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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.19.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we will get started soon.
Mo Nongahela
1:55
Ray, do you think the Steelers will be looking at adding a veteran ILB, or are they going to go with the combo of U Gilbert and safeties to cover over the middle on passing downs?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
I think they'll go to camp with the idea of evaluating their options. Marcus Allen and Ulysees Gilbert are in-house candidates. If none of the in-house options work out they could look at outside candidates. Maybe some guys who get cut just before the season.
Sissy
1:56
It would be a shame Ray if Cain doesn’t make it, we saw he has talent to continue growing.. I said that cause I guess Switzer is making the team, don’t get me wrong he has some chemistry with Ben and friends they are.. but we better keep 6 WR’s then.. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
When they've kept six receivers in the past it's because the sixth guy was a special-teams player first and a receiver second. I don't recall Cain being very useful on special teams in his limited action last season, but maybe he can show them something in that regard. Switzer doesn't offer much in the way of special teams either. He's a punt returner and sometimes kick returner and that's about it. It's not like either are Darrius Heyward-Bey or Johnny Holton. You knew why they made the team, and it wasn't for their receiving skills.
Mo Nongahela
1:59
How likely do you think it is that there will be a new punter by the start of the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
35% chance.
Bill
1:59
Which Safety, on-the-current-roster, do you think, would make the best hybrid LB, playing next to Devin Bush?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Terrell Edmunds, but the coaches would have to get comfortable putting him there and having someone else in mind to play deep.
KN
2:00
Hello Ray.  Thank you as always for the chat.   I have two questions. Colbert has mentioned Alualu and Mccullers as an option for NT but not Buggs . I thought Buggs has played NT in college.  Is there a reason that his name is not even mentioned in the conversation ? Do you have any input regarding the Carlos Davis efficacy as a run stopping NT at Nebraska ? I understand that he is athletic based on the combine numbers but any input based on his film at Nebraska ?  Thank you very much.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
From what I remember of watching Buggs' tape at Alabama he was not a nose guard. I seem to remember him lining up as a 3-technique or 5-technique. As for Davis, he's not a prototypical interior player. He has athleticism. That's why they took a chance on him in the seventh round. I think they're hoping, with the proper coaching, they can get something out of him down the road.
John Strange
2:02
Are people who think there will be a 2020 NFL season living in a Dream World?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
You mean Roger Goodell and the 32 owners? They're moving ahead with plans. Games might be in empty stadiums, but there are strong indications the league will do everything in its power to put games on in a safe environment.
Guest
2:03
In your opinion what are the chances the season opening Monday night game in NYC actually gets played
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Total guess at this point because things seem to change every day, but I think it's better than 50-50 they play that game on schedule. and even if they don't they can still play a full season, or something close to it the way they built the schedule.
Joihnstown Johnny
2:04
Ray,  I truly believe the Steelers with a Healthy BB can go 12 & 4 this year if football happens.  Your thoughts please.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
I picked them to go 11-5 so we're not that far off. The one reason why 12 wins might not be attainable is how challenging the AFC North should be this year. It's shaping up as one of the top one or two divisions in the league.
livinthe dream
2:06
Ray, Find it hard to believe Biil Bellacheat isn't going into the tank. Going from most experienced starter in the NFL to the least experienced.But you know what, if I were a NE fan I would gladly give up   one season to have Trevor Lawrence for the next 12. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Yeah I think if you can guarantee something like that happening then fans would be on board with it. But it would be hard to be that bad with the defense they have. It was one of the best in the league last season. I also don't view Belichick as the tanking type. People thought the Steelers might tank last season after Ben was injured, and Kevin Colbert put a stop to that speculation real quick when he went out and traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick. I guess it goes back to how organizations handle rebuilding and the ethics of "tanking." For whatever reason, I just don't think Belichick would do that on purpose.
Coach T
2:10
Ray, too much negative feedback against the team for not drafting a NT higher than the 7th Round. I think Daniel McCullers is capable of filling that role. Am I being delusional?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Maybe. There isn't a track record to go on there. Perhaps he can be serviceable for 5-10 snaps per game against running teams, but I don't see his role growing much beyond that, if he makes the roster.
