Ed Bouchette: Ready when you are.

SteelersZack: Ed, with the poor kick coverage really getting worse every week do you see a quick solution to this problem or is this just something we are going to have to learn to deal with until it costs us in the playoffs?

Ed Bouchette: Let's hold down the kickoff coverage questions. I know it's a hot topic but I can only answer it in so many ways, and we want to discuss some other topics as well. I also answer this in my daily question today. I'm not sure what goes into covering kicks, even though I did it like many others on my high school team. One thing they teach you is to stay in your lanes, because if you leave a lane and the return man cuts that way, it can make for a rather big hole. Mike Tomlin said a little bit ago that they aren't going to panic and don't expect any big changes. The only big changes anyone, including him, want to see is for someone to start making some tackles on the kickoff team.

traffic: Did you think the Steelers ran it up the middle too much? I know they go over 100 yards, but that did not seem to be working, especially against a bad run defense.

Ed Bouchette: I don't know if they run up the middle too much, but I did think they did it Sunday against the Browns. But then, when you saw Willie Parker try to cut around to the outside and slip several times, you might understand why they tried up the middle more often. I don't think his footing was the best Sunday on a slippery field.

James_Taipei: How many touchdowns do you see Roethlisberger throwing for this year? If Tom Brady was not having a record breaking year would Roethlisberger be an MVP candidate?

Ed Bouchette: He is an MVP candidate right now. I think Brady will win in a landslide, provided everything stays on track, but Ben to me would be No. 2 at the moment. He'll probably throw somewhere in the 30s is my guess. He has 22 right now and Bradshaw's team record is 28 in 1978.

James_Taipei: Ed, do you see the Steelers drafting a receiver with their first pick this year or next to prepare for Ward's retirement and/or departure?

Ed Bouchette: I think they better concentrate on offensive linemen.

PhillyMarty: Ed: The Steelers have just swept three division games, surely one of the most important parts of their schedule. So while we have much to be thankful, you are fully aware that us greedy fans want rings not pennants. And lets be honest, we are not currently playing well enough to think we can beat the Pats, yet that is not too lofty a goal. So with that in mind, I ask you to evaluate 2 aspects of the team, that have been crucial to succes in the past. The O-line and the LB'ers. From that group of 9 starters who is underachieving and who is playing really well?

Ed Bouchette: The questions, keep in mind, should not be longer than my answers. The line needs to improve and the linebackers are playing great.

JPBubba: Hi Ed, is Ben the come-back player of the year so far?

Ed Bouchette: Yes, and as I said he gets MVP votes too.

JPBubba: Is the AFC North race over?

Ed Bouchette: Not, naturally, officially. But I think everyone outside of Mike Tomlin probably thinks it is.

Art_Vandelay: What was Bryant McFadden doing on the 100 yard kickoff return? He was just running down the field like a spectator and made no effort to make a tackle. I hope someone gave him an earful for that effort.

Ed Bouchette: It looked as though he were auditioning for Dancing With the Stars. I'm sure when he looks at that video he wishes he would have tried to make a tackle earlier on Cribbs. I think maybe he was trying to slow him down in hopes someone would come from behind and grab him -- plus McFadden was being screened.

Art_Vandelay: Do you think the current group of offensive linemen were drafted or signed with too heavy of an emphasis on their run blocking ability (based on the team philosophy), and this could be part of the pass protection problems they are having?

Ed Bouchette: Not really. Maybe it's a chemistry thing because there are new starters. Whatever it is, they haven't played up to normal standards here.

IzzyB: Do you think Tomlin will start to use even more starters on special teams?

Ed Bouchette: No, I don't. Hungry young players should be motivated enough to run down under kicks and make a tackle.

steelergil: Hey Ed. I heard an interview on ESPN where Alan Faneca said he wants to remain a Steeler. What are the odds?

Ed Bouchette: Not good.

FreeTankCarter: Ed, can you give us an update on Ryan Clark? How much longer will he be out?

Ed Bouchette: It doesn't look good this week and for the first time Mike Tomlin said there's been no progress.

RaleighSteelersFan: Is this the best defensive team we've had in a while? I cannot remember our corners ever playing this well.

Ed Bouchette: They've had some good defenses here in this decade. It might measure up, but I'm hesitant to call it the best until I see more, especially how they play against Tom Brady.

