mesaSteeler
12-08-2009, 09:14 PM
Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09342/1019315-66.stm
Ed Bouchette: Sorry about the delay. It took me an hour to get my computer unfrozen and to get here. This will be a shorter chat because I have to go to practice.
docsjc: Ed: In your (not so humble) opinion why does the defense stink? Lousy CBs, LeBeau losing it, absence of Troy P, what?
Ed Bouchette: I think when you pluck perhaps your best two defensive players, Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith, out of your lineup, that is not a good thing. Add in some down years by Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark and the loss of Larry Foote and Bryant McFadden from last years defense and voila.
bg_steel: Ed, Why do teams that win the Super Bowl the previous year typically have such a terrible season the next year?
Ed Bouchette: That is a myth. Only the Steelers seem to do that.
IsraelP: Ed, the Browns game starts at 3:30 AM here in Jerusalem. Considering the way the Steelers have been playing, am I a bad fan if I skip it?
Ed Bouchette: I dont know, what else you have going on over there at that time of morning?
WyoBowhunter: Ed, I have to agree with the lineup changes, I applaud the coaches for making adjustments as the plan they currently installed is not working. Your thoughts?
Ed Bouchette: Let's see what changes they make first. (By the way, this is not letting me use some punctuation today either)
Brain_Guy: What would Emporer Noll do in this situation?
Ed Bouchette: Punt.
Brain_Guy: Cold, snowy, sloppy conditions for Thurs. in Cleveland. Four game Steeler losing streak. The game plan is obvious: SMASHMOUTH RUN FOOTBALL!
Ed Bouchette: Yeah, but what will the Steelers do?
AZStillerFan: Hi Ed, love the chat. Don't you think everyone needs to put the torches and pitchforks down? Heaven forbid I put a positive twist to our injuries in this forum, but the loss of Smith and Polamalu's ongoing absences have shown how weak our depth is on D. It has exposed Gay, Clark and Timmons as average at best. So we address it in the offseason. We can't win it every year, right?
Ed Bouchette: Put the torches and pitch forks down and grab a 9-iron
steelcitystud: Ed, I heard in NFL radio last night that the rumor is Troy is finished for the year. Have you heard this?
Ed Bouchette: No.
bg_steel: Ed, Ryan Mundy could've won the game instead he drops a perfect interception. Did he misjudge the ball or was it a rookie mistake?
Ed Bouchette: It was definitely a rookie mistake because it was Joe Burnett who dropped it and not Ryan Mundy.
PSUfan210: Ed. Do the Steelers cornerbacks practice catching passes?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, but not in games.
IsraelP: Ed, do you think the biggest Super Bowl hangover belongs to the fellow who tries to shut up the critics by saying "This offensive line got us a Super Bowl last year. This offensive coordinator got us a Super Bowl last year. This defensive coordinator gut us a Super Bowl last year."
Ed Bouchette: I have no idea who you are talking about.
polamalu43: Ed, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have easier schedules than Jacksonville and Miami. Do you think 9 wins secures the 6th seed this year?
Ed Bouchette: It could, but I think if you are the Steelers you need 10 wins. And, by easy schedule, do you mean they play the likes of the Chiefs and Raiders?
whereuat92_: Ed, you've never been in finer form! Your commentary on PG+ during the last two weeks has me logging on with greater regularity. I loved your suggestion for the kick-off and the "Terrible Ten" and last week's "Today I am Mike Tomlin" was terrific. I hope Tomlin and/or other Steeler management saw it!
Ed Bouchette: As with you, they would be smart to look in on PG Plus.
Only_24_Days_Of_Hell_Left_In_Dec: Ed, by benching starters, are the Steelers saying, we can lose with you and we can lose without you?
Ed Bouchette: No, I think Mike Tomlin is trying to find a winning combination, believe it or not. And I would not expect a lot of starters getting benched. One, two at most.
polamalu43: Ed, the schedules for Pittsburgh and Baltimore are the 2 easiest out of remaining playoff hopefuls. If Pittsburgh goes 9-7 and beats Baltimore and they also finish at 9-7, who wins the tiebreakers?
Ed Bouchette: I dont know. Miami, perhaps? Denver? Jacksonville? Jets? Between those two, they would break the tie in the division first. First up, best division record. Next up, best record in common games. and then, best record in conference.
