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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.13.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
All about perspective. There are those of us who grew up on four Super Bowls in a six-year span and then watched again as adults as they won two more and appeared in another in a six-year span. Those are the standards the team tries to meet. They haven't really come close to meeting those standards in the past 15 years.
Bill 87
11:05
Hey Ray I saw you pick the Steelers on Pompeanis show Sunday evening. After the Cleveland debacle Facing a good defense, and the lucky win against the Ravens, what did you see in the Steelers that gave you confidence that they could beat an even better team and defense last evening? I saw this ending inevitable..
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
I thought they could win a low-scoring game. If DK Metcalf doesn't drop that pass in the first quarter. It's a completely different game. The Steelers go up 6-0 or 10-0 and it changes the way the Texans play. Maybe they get a little tighter and take more chances on defense. To me, the Metcalf drop and the Kirk catch on third-and-15 were the two biggest plays of the game.
Lambert’s Teeth
11:07
Trying to find some positives after the usual television broadcast listing of new and undisputable facts showing that, in some aspects, and despite 10 wins, the Steelers are historically bad.  On the other end of the spectrum, broadcast showed that JPJ’s streak without giving up a touchdown is currently the longest in the NFL.  Is going all season without giving up a touchdown pass something high end cornerbacks do with some regularity, or is this truly a sign that JPJ has broken into the upper echelon?  Disclaimer, fellow NA grad.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
Porter had a very good year. You didn't see a lot of penalties in the second half of the season either.
Matt
11:08
Hi Ray!  After seeing Jonnu Smith play as much or more than Muth all season long, I consider this coaching malpractice.  Time to let MT and AS go.  Every play to Jonnu sucked the life out of our offense.  2 receptions for -1 yards!  Does not make sense…your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
I guess they felt like they had to play him because they were paying him $10 million this season. But he never did find chemistry with Rodgers. Maybe it should have been Smith and not Roman Wilson who took a seat on the bench late in the season. He just didn't seem to fit, which is odd considering he played for Arthur Smith previously in his career.
Matt
11:10
Hi Ray!  I think we need to draft 2 WR in the first 3 picks in the upcoming draft.  We need speed and good route runners.  And get away from 3 TE formations.  No one is getting off the line quick enough!  What do you think our draft needs are in 2026?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
I agree on WRs. Draft one high and maybe another in the middle rounds. They need to address their secondary too. I don't care if the pass rush didn't get home. There is no way WRs should be getting behind NFL defensive backs with regularity the way they were late in the season against the Steelers. And they all had their bad moments from Ramsey to Dugger to Clark. They need to upgrade their talent there.
32 Was Great
11:12
Ray, thank you and the rest of the PG staff for all the great information, insights, and articles. As a STH I’ve grown more impatient than the owner. I’m not for firing Tomlin, but he’s got a change a lot of things and expand the coaching staff. I’m tired of Mr. Rooney stealing my money every year. What are the chances they blow this up? Get in the top 10 draft for next year and finally get a franchise QB. Otherwise it’s gonna be a wait just like it was after Bradshaw..
Ray Fittipaldo
11:12
They never "blow things up" but I know their top priority in the next two years is to find a future franchise QB.
VaSteelersFan
11:13
Hi Ray, thanks for your time. At times DK reminds me a little of Chase Claypool -- a physical freak who looks great on certain plays, but is not a natural receiver in the mold of George Pickens. In other words, everything is great but his hands. I don't think you can win with him as your #1 unless they get a #1a Tee Higgins type go with him. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:14
Good assessment. Probably a good No. 2 WR if there is another No. 1 to take on the majority of the targets. Metcalf is better served as the guy who is targeted fewer times but contributes big plays when he does touch the ball because attention is being paid to the other WR.
Bill Cowher
11:14
Hey Ray, thanks for the chats, enjoy. Last week you ignored my questions about going up against the Texans defense, I got over it. Do you think the Texans are the Ravens with Trent Dilfer?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
I thought about that this morning. I don't think Trent Dilfer turned the ball over three times in a playoff game. Maybe he did, but I remember that Ravens offense for punting a lot. Not making the volume of mistakes the Texans made. If they do that against the Patriots they'll probably lose.
