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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.01.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:23
While drafting is the main event there are other responsibilities for GMs in the summer and fall. Players can be acquired in trades, etc. Also, why hire someone now when he wouldn't run this draft? This is Colbert's final draft. He is taking ownership of it. It makes all the sense in the world for him to see this through and then hire a GM.
Mike from D.C.
1:23
People are saying Jordan Davis would be a bad pick at 20 because he would only be on the field 25% of the time. Why couldn’t he be the other down lineman with Cam Heyward in their nickel defense? He doesn’t need to get sacks, just eat up blockers so Watt & co can have 1 on 1 matchups, just like Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton used to do!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:26
So I brought this up on a call with NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah. A former scout, Jeremiah believes basically what you laid out. That a big interior DL has value in eating up blockers and collapsing the pocket. Jeremiah said a current GM told him it has to be quick pressure up the middle. Otherwise, a guy like Davis would be relatively ineffective as a pass rusher because QBs are getting the ball out so quick. And Davis isn't really known as a pass rusher. He's not "twitchy" to the point where he's going to be Aaron Donald and run around a guard and get a sack. He's more likely to bull rush a center or guard. That's great. It looks good. But if the QBs gets the ball off on time then what does it really matter? I hope that gives you some insight into the position. It's important, but nose tackles have to be more than nose tackles.
Mike from D.C.
1:28
Love the Flores hire. Do you think Tomlin bringing in some qualified coaches with NFL experience on defense such as Flores and Austin will signal him giving up some of the control he has over the defense and letting his coaches coach?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:28
No not really, but new ideas and perspectives are never a bad thing and can definitely leak into Tomlin's calls on game day.
Steel Addiction
1:29
Last week, Colbert said that he wished he had done more in FA last year with the OL.  Colbert has been as consistent as they come over the years.  How much of the issues are his assessments of players and how much of it is lack of player development by the coaching staff?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:30
I think they were caught off guard by Pouncey and DeCastro leaving in the same year. I think Colbert probably should have moved on from some of those older players earlier. Not necessarily DeCastro and Pouncey but Villanueva and Foster. I think they kept those guys a year or two too long.
ErneeHARTner412-305
1:30
In what WORLD has Diontae Johnson earned a signficant, long term contract? He has hands made of concrete. Are the Steelers not better served franchising him or attempting to replace him via the draft/free agency?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:32
I get it, but he's the best you got right now. They're not giving big $ to Claypool a year from now. So unless you plan to keep drafting WRs in the second round every single year then it's not a bad idea to make a run at a long-term deal for Johnson. If you put some better players around him I think he can be even more effective than he has been.
Mike from D.C.
1:32
If the Steelers sign James Daniels in free agency does that preclude them from taking Kenyon Green at #20 if he’s available?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:33
I like where you're going! I think one or the other is a great move, but both seems a bit unlikely. Not that I'd complain. I think it would be great. I just don't think they'd do that.
Mike from D.C.
1:33
Do you agree with Gerry that Andy Weidl from the Eagles should be the next Steelers GM? He took Jalen Raegor over Justin Jefferson
Ray Fittipaldo
1:36
I didn't see where Gerry wrote or said that, but Weidl is the Eagles' vice president of player personnel. Howie Roseman is their GM. So Weidl didn't draft Reagor over Jefferson. We'll know two months from now. If it is Weidl it will be an interesting hire for Rooney. Weidl was brought into the league by Tom Donahoe back in the mid 1990s. Donahoe left the Steelers after a power struggle with Cowher. That's how Colbert got here. Weidl has been with several organizations, including the Ravens, but Donahoe has worked with him in Philly for the past six years or so.
Nick
1:37
Hi Ray....Thanks for the chats!  In your opinion, if Kenyon Green and Jordan Davis are both available at #20, who is the pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:38
Kenyon Green.
Ken
1:38
Am I wrong for wanting the first 2 picks to be OL and DL ?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:38
Nope. And you might be right.
