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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat 1.16.12: Ziggy at NT?
MONDAY, 16 JANUARY 2012 15:09 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE
Let's begin.
John: With a somewhat low pick and Lebeaus difficult scheme and if we go D with the first pick. which position need would be easier to have a first year starter? DT, ILB, OLB
Ed Bouchette: Having a low pick did not stop them from drafting Pouncey and him starting immediately. Same for Marcus Gilbert. Of those three, NT
Gabe: Do you believe that Ben has too much control of this team?
Ed Bouchette: No.
Gabe: Whom do you believe was behind Hines Ward being benched?
Ed Bouchette: I assume it was at the recommendation of the offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, and the approval of Mike Tomlin, the head coach. That's usually how that stuff works.
NYSteeler: Hi Ed, thanks for another great year of coverage. What do you think the Steelers long-term plan is with Wallace, I'm assuming he will be back under the RFA tender but do you think they will try to lock him up long-term this offseason?
Ed Bouchette: I think he'll be back under a one-year RFA tender, and they'll go from there.
Atlanta Dan: With the Saints and Packers now departed from the playoffs is it possible that teams still need to play at least defense to be successful in the playoffs
Ed Bouchette: What kind of defense was that being played by San Francisco at the end?
Dude_from_Cali: Ed: does causing a QB fumble behind line of scrimmage count as SACK?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, provided the quarterback was intending to pass. If they perceive it was a run -- Troy Polamalu had a sack changed to a tackle for a loss in Cleveland -- then it's no sack.
Guest: Your predictions on how the Steelers get under the salary cap for 2012?
Ed Bouchette: This talk about the salary cap reminds me of the same talk that occurred last summer when they were millions over the cap and somehow found a way. You can change salary into signing bonus, for one. You can release high salaries, for another. You can ask others to take less, i.e., Hines Ward if they go that way.
Guest: Saw your comment about the Steelers needing a tight end. What about Weslye Saunders, who they say has great hands and saw a lot of playing time. I think the kid can be great, don't you?
Ed Bouchette: Go back and read that I wrote a "blocking" tight end.
NYSteeler: True or False, they lock up Wallace to a long term deal this offseason?
Ed Bouchette: Probably not.
Big City: Ben taking so many shots finally caught up to the Steelers this year. Upgrading the OL should have been more of a priority the past few years. Will they finally get it through their heads this year?
Ed Bouchette: They drafted Pouncey on the first round in 2010 and Marcus Gilbert on the second round in 2011. I don't think they've been ignoring it.
Atlanta Dan: Does the injury to Max Starks increase or decrease his odds of returning to the Steelers next season?
Ed Bouchette: I think Marcus Gilbert will play LT.
Guest: If you're the GM what do you do in the draft?
Ed Bouchette: I spend the next three months evaluating the prospects, and determine my draft board and then when it comes time, I take the best players at whatever position not counting quarterback and center.
Jim in VT: Do you see any likelihood of Ziggy Hood being the NT next year, at least part time?
Ed Bouchette: Indeed, I suggested that in my morning slog blog.
Ed 2: Ravens or Patriots? How do we choose? They both make me sick
Ed Bouchette: Rent a good movie instead.
JerseySteel: Ed, what do you attibute all the injuries to, poor conditioning, bad luck, or a combination of both and do you believe we might see a new strength & conditioning coach next year?
Ed Bouchette: It ihas nothing to do with the strength and conditioning coach. Injuries in football happen, sometimes more so. Often, teams that have less so reach the Super Bowl.
Atlanta Dan: Do the Steelers have the cap room and anticipate bringing Casey Hampton back in 2012?
Ed Bouchette: I would bet not at his $8 million salary.
Indysteeler: Hi Ed, thanks for continuing the chats.....do you see the Steelers using the Franchise tag this year? If so, on who?
Ed Bouchette: I don't really see anyone they would use it on.
Guest: Ed, what is the likelihood of Jerricho Cotchery returning in 2012? I view him as Hines's replacement on the roster and mentor for the young players.
