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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.19.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:28
Never say never, but I think they would have announced them all at the same time.
BB
1:28
Ray - What is the date when the Steelers need to be in cap compliance?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:28
I believe on the first day of the new league year, which is in March.
PhxTom
1:29
Do you agree or disagree with Mr Zeise's premise that the Steeler's issue with the offense is not coaching but talent?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:31
I read Paul's column. I would agree with him overall if RBs were included in his skill guys. Even if JuJu Smith-Schuster moves on the Steelers still have some talented WRs, including Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and James Washington. The Ravens certainly don't have that kind of talent at WR and I'm not sure the Browns do either. So I tend to think it's a combination. The scheme and play-calling left a lot to be desired late in the season, but I'm not blind to the fact that talent does matter, especially at RB and O-line, where the Steelers lack talent.
Steeltown
1:32
Hi Ray, I really don’t think Big Ben’s play has fallen off all that much as everyone seems to think. I believe if he had any semblance of a running game whatsoever, such as the current QBs that are still in the playoffs do, he would’ve had a great year. After 11 weeks, NFL defenses finally figured out our game plan, but there wasn’t much else you could do without a run game. Throwing for 500 yards in the final game proves that his arm is still fine. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:33
Any plan of winning with a 38-year old QB coming off elbow surgery needed to include a strong running game. The fact that the Steelers were so unprepared to make this a necessity is a bit problematic for me.
Punxydave
1:34
Ray, I’m old enough to remember the Super Steelers of the 70s. Seems they got old fast: Super Bowl champs in January 1980, out of the playoffs by Nov
Ray Fittipaldo
1:34
Yes but they won four Super Bowls in six years. The Steelers haven't been to a Super Bowl in more than a decade.
scottydog
1:34
A few years ago, the Steelers' offense was better than their defense, and now the reverse is true. Is this just bad luck or the result of poor drafting/coaching? How do teams get them both on track at the same time?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:35
Great question. I thought they did the right thing by building around Roethlisberger when he was in his prime. They had some really good offenses from 2014-17. But they were never good enough on defense to make a Super Bowl run.
Bernard
1:37
Any idea why they threw all that $$$ at Derek Watt?  Was it simply to further lock in TJ long term?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:38
I think they wanted to use him more on offense, but he was slowed by injuries in camp and early in the season. And for whatever reason they chose not to incorporate him when he was healthy.
david
1:38
Ray, do you think we will release both Haden and Nelson or keep one? Why can't we develop young CBs as Layne and Pierre have some potential?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:39
Pierre played before Layne in the playoff game. Not sure that's a good sign for Layne's development. I think Haden or Nelson will be back but I'm not sure both will. Both have high cap hits.
Tprod
1:39
Ray, should the Steelers try to retain Williamson and sacrifice Williams?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:40
They can save $4 million if they cut Williams. Williamson is a free agent and I bet he can make more $ on the open market than the Steelers can offer. I think it'll be Bush and Spillane next season unless Williams comes back on a reduced salary.
JP
1:42
Hi Ray, I think most fans are ready for the draft. Is DeCastro tradeable for picks, or would it be best to keep him for one more yr.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:42
He has a $14 million cap hit. He's not tradeable.
fredward
1:42
Hey Ray, What, in your opinion, is the more glaring need on the offensive line for the Steelers: guard, center, or tackle?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:43
Tackle and center and then guard. I think Dotson will be a starter in 2021. And if DeCastro comes back you can wait another year to draft his replacement.
DaP
1:43
Ray, what are the chances of a complete offensive line overhaul? I feel we may have seen Pouncey, Villanueva and possibly DeCastro for the last time in the wildcard game. What are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:44
I think it's likely 2 of those 3 are gone. Not sure all 3 will be.
Guest
1:45
I think we could still win with Ben if he would take the role of a game manager and he had a strong run game to back him up
Ray Fittipaldo
1:46
You might be right. He played that role for the first half of the season. He had 22 TDs and only three INTs after nine game. But after that it was the old turnover-prone Roethlisberger. And yes, a running game would help immensely.
TheStandard
1:46
Do the Steelers make the playoffs next year? If not, is Tomlin gone?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:46
AFC is going to be tough again. I think it will be hard.
JJ
1:46
Do you think any Steeler running back would even make the team in Baltimore or Cleveland?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:47
Maybe as a third-stringer.
Bill
1:47
Yes, Ben threw for 500 yards against the Browns, but they backed off and conceded a lot of those yards.  He also threw 4 picks.  Isn't it time for Ben to go?
Crusty
1:47
Is it possible for the Steelers to add a couple “dummy years” (meaning Ben has no intention of playing those years he just retires ) onto Ben’s contract to push some of that dead I.e. restructure money into 2022 and 2023?  This way since it seems he is coming back he doesn’t absolutely crushed their cap this year.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:48
I'm just not convinced the Steelers will be better without Roethlisberger.
And yes, it's possible to add dummy years and lessen the cap hit.
Mercury
1:48
Do you know if the league is planning to keep this playoff format next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
The 14-team format? Yes. Those two extra playoff games made owners a ton of $.
Yates
1:49
Say Steelers name Canada as new OC. In perfect world, who would you want to see hired for OL coach, Ray?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
Doug Marrone.
Matt P Venice FL
1:49
Do you think that Dotson has the skill set to move to center (remember Dawson and Hartings were both originally guards)?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:50
He's pretty much strictly a guard, but he's going to be very good. The Steelers knew he would be a good run blocker. His pass pro was a pleasant surprise.
RB III
1:51
Ray, I'm thinking if we draft RB before OL the new RB will go nowhere. Our best teams have always had top notch OL. So no matter how tempting a great RB looks, why not build from the inside first?
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