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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.21.19
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Frank P
12:19
Ray-think GM's and Bell noticed Gurley's salary on the sideline in their biggest game of the year yesterday?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
I was thinking the same thing. He wasn't hurt either. Sean McVay decided CJ Anderson, who had been cut twice earlier in the year by the Raiders and Panthers, was a better option in the run game and a pass protector. Gurley was terrible when he played. He dropped two passes, including one that was picked off. He missed a block that led to a sack. I know he played through a knee injury late in the season, but he obviously wasn't hurt Sunday.
The Ville
12:22
Ray - any guys you like the Steelers targeting at 20? Devin White would be ideal but probably gone at that point.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
I'll have a story tomorrow on the top ILB prospects in the 2019 draft. I'll do that each week for the next few weeks with other positions of need for the Steelers.
Nikki
12:23
What do the Steelers do with Artie Burns? He clearly isn’t going to get any better.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
He won't cost much to keep next season. But if he's not in their plans and they might just cut him. No way they pick up his fifth-year option in May.
Mark p
12:24
Hi ray, looks like we will have some cap money available, do you feel they wig dip into the fa market a little more this year to fill some holes?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
They have the means to do it this year. And they do have some holes to fill. They also have some guys they'd like to re-sign so they might not have as much cap space as you think.
Jay7
12:25
Ray i was wondering why Patriots win so much in post season.  It’s just they do not make too many mistakes.  The attention to detail is too notch.  Chiefs would have won if Dee Ford did create that offside
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
Right. The Patriots never beat themselves. They wait for the other team to screw up and they usually do. They're so ahead of the curve. They're one of the best running teams in the NFL now when everyone else is throwing. They won the AFC championship game because they controlled the tempo and kept Mahomes off the field early in the game.
Mike
12:28
With the way things sorted out with Blount, Harrison, Bell, AB, etc., sounds more like a communication issue when MT is supposed to be a players coach...what is your opinion?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
It's not good when players feel like they can force the team's hand by misbehaving. But those players you mentioned were successful. Other players see that and think they can do the same thing. I'm sure it happens in other cities with other teams, but I'm not sure it happens to that extent.
Tprod
12:29
Ray, your evaluation on Sean Davis play. Is he the long term answer at FS.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
They're hoping so. It was his first season at FS. He was up and down. They need him to develop into a good player.
2tallpaul
12:30
Ray is it time for the NFL to adopt the Nba’s Technique of reviewing plays to see if a penalty occurred? Both games had game changing calls, the roughing call on Marcia Brady was awful.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
It was awful. But if you listen to Mike Tomlin he's not going to push for it. He's on the competition committee. When Tomlin is asked about more replay review his response is always something about the product and how fans will tune out if the games are extended, etc. So there will be an uproar for a few days and then nothing will happen when the owners meet. That's my prediction.
Tprod
12:32
Ray, what do you do with Burns and Dupree for next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
I think they'll try to sign Dupree to a two or three-year deal with a base salary of $4 million or so per year. If he balks at that the Steelers should cut him because they shouldn't pay him the $9.2 million they're scheduled to pay him this year.
JIM
12:33
Ray: there seems to be an arms race among the NFL owners when it comes to new stadium construction.  The facility in LA looks as though it will eclipse the Cowboy's palace in Dallas. How long do you think it'll before the Rooneys start mentioning expensive upgrades to Heinz Field to remain competitive with their peers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
Not for another 20 years. Heinz Field opened in 2001.
jake
12:34
if you could have Thomas Davis ILB from Carolina or Sean Lee for the next couple years, which would you take? Obviously their going to draft a ILB but I think it would also be smart to bring in a proven veteran
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
Sean Lee because he is younger and I think better in pass coverage. You're right. Either guy would be a backup plan because the Steelers have to draft a three-down ILB.
Steve
12:35
Am I an evil person for not feeling bad about the non-call PI yesterday?  I had no dog in that fight but NO benefited mightily from the two PIs called on Haden.  Those calls - especially the second - had severe playoff implications for the Steelers.  That win gave NO home field throughout.  What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
I agree. The Saints had home-field advantage because of inept officiating that cost the Steelers a division title and the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. I don't think the Steelers would be in the Super Bowl. I'm not even sure they would have beaten San Diego at home in the wild card round. But I do know the officiating mistakes changed the playoffs. Everyone is up in arms about it because it cost the Saints a Super Bowl berth. How about getting upset when it affects regular-season games too?
Jim
12:37
Is a straight up trade of AB for a top ILB or corner possible .?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
I'd do Brown for Patrick Peterson and a draft pick in a heartbeat.
AK
12:37
Seems the next step Davis needs to make is to react to the ball better and get more INTs.  Seems to me a team’s FS should get at least 3 INTs per year, agreed?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Yes. I think that's fair. Free safeties are expected to be center fielders and get more interceptions than most others in the secondary.
Rod in Indy
12:39
Do you think NO pipes in noise like ATL got busted for years ago?! And allowing fans to blow whistles all game is against the rules.....
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
The NFL made Indy stop piping in crowd noise before the 2005 playoffs. I'm not sure why the league allows New Orleans to get away with some of that stuff.
Tprod
12:40
Ray, hybrid defenses with multiple defenses I’ve backs have become the new norm. All starts with a heavy rotation of four d-linemen. Steeler depth at that position looking bleak, will this be a priority with FA or the draft.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
You are right. They need to replenish their depth behind the starters. Alualu, Walton and McCullers are all free agents and Alualu is the only backup they used with regularity.
Rob
12:42
Ray, do you think all plays should be reviewable after the miss call in the Saints Rams game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
What is reviewable and what is not reviewable? Sure, pass interference penalties might get corrected. But what about the false start like we saw in the Chargers game? Would that be correctable by review? How about a holding call? How about pick plays? Where do you draw the line? As soon as we say pass interference penalties are reviewable then we'll see other plays that should be reviewed. You can't review everything.
Brad Robertson
12:43
Please comment on Art Rooney's belief that steelers don't have a culture problem?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
I didn't agree with everything Art Rooney II had to say last week, but I give him credit for answering the questions. He met with newspaper reporters, did TV interviews, made the rounds on talk radio. He made himself available because he knows the fans are upset about the way the season ended. Not everyone has to agree with what he said, but at least you know where he stands on some of the issues facing the team.
Tim Colorado Springs
12:45
I think Tony Romo is great on CBS, your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I enjoy Romo for the most part. He's very insightful and has a good read on what coaches are thinking.
2tallpaul
12:46
What do you think about trading AB to the Cardinals for Patrick Peterson and the cards 2nd round pick (33rd overall)?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
Where do I sign up? That's a no-brainer. It's also what I suggested a few weeks ago when I wrote about the possible destinations for Brown.
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