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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 07.29.19
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Ghost of Neil O’Donnell Past
2:28
Which is the more likely scenario: Bud Dupree leading the league in sacks or Ben Roethlisberger leading the league in interceptions, again?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Probably Ben leading the league in interceptions again although I'm convinced he'll protect the ball much better this season.
John Strange
2:28
Has Dick LeBeau retired?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Yes he has. He is enjoying retirement.
574 Fan
2:29
Tomlin is still a young man, but he's racking up the mileage.  With Colbert now year-to-year, and Ben signing what everyone feels will be his last contract, do you get the sense that he might want to move on once those two are gone? Or do you think he'd stay and write the next chapter, assuming he's given the opportunity?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
It's hard to get inside his head. I do know he'd be in demand as soon as he left the Steelers. His record and his ability to get the Steelers to the playoffs on a consistent basis would be very attractive for other organizations.
Retire21
2:30
Peter King stayed the Steeler jave been about dead last in play action pass efficiency the last 4 years. What does that mean......and what does that mean?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
I'm not completely familiar with that stat, but I do know they don't use play-action passing very much. I can only assume play-action passing efficiency is a measure of how many passes are completed when play-action is involved. It's understandable for the Steelers to struggle in that area. They were 31st in the league in rushing last season. Why would anyone respect play-action?
FloridaSteelers
2:31
Ray,  Do you think there is any chance that Kevin Colbert leaves next year to go to the Panthers?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
Maybe. David Tepper is the owner there. He spent many years with the Steelers as a minority owner. There are lots of Steelers connections around the league so he'd have options. But I'll take him at his word. He said this is about his family and their input will be a big factor in what he does going forward. It's also quite possible he wants to stop and smell the roses. He had his family here with him on Saturday. His wife and children were here with his grandchildren. They were playing on the field after practice. At some point, doesn't everyone want to retire and spend quality time with their family? Especially a grinder like Colbert, who has been on the road and putting in crazy hours in a high-pressure job for so many years.
574 Fan
2:34
Will there be any issue with keeping Barron happy like with Burnett last year?  Seems like Vince still has a lot to offer situationally.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
Good question. The hope is Barron would be a better team player if he doesn't win a starting ILB job. But we won;t know that for another few weeks.
757Dude
2:35
Week 10 of this season, who’s the starting OLB opposite Watt? Thank you
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
I'm guessing it would be Dupree unless he does nothing in the first half of the season.
Ghost of Neil O’Donnell Past
2:36
If this is Colbert’s last year with team, in your opinion, who are some likely candidates to replace him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
Brandon Hunt and Phil Kreidler are the two most likely in-house candidates among their scouts that specialize in player personnel. Omar Khan and Samir Suleiman are more on the business end, negotiating contracts, etc. But they'd be candidates too because that's valuable experience for a GM. They could opt to have a personnel guy as the GM and then a business guy as assistant GM too.
Chris
2:38
Does Boswell make the team due to his contract or will they go with the younger kid out of U C F? It's hard to creat game-like situations in July and August.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
I think the best place kicker during camp and the preseason games will be on the roster. In other words, Boswell has to prove he is better than Matthew Wright. I don't think his contract will be a factor. It was last year, but I think they realize they can't afford to go through another year like that.
August West
2:39
Does Jerald Hawkins make the team? If not, who takes his place on the roster?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
He has an uphill climb. He's competing against Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner, both of whom were on the 53-man roster last year. He also has to prove he can stay healthy. That's been his biggest issue.
Dobre Shanka
2:41
Ray,  Do all the players stay on campus the whole training camp?  I was surprised to hear Brown did not last year.  Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
Yes they're all on campus.
Steely
2:41
What are your first impressions of Justin layne. Does he have a chance to be a legit corner and break the trend of poorly drafted secondary players for us?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
He came up and made a nice open-field tackle during team yesterday. Obviously, it's early, but I think there is some potential there.
Scl
2:43
Love the chats Ray, what are your thought on Steven Nelson and the overall state of the cornerback position
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
I think he'll be an upgrade over Burns, but I'd like to see him versus some different competition before I have a strong take on him.
jake
2:44
what position did Sutton Smith practice at yesterday? FB,OLB, or ILB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
I believe he has been at OLB for all three practices so far.
JJ
2:45
I am not an Artie Burns fan.  Paying his roster bonus was a mistake IMO.  What has he done to deserve this?  He's average at best.  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
There isn't much depth behind him. Cameron Sutton is largely unproven and Justin Layne is a rookie. I think there is hope that both will develop this summer, but they haven't done it on the field.
SD Stiller
2:47
Any buzz on a Haden extension? Seems to me that singning him to an extension is way more important than paying Artie Burns.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:48
Drew Rosenhaus was at practice yesterday. There is an open line of communication there. But he left campus without getting a deal done. He's in Cleveland today visiting another client. He's their No. 1 priority though.
757Dude
2:48
Come game day vs the Chargers, who will be tasked with covering Keenan Allen? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:48
Not Jon Bostic.
Jud
2:49
According to your article, the NFL banned two drills, did the Steelers perform those drills in the past?  Do you see where they may ban Backs on Backers going forward?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:50
Not sure. I can tell you the backs on backers drill yesterday was very tame. I think the league told teams to scale back the head-to-head contact in such drills. I've seen some vicious collisions in that drill in previous years. It was kind of a blah drill yesterday.
Jake
2:51
Ray,  Do the Steeler's have closed to public practices in the morning or just classroom work?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
It's just a walk-through in the morning. And they have meetings in the morning, afternoon and evening. It's camp!
Joe d
2:53
Just watched the video above. So TE is a concern. What about the rugby player?...I forget his name. any chance there?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:53
No, but they can keep him on the practice squad again if they think he can develop. He has another exempt year on the practice squad if they want to use it.
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