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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.25.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
Good afternoon. Let's get started.
iowasteelersfan
1:53
I think its unrealistic to expect rookie RB Harris to have a huge impact this year simply because he was our first round pick.  The OL is no better than last year and I'm not sure Barry Sanders would have 1K yards last year.  Am I totally off base?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
You have to remember that personnel is only one part of the equation when it comes to fixing the running game. Mike Tomlin fired OL coach Shaun Sarrett and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. He hired Matt Canada and Adrian Klemm and they're revamping the run scheme. It's multi-layered. Plus, Najee Harris is a true three-down RB that can help in the run game and the pass game. He is better than James Conner, and I think you'll see that relatively early in the season.
KN
1:56
Hello . Thank you as always for the  chat . I know that rookie Minicamp in shorts ,is not a good indicator, but any opinion regarding tre Norwood, Shakur brown , and Gilbert ? Do you see any back up corner back or safety coming out of UDFA picks ? Thank you very much .
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
Check back with me on those guys in training camp. The only time they're putting the pads on in the next few weeks is for minicamp and that won't be very telling, either. I know everyone wants insight on these guys now as far as what they can do, how they can help the team, etc. But the real competition begins at camp. That's where these guys will get a chance to make their biggest impressions with the coaching staff.
C. Roy
1:58
Is Pressley Harvin III as good as advertised and do you believe he'll be a starter this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
They drafted him for a reason. I think he'll be given every opportunity to win the job this summer. If he is consistent then I think he'll probably have a leg up on Jordan Berry.
MrCJJr
1:59
Hello Ray. Thanks for the chat. Random question....Richard Sherman to Pittsburgh in the works...legit story or more off-season fodder to fill in the gap before training camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Sherman is 32. And while the Steelers might need some help at CB I'm not sure signing someone that age is what the Steelers have in mind at this point. In the coming weeks they want to find out about guys like James Pierre and Justin Layne. If they fail then I think you will see Kevin Colbert acquire a CB before the season begins. But again, I'm not convinced Sherman would be that guy.
Jeff
2:02
Thanks for the chats Ray.  If we are truly all in, don't we have a lot of what ifs on the O-line and if you agree why not bring in established left tackle?  One less what if
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Because there is not a ton of room under the salary cap. It's a similar situation to what they're facing in the secondary. They want to find out about Chuks Okorafor this summer. If they don't like what they see then they'll make a move. I'll be surprised if they make a move before evaluating these guys for a couple of weeks in camp.
Andy
2:03
Hi Ray, I have seen a lot of fans and media worrying about the losses along the OL (Villanueva, Pouncey, Feiler) weren’t they part of the problem last year? Or do most think DeCastro and Okorafor were the biggest problems on the OL?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
What you're saying is half true. Those guys did struggle at various times last season. Pouncey really struggled near the end of the season and in the playoffs. I didn't think Feiler made a smooth transition to guard and Villanueva had his issues, too. But the problem is thinking Kendrick Green or BJ Finney is automatically going to be better than Pouncey. Maybe they are. Maybe they aren't. Same thing goes for Dotson at guard and Okorafor at tackle. We can sit here and tell you they'll be better, but until they prove it you're not going to see any results.
21-58-66
2:05
Ray - Do you think we see much of the Matt Canada revamped offense during the pre-season or will that be largely kept under wraps until the regular season?  Or, do you think the changes won't be that much to make a difference?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
They won't unveil the entire playbook, but they are going to run his offense. You have to see how certain things work in games. You can do it all you want in practices, but games are the best time to see how different coaches will react to certain situations whether that's motion, personnel groups or whatever.
kevin in Punxsy
2:07
Hi Ray.  Do you anticipate the Steelers signing any FA's at this time, or do you think that they will wait until after the pre-season game?   Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
I think if the Steelers do sign some free agents to compete for spots it will be during training camp.
