You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.11.20
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Welcome and let's go!
574 Fan
1:54
Thanks again for chatting, Ray. Lots of talk about cutting Barron to save cap space. Does Edmunds have the body tupe/skill set to play Barron’s role? And could Hilton and Sutton expand their roles on defense to play Edmunds’ position? Or is this wishful thinking?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
Well, Edmunds does have the body type sand skill set to someday become a nickel linebacker. Barron, in fact, entered the league as a safety in 2012. Like Edmunds, he was a first-round pick. You mention Hilton and Sutton. They are versatile enough to drop back to safety if the Steelers wanted to do this. Hilton played some safety this year when Edmunds was subbed out in a few games. I'm not discounting this as a possibility, but I don't get the sense they want to do it yet.
marty v
1:57
Do you know how much the "part time" NFL officials make ?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
According to some quick research (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-nfl-refs-paid-super-163028165.html) referees make $205,000 a year and the other officials make between $4,000 and $10,000 a game.
KissFan48
1:58
Ray, Does the hiring of Matt Canada spell the soon to be end of Randy Fichner?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
I don't get that idea. Certainly not in 2020. The Steelers simply thought a QBs coach would be helpful as they try to develop Mason Rudolph and others.
Utah Jim
1:59
If the Steelers do take an OT with the first pick is Villanueva a potential cap causality? I don’t think they would keep 5 players that can play tackle even if Feiler moves to G. Could be $5M in cap savings.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Well, they kept four last season -- Villanueva, Feiler, Chuks and Banner. If Feiler moves to guard full-time they could keep Villanueva, Chuks, Banner and the rookie. And to be honest with you, I don't think they would do that to Villanueva. His play tailed off a bit last season, but he only has one year left on his contract. I think his play can improve simply with Ben Roethlisberger returning. He's a lineman that's at his best in pass pro. Run blocking is not his specialty. And the Steelers figure to pass quite a bit if Ben returns healthy.
Dave Miller
2:01
Hi Ray love reading the chats .what happens if we cant keep Bud and if ben cant go by the start of the season
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Well, they'll keep Bud if they want to keep Bud. They can franchise him later this month. Once they do that the only way he won't play for them in 2020 is if he sits out the season. And Bud told me in December he was going to sign the tag and play the season if they tagged him. As for Ben, they'll know more later this month when he goes to L.A. and meets with his doctors. If things aren't going in the right direction this summer they'll have to make contingency plans. I still think Rudolph would get a shot to play, but they'd need a more viable alternative than Duck Hodges should things go awry again.
Gene
2:04
Do you think the 17 regular season schedule will become a reality at some point?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
I really don't want to see it, but we all know this is about money. And if the owners throw enough money at the NFLPA during this CBA negotiation they'll sign off on it. I'm not sure why they're not pursuing expanded playoffs as a more viable alternative than 17 regular-season games. I talked to players this summer about that. They're all for it, and the league could make boatloads of money simply by expanding to 14 playoff teams. All they'd have to do is make the No. 2 seed play the 7 seed. The only team that gets a bye is the top seed, which seems fair. Would make the final weekend more exciting in most years.
Robb K
2:06
Will the Steelers make any plays for an OL in Free Agency?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Well, if BJ Finney leaves in free agency they'll have a hole to fill. He's the top backup at center and guard. The only other guy is JC Hassenauer, who was elevated to the 53-man roster late in the season. He's never played in an NFL game. So either through the draft or free agency they'd have to acquire someone to fill that role. It's a big role to fill, too. The Steelers paid Finney $3 million last year to fill that role.
VAsteelersFan
2:09
Hi Ray . . . you've mentioned the old school, Heath Miller type TE's who hang back and block are not being produced by colleges these days. If so, then what is happening to the these types of players? Becoming linemen? Riding the bench? Or slimming down and practicing as receivers only?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
It all starts with the way the game is being played in high school. I've probably seen 40 high school games the past five years. Most teams operate out of spread offenses. If they have a player with a tight end body the only time they're in-line is short-yardage situations. Many of them are used as fullbacks in the backfield and in the slot as slot receivers in the four-wide sets. So as a result, the colleges aren't getting pro-style tight end types. For the most part, they're bigger slot receivers that are developed as pass catchers first. Blocking is secondary as they come up. It's just the way the game is being played, and it's spilling into all levels. Now there are guys that have body types of pro-style tight ends. Cole Kmet of Notre Dame is 6-5, 250. I watched him play every snap in a few games this week. He has some skills, but you really have to wait sometimes to see him block. He'll have to work at it when he gets to the league. There are others too with similar size and some have the potential(more)
2:14
to develop into players that can play in-line. But there aren't a ton of them anymore in the college game. (end)
574 Fan
2:14
Let’s say Ben is healthy and has a reasonably good arm in 2020. How many of the needs on O (OL, TE, RB, WR) can be masked By his return? I would argue all of them (short term, I know - but it would free them up some in the draft).
