JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.16.23

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.16.23

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Ray Fittipaldo

2:21

Austin was not eligible for rookie minicamp. So we'll see where he is in his rehab next week with the start of OTAs.

Free Smoke

2:21

I recall the story out of last year's camp (and first several weeks of the season) was that the O-Line was adjusting to Pat Meyers' system. Do you think the intricacies of his system -- whatever they are -- could impact the O-Line this year with a 1st-round rookie and a number of free agent signees?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:22

It could. He was working with veterans last year and it took them some time to pick things up. The good new is Seumalo is a vet and he should pick things up in a few months. The same should hold true of Jones, but it could take him a bit longer because he's still young and will have a bigger learning curve.

Lambert’s missing tooth

2:23

Thanks for your chats Ray! Always insightful. Have you looked back at at your past mock drafts and looked how your picks panned out, Steelers or otherwise? I see a “Where are they now” pod in your future!

Ray Fittipaldo

2:23

I have not. But that's a good idea for a podcast in the lean summer months of June and July. I'll keep that idea filed away.

Kenny in SD

2:24

Hey Ray! The Steelers are facing 3 playoff ready teams to end the regular season. What record do you think the team will need to have by Week 16 in order to earn a playoff spot?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:24

10-4 to be safe, but 9-5 might do the trick. Let's face it. If you can't win one of your final three against those teams -- no matter how good they are -- you probably don't deserve to go to the playoffs.

Star-Lord

2:25

I live out west and the price of tickets for the Steeler-Raider game are ridiculous on the resell sites (crap seats for $420). Yikes. Cheaper to buy tickets for games in PGH. Or at Sofi where you can go for $130. Just venting, really wanted to see that Raider game. Guess that's why the prices are so high.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:25

Moreso than the opponent is the destination. And it's the first time the Steelers are playing in Vegas.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

2:26

I believe Warren pushed Harris to be a better back last year by showing him how to hit the hole hard and stop dancing in the hole like Leveon Bell. How do you think the carries will be split up between the 2 backs? 70/30, 60/40?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:26

69-31.

Sleepless in Seattle

2:26

My wife, son, and I are thinking of going to Portland to visit my daughter from 12/28-1/2/24 and want to take in the Steelers game in Seattle on 12/31...what do you think the odds are the game would get flexed from 12/31? I say it won't get flexed to Thursday since they already play 2 Thursday games and there is no Monday night game that week due to it being New Year's Day? Thoughts on it getting flexed? at worst flexed to the Saturday night game on 12/30?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:27

Impossible to say. If both teams are still in playoff contention, with nothing clinched, it will have a greater chance of being flexed. The opposite is true as well. If one or both teams are out of contention it will be an afternoon game.

MATT P

2:27

Ray, Plus or minus on 9.5 wins?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:27

Sean from Connecticut

2:28

Will this be the last and final year for Canada if the Steelers do not compete for the playoffs? Will the front office have a short lease on him or will they kep him through the year and then decide?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:29

It's not their style to make an in-season change. We all say their restraint last year when things were bad at the halfway point. They simplified some things and did better. They went 6-2 down the stretch. Now Canada has to find some ways to be explosive so they're not in so many nail-biters.

Mean joe

2:29

Is herbig ultimately an olb or ilb? Or both?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:29

Not sure yet, but they said he will begin his career in the OLB room.

Old and Crabby

2:30

Is greed the main driving force in the NFL? I live in Florida. In order to view the NFL package I had to first get Direct TV. That was okay because I could get all commercial channels. Now I have to get a Smart TV and subscribe to two streaming services to watch all the Steelers games (maybe a third if they make the playoffs). Have the owners forgotten that fan access and exposure are what built the popularity of the game?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:31

They are very calculated in their business. If people were unwilling to pay for these types of services they would not institute such changes. But so far at least people haven't shown they'll ignore the games on the streaming networks. If anything, the NFL is exploring more of those opportunities every year.

andrewRossNYC412broker

2:32

what up ray ? I rated our off-season a B+… I like the draft, as most so called experts do. We may still be worst team in our division though with questions at QB and off ball LB. I have not positions rated C. I also don’t see the black and gold putting up more a 21 point avg (excluding defensive scores) What say you ?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:33

If they can get to 21 ppg they should be in the thick of the playoff chase. They averaged 18.1 ppg last year and went 9-8. With that defense, they might not have to average much more.

2:33

Hi Ray, the Steelers' signed 2 guards as free agents and brought in Steve Avila and John Schmitz for top 30 visits. The also added 2 centers as UDFAs. Why is it so absurd to think they may be considering moving James Daniels to center and using Mason Cole as back-up at 3 positions. If they were that happy with Cole, I don't know that they would have spent so much time on centers.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:34

James Daniels finally found a home at guard after bouncing between center and guard during his first four seasons with the Bears. I'm not denying he can play center, but sometimes you have to let guys find their home and let them play where the are most comfortable.

2:34

Fred Gibson was supposed to be the next big thing when the steelers drafted him in 2005, but it didn't pan out. All these years later fans still wonder what happened. Do you have any insight on this mystery? Thanks for the chats!

Ray Fittipaldo

2:35

A Where Re They Now on a fourth-round pick who never made the 53-man roster?

D'Artagnan

2:35

Who will lead the team in touchdown receptions this year?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:36

If the Steelers are going to be a team that makes the playoffs and maybe wins a game when they get there it probably has to be Pickens. Their receivers have to make some big plays next season. One of the more amazing stats from 2022 is that WRs accounted for only five touchdowns. Pickens had four and Claypool one. That needs to change.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

2:37

Do you feel the Steelers will have a better team this year and have a worse record than last year as some of the pundits seem to think? I think 11-6 10-7 is a reasonable expectation. What say you?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:37

In my very unscientific off-the-cuff prediction right after the schedule came out I said 10-7. But check back in September. Lots can change between now and then.

Coach15

2:39

What exactly happens at Steelers rookie mini-camp? Is this similar to combine & or players pro-days?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:40

No they actually install some basic stuff they'll run all season. It's basically an introductory to the NFL.

Ed D

2:40

Please name Starting CBs Week 1 including Slot. Peterson/Wallace and Porter take Peterson's place outside and push him inside on 3rd/passing?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:41

My guess is Porter and Peterson will be starters on the outside. Beyond that, I want to wait and see what takes place at OTAs and minicamp.

Free Smoke

2:41

What's the likelihood to bring back Wormley? He seemed like a good complementary piece. (And start him against BAL)

Ray Fittipaldo

2:42

They stocked up on defensive linemen in the draft and free agency so I don't think it's likely unless they have some injuries. Plus, they'd have to wait and see how he progresses from his ACL injury. That happened late in the season.

Doyle37

2:42

If Georgia TE Bowers drops to Steelers next draft, do they draft him and move Washington to RT ?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:42

LOL

Bill in SF

2:43

Seeing that the Browns just traded for Za'Darius Smith, how do you rank the 4 AFC North teams defenses?

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