Y-town_steeler: With the Patriots and Ravens both losing, how is the playoff picture looking for the Steelers?
Ed Bouchette: I wrote this on PG Plus this morning in detail. Bottom line: If they go 10-6, I think they are in. Problem is going to be getting to 10-6.
MikeWagner23: Defense started to decline last year. Am I crazy to suggest LeBeau retire along with any DB not named Polamalu?
Ed Bouchette: Defense was ranked nearly No. 1 across the board last year. I saw no decline until the fourth quarter of the SB on a few plays.
6timechamps: Hi Ed, do you expect Ike Taylor to be benched for Thursday night's game against the Browns?
Ed Bouchette: My best bet is he may rotate with rookie Keenan Lewis.
roger_in_GA: Ed, since your 12-4 is out the window. What do you think the final record will be now?
Ed Bouchette: 8-8.
Tprod: Ed, Timmons seems better suited to the "Buck" Linebacker position rather than the "Mack" position. If Fox replaces Timmons on early downs, any chance they give Farrior a breather with Timmons. Farrior has to retire at some point and Timmons is the best candidate.
Ed Bouchette: That could happen in the future, but not this season.
SteelersPSU: Ed, with Casey Hampton likely to enter free agency, do you see a scenario where the Steelers would trade up in the first round to draft Nebraska's star DT and heisman hopeful Ndamukong Suh to replace him?
Ed Bouchette: It would depend on how far theyd have to go up. They have done that, as you know, most particularly with Troy Polamalu.
Steel_Curtain_Rising: Ed, the NFL announced that they're pulling the plug on part of their revenue sharing agreement, in anticipation of the uncapped year. How will this affect the Steelers?
Ed Bouchette: I think that actually might save the Steelers about $1 million, if I remember where they were when that first was installed. They were on the lower end of the top third, I believe.
ProfessorFlush: Did the Steelers make a mistake by not trying to sign Larry Foote in the offseason, or was his asking price just too high? In hindsight, they seem to miss his play vs. the run, and his lockeroom leadership.
Ed Bouchette: Larry was under contract. He asked them to let him go and they complied.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09342/1019315-66.stm
Ed Bouchette: Sorry about the delay. It took me an hour to get my computer unfrozen and to get here. This will be a shorter chat because I have to go to practice.
docsjc: Ed: In your (not so humble) opinion why does the defense stink? Lousy CBs, LeBeau losing it, absence of Troy P, what?
Ed Bouchette: I think when you pluck perhaps your best two defensive players, Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith, out of your lineup, that is not a good thing. Add in some down years by Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark and the loss of Larry Foote and Bryant McFadden from last years defense and voila.
bg_steel: Ed, Why do teams that win the Super Bowl the previous year typically have such a terrible season the next year?
Ed Bouchette: That is a myth. Only the Steelers seem to do that.
IsraelP: Ed, the Browns game starts at 3:30 AM here in Jerusalem. Considering the way the Steelers have been playing, am I a bad fan if I skip it?
Ed Bouchette: I dont know, what else you have going on over there at that time of morning?
WyoBowhunter: Ed, I have to agree with the lineup changes, I applaud the coaches for making adjustments as the plan they currently installed is not working. Your thoughts?
Ed Bouchette: Let's see what changes they make first. (By the way, this is not letting me use some punctuation today either)
Brain_Guy: What would Emporer Noll do in this situation?
Ed Bouchette: Punt.
Brain_Guy: Cold, snowy, sloppy conditions for Thurs. in Cleveland. Four game Steeler losing streak. The game plan is obvious: SMASHMOUTH RUN FOOTBALL!
Ed Bouchette: Yeah, but what will the Steelers do?
AZStillerFan: Hi Ed, love the chat. Don't you think everyone needs to put the torches and pitchforks down? Heaven forbid I put a positive twist to our injuries in this forum, but the loss of Smith and Polamalu's ongoing absences have shown how weak our depth is on D. It has exposed Gay, Clark and Timmons as average at best. So we address it in the offseason. We can't win it every year, right?
Ed Bouchette: Put the torches and pitch forks down and grab a 9-iron
steelcitystud: Ed, I heard in NFL radio last night that the rumor is Troy is finished for the year. Have you heard this?