Steel_D: Ed, good to talk again. I are the defensive fronts we are facing that good, or are there some real problems with the O line?

Ed Bouchette: As I've said, I think the O-line needs some help. It's not a bad line, but there's something missing there.

cmupensfan: Ed, what regulars could you see playing special teams next week to prevent kick off disasters from occurring again?

Ed Bouchette: We're putting a call out for volunteers from the audience. I don't know if more starters is the answer, although I don't have the answer either and, the way they've played, it does not appear the coaching staff does.

Bill: Ed, from an objective POV, is Hines Ward really getting a reputation as a dirty player with other players?

Ed Bouchette: You mean those defensive players who don't like to be blocked, especially by a wide receiver? Ward was rated among the dirtiest players in the NFL in a Sports Illustrated poll last year. I disagree. Again, I just think those guys aren't used to getting blocked by wide receivers.

2ndseed: Ed, cakewalk to New England showdown, or do any of the next 3 teams have a chance to surprise us?

Ed Bouchette: As Mike Tomlin said of the Jets, they are "dangerous." Why? Because, he said, they are an NFL team. I'm not so sure about that; I think the Jets belong in the MAC conference. If they lose to the Jets or the Dolphins, they deserve not to get the playoff bye. Same for the Bengals at home.

cgolden: Kendall Simmons looked like he had another bad game last week, should Chris K be pushing for playing time at all?

Ed Bouchette: Apparently, the coaching staff does not think so and when it comes to line play, I'm going to defer to them because I don't concentrate enough on the OL play during a game.

cmupensfan: Will the field conditions the Steelers had Sunday do anything to convince the Rooneys to either use field turf or a better grass surface for the field?

Ed Bouchette: Nothing in the past has, so why should it now?

cgolden: Is the coaching staff trying to tone down Anthony Smith's attitude on the field? He's an explosive player who punishes opponents but he looks like a "Joey Porter-starter kit" when it comes to trash talking.

Ed Bouchette: That would not be a bad starter kit. I'll tell you a quick story: I covered Jim Haslett, who was a freshman defensive end at IUP when I worked for the local paper there. Haslett was mean and nasty and always was getting personal fouls. I finally asked his d-line coach if he tried to tone Haslett's act down. He said he'd take the penalties rather than try to take away his aggressiveness. As Bill Cowher would say, it's a fine line.

mg: As bad as the Steelers have been running in short yardage with basically the same o-line, is it fair to say Jerome Bettis was the biggest part of their past success?

Ed Bouchette: Jerome Bettis is going into the Hall of Fame, so yes, you can assume he was certainly a big part of that.

mg: Haven't seen much from Cedrick Wilson lately. Has he dropped behind Nate Washington to #4?

Ed Bouchette: He's always been No. 4, sort of. Wilson plays behind Holmes at split end and Washington plays behind Ward at flanker. In addition, Washington plays in the slot when they use 3 wide receivers. When they use 4, they're all on the field but more and more Heath Miller is that fourth receiver so Ced gets left out.

dobre_shunka: In your Steelers blog you mentioned that there are rumors that Lambert stayed away from the Steelers reunion due to money issues, but other reports state that he simply likes his privacy. Is money really a factor with Lambert and his willingness to show up for team functions?

Ed Bouchette: I'm not sure, that's why I said they were rumors. But they are consistent in that Lambert and the Steelers do not see eye to eye when it comes to compensation for various things. Plus, Jack does enjoy his privacy.

cao: I caught a video clip on the internet Sunday morning in which Eric Kramer stated that he couldn't see placing Big Ben in the same category as Manning and Brady until he lifted the team on his shoulders and won a game for them. Do you think that Ben did just that this past Sunday?

Ed Bouchette: I think he did plenty of that in his first two seasons, including the 3-game playoff run-up to the Super Bowl. Perhaps Erik can't remember back that far.

steelhead_trout_corry_pa: Any chance you guys would consider posting the Steelers entire press conference video on your web site for us fans that don't have local access to it?

Ed Bouchette: We would love to, but the NFL came out with a policy prohibiting any web site from carrying more than 45 seconds of combined interviews of players, coaches and other employees daily. The Post-Gazette has followed that policy and I don't think anyone in the small or big-time media has challenged it, although it would seem to me to be a free press issue. But that's just my opinion.

Stumpy_Howe: Has Coach Tomlin had a successful challenge yet? I'm guessing he has but I can't remember any.

