Q&A with Post-Gazette/Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette
Tuesday January 10, 2012
1:41 Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon. Sorry about the little delay. Interviews happening at Steelers and one lasted a little long. Fire away.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:41 Ed Bouchette
1:42 [Comment From joe joe : ]
did we see hampton and farrior for the last time?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:42 joe
1:43 Ed Bouchette: Hard to tell. I think Hampton will be back, but maybe not at $8 million. Not sure on Farrior.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:43 Ed Bouchette
1:44 [Comment From SteeMike58 SteeMike58 : ]
Where was the pressure on Tebow on Sunday night? I thought it was a staple for the Steelers to pressure inexperienced QB's, like Tebow....
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:44 SteeMike58
1:45 Ed Bouchette: They seemed to hold back, so as not to force him to run out of the pocket. Seemed like a good strategy until he started hitting all those bombs in the second quarter.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:45 Ed Bouchette
1:46 [Comment From IndySteeler IndySteeler : ]
I know Coach T said no coordinator changes are expected. Do you expexct that to hold true? I'd like to see both BA and Labeau stay? your Thoughts?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:46 IndySteeler
1:46 Ed Bouchette: they won't leave because Mike wants them to leave, he made that clear. The only way I could see Bruce Arians leave is as a head coach elsewhere. I think **** LeBeau wants to coach here again in 2012.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:46 Ed Bouchette
1:47 [Comment From Tship Tship : ]
Ed thanks for another chat. After my emotions settled down the same question came back to me about this team that I have had all year, was this a good team? The record says yes but it seems somehow deceiving or was it just the injuires.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:47 Tship
1:47 Ed Bouchette: You can't go 12-4 if you are not a good team. Take your best players off a team for extended periods and it makes it tougher, no matter what the standard is.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:47 Ed Bouchette
1:47 [Comment From Steeltyke Steeltyke : ]
Ed, do you think that Hines and the Steelers will fall out this off-season? The steelers have to do what is best for the team but it would be a shame to see things end badly after 14 stellar years together.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:47 Steeltyke
1:48 Ed Bouchette: I think ownership would have to step in to have Ward come back, and it will be on their shoulders because he has in his contract that on March 1, they must either guarantee he'll be back or release him.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:48 Ed Bouchette
1:49 [Comment From Guest Guest : ]
With all of the offensive weapons this team has, isn't vital that the Steelers focus on the offensive line during the off-season?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:49 Guest
1:49 Ed Bouchette: I think so. However, you can't just say you are going to draft the best offensive lineman available because there may be a player at another position available who is much higher in quality.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:49 Ed Bouchette
1:50 [Comment From Dude_from_Cali Dude_from_Cali : ]
Ed: would Sushi have made a 62 yard FG in Denver's thin air? your opinion?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:50 Dude_from_Cali
1:51 Ed Bouchette: No. what's the record, 63? I think he could have tried from 55. Kickers told me before the game they believed high altitude added about 5 yards to kicks/punts
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:51 Ed Bouchette
1:51 [Comment From Guest Guest : ]
Hello Ed! Still trying to come out of the depression over the loss..the way we lost was heartbreaking. What has really been bothering me is why do you think Hines sat on the bench almost the whole game? Hines has done so much for the Steelers, why would they not have played him?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:51 Guest
1:52 Ed Bouchette: Because the coaches believe their other 4 receivers give them a better chance. Their opinion, not mine, because the way Mike Wallace played in the second half of the season and in that playoff game, I'm not so sure I wouldn't have started Emmanuel Sanders;.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:52 Ed Bouchette