Benson DuBois
2:08
In retrospect, should the Steelers have addressed O line back in '18 or '19?   Was the decline of Pouncey and Villanueva that sudden?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Kevin Colbert has been trying to set this team up for one last run for a few years now. So he traded up to draft Devin Bush. Later in the same draft he got Diontae Johnson in the third round. He's been pretty good. We can sit here and Monday morning quarterback every move that is made or not made, but you also have to look at what they did with those picks. Unless you're going to draft a guy in the top two or three rounds I don't think you can count on them being a sure-fire starter for you. Look at Okorafor. He became a full-time starter last year for the first time and that was only because Zach Banner got injured.
John Q
2:12
Will a complex motion-heavy offense delay getting a rookie QB up to speed in future years? How hard is this offense going to be for rookies to learn generally?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
It's hard to say when we have very little information on the offense right now. Typically, rookie QBs, unless they are supremely talented and come from a pro-style system, have some sort of transition period in the pros before they become good QBs. It's just way too hard to discuss at this point given the information we have right now.
Jeff
2:15
How'd Ben look today?  Haskins too?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
They all look good in shorts and helmets.
Nate
2:15
Thanks for the chats, Ray.  What do you think of the Freiermuth pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I'll like it a lot if he can develop into a well-rounded TE that can help in the run and pass game. Eric Ebron is entering the last year of his deal. Freiermuth is the TE of the future. Now it's all about his development this year and whether he can assume a role as a rookie.
CoalportKid
2:18
Thinking back to the which WR to extend debate between Mike Wallace and AB. Steelers chose the better player though it was not so obvious to fans at the time. Who of the current four get second contracts (not counting JuJu's this year extension)?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
None of the above? I think Brown was the last WR to sign a second contract with the Steelers. It's actually pretty rare. But if I had to pick one of the current group I'd probably go with Chase Claypool because he has unique skills for a player his size.
Newman
2:19
Who do you think has the most carries next year after Najee?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
The backup, which I assume will be Benny Snell.
Methuselah Thõempkrësharh
2:20
Hi Ray, I heard you talk about Heyward "getting back to you" on the cast... but what I find interesting is that on Film Session show w/ Warner & Baldinger last season he went into great detail about his 'journals' breaking down teammates, coaches & saying; "It starts in OTAs." He chose to reair that last week on 'his' day on NFL Network. If there's  another follow-up,  can you ask him about that?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
Heyward did a zoom call today with reporters. We asked him about his decision to show up for OTAs after he and other union reps said last month that all players should skip the voluntary OTAs. He said a "multitude" of things changed since he put out that statement. The owners made some concessions about protocols, etc. He indicated some veterans prefer to train away from the team facility during this time of the year. But he also acknowledged how it's important for rookies and other young players to get the on-field coaching.; He's trying to walk the fine line of being the team's union rep and one of the leaders in the locker room. He does not have an easy job.
Newman
2:23
What are the chances we simply tag TJ after this season instead of shelling out 25m a year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
I think they'll try to get a deal done before the season begins, but if not they always have the tag option. And you can tag with the intent to sign him. Teams tag in March and then have until July to get a deal done.
Scott
2:24
What is the biggest issue with Gentry? Blocking? Route running?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
Everything really. He was kind of a project to begin with to be honest, and suffering a season-ending knee injury stunted his growth. He's playing catch-up.
Newman
2:25
We talk a lot about the influence of Canada on the running game. What changes, if any, do you anticipate coming in the pass game as far as scheme go?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
I think the biggest changes will be with the run schemes, but you'll probably see a few tweaks with route trees, formations and other things as well.
Javi
2:26
Hi Ray. If the Steelers are out of playoff hunt say with 5 or 6 games left in season do you see Ben getting benched to see what we really have in Mason and Haskins?kind of getting in front of next season to see if they do go after QB in draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
I doubt it. What if he's playing poorly and they're in the hunt? That's the better question. We saw that situation with Peyton Manning during the 2015 season. The Broncos went with Brock Osweiler for a while before turning back to Manning. It all worked out in the end, but in your scenario I could see the Steelers just letting him play it out.
CoalportKid
2:30
Is the Justin Layne criminal story over? Will the Steelers or league impose any penalty?
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