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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript: 9.20.11
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 14:23
Written by Dan Gigler
[url="http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/111909-ed-bouchettes-steelers-chat-transcript-92011"]http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/inde ... ript-92011[/url]
Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin.
jayhawk67: How's Ben's knee?
Ed Bouchette: He's fine. Not even on the injury list, not mentioned at all by Mike Tomlin today.
Chooch: Any chance we might see Redman in short yardage situations this week?
Ed Bouchette: you saw him a lot last week, he even went in for a play at the goal line. Don't know if they're ready to put him in on the goal line on a regular basis, though.
Chooch: How did the rookie Gilbert grade out in his first start?
Ed Bouchette: Mike Tomlin said today he and Ramon Foster played 'above the line.'' Of course, playing above this offensive line would not take a whole lot at this point.
tennbob: Two of Sepulvada's punts boomed into the end zone. Doesn't anyone kick for the "coffin corner" anymore?
Ed Bouchette: Tom Coughlin?
The Professor: Ed, why are the Steelers so reluctant to cut ties with some their over-priced veterans who have little impact on games, like Aaron Smith, Farrior, Kemoeatu, Hampton, Hoke, McFadden etc.? I hate to be cold considering they helped win Super Bowls in the past, but business is business, and the Steelers would have been better served to have acquired younger, cheaper replacements.
Ed Bouchette: Did those guys do nothing to help them reach the Super Bowl last season?
Nate: Ed, Were you surprised that with the game easily in hand, and after Ben taking that big hit to the knee, that he was still in to the very end? Why not get him (and others) some well deserved rest and let Batch get some late game snaps.
Ed Bouchette: No, they were handing the ball off a lot. I don't know too many coaches who pull their starters with a 24-0 lead.
Bacon Neck: It looked to me like William Gay played well Sunday (I think he's under-appreciated in general), but I didn't notice Keenan Lewis much. Is that a good thing? How did Lewis do?
Ed Bouchette: I'm going by what Mike Tomlin said today, and he said he did a "solid job.'' He said Lewis played "a lot of routes close.''
Guest: Any concern that Heath Miller seems to be a forgotten man in the Steeler O?
Ed Bouchette: After two games? Nope.
Greg B. in Indy: Hey Ed, I live in Indy and I'm just curious if there are any restaurants or other places you like to check out when you're in town?
Ed Bouchette: Yes.
Steel Curtain Rising: To what do you attribute the spike in passing yards, is it simply the "no launching at a defenseless reciever rule?"
Ed Bouchette: The league has been passing rules to favor the passing game for years and I think it's just a natural progression that the passing yards will continue to pile up because of it.
sms: Is keisel replaced (long term) if hood performs while presumably keisel is out....
Ed Bouchette: No, I don't think so. I think they are happy with Brett Keisel's play and will continue to work their young guys into the rotation.
Pepperjack Cheese Indy: Ed, allow me to speak for everyone in Indianapolis when I say that I am very pleased that you will be returning to our fair city this weekend. The Dean returns! Hooray!! Do you have a "favorite thing" about Indy?
Ed Bouchette: Leaving.
Anti-Professor: You, Stan, and Paul doing the post-presser show on ROOT is the best half hour (or maybe 50 minutes with Tomlin lately) on TV. Now I have a place to ROOT!
Ed Bouchette: thanks. Mike talked for 20 1/2 minutes today, a 2011 record.
Touchdown Joey: Eddy, how confident are you in Suisham? I'm iffy on him. Aside from Sunday's miss, the guy has a poor history in the clutch. His 85% regular season conversion rate plummets to just above 50% in the playoffs.
Ed Bouchette: I don't think he has an extensive playoff record so it may be unfair to pin that on him. But when a kickers misses from 41 on a beautiful September day on a 1 p.m. start with little wind, it can be worrisome to his coaches.
C. BROWN FAN: It looked to me like Curtis Brown might have thrown a punch at a Seahawk following a special teams play Sunday. Did you see that? And, if so, is a fine coming?
