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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 06.10.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:53
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we will get started soon.
Israel
11:54
Did the steelers cut artie burns? If so, how much cap space are they saving? And are they planning on signing any corners for depth?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
No, the Steelers did not cut Artie Burns. In fact, he's been with the first-team defense this spring because Joe Haden missed most of the OTAs. If they did cut Burns they would only save $1.8 million or so. They'd carry over $1 million in dead money for this year. Quite honestly, unless he falls flat on his face in the preseason, it might be worth it to keep him around. After Haden and Steven Nelson they're not exactly deep with experienced outside CBs. Cam Sutton can play there. Justin Layne is an outside CB, but he's a rookie. He's not a starter, but maybe he can contribute on special teams and maybe in sub-packages.
Ric Burger
11:57
Steelers were pretty bad on third downs last year (converting 44%) , which I blame on the absence of a NFL caliber RB. Any chance they go after a FA like Jay Ajayi or Alfred Morris?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
You do realize that their 44.8 percent on third-down conversions ranked eighth in the NFL. And you do realize James Conner made the Pro Bowl, right?
KN
11:58
Hello. Thank you as always for the awesome chats. I have heard good things about TE Trevor Wood and CFL alum WR Deonte Spencer.  I am interested in hearing about your first impressions regarding Wood and Spencer in contactless OTAs  ?  Thank you very much
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
Wood is an undersized tight end. He has to develop into a better blocker. He works hard, but he's not there yet. As for Spencer, he's stood out some in OTAs. I've noticed him. I don't know if he'll make the team, but he'll get a chance to impress in camp and the preseason games. The Steelers have JuJu, James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Donte Moncrief as locks. I figure Ryan Switzer and Eli Rogers will compete for the fifth spot. Maybe Spencer can make that a three-way competition in the summer. But right now, I think he is a long shot.
BigBee
12:00
Hi Ray, How many RB's do you think the Steelers will keep, and do you see them going with a 3 man rotation during games, or more of Connor being the man and just getting a breather now and then? Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
They've kept three in the past. Last year it was Conner, Samuels and Ridley. This year I figure it'll be Conner, Samuels and Snell. I'm not convinced they'll go to a rotation this year. They like Conner because he can play all three downs. He can catch and block, which are important talents to stay on the field on third downs. Maybe they'll use Snell in short-yardage. That's a possibility. It's also a possibility that Samuels and Conner get on the field at the same time. Samuels is a very talented receiver and has some position flexibility.
Ric Burger
12:03
Also, do you think Tomlin is going to reign in Ju Ju? I'm concerned that he's going down the Antonio "Look at Me" Brown route and will end up as another problematic distraction if he doesn't get his act together. Thanks!!1
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
I don't think that's a problem right now. The Steelers are aware of better managing their stars, but JuJu has done nothing for the Steelers to be concerned that he'll turn into another AB.
AK
12:03
Do you think the Steelers’ thinnest position for depth is free safety?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
Free safety or tight end. At free safety, Sean Davis is the starter. Kameron Kelly worked with the first-team defense when Davis missed a week of OTAs. Jordan Dangerfield worked at free the other week Davis missed. But Dangerfield is more of a box safety, so I don't think he'd be a serious option there. They signed PJ Locke and Askew-Henry as undrafted free agents. That's not a lot of quality depth. The Steelers will need one of them to step up and earn a roster spot this summer. If not, they'll look to the waiver wire after final cut-downs.
Alan in Nashville
12:06
Hey Ray, I always find it strange that the Steelers have a pro bowl full back but very rarely use him. It sounds crazy but do you think there's any chance that Rosie gets cut and they utilize a combination of Snell, Samuels and even/or Sutton Smith to fill in on those few plays? There has to be a reason that they're running Smith through some of those drills and have also two-back sets in this camp. It all could be just in case Nix gets hurt but I'm not so sure.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
They could save about $1 million if they cut Nix. The dead-cap hit is not huge. Less than $1 million this year and less than $500,000 next year if they want to cut him then. I think they like Nix, but you;re right they don't really use him much on offense. He earned his way onto the team through special teams. I think he's been OK there. But as you point out the Steelers are giving reps to Sutton Smith and they have a variety of other RBs that might be able to fill that FB role when they do want to use one.
sam
12:08
aside from artie burns, do you see any possible surprise cuts in training camp? thx
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Too early to say at this point. We have to see how some of the young guys do in camp and the preseason games.
