Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 06.01.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:52
McCarthy has indicated the final week of OTAs will be mostly with younger players. I think most of the vets will be excused. And it's just the way he structures his offseason program. This is a way for the vets to get an early jump on their offseason training/time off, etc.
Adam in ATL
12:53
Hello Ray. I was close to pulling the trigger on a training camp trip last year, but couldn't convince the wife she'd have fun too. This seems like a perfect year to finally make it to latrobe.  Besides the practice time changes with the new staff, are you expecting a different atmosphere/experience this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
No not at all. I think things will be similar. The only other big change is Friday Night Lights has become Saturday Night Lights. Art Rooney II will introduce the new players in the Hall of Honor on the first Saturday of camp so that's staying the same. Everyone just has to get there a little earlier, but fans can now have a late lunch rather than dinner when practices are over. Really, the change in practice time from 3 to 11 is the only significant change.
Turk in MD
12:55
Hi Ray.  The need for a NT has been discussed several times in the chats. How about the need for a really good slot corner. If nickel is the new base, isn’t a nickel CB super important vs a luxury?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:56
They'll have options there. Patrick Graham mentioned how much he likes Brandin Echols. And we know Jalen Ramsey could be an option in the slot depending on the opponent. Gerry wrote about Everette, the rookie third-rounder last week. Maybe he's an option too.
Turk in MD
12:57
Who benefits most from the new offensive scheme MM is installing?  Muth?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:58
I think Metcalf too. And not just because of McCarthy's system. He has better players around him thanks for the front office making WR a priority over the offseason. And yes, Freiermuth should get more touches. McCarthy did a good job of utilizing his tight ends in Dallas. Plus, he hired Brian Angelichio as his OC. His background is as a TEs coach.
GoPackers
12:59
Are Mike and Aaron going to have players ride kids bikes during training camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
Some players already do that!. Luckily for the players, Saint Vincent is a small campus and they don't have to walk very far to get anywhere. And if players do want to save their legs, the team has golf carts running all the time to get players from the locker room to the cafeteria and/or dormitories.
Z in Music City
1:01
Hi Ray. Having read the latest article on Roman Wilson and before that Kaleeb Johnson, I'm wondering if the Steelers ever heard the quote "to err is human to forgive divine?" Do you think the punishment for these high draft picks doesn't match the crime?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:03
Whatever happened doesn't matter in the big picture now because it's a new staff and they both get a chance to start over. Trust is a big thing. I understand why Tomlin didn't go back to Johnson very much after the special teams gaffe early in the season. And let's face it: Johnson wasn't going to take playing time away from Kenneth Gainwell or Jaylen Warren. The same goes for Wilson, although his inability to get on the same page with Rodgers defined his 2025 season. He'll have to get that straightened out this summer.
Henry Hill
1:04
Hi Ray; any indication how A-Rod gets along with the other 3 QBs? Does he mentor them, or does he stick to himself?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:05
From everything I see and hear Howard and Rudolph love being around him. Rodgers and Rudolph made a great bond last year. It's a different kind of relationship with Howard because he's much younger, but he took every opportunity he could to learn from Rodgers.
Mike
1:05
Ray, thinking back on your time covering the Steelers, who was the player who at the time you were most optimistic about but ended up underwhelming.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:07
Good question. I think more about the players who waste their talents because of off-field behavior. How good was Martavis Bryant? The guy was a unicorn, but he could not keep his personal life in order and his career was cut way short. Antonio Brown could have been an all-time Steeler, but he had a bad exit.
1:09
OK that's all the time I have for this week. No chat early next week as I'm on vacation early in the week. I might do one later in the week depending on the Steelers schedule with OTAs.
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