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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.16.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
You make a good point, but you still need a capable starter, and I'm not sure Hassenauer is good enough to handle those duties on a full-time basis. So they'll have to sign one in free agency or draft one in the first three rounds and hope they can step in and play right away.
Guest
2:26
Zach Banner at LT going to happen?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
I tend to think Banner is a right tackle. So you bring him back because he'll come cheap, but definitely draft a tackle early too because they need to rebuild that line for the long term. Banner is 28. He might be part of the solution in the short-term, but he's not in the long run.
Lucky
2:28
Aren’t FA RBs relatively cheap?  I’d rather get a Chris Carson and draft OT and OC w/ the top 2 picks and then a TE, Slot CB.  RBs aren’t a rare commodity and really shouldn’t be drafted in 1st rd.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
Your scenario very well could happen, but Harris and Etienne might represent the best value when they pick at No. 24.
Carl in Carrick
2:29
  • Ray, I agree with Darnell on the Steelers possibly drafting Zaven Collins.  From what I’ve seen and from what I’ve heard about him, he can run from sideline to sideline and perhaps more importantly, cover the tight end down the field which was a glaring weakness last season.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
OK, so what do you do with Bush in the nickel and dime then? I mean, you used lots of draft capital to get him with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft only two years ago. He's not leaving the field either.
Adam
2:30
A quarterback has to be in play for the first round, if available, right? I think we have seen enough to know Mason ain't it for the future.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
I wouldn't hold your breath, Adam.
MD
2:30
How does the offer of a 5 year $65 million deal starting in 2018 for Leveon Bell look now?  Would that have been one of the worst signings in team history?  They offered it and were lucky he said no.  Makes me wonder if Colbert should get on with his life's work.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
You don't know how that would have turned out. Bell fit well in the Steelers' offense. I am quite certain he would have been more productive than he was with the Jets and Chiefs. And don't forget Bell sabotaged himself by sitting out an entire season.
Michael
2:33
Ray, thanks for the chats.  Is your math right on the Ebron cap numbers?  Seems like the cap savings would be 3.5 million if there's 2.5 million dead cap hit on $6 million.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
Yes, you are correct. I'm bad at math.
Jud
2:33
BJ Finney returning?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
If he's cut from the Bengals, why not? We all know you can always come home to the Steelers. This one actually makes some sense though. He'd be a stop-gap option.
AA
2:34
Maybe in short yardage situations, they should try more passes to Hawkins (sarcasm)?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
You joke, but if they had a viable backup TE that guy would be much better going out for those play-action passes.
Donna
2:35
Hi Ray, what do you think of the Steelers’ off-season assistant coaches hirings?  Thanks Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
All kind of low-key hires. No big splash moves. That might be OK, but they hired some guys to important roles that are relatively new to the NFL. Tomlin might want that, but it's not without risk.
AA
2:36
Isn’t a lot of blocking desire (want to)?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
Yes it is, but you have to have the right technique, too.
putinbatch
2:37
I like the point you just made about asking Rudolph to do the same things that you'll ask Ben to do. To me, Rudolph doesn't seem like that much worse of an option than Ben, and possibly better considering that he is still developing. I think you could literally *see* him developing during the one game he played this year. I think Ben is a head case. He can still physically throw, but let's face it- he has rarely performed at his best in the biggest situations. Thanks for the chat!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
Don't really have a response, but I know plenty of Steelers fans feel the same way you do.
Guest
2:38
What is Ben's history have you seen that make us believe that he would be willing 'to do do less and protect the ball' with a strong run game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
He did it for the first half of last season without a running game. If you surround him with a running game he certainly might be better at it over the course of an entire season.
Real fan
2:39
Hi Ray, Do you think Ben get to much of a pass on the Steelers losing playoffs. Go back.. Ben 4int Baker 0, Ben 2 turnovers Borttles 0. As a matter of fact, the only Qb that he has really outplayed was Matt Moore from their last 6 playoffs.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
I can't defend his playoff record in the second half of last decade. It's not good. But they did fall behind early in those games, and he had to take some chances to try to get his team back in the game. Not making excuses for him, but they fell behind the Browns by 28 points and the Jaguars by 21 points. You're going to be throwing a lot when that happens.
AA
2:41
I’ve seen some people want to bring back Jesse James. He was a mediocre blocking TE if I remember?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
Yes that's a good way to describe him. He provided some decent production as a receiver too. I just don't know if you're looking to improve your running game if Jesse James is the answer.
Yates
2:43
As of today, who do you see as opening day OL, noting free agent or draft choice where appropriate?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
So hard to say right now because they will add in free agency and the draft. But I'll give it a try: LT -- Rookie draft pick, LG Dotson, C free agent signing or draft pick, DeCastro and Banner or Okorafor. That would be my ideal scenario, but I know they could draft a guy and have him learn for a while behind Banner and Okorafor.
Douglas
2:45
In baseball, pitchers coming off elbow or shoulder surgeries are kept on a pitch count for their first year back. Ben certainly wasn’t on a pass count. Do u think that had something to do with possible elbow fatigue re going deep with accuracy?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
Not sure, but if that was the case, shame on them. They knew they needed a running game to have success with an aging QB, and they did nothing to address it.
Jack
2:46
Ray if the cap comes in flat .. they are saying w new tv deal this could happen...... who would Steelers resign?    I’d love to find a way to keep 48.    I think this town will cry if they give 19 a contract over 48
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
My gut right now says 48 and 19 won't be back.
Guest
2:46
Hi Ray, what are our chance in % to see a Watt brothers reunion ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
35%
AA
2:46
Never understood how Colbert and Tomlin are so good at drafting WRs and so awful at drafting CBs.  What are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
I was thinking about that today as I saw contemplating some of the roster decisions they have ahead of them. It's a real head-scratcher especially with Tomlin's background as a DBs coach.
SteelByDesign
2:47
I'm a little confused by JuJu talking so much about staying in PIT when it seems like there's really no chance of that happening. Is this hometown discount talk really realistic at all?
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