Ed Bouchette: No.
bg_steel: Ed, Ryan Mundy could've won the game instead he drops a perfect interception. Did he misjudge the ball or was it a rookie mistake?
Ed Bouchette: It was definitely a rookie mistake because it was Joe Burnett who dropped it and not Ryan Mundy.
PSUfan210: Ed. Do the Steelers cornerbacks practice catching passes?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, but not in games.
IsraelP: Ed, do you think the biggest Super Bowl hangover belongs to the fellow who tries to shut up the critics by saying "This offensive line got us a Super Bowl last year. This offensive coordinator got us a Super Bowl last year. This defensive coordinator gut us a Super Bowl last year."
Ed Bouchette: I have no idea who you are talking about.
polamalu43: Ed, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have easier schedules than Jacksonville and Miami. Do you think 9 wins secures the 6th seed this year?
Ed Bouchette: It could, but I think if you are the Steelers you need 10 wins. And, by easy schedule, do you mean they play the likes of the Chiefs and Raiders?
whereuat92_: Ed, you've never been in finer form! Your commentary on PG+ during the last two weeks has me logging on with greater regularity. I loved your suggestion for the kick-off and the "Terrible Ten" and last week's "Today I am Mike Tomlin" was terrific. I hope Tomlin and/or other Steeler management saw it!
Ed Bouchette: As with you, they would be smart to look in on PG Plus.
Only_24_Days_Of_Hell_Left_In_Dec: Ed, by benching starters, are the Steelers saying, we can lose with you and we can lose without you?
Ed Bouchette: No, I think Mike Tomlin is trying to find a winning combination, believe it or not. And I would not expect a lot of starters getting benched. One, two at most.
polamalu43: Ed, the schedules for Pittsburgh and Baltimore are the 2 easiest out of remaining playoff hopefuls. If Pittsburgh goes 9-7 and beats Baltimore and they also finish at 9-7, who wins the tiebreakers?
Ed Bouchette: I dont know. Miami, perhaps? Denver? Jacksonville? Jets? Between those two, they would break the tie in the division first. First up, best division record. Next up, best record in common games. and then, best record in conference.
Y-town_steeler: With the Patriots and Ravens both losing, how is the playoff picture looking for the Steelers?
Ed Bouchette: I wrote this on PG Plus this morning in detail. Bottom line: If they go 10-6, I think they are in. Problem is going to be getting to 10-6.
MikeWagner23: Defense started to decline last year. Am I crazy to suggest LeBeau retire along with any DB not named Polamalu?
Ed Bouchette: Defense was ranked nearly No. 1 across the board last year. I saw no decline until the fourth quarter of the SB on a few plays.
6timechamps: Hi Ed, do you expect Ike Taylor to be benched for Thursday night's game against the Browns?
Ed Bouchette: My best bet is he may rotate with rookie Keenan Lewis.
roger_in_GA: Ed, since your 12-4 is out the window. What do you think the final record will be now?
Ed Bouchette: 8-8.
Tprod: Ed, Timmons seems better suited to the "Buck" Linebacker position rather than the "Mack" position. If Fox replaces Timmons on early downs, any chance they give Farrior a breather with Timmons. Farrior has to retire at some point and Timmons is the best candidate.
Ed Bouchette: That could happen in the future, but not this season.
SteelersPSU: Ed, with Casey Hampton likely to enter free agency, do you see a scenario where the Steelers would trade up in the first round to draft Nebraska's star DT and heisman hopeful Ndamukong Suh to replace him?
Ed Bouchette: It would depend on how far theyd have to go up. They have done that, as you know, most particularly with Troy Polamalu.
Steel_Curtain_Rising: Ed, the NFL announced that they're pulling the plug on part of their revenue sharing agreement, in anticipation of the uncapped year. How will this affect the Steelers?
Ed Bouchette: I think that actually might save the Steelers about $1 million, if I remember where they were when that first was installed. They were on the lower end of the top third, I believe.
ProfessorFlush: Did the Steelers make a mistake by not trying to sign Larry Foote in the offseason, or was his asking price just too high? In hindsight, they seem to miss his play vs. the run, and his lockeroom leadership.
Ed Bouchette: Larry was under contract. He asked them to let him go and they complied.