SteelersROCK: What's the latest on James Harrison's injury?

Ed Bouchette: Best news possible. He has a stiff neck, may miss only a practice or two and probably play Sunday.

ugly-unis: Any thoughts on Polamalu's slow start? He's barely been noticeable?

Ed Bouchette: I would not describe his start as slow. Certainly, Mike Tomlin did not. His face lit up today when asked about Polamalu. Just because he doesn't have many tackles does not mean he is not playing well.

Tinkerbell: Do you believe Belichick will turn over all of his files as the commissioner requested?

Ed Bouchette: Sure. I also believe in Santa Claus.

natehands: Ed, it looks like between drop passes and some underthrows, Ben could have completed about 9 more passes in the two games ... what do you attribute to? Sloppy prep.? Lack of concentration?

Ed Bouchette: He also did not put the ball on the money a few times. But why nitpick at this point?

robhug71: Ed, why don't the Steelers have a C on their jerseys like all the other teams?

Ed Bouchette: You mean like C-leveland and C-incinnati? I've not dug into that one yet, but from my emails it seems like the fans want to know, so I'll try to remember to ask.

RightSaidEd: The Steelers will be no worse than 4-1 heading into their bye week... true or false?

Ed Bouchette: True

Tristan: Lynch was able to rip off a few solid runs in the first half before the game started getting beyond Buffalo's reach ... how concerned should the D be with containing Gore?

Ed Bouchette: Gore, Snore. They haven't allowed a runner to gain 100 yards on them in the past 26. San Francisco should make it 27.

James_Taipei: I know that it is early but after two weeks, how do you see the AFC North shaping up this year?

Ed Bouchette: I've said all along Cincinnati is overrated, so it comes down to a two-horse race between Steelers and Ravens.

Tinkerbell: Are the Steelers' impressive sack numbers a function of better pressure, or weak opponents?

Ed Bouchette: How do you know they were weak opponents?

Tinkerbell: Hi Ed. Have you ever suspected or come across any credible evidence that the Steelers ever cheated (i.e., bugged linemen, videotaped signals, etc.) during your tenure covering the team?

Ed Bouchette: No. John Clayton caught them wearing shoulder pads during minicamp in 1978, which was against the rules. Chuck Noll wanted to protect them from injury and if you saw minicamps, you'd understand why.

GjSteel: Hi Ed, The Steelers talked a lot about spreading the offense out, yet I noticed they have not dressed Willie Reid once this year. Are they going into the games with just 4 wide receivers or am I missing a wideout (Ward, Holmes, Washington, Wilson)?

Ed Bouchette: No, you've got them. 4 wideouts, but they also use 2 tight ends a lot and even split out a back once in awhile.

TheOuterCycloid: Ed, I've noticed Ben having trouble with his footwork ... throwing off the wrong foot... happy feet, so to speak ... especially in the "scripted" part of the 1st quarter -- Can you elaborate on this?

Ed Bouchette: Yes. 5 TD passes, one interception, 101-something passer rating. Imagine how good he'll be when he starts throwing off the correct foot.

ugly-unis: Any feedback from the coaching staff regarding the play of the O line, esp. RT and C?

Ed Bouchette: Center play's been good. Willie Colon was praised by Tomlin today but the coach said he needs to finish his blocks more.

Uncle_Frankie: I can handle the jerseys and the britches, but those helmets bring back bad memories. Could you tell them to take those helmets and put them in a time capsule and bury them over in Oakland by the old Forbes Field wall?

Ed Bouchette: I'll get on that right away.

RightSaidEd: Ed, could you share you thoughts on the performance of Mahan and Colon thus far?

Ed Bouchette: I just did.

Steel_fan_n_KY: How is Timmons coming along?

Ed Bouchette: He plays on special teams.

jksn17: Steelers defense vs. a hurricane: who wins?

Ed Bouchette: You mean, Miami Hurricanes?

RightSaidEd: Boomer Esiason made reference to the Steelers circumvented the cap at one point during Cowher's tenure. What was he referring to?

Ed Bouchette: They followed through on a promise to give Will Wolford a bonus if he ever moved to tackle. Somehow, it was not accounted for under the cap.

NCSteelerfan: Baltimore has not seemed that impressive, do you think they have been overrated too?

Ed Bouchette: I think Baltimore will go as far as either of their quarterbacks take them. when McNair's playing well, they're good.

