You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.14.23
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
For one, the head coach has to get comfortable enough with his young offensive talent and let them play a little more. It's a fine line though because turnovers would put the defense in some bad positions they might not be able to overcome. Secondly, the coordinator has to do a much better job in the red zone next season. For whatever reason, Freiermuth disappeared from the red zone attack last season after flourishing there with Roethlisberger as the QB.
Yates
2:31
Hi Ray -  will the push from behind QB beak get outlawed?  Would that also lead to outlawing linemen pushing running backs as well?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
The only thing that seems to be illegal now is pulling players forward. Everything else, including pushing from behind is legal. At least it's been interpreted that way by the officials. Honestly, I think it adds some layers of strategy to the game. I'm not totally against the idea of teams being able to utilize the play. It just puts more emphasis on winning first and second down.
Jim
2:33
I think we need to get an Olineman with one of our first 4 picks, should we grab one at 17 if a good one is there?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
If they have a high grade on one, then sure. But they also need DL and CBs. Get the best player available at one of those three positions.
Alan in Hoover, Alabama
2:34
Sheldon White, Weidl, bringing in David Morehouse. The Minkah and Bush trades. Stretching the way that they structure contracts for guys like TJ. Signing the O-Lineman and Jack and others this off-season. Adding Flores, etc. Seems to me that outside of having coaches complete their contracts, the organization has been evolving.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
I would say you are right and you'll continue to see some evolving as Khan gets his tenure started. It's only natural when you have new people in charge at important positions.
Carl in Carrick
2:35
Hey Ray.  Do you anticipate any rule changes for next season?  I would love to see a team penalized when the defense runs into the end zone following a turnover.  Your thoughts please.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
Ha ha. I don't see that being a rule change but would certainly welcome that fad coming to an end. I think the Steelers started that fad.
Paul from Beaver Falls
2:36
What’s Trubisky’s trade value?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
Late rounder, if that.
Al Derogatis
2:37
They used the QB sneak often in ‘22 and nearly all were successful. Does this solve the mystery of why they did not use it prior to ‘22? Which is the 6-5 250 lb QB didn’t want to do it?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
But as you point out he did it in 2021. I don't want to go back and assess who did or didn't want to do it. I know the Steelers wanted to protect him and not expose him to hits. The game has changed. Teams seem less concerned about putting their QBs in harm's way in almost any situation.
obxandy
2:39
If Steelers traded up in draft, using #1 @ 17 and #2 @ 49 how far up could they go -- to 10th pick? Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
You can look at the trade value chart. There are different ones that are out there, but here is one of them: https://overthecap.com/draft-trade-value-chart. They're all in the same ball park.
Chuck from Michigan
2:40
Ray, loved the Big Ten selections (Dawand Jones (OT), Lukas Van Ness (DL), Olu Oluwatimi (C)) in your mock draft.  Which Big Ten players are on your radar for ILB, CB, NT that the Steelers can build with? Thank you very much!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
Joey Porter, Jr. of course. Keanu Benton is a DL from Wisconsin. He'd be a mid-rounder. Jack Campbell is a mid-round ILB prospect.
Campbell played at Iowa.
Chapstick Wes
2:41
is it’s given that the Steelers draft an offensive lineman in the first two rounds?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
Not a given, but I'd be surprised if they didn't take one with their top three picks.
Mike P.
2:42
I've seen a handful of mock drafts (I know, I know) with the Steelers taking a OLB at 17. How good would an OLB need to be for the team to pass up filling any of the bigger holes and taking one? Also, I saw one mock with the team taking a RB in the 3rd - what?!?!!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:43
Really good and it would signal they didn't think they could re-sign Highsmith.
Booie
2:43
If Canada’s offense gets off to a slow start next year, do you think the Steelers break their mode and actually can him during the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
They didn't do that last year. To me, if they did that they'd be admitting a big mistake. So we'll see, but they'd have to be pretty bad for that to happen.
STEEL72
2:44
All roads go through KC. If our draft goes perfectly-- in whatever shape that takes-- are the Steelers with current coaching/management philosophies anywhere near competitive... or are we looking at the next Brady/Patriots on our back?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
The Steelers can't worry about KC. They first have to figure how to be better than Cincy and Baltimore and win the AFC North again before they worry about the Chiefs.
Ryan S.
2:45
Thanks for the chats, Ray! Curious as to how you see the Lamar Jackson situation playing out? As a Steelers fan, I want to see them sign him to the Watson contract. He's not elite, and I hope to see KP8 passing him by the end of next year as the better QB.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
I see it as good news either way for the Steelers. Either the Ravens are starting over with a new QB or they're building a roster with a QB who eats up a lot of the cap. On a side note, the Chiefs have a bargain with Mahomes. That's a Brady-Patriots type situation with the hometown discount he's playing on.
Ed in Carrick
2:47
ILB would seem to be a bigger need than CB but lots of mocks are predicting CB at 17. The draft seems deeper at CB so why not go with ILB?  Is it because that position is just so hard to predict?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
I think that's part of it. Look what happened when they traded up for Devin Bush. There are no guarantees especially with that position. It takes a special ;player to be able to play the run and run and cover tight ends, receivers and running backs.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
2:47
Does Spillane sign a new contract with the Steelers or is he gone with Bush?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:48
I think it makes sense to bring him back if the price is right.
Steel tree
2:48
Ray - lots of folks like to point out Cowher only had Big Ben for three years while Tomlin had him for all but last season, to validate Cowher doing a better overall coaching job during his career.  The flip side of that argument though is Tomlin had to deal with the salary cap ramifications of having a future HOF QB to deal with while trying to construe roster while in salary cap hell. (Sorry about the run on sentences). My point is both coaches dealt well with the situations they respectively found themselves in with or without a franchise QB.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
I agree with you on all points. Hey, the Steelers hired two good coaches. Let's leave it at that.
Weegie Thompson
2:49
I think there are some intriguing tight ends in the first 3 rounds.  Could the Steekers take one ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
Sure but I don't see it happening early.
Tim B.
2:50
Do you see another team signing Bush or will he be forced to retire?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:50
I'm sure some team will sign him, but he won't get a lot of money.
D-Ru
2:50
How many QB’s are game day active next season? 2 or 3?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
Teams decide that. There is no rule against dressing three, but most coaches opt for two because they value special teams over the fluke of both QBs going down in the same game.
Connecting…