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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 07.22.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Depends on who the player is, but I can make a strong argument for WR if that player is DK Metcalf.
Guest
12:24
I get a kick out of so many thanking you for these chats. I’d like parents to thank me for attending parent teacher conferences. ( FYI, I’m only there because my district pays us an extra days pay.)
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Wait, you get extra pay? I might hold out of camp!
Michael
12:25
Ray, was it always the intention this off season to move on from Minkah or did the trade happen organically?  Do you know if Miami specifically asked for him or did the Steelers throw him in to sweeten the deal?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
They were willing to listen on Minkah, but they were not looking to trade him no matter what.
Blake
12:26
Based on the Steelers schedule, do you think they need to start the season fast and will Rodgers and the offensive line play more than a total of 1 quarter in the preseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
They definitely have to get off to a fast start. The first six weeks are manageable. It's really difficult down the stretch with lots of AFC North games and contests against the Bills and Lions.
ralph
12:28
The upside of having older players this year in starting roles with the Steelers is that we have pros out there . I think this is a better scenario than last year. It probably gives the younger players a lot more confidence. Let's hope i am right.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
If you're talking about Metcalf over Pickens I agree, but it's not like they had a ton of rookies or young guys playing last year. Yeah, Mason McCormick had to play due to James Daniels' injury, but Frazier was always going to be the center. I think they'll be better off for it this year. That experience as a rookie in invaluable.
Rob in CT
12:29
Do you think that we will sign a safety like Justin Simmons soon or wait until we see what we have with Ramsey potentially playing safety.  It seems to make sense to have Porter, Slay, and Ramsey all on the field - if that works well of course
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Porter, Slay and Ramsey will play most of the time, you are right about that. Simmons is a big name that's out there. He's probably waiting for a nice payday. It might be one of those situations where the Steelers see how their guys look in camp and then make a move if they're not happy.
Guest
12:31
Hello Ray, What is your prediction on which TE will have the most receptions this year? Smith or Pat?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
It should be Freiermuth, but it's  not like Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson did a great job of getting him the ball last season. Smith has a history with Arthur Smith so he'll get a lot of targets, especially on shorter routes.
JAG
12:34
Feel a little bad for Jones. He was a little bit of a reach because of his lack of experience. The coach didn’t help his development by throwing him in at right tackle instead of letting him sit, learn and making do with whatever you had at right tackle or upgrading it via trade or FA. Do you think the Steelers (and Jones) are paying for that decision now?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
He's a No. 14 overall pick. When you're drafted that high you had better be able to adapt to situations. Let's not make excuses for Jones. He's a grown man. He has to figure it out.
Scott via Louisville Ky
12:35
Has anyone complained about ticket prices to the Ireland game.  We decided to go to Ireland but bailed on the game. $275 for a ticket way up was too much
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Wow. Didn't know it was that much $. I do know it's an NFL event so complain to the league, not the Steelers. They're the home team, but they're not setting the prices.
scooter
12:36
Ray, we are up to as many as 10 starters gone from last year's roster. While I applaud the attempt to better the team, was Khan's contract extension a tad pre-mature?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
No. Khan deserves a chance to draft his own QB. He'll get his chance next spring or in 2027 to do that. In the meantime, I don't have a lot of complaints about his drafts. Yes, Broderick Jones has to pan out this year, but overall his first three drafts have been solid.
Canton-Bound
12:38
Hey Ray, thanks for all your Steelers in-depth coverage. Since Canton is part of my handle, will Hines Ward ever get into the NFL HOF? Also is he available to ever be a guest coach or even become a part of the staff? It seems he would be a perfect fit to instill a “Steeler mentality” to our current WR’s and players. Thanks and have a great season.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
I think Hines Ward is deserving of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it's going to take some time I think. As for Ward ever coaching with the Steelers there have been opportunities for him to return to the Steelers, but Tomlin has never hired him to coach the WRs. Ward now coaches at Arizona State. He's been part of that program's turnaround.
Scott via Louisville Ky
12:40
Would you like to cover a team with lots of drama or one with stud team that assuredly will make a run in the playoffs.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
Both!
Tom P.
12:40
Ray, the Steelers demonstrated their lack of faith in Bishop by playing Sutton who really couldn’t play anymore. Was the move to Ramsey the attempt to fix the slot cover issues which also mandated Minkah playing safety at punt return depth?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
Looking back, the coaches probably want a do-over with the Sutton-Bishop decision. But to your point, there had to be a reason for it. It's just that Sutton didn't play well enough after his return from suspension. As for the Ramsey move, the Steelers really like his versatility, and I think they're going to take advantage of it.
Blake
12:42
With all of the new players on the team; I think the potential season starters should play more this preseason.  What are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
I agree to a certain extent, but many of the new players are older and I don't think Tomlin will want to expose them to injuries. As long as they get the reps they need in camp, whether that's in practice or preseason games, they'll be fine. But they do have to figure out how all of these new guys are going to fit into the puzzle.
Tom P.
12:45
Ray, did the draft of Harmon and Black address the run defense issues especially against the Ravens and the pick-up of Slate and Ramsey better position themselves against the Bengals so they have a better chance of winning the division and an easier first round playoff game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
Yes on Harmon and Black. It was a concerted effort to bring in new blood to a DL that struggled mightily late in the season. It's a big step to count on rookies though so their play bears watching. The additions of Ramsey and Slay to the secondary are intriguing, but they have to get on the same page with Elliott and Porter. If they do, it has a chance to work. I'm just so tired of looking down on the field and no one knowing where to line up. It can't be that hard to make calls on the fly and to get lined up right. That was one of their bigger issues last season.
kevdawg
12:47
How does Robert woods fit into the WR rotation.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
I don't have a firm grasp on that right now. I'm going in thinking he'll be the No. 5, but we'll see.
Canton-Bound
12:48
Who is the greatest place kicker in Steelers history? I say Boz with all due respect to Gary Anderson. Although Gary did kick for 23 years Boz is still my choice.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
I agree. Anderson was terrific for a long time, but Boswell is so darn consistent.
Mike in Virginia
12:49
I feel like this is about as new of a team as you can possibly have from one year to the next, when you factor in new players and starters coming back from injury like Fautanu and Wilson. Have you ever seen turnover like this while covering the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
The turnover was deliberate. Khan said it was "unacceptable" the way last season ended. We'll see if the moves he and Tomlin made work, but at least he made changes after that disastrous ending to the 2024 season.
Tom P.
12:51
Ray, with potentially three new secondary players, how can the Steelers avoid the coverage failures which seemed to worsen as the season progressed?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
Can it really get worse? Ha ha
12:52
Well, that was fun. We'll chat again next Tuesday. Until then, check out our coverage from training camp daily. We'll have stories, podcasts and videos from Saint Vincent to keep you all informed.
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