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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.11.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I still say he stays put in Green Bay.
Stinger
2:15
What likely order would the 2021 comp picks be considering the lost of a few key players this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Nothing is for certain until the comp picks are announced next March, but overthecap.com predicted the Steelers would get a third-round comp pick for losing Bud Dupree and a fifth for losing Matt Feiler. Kevin Colbert said after the draft the reason he traded a 2022 fourth-round pick to trade up for Isaiahh Loudermilk was the anticipation they would received comp picks that made it easier for them to make that deal.
Linus
2:17
How would you compare the Steelers draft in regards to other AFC North teams?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
Way too early to tell. Let's wait til these guys play a game.
Steeler fan in Bama
2:18
Ray, Do you think right now the Steelers offensive line is better than it was in the final game last year. I think the C they drafted is younger and more athletic than Pouncey at the end of last year and overall they are more athletic than how they werel to end last year
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Center is a big unknown at this point. We don't even know if Green will be out BJ Finney. I think the assumption is Kevin Dotson will be a viable replacement for Matt Feiler, but he has to prove it on the field. And the same goes for Okorafor replacing Villanueva. Villenueva is on the downside and didn't play great in 2020,  but Okorafor has never played the left side. I can see how people think younger will be better -- and getting younger was a necessity -- but these players have to perform on the field before we make any determinations about whether it's a better unit than last year.
Chuck from Michigan
2:21
Followup question on the TE situation, is Kevin Rader's value as a special teams contributor, give him the nod over Gentry? to make the 53 man roster, or is Rader solely a practice squad insurance policy?  Agree that Gentry has shown nothing so far, so maybe Jesse James becomes the third TE.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
Rader did some good things late in the season, but he's a No. 3 TE at best. That's why they drafted Freiermuth in Round 2.
Guest
2:22
Why did shakur brown go undrafted
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
He's on the smaller side and didn't test well at his pro day. Pretty simple. Doesn't mean he can't play. Mike Hilton was on the smaller side and didn't test off the charts, either. Maybe they can strike gold again with Brown.
Paul
2:23
Ray I know its past us, but would you have drafted Creed Humphrey in 2nd then take best TE or CB in 3rd?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Well, I believe Tommy Tremble and Hunter Long were off the board when the Steelers selected at No. 87 overall, so I would say the Steelers were proven right. Not sure how good the TE prospects were after Trmeble and Hunter were off the board.
Defense
2:25
Hi Ray. Question about trades during the draft. In order to trade, I would think that the teams envolved talk, but do they actually share the why on the trade ? Re/ do they share the name of the targeted player?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
No, but it's usually obvious which player teams are targeting when they move up.
Guest
2:26
Any free agents out there (like corner, outside linebacker) on the Steelers radar, or are they waiting to see what they have in training camp first?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
I think they'll evaluate the players on the offseason roster and then we'll see how they feel about certain positions a week or two into training camp.
GM
2:27
Hi Ray, will records that are broken this year come with an asterisk since we have a 17 game season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
We really didn't see that when the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. I am sure it will be mentioned, but I don't think we'll see asterisks in the record books.
Y-Town Steeler
2:28
Do you think Freiermuth will have more snaps and / or touches then Ebron by the end of the year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
If he is a solid run blocker then yes, by the end of the year, I could see him playing more than Ebron. But we're a long way from that happening. He has much to prove.
Y-Town Steeler
2:29
Do you think Kendrick Green is a day 1 starter?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
Day 1 starter in terms of inserting him on the first day of minicamp next month? No. But Day 1 starter for the opener in September? Maybe. I'll be surprised if he's not the starter by the middle of October.
Benson DuBois
2:30
How do you think Alualu's return affected the Steeler's draft?  I think D-Line would have gone in round 2 or 3 if he stays with Jax.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
This wasn't a good draft for defensive linemen so I'm not sure it would have changed all that much. They got Loudermilk in the fifth round. He's a developmental player, which is perfect for them because they have six or seven guys on the line with NFL experience.
Methuselah Thõempkrësharh
2:31
Ray, remind me... What was the injury that dropped Heath Miller to the bottom of the first round?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
I believe it was a sports hernia.
The Fist
2:32
Ray with so much anticipated cap space next year, Do you see the Steelers signing JJSS long term?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Depends on what other teams are willing to pay him. Like this year they won't overvaule him. But they believe he is a good value at around $8 million a year. That has been established.
HT
2:33
Ray thanks for the hard work...JuJu still popping off and Big Al laying down the ugly truth! When will the Steeler management get the message that they are presiding over a circus show that started when The super bowl era players retired,  and is still occurring, within the hallowed halls? Do they realize and even care that so many fans are being alienated as a result?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
I didn't really think twice about what Villanueva said about TikToks. It could have been a joke between friends. Too many overreacted to that.
Retire21
2:34
Predict the Steelers opener when announced tomorrow. I'll say Steelers at Chargers for Sunday 4:35 game. (Pirates are home so unless it's a Monday night, Steelers on the road.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
How about Steelers at Browns? And in primetime on Sunday or Monday night.
Jud
2:34
Were it up to you, which one of the rookies would start?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
You mean other than Najee Harris, who is pretty much a lock? I suppose Green has a chance, but that's about it after Harris.
GM
2:35
Has 90 ever gone against 78 in practice?  If so were there any glaring points to notice?  I assume that's why Bal really brought him in.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
They go good on good in camp and once in a while during the season, but 90 and 78 only faced each other in live scenarios in camp, and it's not like it happened every day. They pick their spots.
ELev#HearWeGo 4Life
2:37
BJ Finney was traded away from Seattle and cut from Cincinnati for being GROSSLY out of shape. He wasn't very good when he was IN shape. What makes you think he can be successful next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
He's the placeholder at center until Green proves he is ready. Like it or not, he's started games in the NFL. Green has yet to do that.
Methuselah Thõempkrësharh
2:39
Sure he/they have to prove it on the field but I see getting Freiermuth at 55 as possibly  the steal of the draft.
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