Andy
12:09
ray, good morning. in my opinion if Vince Williams plays anywhere near 40% of the defensive snaps i think they missed on FA Baron and Bush. He's a liability because he's slow. your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
They sought Bush in the draft because they needed to replace Ryan Shazier, which they failed to do last year. They signed Barron because Williams and Bostic were exposed in passing situations on more than a few occasions last season. I can see Williams playing in the base because he's a good run-stopper. I can also see him being used in other sub-packages because he's proven to be an effective blitzer the past couple of years. But to your point, if things go as planned, he won't play as much as last season because they Steelers believe they need quicker and faster LBs to keep up with running backs and tight ends that exposed the Steelers in coverage last year.
Utah Jim
12:12
How many players are in line to be the dime LB?  Barron, Bush, Allen, Sutton?  Anyone else?  Seems like a long list.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
I think if things go as planned, Bush will stay on the field at all times in the Shazier role. That would leave Barron as the top candidate to play the role Morgan Burnett played last season. The dime LB plays a lot. I don't think Barron would complain about that role. It's an important role within the defense. As we saw last season, without a good one, it drags down the defense.
DaquidoBazzini
12:13
Hello Ray- In your video with Gerry Dulac, it was interesting to see that the first player you guys praised was Mason Rudolph. Can you expand on that a bit?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Gerry has a story that will post later today or tomorrow morning on Rudolph and the strides he has made this spring. He looks much better now than he did in camp last year. That's what you would expect for a QB going into this second year. We saw that last summer with Josh Dobbs. He made some plays in the preseason and became the backup QB. Rudolph is looking to win that job this summer, and he's off to a very good start.
MTScott
12:15
It seems like a lot of teams have had success (including the Steelers) when they take their front 6-7 guys & have them stand up so the offense can’t tell who is coming vs dropping back.  Also allows guys to switch positions some on the line before the snap.  Shouldn’t this approach be used more often?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Some teams do that well. What good QBs do in those situations and scan the personnel and pick out the mismatch and then exploit the mismatch. So, in other words, if the personnel is smaller, the QB will audible to a run play. If the personnel is big, the QB will pick out the best matchup and exploit with one of his WRs. The defenses that excel the most are the ones that have versatile players that can play the pass and the run. That's when offenses struggle.
Linebacker Lounge - 3Rivers, MI
12:18
Ray, I’m less concerned about the Safety position than most.. Yes, we need more turnovers.. But Edmunds only In year 2, and Davis with a year of free under his belt.. your thoughts on the position? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
You might be right, but what if one of them gets hurt???? Then they'd be in some trouble.
Wes Lee
12:18
How big of an overall impact do you think rookie Devin Bush will ultimately have on the Steelers' 2019 defense, and do you think with the adjustments the Steelers have made with the new defensive players, they will be able to accumulate at least 60 sacks this upcoming season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
They came close last year. We'll see what happens. The main thing is pressure. If you have pressure you're forcing the QB into turnovers or incomplete passes. As for Bush, I think he's on track to start. He has the talent to be a disruptive force. The big key will be how well he knows the playbook by September. If he knows it well he' be able to play fast and make some plays.
Tampa Too
12:20
Ray, thanks for the chat. What’s your prediction for the AFC North this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
I think it's a three-horse race among the Steelers, Browns and Ravens. I think the Bengals take a big step back. I think the Steelers, Browns and Ravens will be in that 8-10 win range.
Heath
12:22
Ray, who do you expect to make a bigger splash this year Bush or Steven Nelson?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
Hard to say at this point.
Linebacker Lounge - 3Rivers, MI
12:22
Ray, Crystal Ball.. Starting OLB’s in 2020.. Watt and Adeniyi, Chickillo, Dupree or other__? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Watt and Adeniyi is a good call. Maybe Watt and Dupree if Dupree plays well and they decide to sign him to a new deal.
Salami Phil
12:23
Have you done a 2019 record prediction yet and if so what do you anticipate the Steelers record being this year? Knowing it is still very early
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
My best guess, right now on June 10, is 10-6.
Salami Phil
12:23
Who has the early leg up on the RT battle? I'm rooting for Chuks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
I think Feiler has the inside track. Okorafor could push him though. He's a natural talent.
Salami Phil
12:24
Do you think Tuitt will play up to his contract this year?
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