JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.16.21

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.16.21

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Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin

2:21

I think "A-" is a bit generous grade for Dupree in your 2015 Draft analysis, considering he played with his eyes closed for the better part of 4 years but overall a alarming & well put together piece Ray.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:23

Thanks. The last two years are what did it for me. He blossomed into one of the top rushers in the league. I was going to give him a B+, but I think he earned the A- with his play the past two seasons.

2:23

Have we ever actually gotten "good" players from free agency? They've always seemed like a one and gone. I guess the real question is, has there been any free agents join the team and reach superstardom or HOF?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:24

Kevin Greene, if you want to go back all the way back to 1993. James Farrior won't get into the Hall of Fame, but he was an essential piece of the puzzle on the Super Bowl XL and XLIII teams.

Jerry

2:25

Hey Ray! Which RB would you pick if you were running the team?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:25

I'd get one in the draft. And if the ones I like are gone I pick one up in the summer before or during camp.

Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin

2:25

Speaking of the brain trust's dismal secondary track record... signing Sutton is fine but he isn't a starter. If they let Hilton go they will be making a mistake, imo. He is as productive as their 'All Pro' Safety, both are liabilities covering at times... However... he actually can & will tackle! Make it work!

Ray Fittipaldo

2:26

Well, maybe the market will allow him to come back. I saw on the NFL Network earlier that the Bengals were interested in him, but they signed the guy from Dallas instead.

Jerry

2:26

I would cut Williams and try to sign Williamson. Your thoughts?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:27

Williams is fine as long as he comes back on a reduced salary.

Guest

2:27

Alualu signed with the Jags. This hurts a lot.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:28

Yeah and only for $6 million over two years. I don't know yet, but I suspect this had more to do with family than anything else. At $3 million a year, he's a bargain. I find it hard to believe the Steelers didn't want to match that offer.

Donna

2:28

Hi Ray, with so many Steelers not returning, Kevin Colbert and Coach Tomlin better draft well.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:28

They need to hit on the draft like they did in 2017 and 2020.

Omar Stinks

2:29

Why is this team ALWAYS in salary cap hell. Every year ? Is it time to jettison the false "salary cap wizard" Omar Khan ?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:30

Nah. The shrinking cap got them this year. If the cap was $210 million this year they'd have found a way to sign JuJu and maybe even Bud.

NPC

2:30

Bud Dupree didn’t play well until his 5th or 6th season, right about the time when Porter left and Butler took over coaching the OLBs. Do you think he played well just because it was a contact year or do you think Butler coached him up well?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:30

Maybe a combination of both. And sometimes it just takes time for guys to get comfortable.

2:30

I think Batko mentioned yesterday that if multiple people leave in FA we'd get comp picks. Are those applied to 2021 or 2022?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:31

2022

Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin

2:31

The more I look at Hunter Long, the more I like him as a Steeler... if... & it's a big if... he's still there at the beginning of round 3 do you think they might move up for him?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:32

I'm not convinced they'd have to move up in the third round to get him. He's a good player, but he's maybe the fourth- or fifth-best TE in this draft.

Guest

2:32

Ray thanks 4 chat. This Steelers team has a 6-10 feel to it. Win game in trenches and both O and D lines are weak, lack depth. No Run game, Ben past his prime. I dont like how this feels.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:33

You might be right, but I'll hold off the gloom and doom until after I see what they do in the draft.

Harold

2:33

Ray, with the number of Steelers leaving, is it strictly because of the money or if there some discontent in the locker room or within the organization?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:33

It's the cap. Went from $198.2 million to $182.5 million. In a normal year it would have gone up to $210 million or more.

House on Fire

2:34

Ray- We're pretty much screwed next year and the year after that and forever and ever again right ? We've become the Pirates or Buffalo Sabres ?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:34

The Steelers will have a ton of cap space next year. They'll be in position to make some moves to stay competitive. Whether they can execute that without a franchise QB is anyone's guess, but the cap won't be an issue next offseason.

Scott from Erie

2:34

Surprised Jesse James hasn't signed with the Steelers yet? Was he considered a good blocking TE?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:35

He was just OK as a blocker. Definitely a positional blocker. He is not a knock 'em back type of blocker at the L.O.S. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if he does sign with them.

Scott from Erie

2:36

Steelers lost Bud Dupree and didn't offer a restricted free agent tender to Ola Adeniyi...what is their plan at OLB?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:36

They'll almost certainly draft one. They got a guy like Chickillo in the sixth round in 2015, and he was a guy who dressed for games as a rookie. It doesn't have to be a super high pick.

Chris ny

2:37

Do you you think the steelers will finish coser to division champs or last place. I know the draft hasnt been determined but assume if you will we get a top rb and stud lineman. Thanks

Ray Fittipaldo

2:37

That's a tough call because third place would be closer to last place, and the Ravens and Browns will be good again. And the Steelers can definitely make the AFC playoffs by finishing third in the AFC North.

Tart Dooney II

2:38

What free agents out there might be a good replacement for Alualu. Wormley stunk so not him. Any ideas

Ray Fittipaldo

2:38

I thought Alualu would come back so I didn't really look over this free agent DL class. Maybe I should do that now and the draft class, which I mentioned earlier is not stocked with great DL depth.

Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin

2:39

Fair enough but he benefited from playing opposite of T.J. & didn't "blossom" until it benefited him financially... also.. I caught him with his eyes closed last season, multiple times right before he got hurt... He can be good but for a 1st round pick that was essentially a bust 3+ years... idk.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:39

What grade would you have given him?

Paul

2:39

Great article today Ray! Is it possible that the Steelers were trying to find "tweeners" or something when they drafted corners?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:40

I don't know, but that draft will go down as an all-timer for what NOT TO DO in drafting DBs.

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