NCSteelerfan: In your opinion, will Mahan continue the tradition of dominant centers?

Ed Bouchette: That's asking a lot. I don't know because I have not seen enough of him.

jksn17: Any concern on Willie Parker's inability to get in the end zone this weekend? I really think he should have been in there at least 2-3 times?

Ed Bouchette: He scored a touchdown. I think he should have scored seven or eight of them, myself.

natehands: Ed, what has Tomlin concerned the most? Lack of red zone scoring?

Ed Bouchette: Probably. He's not real concerned, though, about any one thing at this point. How can he be after 60-10?

got2thumbs: While the Steelers may have a great season this year and be fun to be a fan, is it realistic to think that a young coach in his rookie season as a head coach will have enough game-coaching experience to get the team through the playoffs if they make it there? After all it took Cowher 15 years to figure out how to go all the way.

Ed Bouchette: I would not put any limitations on Mike Tomlin. He looks to me like a winner.

Baxter: Even though its only 2 games into the season, how does the early contributions from the rookie class compare to previous groups?

Ed Bouchette: That's a mouthful. The punter has done well, the tight end leads them with 2 touchdowns and LaMarr Woodley has played extensively.

DumpTruck: Mike Tomlin is 2-0-0 when leading by 11 points or more ... Just sayin' ...

Ed Bouchette: And the beat goes on ...

Steel_fan_n_KY: Are the Steelers the best team in the AFC North?

Ed Bouchette: They lead it, don't they?

frankrmineo: Does Kyle Boller look like the year long starter for Baltimore?

Ed Bouchette: The Steelers certainly hope so.

The_Frenchman: The Steelers defensed him well, but I was really impressed with a few of Lynch's runs. Do you see him as a big time back for years to come?

Ed Bouchette: That's a tough projection. He looked like he has talent as a runner.

SRK: What are your thoughts on Woodley so far?

Ed Bouchette: He made no obvious mistakes and he had one of their four sacks in half the game. I think he's done fine.

VedaMan: Ed, besides the fact they're 2-0, how's it working out on the sideline with both coordinators down there?

Ed Bouchette: fine.

dfwsteeler: Thoughts on Troy P. ? He's been quiet and thats a good sign. Lineman and LBs making the tackles compared to last year.

Ed Bouchette: Good answer to a previous question.

Kevin: Is it just me or have opposing QBs only even thrown towards Ike Taylor a few times? Is he covering receivers that well?

Ed Bouchette: Yes, he's picked up his game.

NCSteelerfan: We get very little coverage of the Steelers in NC, how much difference is there in how Tomlin conducts his press conferences as compared to Cowher?

Ed Bouchette: Plenty. Bill was entertaining at times but often did not want to answer certain questions. Mike is not as demonstrative but he answers questions and he does it truthfully.

ugly-unis: Any word when the first sideline smile form the new coach will come?

Ed Bouchette: I will ask him that question the next time I see him.

got2thumbs: Does Willie Parker not like to leap, or not have much leaping ability? I don't think I have ever seen him go airborne at the goal line

Ed Bouchette: That's not always the best way to attack the goalline. If you look at it, I would say fewer backs than you think do that.

VedaMan: Ed, who is the most underrated Steeler, in your opinion?

Ed Bouchette: Aaron Smith.

The_Frenchman: After Week 1, I would have bet against Cleveland scoring 50pts in a month. How awful is Cincy's defense to allow that?

Ed Bouchette: If you've read me or listened, I've consistently said Cincy is way overrated because it has no defense. I wrote a line next to Cincy on Steelers schedule in our football edition that Carson Palmer would have to score 100 points in games because his defense is so bad.

Steeler_Shams: Is Tomlin aware that he needs to lower Willie's workload? At this rate, he will tire out.

Ed Bouchette: He said today he will run Parker until the wheels fall off.

frankrmineo: San Fran. (?)- Pittsburgh (?)?

Ed Bouchette: Both are hilly.

TheOuterCycloid: My question was in regards to Ben's problems the "scripted" portion of the game (1st 15 plays?). He was bound and determined to throw that deep ball that was picked Sunday despite the defender not biting on the pump fake and being in is line of vision as he turned slightly to throw it. A problem with trying to follow the script?

Ed Bouchette: I don't know about a problem, but I agree with you that he was throwing that ball come help or high water.

Steeler_Shams: Most overrated Steeler?