Ed Bouchette: Cotchery is a very apt wide receiver. His problem with the Steelers is they have three ahead of him, if they all stay healthy. If you are Cotchery, would you return as a UFA under those circumstances or try to find a team where you can play more, even start? And if you are the Steelers, what are you going to pay him to stay as your, at best, No. 4? I think he'll leave.
JerseySteel: Ed, what do you believe is for the best way to tell the Steelers athletic, pass catching tight ends are in vouge and is okay to use in their offensive game plan.
Ed Bouchette: Maybe if the Patriots win the Super Bowl.
dude from Latrobe: Hi Ed. Do you think that maybe the lock-out actually did more harm than good to the Steelers? I'm recalling at number of out of shape Steelers at Ben's wedding, a week prior to camp. Maybe not being in shape contributed to some of, not all, the injuries?
Ed Bouchette: The most out-of-shape Steelers, they have admitted, were Max Starks and Trai Essex. Starks started every game until he was hurt in the finale. Essex did not miss a game. You need to work on another theory.
David from Vegas: Is this teams "window" still open for a Super Bowl run the next couple of years?
Ed Bouchette: This team won't go through any drastic changes in 2012. Some old faces may be gone and a few peripheral players but nothing major to their starting lineup.
Taz: Ed, what was the question you asked Hines Ward, to which he replied he was open to "restructuring" his contract? The way he responded to your question implies a greater context.
Ed Bouchette: I asked him if he would take a pay cut and he would. He said he knows they won't pay him $4 million to play in 2012.
Taz: Hi Ed, when can we expect to see first movements on FAs and RFAs?
Ed Bouchette: March 13
Indysteeler: Play Colts GM, do you take Luck and have both Luck and Manning on the same team....dare you trade Manning or the #1 pick?
Ed Bouchette: If I determine that Luck is the QB many say he is, yes, I draft him. Don't know if I can trade Manning because of the cap ramifications. I try to talk him into retiring, but that won't work, so I release him because I just cannot afford to keep him during what will be a rebuilding process.
Brian in Mich: Ed, any chance Willie Colon comes back and moves to guard next year?
Ed Bouchette: I think he'll remain at right tackle.
Guest: Hi Ed, do you think Mendenhall will be 100% next year?
Ed Bouchette: If the ACL heals as most do, he should be ready by August.
JerseySteel: Ed, who do you believe will be the starter next year, Gay or Lewis or do you believe someone else might seize that opportunity?
Ed Bouchette: William Gay can go on the open market and I believe someone else will want to sign him as their No. 3. He's No. 2 here, but I don't see a big contract for him from the Steelers.
Dude_from_Cali: Ed: your 35 years in the NFL BIZ, you're not shocked by "ONE AND DONE" in playoff's anymore, right?
Ed Bouchette: I saw the great Chuck Noll bring a team home 5-11, so nothing shocks me. One and done? The 1977 Steelers did that too, also in Denver.
Guest: Will Dennis Dixon be back next year? I assume Charlie B will not.
Ed Bouchette: I don't think Dennis wants to come back to be a No. 3 QB again. He wants to go somewhere he can at least be No. 2. Now, he has to have a suitor for him to do that.
ken sogan: What about moving Polamalu to CB? Sounds crazy but I don't see him playing an injury free season again in his current role
Ed Bouchette: You're right, it sounds crazy.
Guest: Do you think the Steeler coaches will work with Wallace to act as a defensive back when he can't make a catch, and also work with him on catching the ball with his hands and not his body
Ed Bouchette: I'm sure, especially after watching tape of the second half of the 2011 season. They will have plenty to point out to him.
Dude_from_Cali: If Ziggy becomes NT, how many pounds does Ziggy need to ADD?
Ed Bouchette: I'd say 10. You don't have to be 350 to play the position.
Indysteeler: Ed, most surprising/disappointing NFL teams in 2011? Who were they?
Ed Bouchette: Surprise has to be 49ers, by far. Disappointing? Jets.
Touchdown Joey: Watching Graham, Davis, Hernandez and Gronkowski this weekend made me realize how average Heath Miller really is.
Ed Bouchette: Were you watching any of them block? Were they given the chance to catch passes?
