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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.23.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
It's just the way they structured the contract. It's backloaded, easy to walk away from after one year. They do that with a lot of free agent deals. Many of them are announced as multi-year deals, but they're really one-year deals and let's see what happens after that. The bottom line with Peterson is you can't ask him to play outside anymore at his age, and while he might be able to play safety on a full-time basis, they already have Minkah Fitzpatrick in that role. Peterson just doesn't fit as a strong safety.
Nate from Fort Wayne
2:35
Afternoon, Ray. I know you have to take PFF with a grain of salt, But what's more surprising. Kevin Dotson rating higher than any of the Steelers OL or Cam Sutton rating lower than Joey Porter Jr, Pat Peterson and Levi Wallace?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
Dotson is a good fit for the Rams. He wasn't playing his natural position with the Steelers. So good for him. As for Sutton, the Steelers had a number in mind for him and when he got well beyond that from the Lions they knew they had to move in a different direction. He was picked on quite a bit in that game on Sunday. He had a tough time defending against Mike Evans. But hey, he's in the NFC title game and has a chance to go to the Super Bowl.
Stash
2:37
Ray, one hand on the holy book, but is Minkah slightly overrated?  I would take the Polynesian guy with the flowing locks any day over Minkah, who seems too frequently interested in avoiding contact.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
I would take the Polynesian guy with flowing locks over just about any safety in the history of the NFL.
JP
2:38
I don't have confidence that Tomlin will pick the best OC candidate.  Do you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
By his own admission, Art Rooney and Omar Khan will be involved in the interview process. So it won't be just Tomlin making the call.
Troy R
2:39
Ray, what do you as biggest off-season needs for this team currently and will we see Broderick move back to his natural position?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
DL, OL, WR, CB. You can make an argument for any of those positions in the first round.
Dave
2:39
A lot went wrong this season, but keeping Canada is #1 with a bullet, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
100
fredward
2:40
Hi Ray, the Steelers used to develop quality linemen on the practice squad like Matt Feiler and Villanueva before they took on starting roles. Are there any guys the Steelers have high hopes for on the PS, either on the offensive or defensive side?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
They carried Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook on the active roster all season, presumably because they believed other teams would claim them if they were waived. I don't know if either is a future starter, though. Anderson is valuable because he can play all five positions on the line.
Ryan
2:41
Who gets a contract extension this off season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
I think they'll try to get Freiermuth locked up long term.
Bill
2:42
Does Cam Heyward get cut if he insists on being paid on his current contract number?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
They won't keep him on the terms of his current contract.
Jack
2:43
Ray, do you like the fact that Teryl Austin will be DC again next season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
Yes. Austin is a good coach.
JP
2:44
Re: your comment "He wasn't always bad at it".  Yes he was, Munchak was the exception.  I tracked all the assistants hired by Tomlin (not Arians or Ray Horton).  No coordinators got promotions to head coach, 1 OL assistant got a promotion OL Line coach, 4 coaches took lateral moves, and ALL the rest never got another coaching gig in the NFL after the Steelers.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
Darryl Drake was a great assistant coach. Unfortunately, he passed away after only one season with the team. I get your point. My point was it's been really bad recently.
Craig Colquitt
2:46
Ray, we are losing hundreds if yards of field position because of Harvin. Why did MY let this go on so long? PS- the password is Tory Taylor.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
Taylor certainly got a lot of practice as Iowa's punter.
Dod
2:47
Whats the biggest draft need?  Have major holes in QB, CB, DL, C, OT
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
I can't pick just one.
Big Ed
2:48
Based on previous answers it sounds as though you are done with CA3 as the #3 receiver. Is it time to call him another Chris Rainey/Dri Archer project gone bad?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:48
I didn't say that. He just didn't do enough to be a No. 3 entering next season.
Joseph
2:48
What was your biggest surprise and biggest disappointment for a player this season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
Pickett has to be the biggest disappointment. I don't know if I was surprised by his play, but Jaylen Warren is really effective and valuable in his role in the Steelers' backfield.
Keith from New Ken
2:49
They need a CB to pair with JP Jr. Wallace is not starter quality and Peterson is too old to play outside. CB should be a FA or early draft target IMO. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:50
Yes it should be. And it's a good year for CBs in the draft.
Guest
2:50
Who do think will be the Steelers CB's + S's next year? Do Rush and/or Trice have a shot to stick on the 53 man roster?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:52
Rush wasn't active in the final month or two of the season. He dropped that INT late in the game against the Titans (or maybe it was the Packers game) and he wasn't heard from after that. Trice has a long injury history. It would be foolish to count on him as a potential starter. Anything you get from him should be gravy as is the case with all seventh-round picks.
Colonel
2:52
Tyler Boyd mentioned that he would be open to playing for the Steelers.  What are your thoughts on him coming back to play football in Pittsburgh?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:52
Depends how much money he wants. He'd be a solid No. 3 though.
Senquez G
2:54
So , Ray you’re saying the Steelers spent(wasted) a third round pick on a blocking tight end with bad knees is that correct?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:54
I'd say they drafted him knowing he wasn't a receiving threat and that he likely would never sign a second contract.
Lawrence
2:55
Thanks for the chats ray. Love your insight. Any idea on timing of hiring an OC?  I feel like there isn’t a sense of urgency by the Steelers but guys are getting snapped up. Any idea how many interviews they’ve conducted?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:55
I don't think they want to wait long, but definitely before the NFL combine, which is in about a month.
Mike
2:55
Do you think that the steelers will draft a lineman in the first round this year
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