Greg
2:12
If we have no fans this year, shouldn't there be loud artificial fan noise when the opponent has the ball on 3rd or 4th and 1? That's just part of the game.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
I don't like the idea. I have seen people speculate about crowd noise being piped in, but why would the NFL allow that? Some might try to make an advantage of it. It will be different without fans, but players will get used to it. And the fans will too when watching on TV.
Steeltowntim@aol.com
2:13
Ray, I see were they are experimenting with face masks making them into virus protection. Do you see spread out huddles, spacing on side lines and cheerleaders with just face coverings
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I don't think they'll want to mess very much with the integrity of the game. So if a huddle is needed, the coaches will do it. And I can't imagine the sideline operations changing all that much. As for cheerleaders, I would imagine they'll be considered non-essential personnel. I don't think they'll bring cheerleaders back at the beginning.
Donna
2:16
While I can see why there is a call to amend the Rooney Rule, I don’t think moving up in the draft as an incentive to hire minorities is the best way to solve the problem.  Maybe giving teams extra draft picks is an option.  What are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I don't think using incentives such as draft picks is the way to go. I just think they have to start looking at their hiring practices in terms of their timing. It doesn't make any sense why an assistant such as Eric Bienemy is penalized because his team reaches the Super Bowl. It happens every year with assistants across the board. I think some owner has to take a leap of faith and let a coach hire his staff while coaching for his current team. I don't see why an assistant can't do both jobs. College coaches do it all the time. They continue on in their current job while preparing for bowl games, but they also start to assemble their staff and prepare for their new job.
Doyle37
2:20
How does McFarland compare to fast Willie Parker ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Hmm, I'd like to see McFarland in action before drawing any comparisons. He's fast. But is he Fast Willie Parker fast? We'll have to wait and see.
Raymund
2:22
We know there are very good teams on paper.. but so are We, looking at our first team roster it looks so good, No depth sure.. But with this talent we should consider this season SB or Bust? Like others also are SB or bust: Balt KC SF NO.. Am I right in your view?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I view the Steelers as a playoff contender, but I'm not going to say they're as likely to win the Super Bowl as Kansas City or Baltimore. I think those teams are ahead of the Steelers.
Dina
2:23
Hi Ray, my son wants to know since the Steelers have drafted Claypool, do you see JuJu playing the slot position?   By the way, I wish I could starting hair again.  Must be nice to be in violation of the Governor’s order and not have to worry about being cited for it while I worry about providing for my family and paying bills.  Great image for Ben and the Steelers.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
JuJu has been effective in the slot in the past, and I think you might see him there again in 2020 on occasion. Honestly, it's going to depend on the matchups from week to week. In some weeks they might want to take advantage of a matchup on the outside while others they might want to use him inside. Or maybe they feel better about Diontae Johnson matching up with certain CBs. As for the haircut, I sympathize with your current situation. Hopefully, we get to green soon and you can get back to work. I will disagree with you on one point. The Steelers have nothing to do with this and really Ben doesn't either. It's up to the Governor if he wants to do something to the barber, and his comments today suggested to me that maybe he doesn't want to go down that road.
Georgie
2:28
Is Trevor Lawrence really that good to be a sure thing? I mean who he compares to so far? Manning, Luck? I don’t follow college to much..
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
I don't really like to make comparisons. He's much more athletic than Manning. He can run and throw so he's a lot like many of the QBs that have been entering the league the past couple of years.
Alan F
2:29
Hypothetical questions, if sports bar are still closed or limited come September, how can Steeler fans outside of Pittsburgh watch games.  Can the NFL start some sort of pay per view or is that against their contract with Direct TV?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
I would imagine during a pandemic that the league would make sure teams are being televised in their markets. If you are a fan living out of state I am sure they will do everything in their power to give fans games they want to see. And with these owners losing revenue through gate receipts I would imagine they would be open to working something out with their TV partners.
Jeff
2:31
Thanks for the chats Ray.  Here we go again with the Browns being paper champions all because they have a new coach.  This will all depend on Baker and I am just not seeing it.  You agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Baker has a chance because he has a good stable of backs and they attempted over the offseason to build a better line around him. I'm still a bit skeptical of that defense. That's why I'm picking the Steelers to finish ahead of them in the division. But I still think the Browns can be 9-7ish.
George in OKC
2:32
Seen the video of Ben throwing the football. He doesn’t look all that out of shape to me. Why does the national media seem to always find something negative to report about BR? What are your thoughts on it Ray?
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