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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.10.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
I'll ask him.
Mercury
2:18
Do you see the potential for some major head butting between Tomlin, Flores and Austin?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
The Steelers do things a certain way on defense, and Brian Flores isn't going to come here and make all sorts of changes. He's going to be another voice. I'm sure there will be some healthy debate, but not until Flores feels comfortable in the defense.
Bill
2:20
I see Anthony Miller as a legit number 2 or 3 receiver, do you think the Steelers are going to give him a real chance to make the team? And why not?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Sure, he has a chance to make the team. He's a former second-round pick. But every time I am asked about Miller I remember he spent most of last season on the practice
squad. Why didn't he earn a bigger role last season when the WRs struggled so much.
Sherry
2:22
Any chance Big Ben returns to the Steelers in coaching, front-office role or even Pittsburgh Steelers radio on gameday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
Ben has not expressed an interest in being in football or broadcasting. Not that I've heard of, at least.
Najee Harris
2:23
Who is going to spell me?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Me! N-A-J-E... Oh, you mean who is going to be your backup? I'll go with Snell, but I can see another scenario developing with a new guy.
Scott
2:25
To me Connor Heyward seems to short to be a TE and too slow to be a RB. Given that the Steelers rarely use a FB and already have D.Watt on the roster, is Heyward a ST player or will they cut Watt if Connor proves capable during the pre-season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
He's an H-back, which is a hybrid FB/TE. They can try him in different roles and see how his skills can translate in the NFL. He does have soft hands.
AK
2:26
Does McFarland get cut this year?
Guest
2:27
Ray, by drafting KP @20, the Steelers silenced the speculation of seeing Baker Mayfield in Pittsburgh.  Let's turn it around.  What are the odds we see Mason Rudolph under center in Cleveland?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
They have Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs. He doesn't fit there.
Guest
2:28
Ray, Your article on the D vs O payroll is a real eye opener (and the next big $ contract will be on the D). It makes two things real clear: (1) why they hired Flores and (2) why they signed MT and drafted Pickett. Quite frankly for at least the next 2 or 3 years this team can not afford more than a B+ QB. They couldn't pay Ben 25 mil and there is no way they can pay anybody 45 or 50 mil. The price and performance of the Steelers D is not going to look good on Tomlin's resume.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
Thanks. Every team goes through that to some extent although maybe not to the extremes the Steelers are now. It's clear this team is built around the defense with the hopes a young offense can come around.
Scott
2:30
Is there any doubt that Austin's first touch will be a jet sweep? Where can I place a prop bet on that?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
Watch now it will be a 70-yard bomb over a 6-4 CB.
Raul R. Raulington
2:34
Jet Sweeps rarely work and have been failing in Pittsburgh for at least 3 O-Cords... Is ther idea that a moble QB RPO will chang that?... sigh.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
They believe a mobile QB will be better with Canada's offense.
DR
2:35
Are any punters and kickers participating in this weekends rookie camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
I haven't seen a complete roster for the weekend. They'll probably have 60 guys there. Most will be draft picks, UDFAs and guys on tryouts along with a few first-year guys who are still eligible to compete in a rookie camp. Of those 60 guys maybe 10-12 will be around in September and not all of them on the 53-man roster.
Chupacabra
2:36
Who do you see lining up at interior OL in game 1.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
Cole at center, Daniels at one guard and Green or Dotson at the other guard. I'll go with Green on a hunch.
AK
2:37
Where do you think Mayfield will wind up?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
Might depend on which team has a QB injury in camp.
Raul R. Raulington
2:38
Think Tomlin will let Austin be the actual D-Cord or only when things aren't going well, like with Butler?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
I doubt things will change a bunch, but the Flores dynamic is worth watching.
Kris
2:39
Good Day Sir!
Thank you for your time
I am really excited to see if Trubisky can develop into the star that was expected as the former #2 overall pick and maybe the 7th rounder, Oladokun, can develop into our very own TB12 without the insufferability quotient….
I guess we can be glad the team found it’s new backup QB, though the 1st round may have been a bit high, so the MR project can be relegated to the dustbin of history…, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
That's one bug run-on question, but after sifting through pieces of it, Pickett is the future starter. Only a matter of when.
Jerry
2:40
I don’t like the Defensive backs that we have. Do you think we will sign any other corners?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
Probably not before training camp. They have Sutton, Wallace and Witherspoon plus Pierre and Maulet. I'm not saying it's the great room in the league, but they have numbers there. I think they'll wait to see how some of these guys played in camp/preseason games before addressing, if need be.
Raul R. Raulington
2:41
Speaking of Flores... Isn't the under reported elephant that he accused a owner of fixing games?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
I don't know that's been under-reported. It will be a huge story if Steven Ross did that. Right now it's an accusation. The NFL is investigating.
Chuck from Michigan
2:42
Hi Ray, love your chats.  Agree with Dulac, Steelers draft grade was "C" at best.  Pickett and WR picks were great, but need more OT help.  Eric Fisher, former 1st round pick would be a good FA signing, not impressed with Joe Haeg.  7th round pick of QB was a wasted pick.  If Tomlin wanted a 4th QB for camp, sign FA QB Joe Flacco or Drew Rosen.  Appreciate your thoughts.  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
Everyone grades drafts in the days afterward. I get it. But I'd rather wait to see how these guys actually play and how they fit in. I think this draft hinges on Pickett obviously, but they have some high ceiling guys in Pickens and Leal that could work out in their favor. Could also go the other way. That's the risk of the draft.
Raul R. Raulington
2:44
The NFL would have a vested interest or conflict of... to sqaush that... no?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
Of course.
Raul R. Raulington
2:45
During games even PPG writers said 'Canada has no business calling plays in the NFL'... Obviously he will again but do you think Ben was the issue... I don't.
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