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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.07.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
I wish I had some news for you there. The only thing I can tell you is people are still hopeful the Post-Gazette will continue to publish after May 3. Between now and then, we'll continue to keep doing our jobs and hope everything works out.
Arthur not Art
12:26
Do you know how Shazier is doing these days and if he has coaching ambitions? Always thought he would be a good one.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
He's been around the Steelers off and on since his injury. I believe he was in camp as an intern last year or the year before. He's also done some media. He'll always have a home with the Steelers. They made that known to him after the injury.
Arthur not Art
12:27
Is coming out of the draft with 4 picks in the top 100, 7-8 picks overall, and a 3rd next year while addressing S, WR, G, and DT with those 1st 4 picks pretty much a home run scenario?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
If they trade a third this year for a pick next year it has to be a second. That's the way it works when you trade back a year. No GM would trade a third for a third. If you trade back you always get a round higher in return. But as far as your needs go, I'm on board with your thoughts. Don't be surprised if they take two WRs in the first four rounds and don't overlook TE and OT in rounds 3 or 4.
Arthur not Art
12:29
Hi Ray, hope you had a great weekend. Common sense indicates McCarthy isn't going to have the same tenure as his predecessors. May be an unfair question, given they haven't even had OTA's or a minicamp, but do you think there's someone on this staff that would be in line as the next HC? Do you think the 5'ish yr coach is a blip or their new method of operations.  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
Too early to say. Much of that will have to do with the Steelers' success or lack thereof. If the Steelers make a run in the playoffs you might hear about one of his coordinators being up for a job next year. That's the way it works.
FRIEND OF DANNO
12:31
The Steelers have been dominant on D with an all star nose guard like Casey Hampton and Joel Steed to mention a few. Haven't had anyone like those guys in recent years. Any chance this changes with a few huge guys who look like they can be disruptors available in the 3rd round. Would you prioritize this after getting an OL and WR with the first two picks?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
I would love to see that and a commitment to an old-school NG. I don't think they would be giving up on Keeanu Benton. It might just mean he slides over to 3-technique and plays more in sub-packages than in base. The hardest thing for me right now is projecting where some of these guys will fit in McCarthy's systems. We'll get a better feel for that once OTAs start. Certainly by training camp we'll know what their plans are for guys like Benton, but for now it's a big question mark. The same goes for guys like Washington on offense.
Gus in Alaska
12:34
Happy Draft month, Ray! In your estimation could you see this new Steelers coaching crew rebooting the running game with a more traditional fullback?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Everyone remembers John Kuhn from the Packers' Super Bowl XLV team, but McCarthy hasn't always had a traditional fullback. It will be interesting to see if he does have one at camp though. Nowadays, fullbacks have to have a bit more versatility. So maybe a bigger FB type who can block the end man on the LOS as an H-back. And run some TE routes too.
Barry in MD
12:37
See if I understand the QB plan for next year. We know next year’s draft order none of the top ten will need a qb no other average teams will be making trade offers. What am I missing. Got a roll the dice in third or fourth this year still enabling a big swing if possible next. How about Beck or Nussmeir forgive my poor spelling.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
I could definitely see them taking a QB with one of their third-round picks this year especially if Rodgers does not come back. Even if Rodgers does play, they could still take one in the middle rounds.
please
12:38
Ray, PLEASE PLEASE put my mind at ease and tell me the STEELERS will NOT draft Ty Simpson!!! I'm begging you!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
Can I pout your mind at ease if I tell you he won;t be their pick in the first round?
123
12:39
Do you think Broderick Jones will be a starting OT for Week 1?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
If he is healthy he'll be given every opportunity to start.
Peter
12:40
If the Steelers do in fact take a QB in the middle rounds as you suggest is a possibility, and Rodgers returns, would that mean Mason Rudolph will be traded? Who will the odd man out be?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
Yes Mason odd man out. Not sure what you'd get in return. Maybe a sixth or seventh-rounder.
Louis Lipps Sinks Ships
12:40
Would you trade TJ Watt for a #1 in 2027 to dump that heavy contract?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
I don't think they would do that. I don't think they can get a No. 1 for him. And, for me, it would depend on which team I'm trading with. I would not deal Watt for a late first. Bur if there was a chance it would be a high pick I'd have to think long and hard about it.
George T
12:42
Ray, I don’t understand why we should not use all 12 draft picks. To me there’s no difference between a 7th round pick and a undrafted player.  I do understand using some of their draft picks to move around draft or even using some to get draft capital for next year. But saying you can’t use all 12 picks doesn’t make sense too me
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
It does when you get around to cutdown day and there is the realization all 12 will never make the 53-man roster. It's hard to keep eight or nine if you draft eight or nine. Keeping 12 would be nearly impossible.
Draft King
12:43
I don’t understand all the talk about if they draft a qb in the first 4 rounds Rudolph will be gone. Do you think they are willing to go into the season with a 42 yr old starter and 2 backups who have never played a regular season snap? Thank you
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
If they are truly high on Will Howard I think they would trust him as the backup. And if Rodgers is injured it would be the perfect situation to finally get a look at what Howard can do when the lights are on.
NY Steeler
12:45
Regarding our new HC, to what other offense (current or not) would you equate his style, and do you believe he's got the players to be productive in his offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
It's the same offense he ran in Green Bay and Dallas. I'm sure there will be some new wrinkles. He studied the game a lot in his year off. He's excited about employing some of the things he learned in the past year. One thing he keeps harping on is efficiency in two-minute situations. He did a study last year and came away with the understanding that most games come down to the final drives in the fourth quarter. Can you stop the other team in that situation and can you drive down the field and score when you have the ball. I think you'll hear that as a theme this summer once camp arrives.
Louis Lipps Sinks Ships
12:48
The 1980's Steelers had some lean years near the end of the decade.  Do you have any favorite Steeler that were underappreciated (not on the 1970's Championships)?  My vote would be D's Dwayne Woodruff and O's Craig Woofley
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
Tunch was always underappreciated I think. He was so undersized for his position, but he was such a technician. He was a master at his craft. How about Brian Hinkle? He wasn't on those teams in the 1970s, but he was a really good OLB for much of the 1980s. Those years were lean, but I still watched. Mark Malone was the QB for many of those years. Bubby Brister too. And who could forget Weegie Thompson!
Draft King
12:50
Tomlin always went to a lot of pro days where McCarthy only went to one at Georgia. What do most head coaches do when it comes to pro day visits? Thank you
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
I know Tomlin used to like meeting their parents. When the Steelers signed Elandon Roberts a few years ago Tomlin went in depth into the conversation he had with his parents at his pro day. He feels like he learns something if he knows their background. At night, either the night before or the evening after the pro day, Tomlin and Colbert/Khan would take bunch of prospects out to dinner. It's another way of getting to know them in a much more informal setting. Other teams do that, but it seemed like Tomlin really got something out of those dinners. You're right. McCarthy doesn't seem as active on the pro day circuit. Probably a good question for him when we get him before the draft.
NY Steel
12:54
The drafting a player development in Colbert’s last 5-6 years was poor which is one reason the Steelers have been signing so many free agents and trades (8 of 22 starters last year).  To reverse this trend, I think the Steelers should use all 7 of their picks in Rounds 1-4 and begin to build a young, hungry core (even if it means cutting some vets ahead of them to make roster space).  This team seems like it needs some more youthful energy. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:54
It does, and I think that will come with a new staff. Change is good sometimes. I think the older players will be motivated to show they can be part of the new era, and the new players will be pushing them to stay on top.
12:55
Thank you to everyone who participated today. We'll do another one next week. Until then, happy mocking.
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