Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 08.12.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
All right, Steelers fans. Keep those questions coming.
Wreck
12:00
Can you give any additional information to the Steelers' injuries that have not been publicized yet? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
Mike McCarthy has been tight-lipped on almost every injury. We know Ramsey has a knee injury and remains on PUP. Same for Donte Kent. Max Iheanachor has an upper body injury and is unlikely to play. Others unlikely to play tomorrow include DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Both starting WRs were injured within the past week. I don't think any of these are serious injuries where they'll be out weeks, but for a rookie like Iheanachor missing preseason game reps definitely puts him behind.
FirstTimeLongTime
12:03
Hey Ray - I would think the team gets a good long look at Kaleb Johnson tomorrow.  Any other players who you think this week is crucial in setting the pecking order or to make the 53.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
Johnson is a good one to watch. There are a bunch of guys battling for roster spots. Eli Heidenreich has been injured, but he said yesterday he will play. He has some ground to make up. Gabe Rubio is a sixth-round pick who has done well as a run stuffer. He's on the bubble but definitely in the conversation too for a roster spot. Watch WR Brandon Smith. He's been getting a long look at camp.
Tampa Too
12:05
Ray. Who will get The most snaps tomorrow, Howard or Allar?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
Probably about equal. McCarthy said yesterday the first QB will play a series or two and then the next will finish the half. The final QB will play the second half. Just an educated guess, but I think Howard is second and plays a lot in the first half with Allar getting the second-half reps.
BP
12:07
Hi Ray, thanks for doing these.  How would you compare Dowdle to Gainwell.  Gainwell was such a weapon to have, it was tough to see him go.  Will there be a dropoff in production from our RBs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
Two totally different kinds of backs. Gainwell could do it all -- run, block, catch. That's why he was named team MVP. Dowdle is more of a first- and second-down back. He can play on every down, but I don't know that he's as good as Warren on third downs. In the end, Warren and Gainwell had similar skill sets. Dowdle gives the Steelers a different look and maybe a guy who can wear on defenses a little more if you know what I mean.
Socal jeff
12:09
Ramsey has been injured since minicamp. He makes over $20m which is not guaranteed. He was not good last year. Why have the Steelers waited so long, instead of cutting him and signing Porter? I read all the time how FS is a ‘non essential’ low price position. Steelers should trade or cut him! Brisker can play FS.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
They plan on Ramsey playing a rover role in Patrick Graham's defense. He'll be someone who moves around the secondary. The coaches are excited to use him when he gets healthy. He is in no danger of being cut. Brisker indeed can play free safety and will if he can get healthy.
jewelsongs
12:11
Good morning.  The knock on Howard is his arm strength.  Could you name other QBs with similar arm strength who succeeded as a starter in the NFL?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Kirk Cousins is one who comes to mind. There are others. I don't think Howard's arm strength is as bad as it's made out to be, but he'll have a chance over the next few weeks to show he can make all the throws.
Epiballo
12:13
Rodgers said preseason football isn’t real football. Don’t you think most people already knew that?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Shhh. Don't tell McCarthy that.
Steeler Joe
12:14
Hey, Ray. I wonder where you stand on the "no tackling" training camp. I realize it's the standard these days for most teams. It makes for a less interesting camp to watch as a fan, but I wonder if it might not give the players a little extra wind later in the season, and there seem to be a whole lot fewer injuries than usual at this point in camp ...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
McCarthy is definitely taking a more modern approach to coaching, and it's shocking to some veterans and former players who are at camp. I cannot tell you how many former players have said how different it is. They went through camp under Cowher and/or Tomlin and they believe that hitting readies players for the season. Almost to a mean, they are on that side of the coin. And who can blame them? Many of them have Super Bowl rings doing things the old way. In the end, if the Steelers get off to a good start all of this tackling and physical camp stuff will be forgotten. But if they don't start well...