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
I agree with you. All of them could be masked in some way by Ben's return. However -- and I write about this at length in a piece I am writing for Sunday -- they have to begin to prepare for life without Ben. He's 38 and coming off elbow surgery. He's not going to play forever. Their line is aging. Four of the five starters are 30 or older. Two are entering the final years of their contracts. It's time to get younger on the line. Of the four positions you mentioned that's the one that has to be addressed the most. I'm not saying it has to be with the second round pick, but they have to get an OL with one of their early picks.
Jack Moore
2:16
If the opportunity presents itself, should the Steelers trade back from the 49th pick? Personally I think the team could use an extra mid round pick to address some depth issues.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
They have five picks right now and will likely get a third-round comp pick so that'd make six. It's not ideal, but I'm not sure I give up No. 49 in a year I don't have a first-round pick just to accumulate more picks later in the draft. In the middle of the second round you should be able to find a future starter. Look at some of the guys they've drafted in the second round over the years -- Marcus Gilbert, Le'Veon Bell, Stephon Tuitt, JuJu Smith-Schuster. Some of those guys have become elite. Why trade that pick away if the opportunity is there to grab a guy like that?
Coop
2:19
Any chance a top tier LB slips in the draft to pair next to Bush or will we be focused on Offense too much?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I think they'll focus on offense. Remember, Minkah Fitzpatrick is basically this year's first-round pick. I wouldn't be surprised if three of their first four picks were used on offensive players. As for getting an ILB, I think that might be a bigger issue in 2021 rather than this year. Unless they cut Mark Barron or Vince Williams there isn't a big need to invest a pick in an ILB this year.
Bradley
2:21
do u think duck will be ready next year? Mason slow to process  and Duck dich a rookie hard to right him off
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Duck was a nice story, but there is a reason he didn't get drafted.
Guest 6Rings
2:22
Hi, Ray. Vance McDonald was 34th among TE's in receiving yards; his 2020 cap figure would be the 13th highest among TE's. When asked "why don't we cut him" a common response is: who would fill in? My thought is: anyone! Even if BR7 comes back healthu, we can replace his production for millions less and use that $$$ elsewhere. What am I missing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Well, Nick Vannett, the backup last season, is an unrestricted free agent and didn't exactly wow when he saw the field. I'm not down on him at all, but he is what he is. He's not going to be your starter. Do you want Zach Gentry as your starter? He only dressed for three or four games because the coaches didn't think he was ready. I'm not saying McDonald is worth the salary they're going to pay him, but you do have to look at the alternatives. And before you bring up Hunter Henry in free agency know the Chargers can tag him and there are no guarantees the Steelers would be able to woo him in free agency. (Plus, he's been injury-prone)
Mark
2:25
Jaylen impressed in college with his diversity and especially his receiving.  The past season, with the lack of a standout TE, do you have any ideas why the offence didn't turn more to Jaylen for TE-end type work in the short passing game?  Just a function of the inexperienced QB's generally not doing well with the short passing game, or something else?  Any such potential increased usage for him in the future that you see? (Thanks for the chats!)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Jaylen Samuels' decline in playing time and production was a curious development last season, but he's not a guy who can line up and play tight end. He's a RB that can be an H-back or big slot receiver, but not a tight end. But yo your point about his usage I was surprised the Steelers tried so many different running backs and limited Samuels. Maybe they just think he's a third-down back and that's it.
mvandrews7
2:26
Due to the AB and Minkah trades last year I'm not sure what we have left as far as draft picks this year. Can you remind me? Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Second round, likely third-round comp pick for losing LeVeon Bell, two fourth-round picks (one from Miami), a sixth and a seventh.
Jacque Strap
2:27
If it is so difficult to find a good blocking TE, why not modify what you do to fit your personnel? Randy doesn't seem to do enough of that.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
They might be forced to do that at some point. When Mark Bruener was a rookie in 1995 the Steelers went to four and five wide sets a lot that season en route to the Super Bowl. Bruener was still developing and was mostly known as a blocker anyway. Perhaps the Steelers will be forced to do something like that again. If they do they better find another receiver or two in the draft. Who else is going to make plays beside 18,19 and 13? It's pretty thin after the top 3.
MTScott
2:29
Do you think BJ Finney will resign?  Doesn’t seem like folks are talking much about him replacing Foster!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
I think Finney will go somewhere where he thinks he can be a starter and make starter's money. Not sure that's going to happen with the Steelers.
Steeler in Virginia
2:30
Other than Ben, who is your top candidate to be the bounce back Steeler of the year in 2020 like Boswell was this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Hmmm, James Conner if he's healthy. JuJu if he's healthy. Vance if he's healthy. They sure have a lot of options after last season. Ha ha.
MTScott
2:31
I feel Cam Sutton has shown good improvement, do you think the Steelers will resign him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Maybe but he won't be a priority this year.
Connecting…