1:52 [Comment From chicago_steeler_fan chicago_steeler_fan : ]
what should be the fans biggest takeaway from the season?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:52 chicago_steeler_fan
1:53 Ed Bouchette: Did you enjoy watching it? That's about all you can expect. You cannot bring the hardware home every year, even though there is a good portion of Steelers fans who don't believe that.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:53 Ed Bouchette
1:53 [Comment From JerseySteel JerseySteel : ]
Ed, how much does the injuries to Mendenall, Kiesel, Hampton, Starks affect the Steelers draft strategy?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:53 JerseySteel
1:54 Ed Bouchette: I don't think it will affect their strategy. They know they need another NT anyway, and they've drafted DE twice in the past three years on the first round. Maybe they look one year earlier for a RB. I'd draft a tackle high no matter the Starks question.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:54 Ed Bouchette
1:54 [Comment From JamesinNYC JamesinNYC : ]
Hello Ed, Thanks for having this chat. Tell me I am not crazy? I read a lot of praise for Tewbow, yes he won, but he stinks. 80% or more of the yardage was after the catch and it wasn't like the St. Lewis Rams where every pass was leading the receiver. The Steelers just blew it right?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:54 JamesinNYC
1:55 Ed Bouchette: Yes, the Steelers blew it because their strategy was to force Tebow to throw in order to beat them -- and he did.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:55 Ed Bouchette
1:56 [Comment From Hombre De Acero Hombre De Acero : ]
Mike Wallace's is a restricted free agent. Do you see the Steelers attempting to lock him down to a long term deal?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:56 Hombre De Acero
1:56 Ed Bouchette: I would think they would try, despite his disappointing performance in the second half of the season.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:56 Ed Bouchette
1:56 [Comment From chicago_steeler_fan chicago_steeler_fan : ]
was injuries/inexperience a reason for what seemed to be a dramatic decline in blitzing this year?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:56 chicago_steeler_fan
1:58 Ed Bouchette: A number of them told me they cut back on the blitzes because many of the QBs were taking shorter drops and quicker releases, so it was futile. I think a big part of it was the injuries to LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, who missed a combined 11 games. Woodley led the AFC with 9 sacks after 8 games, then had no more the rest of the way, when he played little.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:58 Ed Bouchette
1:58 [Comment From Steel Curtain Rising Steel Curtain Rising : ]
Which Steeler gave you the biggest positive surpirse, and which was the biggest disappointment of 2011?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 1:58 Steel Curtain Rising
2:02 Ed Bouchette: Antonio Brown had to be the biggest, leaping from No. 4 receiver to team MVP.
Biggest disappointment collectively had to be the lack of points on offense and the running game.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:02 Ed Bouchette
2:02 [Comment From JerseySteel JerseySteel : ]
Ed, your Kevin Colbert, what position do you select in the draft's 1st round?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:02 JerseySteel
2:04 Ed Bouchette: Again, I'm looking at quality and want to get the best quality. However, I'm not going to draft a QB or WR on the first round. I'd go for OT or G or NT or LB
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:04 Ed Bouchette
2:04 Ed Bouchette: Or CB
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:04 Ed Bouchette
2:04 [Comment From Hombre De Acero Hombre De Acero : ]
You and Gerry have been pretty clear that Arians almost left last year on his own accord. What's the inside scoop as the 2012 off season starts?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:04 Hombre De Acero
2:05 Ed Bouchette: Bruce Arians will be back, I believe, unless someone hires him as a head coach.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:05 Ed Bouchette
2:05 [Comment From Dude_from_Cali Dude_from_Cali : ]
Ed: don't shoot the messenger: it's all over the net. 316 passing yards ( John 3:16 ) ... passing average 31.6 yards ( John 3:16 ) John Elway called the plays ( John 3:16 )
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:05 Dude_from_Cali
2:05 Ed Bouchette: Bang! Bang!