Mike
11:15
Good morning Ray.  Rodgers looked scared all game.  Why did it take so long to bench him?  Also, if he wasn't going to be pulled earlier in the game when a spark could have helped the team, why bench him during garbage time?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:16
He wasn't benched. He was pulled because it was 30-6.
mike
11:16
Hi Ray. I really don't understand the whole "Mike Tomlin will be the one who decides if he stays or not" situation. They have lost 9 playoff games in a row. If this is a results-oriented business and not Little League, how does he not deserve to be outright fired this morning? It's nothing personal, just business.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:17
The Steelers don't eat that kind of money when it's owed to a coach. That's not the way they operate. Now they could meet and come to a conclusion that it's best for both parties to go their separate ways, but they could work out a settlement in that case. Maybe the Steelers would owe him nothing if TV steps up and pays him for the 2026 season.
Mike
11:18
Considering how much of a bust he was, do you think the Steelers consider trading DK in the off-season?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
What team would take on Metcalf after the way his season ended? LOL. An NFL suspension and a bad drop in a playoff game that cost his team dearly.
TVC15
11:19
After all the issues last year that supposedly were addressed this year how could the Steeler historic highest paid defense make 4th round pick Woody Marks look like Marcus Allen?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:20
By getting pushed around up front. That's how. The Texans were the NFL:'s 22nd-ranked rushing offense during the regular season. Let's face it. The Steelers have miles to go before they can be considered a good defense again. Just too many issues and inconsistencies from week to week.
TXSteeler
11:20
Please defend your take that Troy F is the best Steelers olineman after last night. It clearly Frazier
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
So one tough night against the NFL's best defense changes your mind on one player? Take the emotions of last night out of it. Fautanu had a very good season. So did Frazier. Maybe Frazier does end up being the better player, but the point is they have two very good young linemen to build around.
steelmann58
11:21
Ray no chance AR return Correct?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:22
Why? The past few weeks he's sounded open to returning. He plans to talk to his wife and of course the Steelers in the next few weeks before making a decision.
steelmann58
11:23
how fast will they get rid of Jonnu Smith absolute horrible
Ray Fittipaldo
11:23
I have to look at his contract, but there might be a way for them to get out of it with minimal pain this spring.
Pat O
11:23
The most disheartening thing to me was even after the investments over the last few years, our OL and DL were really pushed around in a vital home game. Maybe my perception of gradual season long progress by both lines was clouded by their performance against other mediocre teams.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:24
And maybe the Texans are very good. I was a little more disappointed in the defensive line because the Texans offensive line doesn't have nearly the pedigree their defensive line does.
The Truth
11:25
Ray, on the first touchdown of the game by Houston, when the game was still in reach, why was TJ Watt sitting on the sideline? Shouldn't our highest paid, best defensive player be on the field in those crucial red zone moments? Why is Jack Sawyer on the field?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:26
The Texans bullied their way down the field on that drive. Pretty sure Watt was on the field for many of those Marks  and Chubb runs. They have a rotation when guys get tired. And the Texans went 92 yards on that drive. The OLBs and D-linemen were never going to play all the snaps on that drive.
Chill Dave
11:26
Hi Ray, in 2023 a bad Houston team swung for the fences, trading a lot to get Will Anderson (one pick after drafting Stroud).  Should the Steelers consider a similar strategy to upgrade their talent?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:27
Sure, but they don't have the ammunition because they're sitting in the 20s with their first pick.
CG
11:28
Hi Ray, They tried the "Over the Hill Gang" former Redskins model, now what do they do?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:28
Hire Joe Gibbs?
martian
11:28
Hey Ray- non steelers specific question for you - sorry to hear the news of the Post Gazette. Any indications yet where we can follow you and the other experts next season yet?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:30
Keep reading and subscribing. There is a lot of hard work being done behind the scenes. Perhaps the PG can be saved in some form. If not, I'll keep you posted. It's been another fun season. I'll continue to chat with all of you on Tuesdays. Have to get to locker cleanout day now so stay tuned for our continuing coverage.
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