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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.07.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started.
Jerrol (with a J) Williams Fan Club
2:01
Would the Steelers consider dropping back in the first round if the top three tackles are off the board? With only six picks this year, they have several needs to be filled. Picking up an extra pick or two to drop back four or five spots would make sense to me.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
It would depend on what their board said about the prospects. They could if they feel there is equal value in the same area of the draft. By the way, they have seven picks.
Guest
2:02
Ray, do you think they keep Mitch, try to restructure him, or cut him outright?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
It seems like they want to keep him, but as Gerry Dulac pointed out this morning in a story it's complicated. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2023/02/07/pittsburgh-ste...
Yuri
2:03
Hello Ray.  Now that Coach Flores is with the Vikings, will the Steelers plan on replacing him or will his duties be reassigned to other assistant coaches?  Thank you Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I would think Denzell Martin would be interviewed for the job. He was an assistant linebackers coach last season. He was the linebackers coach on the National Team at the Senior Bowl last week. I'm sure Tomlin will interview others as well.
Guest
2:04
Do you think in today's NFL defensive minded head coaches can still compete for titles?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Sure. I know the trend is offensive coaches. The final four all had head coaches with offensive backgrounds. But you have Sean McDermott in Buffalo. The Bills have been close the past couple of years. And of course Mike Tomlin has a defensive background.
21-58-66
2:07
Ray - Thanks for the chats. Any word on offensive play calling help for Canada and who will now coach linebackers with Flores leaving?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
To be honest, there isn't a whole lot of buzz about a senior offensive assistant. If there are any plans that's being kept quiet for the moment.
Doyle37
2:09
How can the Steelers special teams coach keep his job when he puts D. Johnson on the "hands" team when defending an onside kick ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
He's a receiver. Would you like him to put a lineman out there?
Guest
2:10
Hey Ray.  Good to see Flores left.  Our inside linebackers regressed under his tutelage.  I know last season his coaching position was created specifically for him and no interview process was performed.  My question is whether or not you think the Steelers will replace him or not?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Yes I think they will. He coached the inside linebackers and they need an inside linebackers coach.
Guest
2:13
The Colbert/Cowher pairing never missed on a first round pick.  The Colbert/Tomlin pairing missed more often than not.  How do you see the Khan/Weidl/Tomlin arrangement working out?  Do you think Khan/Weidl will have some say to counteract the drafting weakness of Mediocre Mike?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Weidl will set the board, but he'll be working with Tomlin throughout the process. His job is to find players that fits Tomlin's offensive and defensive system. So it's not exactly like it was for him in Philly. Tomlin runs different systems and Weidl will collaborate with him. Weidl will have his say on the board then I would imagine Khan, Tomlin will discuss the picks if there is any doubt.
Fort Wayne Nate
2:14
Hey Ray, What's your dream off-season scenario (re-signings, free agent and top 4 draft picks) that has a good chance of happening?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
My first seven-round mock draft will publish tomorrow morning. That will have seven picks. We'll get into the free agency soon enough.
Daniel (Covina, CA)
2:15
What would CB Joey Porter Jr bring to the secondary that isn't already there?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
He has potential to be a No. 1 CB. The Steelers don't have one of those. He'd have to come in and prove he can be that guy. It's not a sure bet he develops into a CB1, but the potential is there with his size and length.
Ken
2:16
Was Terry Bradshaw really that dumb when he played?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
You don't call your own plays and lead the NFL's greatest dynasty of all-time if you're dumb.
Amy
2:17
What is up with Zach Gentry?  Is the team interested in keeping him, has he played his way out of town?  He says he wants to stay and is a very good number 2 but there is not much talk about him.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I think they would like to keep him for the right number. But if he does go elsewhere in free agency this draft is deep with quality TEs.
GM
2:18
Hi Ray, are either of the backup qbs under contract next year?  If so wouldn't make sense to look to them as draft day trades?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Rudolph is a free agent and Trubisky is under contract for one more year. They'll have to add at least one QB to the mix this offseason.
jeff
2:19
Thanks for the chats Ray.  I keep looking at the late hit on Mahommes and wanted your thoughts on if the NFL should looking at the out of bounds hit like they do with roughing the kicker?  Mahommes in running full speed so any bit of contact is going to send him flying (mind you there was some acting involved).  Blatant egregious hits are 15 yards.  All other are either 5 or no call.  I get all the talk about guys should know where they are in the field but at full speed that becomes a much greater challenge especially when every yard matters
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Then you'd just be putting more on the officials to make judgment calls. I think the Bengals player had to show more awareness for where he was on the field and the game situation.
Ed in Carrick
2:21
Weidl sets board, Khan makes initial determination who to pick, Tomlin has veto power and can overrule Khan. Is this correct?  I’ve heard on this chat and others that MT has outsized influence on the picks. Is Omar really going to let his tenure begin by giving MT that much influence?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
It's all collaborative. You make it seem like there is always some big argument about picks. I'm sure there are times someone has to make a call, but they have a board for a reason.
Hollywood Rob
2:22
Last year the Steelers went cheap at ILB, signing Miles Jack instead of Bobby Wagner. What are the chances the Steelers pay for a good ILB like Lavonte David of the Bucs? Or do they go the bargain route again for free agents at CB, ILB and O-Line?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Jack is much younger than Wagner. I think that was part of it. Jack is under contract for one more year. He was s sure tackler when he was healthy. He wasn't great. But he was solid. Not sure they want to spend big again in free agency at that position. Remember, they have Mark Robinson. I'm sure they want to see what they have in him. And they'll probably draft an ILB. By the way, I think they'll try to re-sign Spillane, too. He fits in well with what they do. I'm not sure how he'd fit in other defenses.
Chuck from Michigan
2:24
Hi Ray, love your chats.  Steelers covet Big Ten Players, anyone in particular stand out to you on the defensive side (DL/ILB/CB) of the ball and needs for our team that you observed at last weekend's Senior Bowl ? Thank you very much!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
Hmmm, I might have some Big Ten players mocked to the Steelers tomorrow. And I might have some that  participated in the Senior Bowl, too. I'm sure all of you are like Bart Scott ("Can't wait!")
Guest
2:26
Ray, I am sorry to hear the Steelers are still focused on "physical" corners. Perhaps this is why the Steelers haven't drafted a successful CB in a long time. Job 1, corners must cover and LBs must tackle. Other capabilities are nice but mean nothing if they can't handle job 1. It's like having big fast WRs who can't catch. Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
I understood where Grady Brown was coming from. They're in a division with strong running teams. It's part of the job description if you play for the Steelers. But some of you seem to forget the Steelers led the league in INTs last season. Yes, Minkah had a bunch of them, but the point is their secondary made plays and created turnovers. Does it really matter if a CB gets the majority of them? They'll have options with corners in this draft and other versatile DBs. It's a good draft in that regard.
Johnny U
2:28
Do you think a QB in the later rounds is a likely scenario?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Will he be able to complete a pass on air? The guy they took last year couldn't do that in training camp.
Jay
2:29
Hello Ray, thank you for the continue coverage in the off season.  Most mocks have steelers taking at least an OL and a CB.  Could you see a T or G starting over the fab 5 we had?  How the corner?  I could easily see both get little playing time at least in the beginning.
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