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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.13.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:53
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we will get started soon.
Guest
11:53
Ray, which of the UDFAs (if any) do you think have the best shot to make the main roster or practice squad?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:55
I'll go with Dravon Henry or P.J. Locke. Both are safeties, and the Steelers aren't deep at the position. Each will have an opportunity to prove they are worthy for a role this summer. Brian Batko wrote a piece about them at rookie minicamp. Here is the link: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/05/10/pj-locke-dravo...
CourtneyWest
11:55
Mr Fittipaldo, do you think the Steelers have plans to use Bud Dupree in the manner the Texans do with Jadeveon Clooney?? There both very similar players in my opinion. Matt Williamson over on steel city insider wrote an article several weeks ago saying as much. Thanks for your insight.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
Clowney and Dupree might be similar athletically, but their respective teams have utilized their talents in different manners. With the Steelers, Dupree has played as a pure 3-4 OLB. Dropping into coverage is part of his job description. And he does it quite well. With the Texans, Clowney might be listed as a 3-4 OLB in the program, but he rarely drops. He also has his hand on the ground and plays more like a defensive end. So to answer your question, unless the Steelers make a big change to their defense, I don't see them using Dupree in the same manner. Both OLBs must be able to rush and drop in the Steelers' defense. It's been that way for years, and it would represent a big change if they moved toward something else in 2019...
Steel fan
11:59
Ray - any insights from rookie minicamp and football in shorts. Is the speed the steelers have been pursuing on display in any material form....anyone really impressive?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
That's about all one can determine from rookie minicamp...speed, quickness, athleticism, etc. The real football won't take place until the summer up at Saint Vincent.  But you can take some cues from how they moved. I thought Sutton Smith was impressive rushing the passer. He is quick. I'll watch him closely in training camp to see if he can do it when the pads are on. He's very undersized for a 3-4 OLB, but he was very productive in college, where he also was undersized... The new ILBs are fast too. Devin Bush, of course, runs a 4.43 40 but Ulysees Giulbert also runs in the 4.4s. They wanted to get quicker and faster at LB so it will be interesting this summer to see how all those guys fit in.
luigi
12:02
I feel the steelers did well in FA and the draft.  Your thoughts on the browns.  Everyone seems to think we are done!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
The Browns won the offseason with some of their moves, which included trading for O'Dell Beckham, Jr. I think they'll contend in the division in 2019, but I'll hold off on planning the Super Bowl parade route.
Bob in Canada
12:03
Hi Ray.  Did you attend Rookie Mini-Camp and if so was there anything of note that really stood out?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
The coaches just want to see how these guys move and react to different circumstances. They want to see how they learn, etc. No one will know if they can really play football until training camp.
Justin
12:05
What's the hold up in getting Layne's contract done?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
Nothing really. Bush just signed yesterday. All these rookie contracts are slotted. There is a rookie wage scale. For the most part, all these guys know what they'll be making the minute they are drafted.
Guest
12:06
No one is talking about K. Adams. Do you think he can make the roster? I sure do!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Adams didn't flash as much last year as he did as a rookie before he had shoulder surgery. I'm not convinced he was back to 100 percent last season. He was on the practice squad. The fact they kept him on the practice squad says they believe in him to a degree, but he has Chickillo, Ola and now perhaps Sutton Smith to jump over. I'm not counting him out, but there are a lot of bodies there.
Matt
12:08
Who ultimately starts at right tackle week 1? Okorafor? Feiler?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
That's a good question. Feiler started 10 games at right tackle last season. He had a few hiccups but overall he was good I thought. It's interesting. Before last season the belief was he would be better at guard than tackle. Then they go and re-sign Ramon Foster so obviously Feiler has to play tackle if he's going to start. Okorafor is probably more talented. He's just younger and not as experienced. If he outplays Feiler in camp then he'll have a shot, but Feiler is probably the leader in the clubhouse due to his experience.
KN
12:11
Good Morning Ray. Thank you for the chat. I know football in shorts does not mean much but what are your early impressions of the TE Zack Gentry and Safeties  Askew Henry and Locke at the rookie minicamp? Thank you
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Zach Gentry is tall. That's what I took away. I have to see if he can block in camp before I make any determinations about him. He looked OK running routes, but they'll need him to block if he's going to make the team. As for Locke and Henry, I  mentioned earlier they'll have an opportunity due to the lack of depth at safety. They looked fine in the limited amount of time I watched them. Henry had an INT when I was concentrating on him Friday.