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:05 Ed Bouchette
2:05 [Comment From Steel Curtain Rising Steel Curtain Rising : ]
Ed were you able to make Tomlin's press conference yesterday or were you still in transit?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:05 Steel Curtain Rising
2:05 Ed Bouchette: My plane left at noon eastern from Denver, the same time the press conference started.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:05 Ed Bouchette
2:07 [Comment From Hombre De Acero Hombre De Acero : ]
Ed you've seen Tebowmaina from afar, now you've seen him up close. Do you think that Tebow was flashing greatness Sunday night or do you think he's just flashing through his 15 minutes of fame?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:07 Hombre De Acero
2:07 Ed Bouchette: I saw a QB Sunday who threw some quality passes and some really poor passes. If he can throw more of the good ones, obviously, he'll be OK. They won't be running that option attack for long, though.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:07 Ed Bouchette
2:08 [Comment From UpgraydAl UpgraydAl : ]
Any chance Cotchery is back next year, or will he try to catch on with another team as the #2 receiver?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:08 UpgraydAl
2:08 Ed Bouchette: I would think he'd persue the latter.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:08 Ed Bouchette
2:08 [Comment From JerseySteel JerseySteel : ]
Ed, any chance someone with a brain rips the bubble screen play out of the playbook and burns it so we never see it again?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:08 JerseySteel
2:08 Ed Bouchette: I hate that play.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:08 Ed Bouchette
2:09 [Comment From Chooch Chooch : ]
Please answer the burning question that all Steeler fans want to know today. Where did Ben get that horrific hat he wore to the post game news conference?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:09 Chooch
2:09 Ed Bouchette: Didn't see it. Spent my time in the locker room.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:09 Ed Bouchette
2:09 [Comment From Steel Curtain Rising Steel Curtain Rising : ]
Ed, I know you and Gerry make your own travel arrangements an do not fly with the team. Is this standard NFL practice, or are there teams that include the local press corps on the team charter?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:09 Steel Curtain Rising
2:11 Ed Bouchette: Steelers used to take practically the entire press corps in the 1970s. Then came Watergate and even sports departments figured they better not be taking flights on the team. My understanding is, they asked team to bill them for the flights and they would not. So that left the big papers on the road. A few suburban papers still travel on their plan. I don't think other teams take anyone.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:11 Ed Bouchette
2:11 [Comment From TucsonKen TucsonKen : ]
Who do you see in the Super Bowl now?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:11 TucsonKen
2:12 Ed Bouchette: You make that sound as if I thought the Steelers were going to make it as a wild card, which I am on record as not thinking they could. New England and Green Bay.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:12 Ed Bouchette
2:12 [Comment From Taz Taz : ]
Didn't Coach Arians try to retire after last season?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:12 Taz
2:12 Ed Bouchette: Nobody tries to retire. They either do or they do not.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:12 Ed Bouchette
2:12 [Comment From t t : ]
what do you make of tomlin saying he'd run the same defense again? is that just ego talking?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:12 t
2:13 Ed Bouchette: Mike also said he would still go for 2 points from the 12 yardline in that Jacksonville playoff loss.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:13 Ed Bouchette
2:13 [Comment From Jwandburgh Jwandburgh : ]
Ed, do you expect to go with the top seeds for afc title game Balt @ NE. And perhaps losing in denver was a blessing...would steelers have had anything left w/the new injuries to compete in New England?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:13 Jwandburgh
2:14 Ed Bouchette: I think Houston has a chance in Baltimore, Denver none in New England without, of course, divine intervention.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:14 Ed Bouchette
2:15 [Comment From Ed Ed : ]
Are there any legit replacements for Farrior on the roster or would the Steelers need to find one through the draft or free agency?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:15 Ed
2:15 Ed Bouchette: On the team now, Larry Foote and Stevenson Sylvester.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:15 Ed Bouchette
2:15 [Comment From Guest Guest : ]
Why would we select a RB in the draft if we have Mendenhall and Batch coming back next year and obviously have Redman and Clay?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:15 Guest
2:15 Ed Bouchette: I see no Walter Payton in that bunch.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:15 Ed Bouchette
2:16 [Comment From mike mike : ]
