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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 06.25.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
There weren't a lot of quality DL in this year's draft so they need those guys to take the next step in their development. It appears Leal is in better shape and might be a bigger contributor this year. But he's been disappointing. I thought Loudermilk got better, but I'm not sure how much more upside there is to his game. He might just be a quality backup. And that's OK for a fifth-round pick. Leal was a third-round pick. You need those guys to develop into something more.
JPinIndy
2:33
Ray - thanks for the chats. In your opinion what’s more likely … for the Steelers to add another veteran DB like Xavier Howard or a WR like Courtland Sutton?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
I'd say a WR like Sutton.
Oren
2:35
Ray, what do you think the Steelers would have to give up for Deebo as opposed to Aiyuk?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
Samuel is basically under contract for about $25 million a year through the 2025 season. I suppose that's better than having to pay Aiyuk $30 million, but it's not exactly cheap either. And I'd argue Samuel has more mileage on him. So I might trade a second-round pick in 2025 for him but not a lot more. San Francisco is not really in position to go forward this season with Samuel and Aiyuk. I think they have to dump one of them before the season starts. I think the acquiring team is in the driver's seat in terms of compensation.
Dan
2:38
Hey Ray, thanks for the chat! Who do place as the number one receiver in franchise history? AB dominated for 5-6 years but Stallworth and Hines had longer careers and rings.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
Brown definitely had the more dominant prime of his career. If not for his off-field problems he might have gone down as one of the top WRs ever in the NFL. He was that good from 2013-18. I'd go with Swann and Stallworth and Ward over Brown, though, because as you mentioned they were part of teams that won Super Bowls and performed in the clutch in the postseason. That's what it's all about.
Wayward
2:40
What are the things you will watch more closely early in camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
Battles at left and right tackle with Moore, Jones and Fautanu. Battle at center with Herbig and Frazier. And the No. 2 WR situation.
Tina
2:41
Hey Ray, hope you enjoyed your time away from us chatters.  I’m concerned that another team like the Commanders may swoop in and get Aiyuk while the Steelers seem to playing the “who will blink first “ game with the 49ers.  Do you share that concern?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
No. I think Khan has a price in mind for compensation and contract and won't stray far in any trade scenarios involving other teams and their offers.
Relatively Old Person
2:43
If Najee goes elsewhere after this season, do you think the Steelers see Warren as a feature back, and would just add depth behind, or do they view Warren as more of a nice complementary back?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:43
I think they'd have to find another back who is capable of splitting the workload. Warren is terrific, but he is small and you always have to account for injuries at the RB position because they touch the ball so often.
Gus in Alaska
2:44
Ray, who if anyone other than Connor Heyward do you foresee playing meaningful snaps in the Fullback capacity this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
I doubt it, but they do have Jack Colletto in camp. He played at Oregon State and will try to make the 53-man roster as a FB/special teams player.
J D
2:45
Ray,  did last year's wide receiver's coach get the boot for his guys underperforming and quitting on plays?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
Yes.
drums_97
2:45
Great work , i enjoy reading your articles.  Are the steelers in trouble if Russell Wilson gets hurt? Any chance they may have overlooked the backup QB position?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
Arthur Smith might have to tweak his offense, but Justin Fields started for the Bears for three seasons. He had his ups and downs, but he's definitely a quality a backup.
Mark Malone
2:46
Regarding 2014-2018. Bell, Brown, and Ben played in 1 full playoff game together and we gave up 45 to Jags. Bell got hurt in 2nd quarter in 2016.  2014 and 2015 our RB’s were Ben Tate, Josh Harris, and Touissant who fumbled away the lead against Denver.  Just saying.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
I understand that, but I could make an argument good coaches find ways to overcome injuries to key players. The Penguins won Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final with Sidney Crosby on the bench for the final 30 minutes of the game. In 1992, they advanced in the playoffs when Mario Lemieux and Joey Mullen were out for long stretches with injuries. The Eagles won a Super Bowl with Nick Foles at QB after Carson Wentz was injured. I could go on and on with examples from every sport. Every team is dealing with injuries to varying degrees in January. It's how you overcome those injuries and craft a winning game plan without them.
Lou
2:49
Hi Ray. Who is the biggest sleeper on the Steelers this coming season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
That's hard to say at this juncture of the offseason. Those guys will emerge in camp. It's real football when the pads come on.
Commissioner
2:51
The Steelers seem to still have some positions of need. Do you believe the wide receiver question is holding up other moves and once that move is made other transactions will happen?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:52
I don't think so. They have the cap space to land a WR in a trade if that's what they want to do. The other needs are depth players at positions like OLB and the secondary. Those players won't eat up a ton of cap space.
J D
2:52
Ray, do you think this offensive line could be the best ever that the Steelers have ever had?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:53
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The Steelers have invested heavily in the line in recent years, but these guys have to develop and ascend to Pro Bowl and All-Pro status before we can even consider starting that conversation. And were a long ways from that.
Dr. D in VA
2:54
Thank you for the chats, Ray! Who are our starting 3 on the DL game 1?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:54
Heyward, Ogunjobi and Benton.
TVC15
2:55
"They want to see if Fautanu is ready to be the starting right tackle."  -----  And they can easily find this out by playing Jones at right tackle in front of him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:56
They will get to see Fautanu against quality competition enough in camp to make that determination. There are plenty of reps to go around. It's not just the team periods. It's pass pro drills against the DL. It's development in individual periods and in the classroom. Believe me, they'll take their time and won't rush the situation. They never do.
J D
2:56
Ray, at practices does MT pay more attention to certain positions than others?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:57
He loves to watch the 1-on-1 drills between the O-line and D-line in camp. And he's always involved in the WR-DB drills too.
2:59
Thanks for taking the time to talk Steelers today. I'm taking some time off before training camp in the coming weeks. Next chat will be from Saint Vincent College! Enjoy what's left of summer.
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