Gerry Dulac: OK, lets get our chat started. Hope you have your questions ready.
Mary: Gerry, how do you see Redman performing on Sunday?
Gerry Dulac: I think Redman will be fine, even though he hasn't played the past three games. But I don't think that will matter. But I also think it wont just be Redman. Expect to see Felix Jones and Stephens-Howling as well. Plus, I think the Titans should be easy to run against. Their LBs don't do a good job of getting off blocks, so if the O-line can get to the second tier I think you will see some longish runs.
JamesinNYC: Were you surprised they brought Garvin not Baxter back? Who is the better special teams player?
Gerry Dulac: Not really. I know they liked Garvin, and maybe he is the better special teams player. I think they felt Baxter needed another year of seasoning, but I also think they wont have any reservations if they need to activate him if there are injuries.
andiamo steelers: I'm feeling better about Steelers after latest roster adjustments including a good punter but injuries of recent years prove depth is important. In that regard, do you feel there is another move afoot re OL specifically to replace Wimper with a vet OT irrespective if OG capable? I and many others cringe at thought of Wimper having to play OT at some point.
Gerry Dulac: I'm not sure why you would feel better after those roster adjustments, many of which were minor. I like the pick up of Zoltan Mesko, but I don't think it will make that much of a difference over Drew Butler. And Cody Wallace and Antwon Blake are just players who couldn't make the roster at Tampa Bay and Jacksonville, which isn't exactly like getting cut by the 49ers and Texans.
Guest: What do you think about Felix Jones, is he just backup? Does he have a skill set for more important role?
Gerry Dulac: I think Felix Jones has a chance to be a nice complementary back. I don't think hes a feature back, nor do the Steelers envision him in that role. That job belongs to Le'Veon Bell. But I think he has a chance in these next two to three weeks to prove he belongs on the roster. Remember, he's only 26, and it's not as though his body took a pounding in Dallas.
serega: Hi Gerry! Do you satisfy with Gay as the third corner? Do you see that any of young guys can grab his role soon?
Gerry Dulac: Well, I liked it much better when Cortez Allen was the third corner and the nickel back, so, to me, that role is a downgrade this season. The only young guy capable of stepping in is Curtis Brown, and I'm not sure that is a comforting thought right now, either.
rd: I was surprised Hawthorne didn't even make the practice squad. Was it too little time after the surgery to make an impression on the coaches or the coaches saw enough and just weren't impressed?
Gerry Dulac: A couple years ago, Cortez Allen missed most of the preseason w injury, but he still made the 53-man roster. That's because the coaches had seen enough in the offseason to know he was a player worth keeping. They obviously didn't feel the same way about Hawthorne. I'm not sure of the exact reason, but I will fidn out.
JamesinNYC: Felix Jones to me is a potentially very good 3rd down back his receiving stats are way above average, but I get feeling that LaRod Stephens-Howling will get more time there. How do you feel about the two and which way do you think the Steelers go?
Gerry Dulac: I think the Steelers intend for LSH to be the third-down back, but not in every situation. But, yes, Jones is a proven receiver out of the backfield, a guy who has averaged 16.6 yards per catch in his career. So it's not like he's just catching a lot of dump passes. I think they are excited to see more of Felix Jones.
Artie: Last year everyone praised the pick of the nose tackle from Washington. Surprised he was cut, even though they stuck with him through his legal issues?
Gerry Dulac: I'm not surprised he was cut and I'm not surprised they stuck w him for a year through his legal issues. I think the Steelers tried to do right by him. I don't think they wanted to discard him after his problems because they wanted to make sure he got the proper treatment he needed. I don't think they wanted to look like the team that kicked him to the curb. That being said, I'm not surprised he was cut now, either.
Chief: Think they will continue to upgrade the roster from the waiver wire?
Gerry Dulac: I never say never, but I was told today they were done tweaking the bottom part of their roster.
Charlieman: When do you expect to see Heath Miller in an actual game?
Gerry Dulac: I'm saying either London vs Minnesota or Oct 13 vs Jets. But I think the Jets game because that gives Miller an extra week because of the bye.
Tim: Will Derek Moye be utilized in redzone opportunities?
Gerry Dulac: I think he might be utilized as a Sunday inactive.
Gerry Dulac: They aren't experiments, they're just ways to get guys on the field and learn different positions in the preseason.
Gerry Dulac: oops, forgot to post the question for that last answer. Here it comes....
serega: Were the experiments with Golden and Thomas as a nickelbacks were just experiments or we can see them on the field on a regular basis?
TH: What is your prediction (record) for the season?
Gerry Dulac: I'm predicting they play 16 games.
JamesinNYC: Sort of surprised we didn't see #78 back...like groundhog day?
Gerry Dulac: I'm not. That another $1 million they have to pay a veteran.
John: Is Pouncey more hype than all pro? Some sites say he is not all that good. You see him all the time and talk with NFL people. What's the deal?
Gerry Dulac: Some people think that. I don't. He's the real deal.
Gerry Dulac: That's all the time we have today kids. Good questions. See you next week.
First Published: April 6, 2016, 4:14 p.m.