what kind of chance would you have given the Steelers against New England had they beaten the Broncos.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:16 mike
2:16 Ed Bouchette: None, or about the chance I gave the Broncos Sunday.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:16 Ed Bouchette
2:17 [Comment From James_Costa Rica James_Costa Rica : ]
It will be interesting to see how the Steelers defense plays Tebow when they meet during the 2012 regular season.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:17 James_Costa Rica
2:17 Ed Bouchette: Again at Denver, again without Ryan Clark.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:17 Ed Bouchette
2:17 [Comment From CantonSteeler CantonSteeler : ]
How do you see Daniel Sepulveda factoring in next year? Do the Steelers feel he can return with all the knee issues?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:17 CantonSteeler
2:17 Ed Bouchette: Daniel, I believe, will be back. He had meniscus tear this time.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:17 Ed Bouchette
2:18 [Comment From Guest Guest : ]
Who was most at fault for the TD in overtime - LeBeau, Taylor, Mundy, or Polamalu?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:18 Guest
2:18 Ed Bouchette: Whoever called that defense.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:18 Ed Bouchette
2:18 [Comment From JerseySteel JerseySteel : ]
Ed, now that the Steelers season is over, are the chats going to still be weekly?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:18 JerseySteel
2:18 Ed Bouchette: Haven't I suffered enough?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:18 Ed Bouchette
2:19 [Comment From Bill Bill : ]
Why can't our guys protect Ben? Our achilles heel definitely cost us on the final drive. Every team has injuries but the better teams seem to protect their qb...Brady, Brees, Rogers.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:19 Bill
2:19 Ed Bouchette: Two reasons: They are not good enough, and Ben is not quick with his releases.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:19 Ed Bouchette
2:19 [Comment From SteelMike58 SteelMike58 : ]
Looks liek we need to beat Baltimore next year as home field advantage is evidently vitally important (4-0 this weekend), you agree?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:19 SteelMike58
2:19 Ed Bouchette: Did you just stumble into that or did you research it?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:19 Ed Bouchette
2:20 [Comment From CJ CJ : ]
Ed - I am starting to believe Wallace is just that one trick pony people often refer to him as. Do you feel he is worthy of a 1st round pick in a trade or would other teams measure him on the 2nd half as well. If a high pick or multiple picks in return - I say we trade him. Brown is a star. Sanders was terrific Sunday. Hold onto Cotchery. Fill some needs.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:20 CJ
2:20 Ed Bouchette: They're not going to trade Mike Wallace. Mike Tomlin is the one who pinned the one-trick pony tag on him.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:20 Ed Bouchette
2:20 [Comment From Franco Franco : ]
Did you review the final play of the game to see if what Gerry reported is true: that it was an illegal play because only 7 men on the line?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:20 Franco
2:21 Ed Bouchette: Gerry saw a story about it in the Denver Post. No, I have not reviewed it and will not.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:21 Ed Bouchette
2:21 [Comment From SteelMike58 SteelMike58 : ]
Did I see other Denver players Tbowing during game, is it spreading like wildfire?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:21 SteelMike58
2:21 Ed Bouchette: The New England Patriots firefighters await with big hoses.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:21 Ed Bouchette
2:21 [Comment From Jim in VT Jim in VT : ]
Seems like the fate was sealed when the ravens made that 92 yard drive, doesn't it?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:21 Jim in VT
2:23 Ed Bouchette: I've said that ever since. It was the most crucial point of the season to the Steelers. Had they stopped the Ravens, the Steelers would have been the No. 2 seed and maybe some injuries do not occur -- or if they do, they could have rested some injured. At the least, they could have rested last week and Houston would be coming to town.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:23 Ed Bouchette
2:23 [Comment From Guest Guest : ]
so what do you think of the new overtime rules? I still think each team should get the ball once....
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:23 Guest
2:23 Ed Bouchette: I actually like them.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:23 Ed Bouchette
2:23 [Comment From Taz Taz : ]
Isn't the 2012 season game in Pittsburgh? I thought they were @ Denver two years ago in 2009?
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:23 Taz
2:24 Ed Bouchette: at Denver. Yes, they were at Denver in '09, but Steelers next year are at Denver, at Oakland and SD and KC come to Pittsburgh.
Tuesday January 10, 2012 2:24 Ed Bouchette
2:25 Ed Bouchette: Thank you for the chats. Keep an eye open, especially on my blog/slog, for updates on when we will do this again. Maybe next Tuesday.
Maybe not.
ed