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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.07.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:52
I don't know of a lot of people who are advocating a long-term deal for Dupree. I think they want to see him signed to the tag to see what kind of team they can have with the 2019 defense and a healthy Ben.
Steeler Joe
2:52
The signing of Tuzar Skipper to a two-year deal after the back-and-forth with him this year...is there a significance to that? Is it a sign that they see him as a potential backup or starter at OLB more than they did earlier this year? Or is it just adding bodies at this point?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:53
I need to find out because I agree they don't usually do that. He was going to be an ERFA. Maybe they didn't want to place a second-round tender on him, and this was a way to pay him more but not as much as the tender.
Steeler Joe
2:54
Is there a strategy to continuing to draft defense in 2020? I think perhaps using the first two picks on even more talent for this defense is a smart move--and then hope you can snag talent on the O line, TE and RB later in the draft, and win games with strong defense.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:54
I'm not discounting defense as a possibility with their second or third-round pick, but I think overall this will be an offensive draft.
MD
2:55
Given that cap space can now roll over from year to year, how damaging is it that Tomlin sticks with medium priced, poor performing veterans instead of younger players?  For instance, if Foster was not brought back, Finney would have started and Fred Johnson would have backed him up.  If Chickilo was not brought back, we just would have gone with Skipper the entire year.  Team results would have been the same.  We'd have a developing guard like Johnson still on the roster.  And we'd have about $7 million more of cap space to roll over to next year.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:55
Good take. I don't disagree with you. But obviously, the Steelers didn't think Finney was good enough to make that move. Otherwise, it was a no-brainer. Foster was done in 2018.
NickFromVA
2:56
Does Benny Snell have what it takes to be the feature back in this offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:56
Not sure about that, but he had a good rookie year.
WPASTEEL
2:57
Disagree with Barron being a must cut.. I thought his play was descent and he has good speed.. He play wasn't perfect but who else is going to cover RB's and TE's on passing situations besides Bush?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:57
I agree with you. Barron is a tough call. He played the second-most snaps by an ILB behind Bush.
NickFromVA
2:57
If the Steelers go with a platoon between Conner and Snell, do you think that will help Conner stay healthier?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:57
I don't get the sense that it would.
Out of Duck
2:57
Do you see them targeting a run stuffing NT in the early rounds? Run defense wasn't great and needs improvement.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:58
I think that's a sneaky need for the Steelers especially with Hargrave likely gone in free agency.
Rick
2:59
Is WR really that big a concern?  WR was hurt less by AB's absence than by not having Ben throwing to whomever.  Is a healthy Ben under center an instant upgrade to WR?  Seems like JJSS, Johnson , Washington make a pretty good top 3.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:59
I think they need a deep threat defenses will take seriously. Not Johnny Holton.
KK
2:59
Were you surprised that Shell and not Greenwood was nominated by the Veterans committee?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:00
It's funny. For the longest time I used to hear Greenwood's name and not Shell's. And then that changed in recent years. I'm not sure if it has to do with Greenwood's passing, but there was a time his name was mentioned before Shell's.
JerseySteel
3:00
Hi Ray - I watched a lot of Zach Banner when he was in this year. He seemed to get a lot of movement on the defensive player he was blocking - more than most on the line. Do the Steelers see him as a starter in waiting or a career backup?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:01
I have to see him more as a tackle rather than an extra TE. Obviously, the Steelers like him in that extra TE role. And others have graduated to starting jobs from that role.
Alabama Steeler fan
3:01
Is Deon Cain the deep the answer for a deep threat. I though the looked good in a limited role
Ray Fittipaldo
3:02
He's worth keeping around, but they had plenty of opportunities to use him in that role late in the season, and they didn't really play him a whole bunch.
Road to 7
3:02
Do you see Edmunds developing or is he a first round swing and miss?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:02
Still time to develop, but 2020 will be a big year for him.
3:04
OK thanks for all the questions this week. Let's do it again next Tuesday.
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