Ed Bouchette: No, I believe he's 0-for-4.

Biff97: Do you think the blame goes more towards Special Teams coaching? ... or the players?

Ed Bouchette: I truly do not know.

RaleighSteelersFan: Do you get the feeling that Ben, this year, feels like he can put the team on his shoulders and will them to victory? Watching him on Sunday, I had no doubt he'd figure out a way for us to win.

Ed Bouchette: Play them to victory, perhaps.

cgolden: Would anything less than a 10-2 record heading into the NE game be a big dissapointment?

Ed Bouchette: Probably.

cgolden: Is there any way Tomlin can petition the league so that the Steelers can have 13-14 guys on kickoff coverage? That seems like the only answer at this point.

Ed Bouchette: They could kick it out of bounds every time. That would be better than watching the guy run for touchdowns.

GjSteel: Ed ... are the Steelers going to address the fact that we only have 5 rushing TD's this year ... why don't they let Parker stay in once in awhile down there?

Ed Bouchette: Yes, they're going to stop throwing to Heath Miller and give it to Willie. Just kidding, my man. They're obviously not as good at running it in from inside the five as they were a few years ago. As long as they get it in the end zone somehow, it doesn't matter.

BongHitsForBlitzburgh: Ed, do you feel that the Steelers will make any moves to resign Faneca, maybe using the franchise tag on him this year, and resigning him after Ben has been taken care of??

Ed Bouchette: I think the'll try and I think they'll fail. And, no, I don't think they'll put that tag on him.

not_so_special: Ed, do you feel the Steelers will hold the #2 seed the rest of the season? I feel the toughest game remaining is on 12/9.

Ed Bouchette: That was a wild guess you made picking that game against New England as their toughest. I think they need Indy to lose one or two more to maintain their No. 2 seed.

tom: Ed, what is going on with all the slipping on the field? There were 4 guys on the kickoff TD that looked like they were on skates at the 5 yard line, and the same with Parker

Ed Bouchette: I don't know if they're wearing the proper cleats.

RaleighSteelersFan: Can you comment on whether you think the team would be 7-2 had we kept Whisenhunt or Grimm as the coach?

Ed Bouchette: I'd love to but I truly would not know what to say. 9-0? 0-9? 2-7? 7-2? Can't tell you.

cgolden: Do you think Ben is the best fit of any QB for this offense? It seems like Brady or Manning would get killed behind the OLine.

Ed Bouchette: I don't think Tom Brady would because he would find a way.

jefft64: Ed--assuming the Steelers could somehow get past NE (I know, I know), how do they stack up against Green Bay or Dallas?

Ed Bouchette: Hello! It's November 13.

steelhead_trout_corry_pa: Is it true that the Steelers scratched fullback Dan Kreider in order to dress an extra special teams player and bolster their kick coverage?

Ed Bouchette: Yes. Worked great, no?

Cloud_of_Dust: Is Carey Davis in someone's doghouse. In the few times he's been given the ball between the tackles, he's shown an ability to break tackles and earn the tough yards. The first half field goals were another example of the Steelers' struggles in short yardage situations and it seems like Carey should be given a shot in these situations. Is there something wrong with his game that the fans don't see?

Ed Bouchette: I think if they're going to put Carey Davis at fullback instead of Dan Kreider, they should put the ball in his belly a few more times. I'm with you.

mg: Why in the name of Ricardo Colclough would Allen Rossum not fair catch that last punt instead of letting it roll 15 yards?

Ed Bouchette: He said because he counted only 10 Steelers on the field. I could understand why he might not want to return the punt under those circumstances, but even if he were the only Steeler on the field it would have made sense to fair catch on that play.

DC_DIVA: Please clarify - I didn't think teams were allowed to call timeouts to decide whether or not to challenge, a la Romeo C. on Sunday. Is this ok in the rules? Granted they run the risk of losing 2 timeouts (a la RC), but isn't that too generous?

Ed Bouchette: No, I think if you want to waste a timeout to consider calling for a challenge, you should be able to do so. I don't think there's anything in the rules about it, but I don't have a rulebook in front of me as I'm answering this. I'll try to find out for sure.

DC_DIVA: PS - Whoever is up in the booth telling MT when to challenge needs to be replaced.

Ed Bouchette: I'll consider the word passed on to MT.

Ed Bouchette: Thanks again for another good Tuesday. See you next week.