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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 06.14.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Let's get the chat started.
DjPaulHoward
1:56
Who will be our backup QB when the dust settles from training camp??? Do you think Haskins has a legit shot to get it???
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Mason Rudolph. I think Haskins will battle Josh Dobbs for the No. 3 job.
Living in Dallas
1:56
Why hasn't Kendrick Green signed his rookie contract?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
These rookie contracts are slotted, so every player know what they will be making based on their draft slot. The reasons some players aren't signed yet has to do with their representation and some minor details they might want included in the contract.
Alan from Indy
1:58
Seems like so much talk and questions about the offense. With the loss of Dupree, Nelson, an aging Joe Haden, underperforming Edmunds etc, I’m having real concerns about this defense.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
They lost a few key pieces for sure, but they still have TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. That's a pretty solid core. The Steelers have to find some replacements for the players you mentioned, but that's life in the salary cap era.
Carl in Carrick
1:59
Hi Ray.  Do the Steelers still have an interest in Malik Hooker?  Could he be a replacement for Edmunds?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Hooker was in for a visit a week or two ago. He was not signed immediately, but he'd be a possibility if there is an injury in camp or if they're unhappy with their depth at safety at some point during camp.
DjPaulHoward
2:01
Who will be the odd man out in the WRs room for the Steelers??? I see JuJu, Claypool, Diontae, Washington, Ray Ray, being locks. They actually didn’t draft a WR this year so they must be pretty happy with who they have. Plus they have Ebron and Freiermuth.  Any chance someone unseats those I mentioned???
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Always a possibility someone can earn a spot over McCloud, but you are pretty spot-on with your assessment. They like their WR corps.
Jerry
2:02
Hey Ray! I really think the defense is gonna be average without Dupree and Nelson. Plus Heyward,Williams,Alualu and Haden a year older. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Of all the players you mentioned I think Dupree will be the most difficult to replace. And for obvious reasons. He was al ultra-productive pass rusher for the past few seasons, and Alex Highsmith remains an unproven second-year player. I think Cam Sutton has a chance to be a solid replacement for Nelson. As for the older guys you mentioned, they're all in pretty good shape. Could some of them decline? Sure. That's possible, but other teams have similar problems with players growing older.
Guest
2:06
Now that the draft is done, do you still think that the Steelers have the most difficult schedule?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Yes.
Don
2:06
With the emphasis on offense in the draft, should we expect better results this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
That's why they invested all of those draft assets into the offense -- to get better. Will all of them be able to contribute right away? Probably not. Najee Harris will, but it's wait-and-see with Pat Freiermuth and Kendrick Green.
RJT
2:08
It baffles me how high the media is on the browns and how low it is on the Steelers. As far as the Steelers go, I’ve never seen a 12 win team with such low projections and a QB who threw 33 touchdowns to 10 picks be so disrespected. As far as the browns go, they literally gave up more points than they scored last season and somehow won 11 games. They talk about the Steelers benefiting from a easy schedule the browns were the epitome of that!  Their defense stinks.  That formula won’t work this year
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Well, we'll have to wait and see, but Baker Mayfield as a game manager worked out for them. He's a good fit for that offense, which is predicated on the running game.
Tprod
2:09
Ray, if Chucks proves in-effective at LT, does Banner shift over with Chucks back to RT or is there an other option?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
I am thinking they'd turn to Joe Haeg or a player from outside the organization.
Tprod
2:10
Ray, against run heavy teams like the Ravens and the Browns, does Spillane give way to Williams on run type downs?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I could see that happening. Spillane is solid vs. the run and really good in short and intermediate pass coverage. Williams is a run-stopper so he'd be at his most valuable in the situations you mentioned.
RJT
2:11
Steelers caught a bad case of the dropsies later in the year. Why doesn’t anyone factor that into their assessment of Bens play down the stretch? (Regular season… I acknowledge how horrible he was in the playoff game)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I see them as two separate issues although obviously connected. The drops made things worse, but Roethlisberger was worn down later in the year, which caused some of his issues.
Bill in SF
2:13
Are you expecting any notable no-shows tomorrow?  And will Ben be throwing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Roethlisberger threw throughout OTAs so I doubt much will change. He will be on a throwing schedule in camp.
fredward
2:14
Are Finney and Hassenauer basically competing for one roster spot, or is there a way they keep both?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
Depends on how many they keep, but I think they're probably playing for one spot.
Leon
2:16
Ray, is the solution for lack of depth at ILB and the mixed play of Edmunds at SS as easy as moving him to ILB? Seems like it might be a good move for him, he's a mediocre safety but could excel at linebacker
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Maybe as a dime LB, but a stretch to say he could transition full-time to ILB and be successful.
ErnHartnerMr305
2:16
The Steelers are in BIG TIME need of depth in the secondary and at outside linebacker. The situation reminds me of two years ago when the Steeler had zero depth behind Big Ben, and were forced to play DUCK Dodges. Can you speak to the rationalizing of the Steelers? Why not sign some veterans at OL and in 2ndry?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
The salary cap. And they could sign some vets that get cut as teams get down to 53 players  in September.
ErnHartnerMr305
2:18
Can you talk about the change in approach of our offensive line this year? Any hope that we may transition the big guys into a mauling/ ground and pound crew?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
They're trying to instill that demeanor. They are using 3-point stances more. They have talked about developing a new attitude. But in the end it's all about personnel. We'll see what the Steelers have in due time.
DirtWinston4Prez
2:20
Thanks so much for your chats. It sure seems there is team culture problem which contributes to the late season collapses.    If players don't practice good fundamentals throughout the whole season, I don't think they can simply change stripes when the games get tougher.  TE can't/won't bloc, star QB won't sneak, star safety doesn't set example with tackling, receivers worried about their routes and brand, returning o-lineman showed up overweight to former team  because a balanced diet and exercise would risk free agent contract money.    Do you believe a culture change is necessary?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Maybe here and there, but certainly not in every instance you mentioned.
Guest
2:20
Who do you think will be in the LT & RT spots?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Okorafor and Banner.
Yinzer Man
2:21
Ray, Is there an actual competition between Jordan Berry and Pressley Harvin III? Or will Harvin really have to screw things up to lose it based on his draft selection?
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