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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.24.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Welcome to the chat. Let's get started.
Jim C
2:00
As a longtime fan I am disgusted by the Steelers Standard and refusal to change or adapt with the times. I believe Rooney has fallen in live with the national media bragging about organizational stability. Doug Pederson Eagles won a SB 10 years after Tomlin was given his. He got fired for poor performance, then took an atrocious Jax organization to the playoffs in his first year.  The Eagles are playing for a SB. Pittsburgh and the national media are celebrating another mediocre Tomlin non losing season with no playoff win. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
The Steelers like stability at the top of the organization. They like Tomlin and believe he does a fine job. The team began a rebuild a couple of years ago. Ben Roethlisberger retired and a new rookie QB took his place. This was a year of transition. If Tomlin doesn't get back to the playoffs in 2023 I think his seat will get warm, but it's not warm yet.
Gino
2:02
Hey Ray.  I’ve heard some sports show hosts suggest there is a need for he Steelers to hire a passing coordinator to assist OC Canada.  Do you agree?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
I think that would be a fine idea. Tomlin made a similar move last year when he hired Brian Flores when he became available. A new set of eyes on the offense or a new perspective could help all parties.
Gordon Gravelle
2:03
Did Khan make a lot of changes in the scouting department?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
He made a few. The biggest moves were bringing in Andy Weidl to run the personnel department and hiring Sheldon White to be second in command.
STEEL72
2:04
Ray, is it worthwhile to try to acquire Taylor Lewan on an incentive-laden one year deal considering two recent ACL tears etc? He expressed interest in the Steelers. If that type of deal could be made, it would allow for a first round target on other needs and to potentially address OL later on? He could provide veteran leadership/technique and the upside, as we know, is all pro potential. Or do you foresee better talent on the open market this off-season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Depends what Lewan wants to do. If he is a free agent and wants to sign early then I doubt it. But if he waits until after the draft and the Steelers don't get a tackle in the draft for whatever reason then perhaps on a team-friendly deal. But he's not really what they need. He's older and he has an injury history. They need to build for the future.
Bridget
2:06
The team will obviously bring in competition for Harvin at camp but does that person actually have a shot?  Is the team willing to admit they have made a mistake?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
It's been two seasons. If they can find someone better they won't have a problem moving on from him.
Tina
2:07
Hi Ray.  It may be too soon, but do you anticipate the Steelers retiring any more numbers in the near future?  The Steelers of the 70’s aren’t getting any younger.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
That's a good question. Maybe Franco dying before he was honored changed Art Rooney's mind. I know in the past he has said it's a special honor and they don't consider it for a lot of former players. I think they will retire another number at some point, but not sure when or if Franco's death will change their minds.
Guest
2:09
Ray thanks for your chats. Which team are the Steelers working to be systematically similar to the Eagles or 49ers
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Well, Andy Weidl came from the Eagles so it would stand to reason he is instituting some things he did in Philly. But that's the front office. This has been Mike Tomlin's team on the field since 2007 and nothing is changing systems-wise with the way he does things.
Tampa Too
2:10
Ray. What are your predictions for this weekend? And also, what is your prediction for the eventual Super Bowl champion?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
The Eagles have home field and they played great against the Giants. Plus, it's hard for me to pick the 49ers because Brock Purdy is a rookie. So I'll go with the Eagles in the NFC. With the Mahomes ankle injury and Joe Burrow playing so well against the Bills, I think the Bengals can do it again. And I'll take the Eagles over the Bengals in the Super Bowl.
Ed in Carrick
2:12
Assuming the team is determined to go OL in first round (a big if I know but stay with me here) and the top 3 OT are off the board do you see them sticking with an OT or maybe going with the best IOL?  IOL are usually not valued highly in the first round but the 4th or 5th best tackle just doesn’t sound like good value.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Right. So if Peter Skoronski, Parris Johnson and Broderick Jones are off the board I think a guard or center could be in play. O'Cyrus Torrence is the highest-rated guard. Usually the top tackles come off before any interior guys. I do think a tackle is more likely than an IOL at 17, but I wouldn't be surprised if they took an IOL there either.
MikeM65
2:14
If the Steelers last 9 games were their first 9, would we be reading about a late season collapse instead of a late season surge?  I mean was the improvement really because of better execution/cohesion, or simply because of an easier schedule?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I think a combination of both. In some ways, their shortcomings in the first half pointed out what they had to fix. And to their credit they did that. It is interesting to wonder if they were 6-2 with an easy first-half schedule would they have felt pressed to make changes. It's a moot point, but I see where you are coming from.
Carl in Carrick
2:16
Hey Ray.  Do you know if Danny Smith plans on coming back for next season?  I’ve heard he may be considering retirement.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
There has been nothing from the Steelers, but it wouldn't surprise me. Danny is 67 or 68.
John
2:17
Biggest need... CB or OL assistance. If so which CB and OL would you take at 17 and 32.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
If they had two players of the same caliber and I had to choose I'd say tackle. I like Skoronski and Broderick Jones.
JB
2:17
With gaining the Bears 2nd rd…. Any chance we combo our first and that second to move up for highly rated OT.   Most mocks seem to have them all gone by our first pick.  Or simply going to stay and take best available based on position need?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Anything is on the table, but I'll just point out they have a lot of needs this year.
JJSC
2:20
Ray, on a scale of 1 to 10 on the obnoxious scale, with 10 being Tom Brady, how annoying will I be if I win a Super Bowl in beef brisket land? Gracias.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
I'll say 2. I liked JuJu. The logo stomping was a bit much and his act grew a bit tired at the end, but he was a good teammate.
Guest
2:21
Hello Ray.  Tomlin is a  great coach but awful at assistant coach management,  any chance someone demands he delegates coaching hires to Flores or another staff??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
I could see him hiring another a senior offensive assistant much in the same way he did with Flores last year.
Ronald W.
2:22
Hi Ray, if Jordan Addison is available at pick 17, would you take him?  Might the Steelers trade up to get him?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
WR is No. 5 on my list of needs so I'm not taking him in Round 1.
SteelerInNorCal
2:22
Hi Ray, given that we have a new front office team in Khan and Weidl what changes, if any, do you anticipate in how the Steelers go about free agency and the draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
I expect there to be some changes. They might be subtle or they might be noticeable. Khan has been with the Steelers for two decades. A lot will stay the same, but he's going to want to put his stamp on things. I think we've already seen that with the Chase Claypool trade.
Linebacker Lounge
2:24
Does Gentry resign.. if not does a TE get drafted late? 88 has an injury resume
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
I think they'd like to re-sign Gentry, but if another team makes a crazy offer the Steelers won't match it. So you are right, if he leaves in free agency the Steelers likely would have to get one in free agency or draft one. I'd try to keep Gentry. I think he's a good blocker.
Ryan
2:26
Shouldn't we continue to sign our own unrestricted free agents on the defense?  Makes sense to keep spending the money on the defense since the offense is younger and on cheaper contracts right?  This seems like a good team building plan for now.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Right. Especially with the defensive line aging out. They need to get some future starters in place.
Linebacker Lounge
2:26
Which reserve OL return for 2023?
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