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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.18.20
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Anujdjango
2:15
Does Diontae "Tae Bae" Johnson have what it takes to play the X receiver position and be the number 1 guy over the next few years? I personally had no clue the Steelers would draft him.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
He's off to a pretty good start. I'd say he's on his way to perhaps becoming a No. 1 type receiver. He's already a very solid No. 2.
jwheaney
2:16
JWHEANEY....STEELERS need to move Ju Ju back to the Slot Receiver position as he does not have the s....He is tough and finds ways to get open in the seams and over the middle...He is also an effective blocker in that role (see Burfict)...
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
If they draft a fast WR that can threaten defenses then maybe JuJu can go back to playing in the slot more. But the Steelers don't have that type of player now so JuJu has had to play more on the outside.
John Strange
2:17
Mason Rudolph has probably been playing football since he was 7-years-old. Has ther been even ONE other time he has used a racial slur or did he decide to wait until his second year in the NFL on a Thursday night game to use one?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
No but i listened to Max Kellerman say on ESPN Garrett might have targeted him due to his social media accounts. I follow Mason Rudolph on Twitter. He rarely tweets and when he does it's never controversial. Maybe, a long time ago, he tweeted something political. But to suggest Garrett targeted him for that reason is laughable.
MD
2:19
It now seems to be almost universally accepted that Ramon Foster will be cut.  Why though did he start when healthy for the entire year?  Does this team make too many current decisions to justify past decisions?  Sticking with Foster.  Tagging Dupree.  Sticking with Rudolph as the backup?  Even having wishful thinking that they didn't give Ben $67.5 million of injury guarantees six quarters before he taps out for good all seem to follow that same pattern.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I suppose they could have gone to Finney, but maybe they didn't think he'd be that much of an upgrade. (I disagree. I think he would have been better.)
2:21
And that's life in the NFL. When you sign guys to contracts that pay them as starter you expect them to start. They have to be really, really bad to be replaced. Look at the history. How often are guys benched? The team has expectations when they sign these guys.
Brian in CA
2:21
WITH Ben, the Steelers got killed by NE, who is probably behind KC and Baltimore.  The return of #7 will make them better, but not a legitmate Super Bowl team. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
That was before Minkah Fitzpatrick was acquired and before the defense came together and became one of the league's best. With a healthy Ben that buys into the running game becoming a bigger part of the offense I'd say the Steelers are fourth in the AFC behind KC, NE and Baltimore. And yes, I know Tennessee went to the AFC title game. But they're going to have to pay Tannehill and Henry this spring, and they're going to have to play at an elite level again for them to be in the same position. And don't forget: the Titans needed the Steelers to lose at the end of the season to even get into the playoffs.
Where's My Clark Bar
2:23
Hi Ray - thanks for taking these chats. Does S. Davis have any value to the Steelers? I just wonder why they would just let him walk....he couldn't be demanding too much as a FA right?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
No. He's going to be an unrestricted free agent. Not sure how much he'll make on the open market coming off an injury, but there is no trade value there for the Steelers.
pozone
2:24
I personally am against Dupree getting Franchised. He only played the last year of his contract.Spend the money on other things like TE or OL.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Who's going to start at OLB opposite Watt?
Marty
2:24
With Artie Burns & posibly Sean Davis going for free agency, will the Steelers receive 2 comp pics in 2021 ( if they dont sign any other FA)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
If they don't sign other free agents. They almost always dabble in free agency though.
Duke
2:25
Hey Ray, any under the radar players you would like the Steelers draft in the late rounds?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Preparing for mock draft 2.0, which will be unveiled after the combine. You'll have to wait til then.
Matt P Venice
2:26
So we are approx $5m under cap, cut Foster/Chick saves $9m, Bud’s tag approx $15m, other than a Heyward extension, what other vets are candiates for restructuring? Haden, Pouncey, Tuitt? Does Barron stay at $6m?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Dupree will be around $16 million and yes I think they keep Barron. They always find ways to deal with the cap. It's never been a problem for them.
RAS1968
2:27
Kelce and Kittle are trenenfius weappns and advantages firvtgeir teams.  Are the Steelers able to significantly upgrade their TE through combination if cuts, draft, or FA?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
I think you'll see tight end addressed in free agency or with a relatively high pick in the draft.
RAS1968
2:28
Do you expect substantial OL personnel change this upcomibg season other than possible Foster cut?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
No. There could be movement with Feiler going from tackle to guard and then a new tackle coming in, but I don't expect anyone other than Foster to get his walking papers.
MD
2:29
What are your thoughts on Josina Anderson's role in the Garrett accusations?  It is alleged that she gave Garrett the idea.  Should the Steelers boycott answering any of her questions?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
Who alleged that?
Heath Miller Fan
2:29
Ray, thanks for the chat.  Of the 32 offensive cordinators in the league, where would you place R Fichner?  Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
30th this year. 4th in 2018. You know where I'm going with this. It all hinges on Ben. He proved he could call plays with him as the QB. He struggled with Rudolph and Hodges, and I suspect just about anyone would have too with the way his O-line, RBs and WRs played.
iowasteelerfan
2:30
Do you think the Steelers are missing out by not having more than a 1 man analytics department?  I know digging into this type of data is extremely beneficial in other pro sports - does it have a role in the NFL going forward?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
The Steelers have more than a one-man analytics department. They study the trends just like every other team.
Brody Bruce
2:32
Your best gueses how they clear some cap space?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Cut Foster and Chickillo and sign Heyward to a new deal. If they have to go beyond that there are other options, but these are the obvious moves in early March before the new league year begins March 18.
Chachi
2:32
Do they really Believe Conner is the answer at RB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
Long-term? No. I don't know that any team in the NFL banks on signing RBs to second contracts. It's a unique position. Conner can be good if he's healthy, but he hasn't been healthy enough for the Steelers to count on him.
kent
2:34
Ray, Do you think the Steelers would consider Robbie Anderson of the Jets as a Free Agent. Big Wide receiver that can stretch the field.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
If they had cap space, yes. But they won't have the cap space to sign someone like Anderson. Not unless they start cutting a lot of players.
Wisconsin Winters
2:34
Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers and Ben came out of the same draft. Manning and Rivers are all but done for their careers. Why do you guys and fans continue to believe that Ben can come back with any effectiveness? Of the 3 qb from that class Ben is the most beat up and the one who takes the least care of his body.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
You're right. Every player from every draft class ages in the exact same way.
BuccoBil
2:35
What can be dome to help tighten up run defense?
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