Kris
12:13
If Justin Layne has a good camp, and preseason, do you see the chance of Steven Nelson being moved inside as a slot corner with Layne taking outside coverage opposite Haden?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
Yes, that's a possibility, but I don't think they're counting on that happening. Nelson was signed to be a starter on the outside, and I think they'll go into camp with that plan in mind. If Layne is great and forces their hand they have options because Nelson has played inside in the past.
Kris
12:14
I'm a little concerned with the lack of depth we have at the TE position, considering Vance McDonald has been injury prone in his career so far. Do you see us making an acquisition before the season to sure up the depth?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Yes, I think that's possible, but they have time to make a move there. They can let the young guys compete this spring and into the summer to see what they have. Once they find out they can address it during camp or after final cut-downs.
Kris
12:15
I'm surprised we didn't go after a Safety in this year's draft. I know we signed a few UDFA's, but it'll be tough for them to make the 53-man roster. Does this show the confidence they have in Marcus Allen as a backup and/or Cam Sutton?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Mike Tomlin mentioned Marcus Allen and Cam Sutton by name when he was asked about the depth at safety the day the draft ended. He says Allen will have a chance to prove he's worthy of being in the mix for the dime LB spot. Sutton played there last year in a pinch. He's a CB, but he's safety-capable. I don't know if it's their plans to move Sutton to safety, but he has the versatility to make that move if need be.
Matt
12:17
McCrane was just released. Does that mean Pitt's gone sink-or-swim with Boswell after how inept he was last year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
Unless this kicker from Central Florida is the real deal. I guess we'll find out in training camp and the preseason games. The issue for McCrane was never his accuracy as a field-goal kicker. It was his leg strength on kickoffs. He knew he'd have to improve his leg strength to compete for the job this summer. Apparently, the Steelers didn;t feel like he could do it so they moved on from him.
Kris
12:19
I read that the Steelers were in their sub-package defense, either Nickel, Dime, or Dollar, almost 80% of the time last season. Do you see this trend continuing this season or will we see more of the primary 3-4 defensive scheme?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Obviously, that will depend on the opposing offensive coordinators and how they choose to attack the Steelers. But the trend of spreading the defense out and passing the ball more certainly points to the Steelers likely being sub-package heavy again in 2019.
Kris
12:20
"And this place is a steeler maniacs haven". Who made this call, and what play was it following? Testing your Steelers knowledge! Hint... it was during a SB.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Bill Hillgrove made the call. And I believe it was during the introductions to Super Bowl XL. At least that's how NFL Films played it. Hillgrove might have said it at another point and they might have used it there. They've been known to do that... Fun fact: I had to listen to the first half of Super Bowl XL because I was driving back from a Pitt-Georgetown basketball game. The game was at noon and I wrote the story in the backseat of Bobby Seitz's car. He was a buddy of Dave Mackall, who covered Pitt basketball for the Trib at the time. We stopped to file out stories at a hotel on the way back, and then I got home in time to see the second half of the game.
I think I spelled Bobby's last name right. If not, apologies Bobby!
Antonio
12:23
Who starts week 1 at wide receiver other than Ju-Ju?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Another good question. Could be James Washington. Could be Donte Moncrief. Could be Diontae Johnson. If Washington progresses  and has a good preseason my guess is it will be him. But he has to prove it this summer.
Professor Flush
12:25
What is funnier? Simpsons episode with Homer voting for man hit in crotch with football, or Ray F. getting tagged in the nads with a water balloon? I would vote for the latter.......
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
Probably the latter if JuJu's camera crew got it on film.
Kris
12:27
In your honest opinion, what is the realistic percentage that the 2019-2020 Steelers make it to the Super Bowl? You gotta think there is always a chance when you have 7.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
3.75%
Benny
12:27
Do you see Snell beating out Samuels for the back-up running back job?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
I don't know about that. Benny Snell comes to the Steelers with a distinct skill set. He is a downhill runner that specialized in short-yardage and goalline situations in college. As we all know the Steelers didn't exactly light the NFL on fire with their running game last year so Snell could have an opportunity to carve out a niche.
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