Bernard
1:38
Really deep and talented class of WR this year.  If a top WR drops to them at #20, say Garrett Wilson or Drake London, would they go WR first round or are the needs on the lines just too great to ignore early?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:39
Drafting WRs in Round 1 isn't really their thing. They like to get their WRs later in the draft. And they've had success doing that until recently.
Hi Ray
1:39
If JuJu does not want to resign, and/or the Steelers don't like the price, any interest in resigning Washington?  He won't get much interest in the FA market and he has a good rapport with Mason?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:42
Where was this "good rapport" with Rudolph in 2019? Washington had more productivity with Duck. I know they had some good times together at OSU, but it's a myth they've had chemistry with the Steelers.
And I think Washington wants to play somewhere else anyway.
Bernard
1:43
Seems most free agent or trade QB chatter is starting to focus on Trubisky.  Why is that and what are your thoughts on him, how does he compare to Mason?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:43
He's young, has mobility and has some pedigree as a former No. 2 overall pick. Even though he didn't pan out in Chicago.
ErneeHARTner412-305
1:44
Ray, with draft's unusual focus on quarterback hand size, do you believe hand size is an important determinant of quarterback efficacy? Are there any current starting NFL quarterback with hands as small as Kenny Pickett? The size of his hands are, frankly, staggering. How is he able to grip and rip?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:45
Pickett supposedly will measure around 8.25. Those would be some of the smallest hands for a QB in decades. Teams worry about small hands for two reasons: the QB's ability to play in bad weather and fumbling. It does matter, but there is enough to like about Pickett that it might not mean much in this draft especially when it's a weaker class.
Leon
1:45
What do you think happens with Schobert? Clearly they're not paying him the $11mil or whatever, so cut or will he play for less?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:46
I wouldn't be against him coming back for $2 o3 3 million, but I doubt he wants to do that so probably cut.
SteelByDesign
1:47
Why aren't more yinzers talking about Kenyon Green? He'd be a day 1 starter at a huge position of need. Would fit the range at the 20th pick. He's versatile, from a power-5 school, and still young. All things the Steelers typically look for in their early picks.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:47
You'll be hearing more about him. He's definitely someone to keep an eye on over the next two months.
Ryan
1:48
What do you think about the Steelers drafting sky Moore ? Go Steelers
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
They might need a possession receiver if JuJu isn't back. Moore is that kind of slot-type receiver. Played QB in high school and made the transition at Western Michigan. He'd be in the third or fourth round range.
Jake in Conno
1:49
I see a WR in the early rounds of Steelers’ draft class.  Thoughts
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
Not 1 but 2 or after yes
Plumbster
1:49
None of these QBs rookie or retreads are any better than Rudolph will be in 22.  First round has to be a tackle or a DL man.  Fix the lines. My questions do you agree and when do you go for a WR?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:50
We're on the same page. Ideally, third round for WR, but they've gone second round more recently with Washington, Claypool and Smith-Schuster.
StopWar
1:51
Ray thanks for the chats.  Colbert has stated 4 QBs will be in camp signaling an FA signing and draft pick.  I see this as a mistake if that’s the plan.  Franchise QB is unlit to come out of this draft and picks are needed to fill a plethora of holes.  Yes it all starts with getting QB right but difficult to hit when QB draft class is good, this one is not. Do you agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:51
The fourth QB likely will be an undrafted free agent or a tryout guy
Jay
1:52
Hello Ray.  Could Lindenbaum be a good fit?  Everywhere I look he is the highest rated C out of college since Pouncey.  He is great in run and pass and extremely intelligent.  But he is 290lb.  Most scouts dont think its a problem.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
Being 290 is a concern for some teams. Just depends the type of blocking scheme that's being used. He's not going to block 340-pound nose tackles one-on-one. But he's very good on the move and would work well in other schemes.
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