Ed Bouchette: Steely McBeam

TheOuterCycloid: Ed, When did the middle hypo-cycloid officially turn from orange to red? Chinese lead paint?

Ed Bouchette: I never quite took notice.

PhillyMarty: Is it too soon for us to think that last year is best forgotten, that we have picked up from where we left off in Feb. 2006? That the AFC is a 3-team race, Indy, NE, and the Steelers?

Ed Bouchette: Sure, why not? As Hines Ward said, they did not get bad overnight.

TheOuterCycloid: Ed, I noticed that Willie Parker DID indeed start switching the ball to his left arm when running to his left this past week... surely not due to your dismissing the question a couple of weeks ago, or are you passing these suggestions on?

Ed Bouchette: Oh, they all read this chat. Yes, I noticed that as well, not only did he switch the ball to his left hand while running along the left sideline, he gave a defender a pretty good stiff arm.

FWC: Have you noticed any important weaknesses in Tomlin as field general now that he has actually run a couple of actual from the sideline?

Ed Bouchette: yes, he allowed the two opponents to score 10 points. the only one I can think of is he admitted today to becoming too preoccupied with the 63-yard kickoff return to notice that the guy stepped out of bounds at his 35.

frankrmineo: How would you rate Steely McBeam's home opening performance?

Ed Bouchette: Great, because I never saw him once. Was he in hiding?

ugly-unis: Is Clark solid as starter at FS or is Anthony Smith ready to supplant him in the coming weeks?

Ed Bouchette: They are rotating, so it seems to me that the coach likes both of them.

NCSteelerfan: Are Steeler fans the only ones who pick apart their teams performance after dominating their first two games?

Ed Bouchette: No, I think Pirates fans would do it too, if they ever got the opportunity.

DCP: Since we are still before the trade deadline, is there anyway we could trade McBeam for Sir Purr and a Carolina cheerleader to be named later?

Ed Bouchette: I have a better idea. There are 3 real good rivers right outside Heinz Field for ways to deal with the McBeam character.

mg: After seeing so many people hammer Belichick (deservedly so), do you think he's the most disliked coach in the league by his peers?

Ed Bouchette: Yes.

RightSaidEd: Ed, any truth to the rumor that other writers have been spying on you in the hopes of "scooping" some of your stories?

Ed Bouchette: Yes. In fact, when I was on the KDKA-TV pregame show Sunday, I put the flip-card over my lips because I suspected as much.

PhillyMarty: Now that we have played two more exhibitions, I am granting you a do-over on your season win projection of 9 or 10. Are you ready to raise it?

Ed Bouchette: 10 or 11?

FWC: What was the best Belicheck/videogate joke you've heard?

Ed Bouchette: the headline: BeliCHEAT

ugly-unis: Preoccupied? Isn't it someone's job to alert Tomlin to challenge the play? What is this, a one man show? What's amazing is that this happened at home, where they show the replays.

Ed Bouchette: Yes, someone up in the box is supposed to do that. However, TV did not show it until too late, not that that's the only tool. Sometimes, you just have to use your eyes.

FWC: Thanks for spending another 30 minutes with us Ed. See ya next week.

Ed Bouchette: Hey, hey, I'll be the one doing the signoffs.

ugly-unis: Ed, it's 2 o'clock. Please don't go!!!!

Ed Bouchette: But my other side job calls me, you know, the one where I write stories in an actual newspaper.

The_Frenchman: So Billick wins a popularity contest with Belichick? Or is a scoreless tie?

Ed Bouchette: Billick gets my vote.

Steel_fan_n_KY: Willie also seems to be carrying the ball higher to stop the fumbles, like the Bus did. Does he still talk with JB?

Ed Bouchette: Mmmm, I think he said they talked once this summer.

NCSteelerfan: Thanks again for the great coverage of the Steelers. For those of us no longer living in the area we rely on you for Steelers info. Do you think it is wise to "Run Willie until the wheels fall off"?

Ed Bouchette: No. I would like to see him get some breathers, especially in runaway games.

dfwsteeler: Is Willie Reid gonna see the field anytime soon?

Ed Bouchette: he has to see his uniform first. But, no, I don't think so, unless there's an injury.

laptop: Ed: your photo looks about five years younger than real life. You vanity laden sports writer, you!

Ed Bouchette: Which photo? And how would you know?

Ed Bouchette: Thanks, everyone. See you next Tuesday. Will the last one out of the chat room please turn out the lights! ed