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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.16.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Good afternoon. Let's started.
62 Stack Monster
1:58
Have the draftees been assigned numbers yet?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Yes they have. Broderick Jones is 77. Joey Porter Jr. is 24. Keeanu Benton is 95.
Brian
1:58
Any news on Kwon Alexander?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Not yet. He came in last night a visit. The meetings may be ongoing. I would imagine if they sign him it'll happen today. OTAs begin next week.
Bill
2:00
Doesn't the Mason Rudolph signing mean that Mitch Trubisky and his $ 8 million contract might likely be released or traded at some point? Not tempting?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
No that's not their plan. They signed Rudolph to be No. 3. They like Mitch Trubiksy. Omar Khan was very open about that earlier this spring. He said they'd like to have him as the backup beyond 2023.
Bill
2:01
Why would Mason Rudolph sign with the Steelers for QB3 given how he was treated last year? Is there more to the Mason Rudolph contract than we know? Was he possibly promised QB2 next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
As is the case with a lot of players, free agency did not treat them well on their first go-round. He's still in the NFL and will make more than $1 million in 2023 for holding a clipboard. That's not a bad living.
BPOS
2:02
Big shock on Rudolf resigning no?  Obvious no immediate market demand for him, but I expected him to sit out until a QB needy team due to injury might come calling. Was it more his services and expertise were in such low demand that he thought it better to lock in as #3 then out of work?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
I just think he wanted to ensure he was under contract by an NFL team now. He's not a big enough name, in my opinion, that could sit around and wait for an injury.
JP
2:03
Hi Ray, is it absurd to think the Steelers may use Conner Heyward as the 3rd TE and Full/H-Back and cut Gentry to "save" a roster spot?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I think there is room for four TEs on the 53-man roster. But if there is an odd man out it likely will be Gentry because Darnell Washington is such a good run blocker and that's how Gentry makes his biggest impact too.
2:05
And it's not that significant in terms of cap space. He's making the league minimum or thereabouts.
andrewRossNYC412broker
2:05
Are you buying the hype around the big TE they started out of SEC. He is a big boy but I bet he gets fewer than 10 catches on 15 throws this season. LOL.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
This happens all the time with draft classes. People get all excited about potential. And Washington does have a lot of potential. But I bet his biggest impact comes as a run blocker, at least in 2023. I heard more about him being a sixth offensive lineman at rookie minicamp than his pass-catching prowess.
Soggy
2:06
Hello Ray,  I assume you will have a million questions on Mason returning to the team.  Do you have any insight on why he did not land a #2 gig somewhere?  Do you think the Steelers trade Mitch before the season??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
His lack of mobility I believe is something that works against him. NFL teams covet that in 2023. And the Steelers have no plans to trade Mitch Trubiksy.
NYSteel
2:07
What will it take for the Steelers to win a playoff game again?  Better coaching, better scheme, better players, more luck?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Better defense first and foremost. They been bludgeoned in their past few outings. The Jags scored 45 against them with Blake Bortles at QB. The Browns scored even more with Baker Mayfield at QB although the offense certainly contributed to that debacle with all the early turnovers. And of course you need better offensive coordinating. The talent is there on defense and I think there is enough talent on offense for them to play the brand of football they want to play. Now it's all about winning 10 or 11 games and getting a seat at the playoff table.
NYSteel
2:09
Aren’t Roche and Herbig undersized to play OLB?  What is the thinking there?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
The thinking is Herbig has the frame to add more weight in time. He also has flexibility to play off the ball. There is a trend now in the NFL for players to be "position-less" which is just another way of saying they have versatility. We might have to stop thinking all 3-4 OLBS have to be 6-4, 255. I mean, that's the ideal guy, but the colleges just aren't producing them like they used to.
Mr. Wick
2:12
Whats your expectation on how many targets Darnell Washington gets per game?  I fear they'll relinquish him to being the 6th O-lineman which I get is a benefit, but he can be such a playmaker weapon, especially in the end zone.  I hope he gets more than a single target a game.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
They'll want to establish him in his run-blocking role first and then I think he'll branch out. But for Year 1 I would say 1 or 2 is likely.
The real guest
2:13
Ray, I think Dan Moore is better than most folks give him credit for. Not saying he is great and I still like that we are moving on to Jones but DM is a legitimate starting NFL LT and that is a valuable commodity. If somebody in the hunt losses their starting LT it will be difficult for them to resolve that problem in season and I bet they would be willing to pay for a guy like DM. What do you think the NYJs would pay to protect Aaron the great if their starting LT goes down? Man would they hate Belichick then.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
You might be right. I don't know the quality depth other teams have at the position, but there is a reason they drafted Broderick Jones. He'll be the starter sooner rather than later.
Rich
2:14
Hi Ray will Conor Heyward be mostly a gadget guy, or will he find a steady place in the Steeler offense this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I don't know about steady role in the offense, but he's a core special teams player and he'll be available week to week for the coaches if they want to utilize his skillset. Some weeks he'll be more involved and others less involved.
Rich
2:15
Hi Ray do you think that the Steelers Secondary will be improved this year? They have brought in some nice pieces and only lost Edmunds and Cam!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Hard to say because there are so many new faces. The good thing is one of the old faces is Minkah Fitzpatrick, and he's the straw that stirs the drink.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
2:16
Do you believe the Steelers still need another inside linebacker to either start or provide depth or are they content with who they have currently?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
Depth yes. They signed Holcomb and Roberts to be starters. But Holcomb is coming off offseason foot surgery. They think he'll be good to start the season, but he won't be involved much this spring. After the two starters it's Mark Robinson and Tae Crowder and that's it. They like Robinson, but is he ready to be the top backup? I think that's why Kwon Alexander was in for a visit last night.
Free Smoke
2:17
What other conference seems like it could be as competitive as the AFC North?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
I think the AFC East is balanced with the Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Dolphins. and I think the NFC is good with Philly, Dallas and NYG. Even the Commanders are solid. If you polled most NFL personnel people I think they would agree those three divisions are the best right now.
Best in terms of depth. Maybe not top-end talented teams...
Nate from Fort Wayne
2:19
Ray, if you had to choose between Kwon Alexander and Kyle Van Noy, who would you choose?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
Different types of players. I think either would be solid at this juncture of free agency.
CG
2:20
Hi Ray, if the interceptions for Joey Porter Jr. were set at 1.5, would you be over or under.  I am thinking over because he will get enough snaps and will be tested enough as a rookie to be targeted more than he was in college.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
That might be a good bet. If TJ Watt stays healthy the pass rush should get back to being really good again. And what do they always say? "Rush and coverage work together."
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
2:20
Have the Steelers seen Austin do enough in mini camps or rookie camps to believe he may be a contributor this year? I have heard very little about him since he was injured last year.
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