Ed Bouchette: Yeah, he expects a fine. I just talked to him and he said the guy shoved his head into the ground on the sideline and he responded, acknowledging that he should not have responded and that it will cost him in his paycheck.
Chooch: What's up with the replay challenges? A blind squirrel could see that Rashard was not over the goal line.
Ed Bouchette: I was surprised MT challenged that. Either he got some bad advice from his coaches in the booth, or he listened too much to one of his players who promised him Mendenhall had crossed the goal line. The replays were clear he did not.
Steel Curtain Rising: Ed, I understand that Mike Tomlin wanted to keep the Seattle win in perspective, but he seemed out right testy on the clips up on Pg.com. Was that your impression?
Ed Bouchette: I don't think he's being testy, just short with his answers and maybe trying to make sure his team gets the point.
mikeflores16: McClendon looks like a nice surprise, can we expect to see him dress and be in the rotation from here on out?
Ed Bouchette: Apparently so. MT even mentioned him again today.
MiStlrFan: I read that your favorite DWTS contestant was in Hines' suite Sunday. Did you run over and get a picture with her? At least an autograph?
Ed Bouchette: No, but I did take a photo of her with someone else.
jayhawk67: Does Foster stay in the starting line-up?
Ed Bouchette: I think when Kemo's knee is ready, he goes back in. Foster, though, may be a candidate to ultimately return to RG.
Greg B. in Indy: I wasn't trying to hang out with you or come find you, just curious what a worldly outsider thought of the Circle City. So excuuuuuuuuuse me.
Ed Bouchette: Don't get huffy, there, Hoosier. What I like about Indy is the downtown; it's lively with a lot of good restaurants and stuff to do. And all of your streets run straight.
sms: How was the kickoff line moving up decided this year (CBA?)....certainly takes the possibility of a runback etc. out cold...
Ed Bouchette: That was the idea. The owners voted for the new rule to eliminate more runbacks, which they deem too dangerous.
Ed Hates Us: Ed, Is E Sanders foot doing well? No problems?
Ed Bouchette: None that I am aware of. Seems to have healed nicely after a hiccup there in training camp. His performance says nothing's wrong.
J. Stew: Freeney is known for his spin move. If his spin move comes into contact with Rashard's spin move...what happens?
Ed Bouchette: A Looney Tunes cartoon.
Guest: Did you see Tomlin kiss Polamalu before the game? They showed it on Football Night in America. Anything like that ever happen in the press box--dealt out by the DEAN of Pittsburgh football writers?
Ed Bouchette: Once saw Bill Cowher kiss Kordell Stewart on the sideline. It wasn't a big moment for either of them.
cmon jason!: Why in the WORLD did WORILDS change his jersey #? I bought his jersey last year and now it is wrong.
Ed Bouchette: Stick with the tried and true.
mikeflores16: Do you see our OL getting better at any time this season? Ben is getting killed back there..
Ed Bouchette: I can only refer you to my story in the PG this morning on that same topic.
Hamburger Jones: Ed, how much longer until we see the real James Harrison and Aaron Smith in games?
Ed Bouchette: Maybe for Aaron, it was 2008. Harrison is getting stronger, which is what he lost with the back surgery.
JerseySteel: Ed, what is it going to take to get Jonathan Scott out of the lineup at LT other then an injury?
Ed Bouchette: Someone who can play left tackle better. Apparently, the coaches have decided they don't have that someone right now.
wookie: Ed, do you like Star Wars? Did you know that they just released the classic films on Blu Ray?
Ed Bouchette: Never saw one of those movies.
Dave & Buster: Are there too many games in the guys locker room? I mean, foosball, basketball, ping pong, you name it! This is not a game. Well, it is, but I think you get my point. Have you ever played any of these games with the fellas?
Ed Bouchette: Too many games when they lose, just right number when they win. No, I don't play games, I write about them.
mikeflores16: Curtis Brown looked great on special teams, will we see more of him playing CB?
Ed Bouchette: The young corners will continue to get their chances and if the coaches deem them better than what they have, i would assume you would see them more often. But it's my experience, that if they continue to win with what they have, there will be no change.