[url="http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/114419-ed-bouchettes-steelers-chat-transcript-11612"]http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/inde ... ript-11612[/url]
MONDAY, 16 JANUARY 2012 15:09 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE
Let's begin.
John: With a somewhat low pick and Lebeaus difficult scheme and if we go D with the first pick. which position need would be easier to have a first year starter? DT, ILB, OLB
Ed Bouchette: Having a low pick did not stop them from drafting Pouncey and him starting immediately. Same for Marcus Gilbert. Of those three, NT
Gabe: Do you believe that Ben has too much control of this team?
Ed Bouchette: No.
Gabe: Whom do you believe was behind Hines Ward being benched?
Ed Bouchette: I assume it was at the recommendation of the offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, and the approval of Mike Tomlin, the head coach. That's usually how that stuff works.
NYSteeler: Hi Ed, thanks for another great year of coverage. What do you think the Steelers long-term plan is with Wallace, I'm assuming he will be back under the RFA tender but do you think they will try to lock him up long-term this offseason?
Ed Bouchette: I think he'll be back under a one-year RFA tender, and they'll go from there.
Atlanta Dan: With the Saints and Packers now departed from the playoffs is it possible that teams still need to play at least defense to be successful in the playoffs
Ed Bouchette: What kind of defense was that being played by San Francisco at the end?
Dude_from_Cali: Ed: does causing a QB fumble behind line of scrimmage count as SACK?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, provided the quarterback was intending to pass. If they perceive it was a run -- Troy Polamalu had a sack changed to a tackle for a loss in Cleveland -- then it's no sack.
Guest: Your predictions on how the Steelers get under the salary cap for 2012?
Ed Bouchette: This talk about the salary cap reminds me of the same talk that occurred last summer when they were millions over the cap and somehow found a way. You can change salary into signing bonus, for one. You can release high salaries, for another. You can ask others to take less, i.e., Hines Ward if they go that way.
Guest: Saw your comment about the Steelers needing a tight end. What about Weslye Saunders, who they say has great hands and saw a lot of playing time. I think the kid can be great, don't you?
Ed Bouchette: Go back and read that I wrote a "blocking" tight end.
NYSteeler: True or False, they lock up Wallace to a long term deal this offseason?
Ed Bouchette: Probably not.
Big City: Ben taking so many shots finally caught up to the Steelers this year. Upgrading the OL should have been more of a priority the past few years. Will they finally get it through their heads this year?
Ed Bouchette: They drafted Pouncey on the first round in 2010 and Marcus Gilbert on the second round in 2011. I don't think they've been ignoring it.
Atlanta Dan: Does the injury to Max Starks increase or decrease his odds of returning to the Steelers next season?
Ed Bouchette: I think Marcus Gilbert will play LT.
Guest: If you're the GM what do you do in the draft?
Ed Bouchette: I spend the next three months evaluating the prospects, and determine my draft board and then when it comes time, I take the best players at whatever position not counting quarterback and center.
Jim in VT: Do you see any likelihood of Ziggy Hood being the NT next year, at least part time?
Ed Bouchette: Indeed, I suggested that in my morning slog blog.
Ed 2: Ravens or Patriots? How do we choose? They both make me sick
Ed Bouchette: Rent a good movie instead.
JerseySteel: Ed, what do you attibute all the injuries to, poor conditioning, bad luck, or a combination of both and do you believe we might see a new strength & conditioning coach next year?
Ed Bouchette: It ihas nothing to do with the strength and conditioning coach. Injuries in football happen, sometimes more so. Often, teams that have less so reach the Super Bowl.
Atlanta Dan: Do the Steelers have the cap room and anticipate bringing Casey Hampton back in 2012?
Ed Bouchette: I would bet not at his $8 million salary.
Indysteeler: Hi Ed, thanks for continuing the chats.....do you see the Steelers using the Franchise tag this year? If so, on who?
Ed Bouchette: I don't really see anyone they would use it on.
Guest: Ed, what is the likelihood of Jerricho Cotchery returning in 2012? I view him as Hines's replacement on the roster and mentor for the young players.
