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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.28.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
Agree. Fumbling, especially at inopportune times, has been a problem for Conner. He has to clean that up.
exiled in the south
2:40
what's the delay with getting an extension for cam hayward? the steelers could use a little wiggle room on the cap, maybe to sign one more depth-type veteran (i'd still like to see a barron return if he could be had on the cheap), and beyond restructuring tuft and decastro, there aren't many more options for creating cap room.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
They can extend Heyward anytime up until the start of the season. No real hurry in doing that unless, of course, they want to sign more free agents, and I don't get that idea right now.
Lloyd's 3-Count
2:41
Is Antoine Brooks the LB/S hybrid folks have been hoping for in Edmunds?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
He's a sixth-round pick. You don't ask sixth-round picks to come in and contribute as rookies. Not unless you are really desperate. Marcus Allen was a fifth-round pick in 2018 and has barely played.
Carolina Steeler
2:43
Hi Ray!  Thoughts on Claypool's hands and ball skills?  I heard a lot about size and speed.  As Zeise outlined in his article, Steelers have a bad habit of picking lots of athlete's who can't catch.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:43
Bryant had that knock too. Lots of times NFL teams believe they can correct that with extra work on the JUGS machine and extra coaching.
Sergio
2:44
Do you think Kerrith Whyte and McFarland both make the team as they basically have the same running style and speed?  Thank you Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
I doubt it. I think they're similar players. Maybe keep Whyte on the practice squad if they can sneak him through waivers.
Carolina Steeler
2:45
Ray, don't know a ton about Claypool's skills.  yes, big and fast.  do u know about his hands and can he catch?   Reading Zeise's article on history of drafting receivers with BAD hands...always makes me wonder.  Add Antonio Bryant to the list of bad hands to the ones he named!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
I don't remember hearing about hands being an issue with JuJu or Diontae Johnson. I mean, sure we can cherry pick some guys like Sammie Coates and Limas Sweed, but it's hard to argue with their success drafting receivers over the years.
Nate
2:46
Hi Ray, on his podcast, Mark Madden stated that JuJu is gone after this year, no matter how he plays.  Have you heard anything?  Or what are your thoughts?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
No. If JuJu has a good year and they can't re-sign him they can always franchise him.
livinthedream
2:47
Ray, Charlton is still out there. Invite him to compete. Why not?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:48
I don't profess to know much about college punters, but since all other 31 teams decided not to draft him or sign him then maybe he's not good?
NY steelers
2:48
So what’s the real catch about Claypool? That combine with that production, yet considered a reach in the second round? What am I missing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
Honestly, I haven't heard much about him being a reach, I know the Steelers are satisfied with the pick and where they got him.
Ryan
2:49
With the signing of Claypool, that probably means the chances of Cain sticking around over Switzer Is close to -0- unfortunately...  agreed?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
Probably but you never know. Might come down to Cain or Switzer.
Dennis
2:50
Ray, enjoyed your article on Chase clay pool, it got me excited to have a player who could open up space foe D Johnson, Ju Ju and company
Ray Fittipaldo
2:50
Thanks! It's always good to look back on history to figure out how the Steelers might use players. They haven't been shy about playing their rookies WRs, have they?
NY steelers
2:51
What is the point of drafting a RB In the middle rounds seemingly every year? They are all more or less the same and the position can be competently filled inexpensively thru free agency? I don’t get it
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
Throwing numbers at a position and hoping one of them stands out?
Jeff M
2:51
I have heard Carlos Davis in the 7th round will have  a lot of trouble making the team cause DT don't play ST. All 7th rd picks are iffy. But if his 4.7 40 is legit why couldn't he be involved in ST?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
Like Orpheus Roye!
Bones
2:52
your best guess: Full NFL Season, Truncated  Season of 10 games.  or less than 10 games
Ray Fittipaldo
2:52
Of those three choices: full season. But I could see a 12 or 14-game season if the testing isn't to a better capacity by August or September.
NY steelers
2:52
After seeing him for a season, any concern about Bush’s size in playing ILB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:53
He's always going to have to deal with that especially against heavy teams that want to run the ball down your throat.
Aaron Smith fan
2:53
Ray, what do you feel realistic expectations should be for Derwin Gray, both in 2020 and beyond?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:54
Well, he was on the practice squad all season. I see him as more of a guard than a tackle, so I don't think Dotson's selection is good news for him.
NY steelers
2:55
I liked the minkah trade the day it was made. That said, his splash plays dwindled by the end of the year. Do you think that he played as well to the end and was the missing piece of the defense as we are led to believe, or did his play worsen and all the praise is due to his early production?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:55
I think opposing Qbs saw he was making big plays every week and decided to stay away from him.
TC
2:55
Hi Ray, In your humble opinion, why, specifically, didn't the Steelers take Akers or Dobbins?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:55
I just think they believed Claypool would help the offense more.
Jeff M
2:56
I am haiving trouble thinking of a player, except maybe Megatron, that had sustained NFL success at Claypools size. Can you think of any? Also, several scouting bios I have seen say he is slow out of his breaks. Is that more important than the straight a head speed from the 40?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:56
Isn't Julio Jones about the same size? Plenty of other lesser known guys too I am sure.
Bones
2:57
Does the 7th round pick NT have the best chance of starting this year, from this class?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:57
Um, no.
Bones
2:57
I wanted JK Dobbins in the first round. And what made it worse is Ravens got him.  Talk me off the cliff.
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