Ed Bouchette: Thanks, all. See you next Tuesday.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 14:23
Written by Dan Gigler
[url="http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/111909-ed-bouchettes-steelers-chat-transcript-92011"]http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/inde ... ript-92011[/url]
Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin.
jayhawk67: How's Ben's knee?
Ed Bouchette: He's fine. Not even on the injury list, not mentioned at all by Mike Tomlin today.
Chooch: Any chance we might see Redman in short yardage situations this week?
Ed Bouchette: you saw him a lot last week, he even went in for a play at the goal line. Don't know if they're ready to put him in on the goal line on a regular basis, though.
Chooch: How did the rookie Gilbert grade out in his first start?
Ed Bouchette: Mike Tomlin said today he and Ramon Foster played 'above the line.'' Of course, playing above this offensive line would not take a whole lot at this point.
tennbob: Two of Sepulvada's punts boomed into the end zone. Doesn't anyone kick for the "coffin corner" anymore?
Ed Bouchette: Tom Coughlin?
The Professor: Ed, why are the Steelers so reluctant to cut ties with some their over-priced veterans who have little impact on games, like Aaron Smith, Farrior, Kemoeatu, Hampton, Hoke, McFadden etc.? I hate to be cold considering they helped win Super Bowls in the past, but business is business, and the Steelers would have been better served to have acquired younger, cheaper replacements.
Ed Bouchette: Did those guys do nothing to help them reach the Super Bowl last season?
Nate: Ed, Were you surprised that with the game easily in hand, and after Ben taking that big hit to the knee, that he was still in to the very end? Why not get him (and others) some well deserved rest and let Batch get some late game snaps.
Ed Bouchette: No, they were handing the ball off a lot. I don't know too many coaches who pull their starters with a 24-0 lead.
Bacon Neck: It looked to me like William Gay played well Sunday (I think he's under-appreciated in general), but I didn't notice Keenan Lewis much. Is that a good thing? How did Lewis do?
Ed Bouchette: I'm going by what Mike Tomlin said today, and he said he did a "solid job.'' He said Lewis played "a lot of routes close.''
Guest: Any concern that Heath Miller seems to be a forgotten man in the Steeler O?
Ed Bouchette: After two games? Nope.
Greg B. in Indy: Hey Ed, I live in Indy and I'm just curious if there are any restaurants or other places you like to check out when you're in town?
Ed Bouchette: Yes.
Steel Curtain Rising: To what do you attribute the spike in passing yards, is it simply the "no launching at a defenseless reciever rule?"
Ed Bouchette: The league has been passing rules to favor the passing game for years and I think it's just a natural progression that the passing yards will continue to pile up because of it.
sms: Is keisel replaced (long term) if hood performs while presumably keisel is out....
Ed Bouchette: No, I don't think so. I think they are happy with Brett Keisel's play and will continue to work their young guys into the rotation.
Pepperjack Cheese Indy: Ed, allow me to speak for everyone in Indianapolis when I say that I am very pleased that you will be returning to our fair city this weekend. The Dean returns! Hooray!! Do you have a "favorite thing" about Indy?
Ed Bouchette: Leaving.
Anti-Professor: You, Stan, and Paul doing the post-presser show on ROOT is the best half hour (or maybe 50 minutes with Tomlin lately) on TV. Now I have a place to ROOT!
Ed Bouchette: thanks. Mike talked for 20 1/2 minutes today, a 2011 record.
Touchdown Joey: Eddy, how confident are you in Suisham? I'm iffy on him. Aside from Sunday's miss, the guy has a poor history in the clutch. His 85% regular season conversion rate plummets to just above 50% in the playoffs.
Ed Bouchette: I don't think he has an extensive playoff record so it may be unfair to pin that on him. But when a kickers misses from 41 on a beautiful September day on a 1 p.m. start with little wind, it can be worrisome to his coaches.
C. BROWN FAN: It looked to me like Curtis Brown might have thrown a punch at a Seahawk following a special teams play Sunday. Did you see that? And, if so, is a fine coming?
Ed Bouchette: Yeah, he expects a fine. I just talked to him and he said the guy shoved his head into the ground on the sideline and he responded, acknowledging that he should not have responded and that it will cost him in his paycheck.