Ed Bouchette: Cotchery is a very apt wide receiver. His problem with the Steelers is they have three ahead of him, if they all stay healthy. If you are Cotchery, would you return as a UFA under those circumstances or try to find a team where you can play more, even start? And if you are the Steelers, what are you going to pay him to stay as your, at best, No. 4? I think he'll leave.
JerseySteel: Ed, what do you believe is for the best way to tell the Steelers athletic, pass catching tight ends are in vouge and is okay to use in their offensive game plan.
Ed Bouchette: Maybe if the Patriots win the Super Bowl.
dude from Latrobe: Hi Ed. Do you think that maybe the lock-out actually did more harm than good to the Steelers? I'm recalling at number of out of shape Steelers at Ben's wedding, a week prior to camp. Maybe not being in shape contributed to some of, not all, the injuries?
Ed Bouchette: The most out-of-shape Steelers, they have admitted, were Max Starks and Trai Essex. Starks started every game until he was hurt in the finale. Essex did not miss a game. You need to work on another theory.
David from Vegas: Is this teams "window" still open for a Super Bowl run the next couple of years?
Ed Bouchette: This team won't go through any drastic changes in 2012. Some old faces may be gone and a few peripheral players but nothing major to their starting lineup.
Taz: Ed, what was the question you asked Hines Ward, to which he replied he was open to "restructuring" his contract? The way he responded to your question implies a greater context.
Ed Bouchette: I asked him if he would take a pay cut and he would. He said he knows they won't pay him $4 million to play in 2012.
Taz: Hi Ed, when can we expect to see first movements on FAs and RFAs?
Ed Bouchette: March 13
Indysteeler: Play Colts GM, do you take Luck and have both Luck and Manning on the same team....dare you trade Manning or the #1 pick?
Ed Bouchette: If I determine that Luck is the QB many say he is, yes, I draft him. Don't know if I can trade Manning because of the cap ramifications. I try to talk him into retiring, but that won't work, so I release him because I just cannot afford to keep him during what will be a rebuilding process.
Brian in Mich: Ed, any chance Willie Colon comes back and moves to guard next year?
Ed Bouchette: I think he'll remain at right tackle.
Guest: Hi Ed, do you think Mendenhall will be 100% next year?
Ed Bouchette: If the ACL heals as most do, he should be ready by August.
JerseySteel: Ed, who do you believe will be the starter next year, Gay or Lewis or do you believe someone else might seize that opportunity?
Ed Bouchette: William Gay can go on the open market and I believe someone else will want to sign him as their No. 3. He's No. 2 here, but I don't see a big contract for him from the Steelers.
Dude_from_Cali: Ed: your 35 years in the NFL BIZ, you're not shocked by "ONE AND DONE" in playoff's anymore, right?
Ed Bouchette: I saw the great Chuck Noll bring a team home 5-11, so nothing shocks me. One and done? The 1977 Steelers did that too, also in Denver.
Guest: Will Dennis Dixon be back next year? I assume Charlie B will not.
Ed Bouchette: I don't think Dennis wants to come back to be a No. 3 QB again. He wants to go somewhere he can at least be No. 2. Now, he has to have a suitor for him to do that.
ken sogan: What about moving Polamalu to CB? Sounds crazy but I don't see him playing an injury free season again in his current role
Ed Bouchette: You're right, it sounds crazy.
Guest: Do you think the Steeler coaches will work with Wallace to act as a defensive back when he can't make a catch, and also work with him on catching the ball with his hands and not his body
Ed Bouchette: I'm sure, especially after watching tape of the second half of the 2011 season. They will have plenty to point out to him.
Dude_from_Cali: If Ziggy becomes NT, how many pounds does Ziggy need to ADD?
Ed Bouchette: I'd say 10. You don't have to be 350 to play the position.
Indysteeler: Ed, most surprising/disappointing NFL teams in 2011? Who were they?
Ed Bouchette: Surprise has to be 49ers, by far. Disappointing? Jets.
Touchdown Joey: Watching Graham, Davis, Hernandez and Gronkowski this weekend made me realize how average Heath Miller really is.
Ed Bouchette: Were you watching any of them block? Were they given the chance to catch passes?
[url="http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/114419-ed-bouchettes-steelers-chat-transcript-11612"]http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/inde ... ript-11612[/url]
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