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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.28.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Well, Ochostinko had been his mentor, so no.
Dave W
12:45
Thanks for your time, Ray.  Do you think the front office will have a talk with #7 about his leadership "style", radio comments, etc.?  Not dictate to him, but help him get better at being a leader.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I would hope so. That would be on my agenda if I was Art Rooney II. Ben is fine for the most part, but I've been on record saying that radio show of his is bad for the team. It's because he's so honest on it. If I was Rooney I'd pay him whatever the radio station does and write that check to Ben's charity.
JoeB
12:47
If I recall Dupree's knock was that he was an underachiever. Did little with all that talent. Don't the Steelers usually place a premium on production?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
Yes, but there's always a balance between college production and pro potential. Senquez Golson had 10 interceptions as a senior at Ole Miss. What did that mean? Gerod Holliman had 14 INTs. What did that mean for him? He never even made the practice squad. You have to balance production and combine stuff. Even then, you have a lot of first-rounders that don't pan out. That's why the NFL draft is such a crapshoot. There is no way of telling who will excel and who will struggle.
Jud
12:49
Assuming AB is gone.  Will Ju-Ju be able to lead the WR room?  Will we be doomed to repeat the same mistakes...Ward to Wallace to Brown ...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
JuJu is entering his third year. I think that's enough time in the league to take over that room.
Dave
12:49
If Steeltic's trade went down and Steelers sat at #2 do you think they would take Josh Allen? Imagine him opposite Watt rushing the passer.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:52
I'm writing about the OLB prospects next week. The story on the CB prospects will run tomorrow. I've watched a few Kentucky games in the past few weeks. You can see Allen is a freak athlete. And he has the size (6-5, 260). My only concern is every splash play I've seen him make has come as a result of his speed. Most of the time he's beating a tackle around the edge and getting a sack or a pressure. I haven't seen a lot of counter moves after he's initially blocked. But if you're taking a shot at No. 2 and you want the best OLB prospect he's probably the guy.
Taz
12:53
You don't think Ben goes on the radio show with FO blessing?  I've always thought that his honesty in that forum only came out whenever he wasn't getting traction in the locker room - a last resort motivator, of sorts.  Not like he spouts off on every single topic.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
I just think it's become a distraction. Best way to eliminate a distraction is to eliminate it altogether.
Shane
12:53
Ray, I believe that if they do trade Brown it will be important to find a quality WR2 in FA. AB has drawn safety help almost every route he's run in the last 3 years. I think this has helped JUJU win the battles in one on one. Therefore the importance of a quality WR2 is important. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:54
Absolutely, yes. I'm not down on James Washington, but he did not show me enough to convince me he's ready to be a starter. What the Steelers really need if they trade Brown is a fast WR to threaten down the field. JuJu and Washington are not blazers. They'd need a deep threat to keep secondaries honest.
Greg
12:55
I wouldn’t reward my 3 year old for behaving badly. Why do we let Blount, Harrison and now Brown pout their way out of town? If the Steelers put their foot down years ago when it became to behavior we might not be here today. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:56
The problem is if you keep Brown he's demonstrated he's more than willing to sabotage an entire season. He pretty much tried to sabotage the team's efforts to make the playoffs by being insubordinate (AND CHURLISH!) in Week 17.
Nick
12:57
Can you elaborate on not wanting to resign Foster?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:59
Why would they want to re-sign a 33-year old guard? Especially when they have BJ Finney and Matt Feiler ready in the wings. Go back and watch the Chargers and Raiders games and explain to me why you want Foster back. He's the guy who held on the long Conner run at the beginning of the third quarter in the Chargers game. And he was at fault for Roethlisberger getting injured against the Raiders.
Epiballo
12:59
Do the Steelers sign Jesse James? And is Grimble gone after the stunt he pulled in Denver that cost the Steelers a win? Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
I wouldn't be surprised if Grimble is not back. I'd sign James, but I don't want to pay him a lot of $ because he'd be a backup to Vance McDonald. I'd sign him for $5 million over two years, something like that. Maybe $8 million over 3...
Vico
1:00
Do you think Rams can beat Pats?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
Can they? Sure. Every Super Bowl involving the Patriots has been close. Will they? I'm not so sure. I'm picking the Patriots.
FR
1:01
What do you make of SB Nation Simon Chester's article where he says the local radio stations are slamming Brown and local beat writers are trashing him as well.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:01
Who is Simon Chester?
tee
1:01
End of the day we live and die with #7 and i wouldn't want anyone else. They can say whatever they want about Ben BUT the one thing nobody can say is he is a quitter. That guy fights every game good or bad and we are never out of any game /season as long as he is our QB.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:02
That's all true. He does need to cut down on the INTs.
AtlantaDan
1:02
With regard to Foster, I agree the o-line needs to start getting younger,  but by saying he needs to get on with his life’s work did his level of play slip significantly this past season (leaving aside his hold in the Chargers game that was one of the biggest plays of the season) that supports moving on for reasons other than age?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:04
Watch the play when Roethlisberger was injured in Oakland. Foster allows a player who was aligned as a 3-technique, maybe even a 4-technique over the tackle beat him to the inside. This penetration screwed up the right side of the line's ability to pass off the stunt. Therefore, the looping DT came around and injured Roethlisberger. Foster had to stick his guy on the line of scrimmage and be there to pick up the looping DT.
Alan
1:05
Lots to pick from, but who's the worst commentator/analyst from espn or nfl network in your opinion?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:05
Pretty much any of them.
Nycole
1:05
Who is your top player that might drop a good amount in the draft first round.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:06
Way too early to say. I was holding out some hope that Montez Sweat might fall to the Steelers at No. 20. But he probably solidified himself as a top15-20 kind of guy at the Senior Bowl. He would be a great bookend to go along with Watt.
RVNSH8R
1:07
Ray - we talk about the secondary and the LBs but I dont see much on the D Line.  IMO they are not as good as we want/say they are.  When I think of an Aaron Smith and Big Snack...I don't see our current D Line are anywhere near that dominant.  Am I wrong?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:08
Heyward is plenty good. Tuitt has to start playing to his contract. Hargrave is solid. What they need is depth and possibly a project they can groom as Heyward's heir apparent. He's not going to play forever.
Steeltowntim@aol.com
1:08
Ray, any chance we can get the outside LB from Minnesota and cut Dupree. I had his name on the tip of my  tongue? he was rumoured to be Pittsburgh first round pick but was off the board before they could get him
Ray Fittipaldo
1:09
I think you are referencing Anthony Barr. He hasn't produced like a first-round pick, but maybe a change of scenery could help.
1:10
OK thanks for all the great questions this week. We'll do it again next Monday
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