Chooch: What's up with the replay challenges? A blind squirrel could see that Rashard was not over the goal line.
Ed Bouchette: I was surprised MT challenged that. Either he got some bad advice from his coaches in the booth, or he listened too much to one of his players who promised him Mendenhall had crossed the goal line. The replays were clear he did not.
Steel Curtain Rising: Ed, I understand that Mike Tomlin wanted to keep the Seattle win in perspective, but he seemed out right testy on the clips up on Pg.com. Was that your impression?
Ed Bouchette: I don't think he's being testy, just short with his answers and maybe trying to make sure his team gets the point.
mikeflores16: McClendon looks like a nice surprise, can we expect to see him dress and be in the rotation from here on out?
Ed Bouchette: Apparently so. MT even mentioned him again today.
MiStlrFan: I read that your favorite DWTS contestant was in Hines' suite Sunday. Did you run over and get a picture with her? At least an autograph?
Ed Bouchette: No, but I did take a photo of her with someone else.
jayhawk67: Does Foster stay in the starting line-up?
Ed Bouchette: I think when Kemo's knee is ready, he goes back in. Foster, though, may be a candidate to ultimately return to RG.
Greg B. in Indy: I wasn't trying to hang out with you or come find you, just curious what a worldly outsider thought of the Circle City. So excuuuuuuuuuse me.
Ed Bouchette: Don't get huffy, there, Hoosier. What I like about Indy is the downtown; it's lively with a lot of good restaurants and stuff to do. And all of your streets run straight.
sms: How was the kickoff line moving up decided this year (CBA?)....certainly takes the possibility of a runback etc. out cold...
Ed Bouchette: That was the idea. The owners voted for the new rule to eliminate more runbacks, which they deem too dangerous.
Ed Hates Us: Ed, Is E Sanders foot doing well? No problems?
Ed Bouchette: None that I am aware of. Seems to have healed nicely after a hiccup there in training camp. His performance says nothing's wrong.
J. Stew: Freeney is known for his spin move. If his spin move comes into contact with Rashard's spin move...what happens?
Ed Bouchette: A Looney Tunes cartoon.
Guest: Did you see Tomlin kiss Polamalu before the game? They showed it on Football Night in America. Anything like that ever happen in the press box--dealt out by the DEAN of Pittsburgh football writers?
Ed Bouchette: Once saw Bill Cowher kiss Kordell Stewart on the sideline. It wasn't a big moment for either of them.
cmon jason!: Why in the WORLD did WORILDS change his jersey #? I bought his jersey last year and now it is wrong.
Ed Bouchette: Stick with the tried and true.
mikeflores16: Do you see our OL getting better at any time this season? Ben is getting killed back there..
Ed Bouchette: I can only refer you to my story in the PG this morning on that same topic.
Hamburger Jones: Ed, how much longer until we see the real James Harrison and Aaron Smith in games?
Ed Bouchette: Maybe for Aaron, it was 2008. Harrison is getting stronger, which is what he lost with the back surgery.
JerseySteel: Ed, what is it going to take to get Jonathan Scott out of the lineup at LT other then an injury?
Ed Bouchette: Someone who can play left tackle better. Apparently, the coaches have decided they don't have that someone right now.
wookie: Ed, do you like Star Wars? Did you know that they just released the classic films on Blu Ray?
Ed Bouchette: Never saw one of those movies.
Dave & Buster: Are there too many games in the guys locker room? I mean, foosball, basketball, ping pong, you name it! This is not a game. Well, it is, but I think you get my point. Have you ever played any of these games with the fellas?
Ed Bouchette: Too many games when they lose, just right number when they win. No, I don't play games, I write about them.
mikeflores16: Curtis Brown looked great on special teams, will we see more of him playing CB?
Ed Bouchette: The young corners will continue to get their chances and if the coaches deem them better than what they have, i would assume you would see them more often. But it's my experience, that if they continue to win with what they have, there will be no change.
Ed Bouchette: Thanks, all. See you next Tuesday.
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