574 Fan
12:16
Thanks for chatting, Ray. This seems like a longshot at best, but if the team and JPJ are far apart on numbers (emphasis on "far") and Samuel's camp darling status carries over into lights out preseason play, is there a chance the team would try to extend Samuel before the season starts?  The CB room is good on paper *this* year.  Of the top 3, 2 are unsigned past this year and one is about to be 30.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
It's an interesting thought, but I don't think their long-term plans have changed just yet, but if Samuel plays well during the season they might want to get him signed before free agency in March. This past year was a bit unique because Samuel only played half a season and was coming off a neck injury. He'll be in much better position to sign a long-term deal next year if he plays well.
Bob G.
12:20
What kind of return could the Steelers get for a trade of Jones to another tram in need of a OT?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
That's hard to say because he is still working his way back from his neck injury. What they have to assess is whether he'll be worth more this season in a trade or next offseason. If he signs a big free agent deal the Steelers would get a good comp pick, which would be basically the same thing as trading him in 2026.
Bob G.
12:22
How serious is Ramsey's injury? He is gettign old and may not be ready for the beginning of the season.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
We've been told him starting on PUP is cautionary, and they expect him to be ready for the season.
TVC15
12:23
Who really wanted to draft Drew Allar? McCarthy? I like the pick!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
They liked a couple of QBs in the draft and Allar was one of them. McCarthy is a QB guru so I am sure he had some input into the decision to draft him.
574 Fan
12:24
Hard for linemen to stand out until the pads are on, so I know youre working with a very small sample size.  Wondering what the odds are that Iheanachor cracks the starting lineup this year, and also if Dunker has any shot at all of doing the same.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
Iheanachor was looking like someone who could start until his injury, but he missed the past few days with an injury and is not expected to play against the Packers. Dunker has a ways to go before he's in competition to start, but they drafted him in the third round for a reason. They think he can be a starter down the road. When depends on his development and how Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman play in front of him.
Bill In LA
12:26
What are the chances Lew Nichols makes the team over third rounder Kaleb Johnson if he outperforms him in preseason? Or does Johnson stick because of dradt slot?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
The Steelers haven't cut a third-round pick after one season since moving on from Kendrick Green in 2022. That was a disaster. Remember they tried him at fullback in camp that year? Yikes. I guess it will be a bad sign if Johnson starts to take reps at receiver. All joking aside, he's definitely on the bubble, but he'll get opportunities in these preseason games to show why he should be on the team.
Halk
12:30
If the Steelers had to play a meaningful game tomorrow without Jalen Ramsey, how different would Patrick Graham’s defense look? Is Ramsey simply another great player, or is he the piece that makes the entire scheme work?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
He's a pretty important piece to Graham's scheme, but I'm sure Graham has answers if he cannot play. They aren't building their defense around an aging veteran, but they do believe he can help them.
Jesus Lover
12:32
Is there enough room in Mike McCarthy’s offense for Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington to all have substantial roles, or is one of those players inevitably going to lose snaps?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
I think you'll see a reduced role for Washington as a receiver. And from one week to the next you might see more of Wilson or Freiermuth depending upon the opponent.
574 Fan
12:34
Lots of conversion about what Howard does and does not possess, physically speaking.  AFC North QBs that have success (recently) all seem to have plus arms, but the slighter-framed guys (Burrow, Lamar) have trouble finishing seasons (Howard does appear to have a sturdier frame).  Does Howard seem like an AFC North qb to you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
He is definitely bigger than those guys, but he also was injured last season. I know it was a fluke hand injury, but he missed more time than Burrow and Jackson.
Epiballo
12:35
How do you explain so many fans being enamored by Howard, so much so that they totally disregard Rudolph. He’s the best option for QB2 and has won games for the Steelers. Am I missing something?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
I think there are other fans who have a good idea of who Rudolph is and are willing to find out if Howard is better/or has more upside.
Pittfan
12:36
Hi Ray. Do you think there's an organization in the NFL that would spend like the Dodgers if there were no salary cap?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
The Rams seem like that team right now.
Lenny from NY
12:37
Good Afternoov Ray. I keep hearing that the Steelers need to keep Rudolph because of his experience. But we know what we have in him. He never made it in this league as a starter.  I just don’t understand the push to keep him as QB2. Is Howard that bad?  I don’t think so. Thanks
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