity is here with the Steelers because there is so little turnover with head coaches. There are not a lot of Dick LeBeaus and John Mitchells out there. But good coaches are available because there is a lot of turnover throughout the league with head-coaching changes.

Steeltyke: From various stories it seems the WRs weren't mature enough in their approach last season and Hines Ward's leadership was missed. How do you see things improving in 2013 given the WR coach and the WRs will be basically the same bunch?

Gerry Dulac: Mature is good word. Professionalism -- or the lack there of -- is the one I prefer. I agree. I think the absence of Ward in the locker room did not help those young receivers. To me, it was the most disappointing unit on the team in 2012. And I'm not sure how that is going to change in 2013. It doesn't appear that there is going to be any change in coaches at that position, but something is going to have to give.

Steeltyke: I don't have a problem with Jack Bicknell Jnr as the new Oline coach but was Tunch Ilkin ever a serious candidate or was that just media speculation?

Gerry Dulac: Best I can tell, it was media speculation. I'm not sure Tunch seriously considered himself a candidate. By that I mean he wasn't going to seek the job. And maybe peoiple have stopped inquiring because he has turned aside similar overtures in the past.

Steeltyke: How & in what areas will the return of Dan Rooney impact the Steelers going forward or will he be more involved in league matters?

Gerry Dulac: No, I think he will be involved the same way he was before he left -- more as an overseer as opposed to running the day to day operations of the team. His son, Art II, will continue to do what he has been doing the past couple years. Just because he was in Ireland doesn't mean Dan Rooney didn't have some say intro what was happening with the team. I don't think that will change a whole lot.

Steeltyke: Any info on which players the Steelers were seen talking to at the Senior Bowl? Were you down there in Mobile also?

Gerry Dulac: I was not in Mobile, which is why I don't have a lot of names to throw at you. Plus, the Steelers are just looking right now, trying to gather supplemental information. Then they will begin their interviewing process at the combine and ramp their draft preparation.

JamesinNYC: How much will the Steelers downgrade players in the draft for any problem? Manti Te'o, Jarvis Jones, and some others have a few question marks....if they dropped to the Steelers would they still consider them?

Gerry Dulac: I sure hope not. That's what got them into trouble this year. Both Chris Rainey and Alameda Ta'mau had prior legal problems in college that the Steelers knew about. And, of course, they and everyone else knew about the problems with Mike Adams. And so far two of the three have had problems with the Steelers. When one-third of your draft class has some kind of legal issue or personal problem, then you're asking for trouble.

Gerry Dulac: That's all the time we have today kids. Well chat again next week. Bye now.