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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 08.18.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get it started.
Jerry
1:53
I think the Steelers should let Cam test free agency. To many young players they have to sign. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
The Steelers usually find a way to keep their best players, and I think they'll try to find a way to make it work. Is it harder with the cap likely going down? Absolutely. But it would surprise me if they did not make Cam a very fair offer.
RJT
1:54
Without crowds will we see more points?  i.e  Less false starts, easier substitution, easier to make audibles at the line, run the no huddle...
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
I think you make a good point. We'll have to see how it plays out. The defense might have an easier time getting a read on the offense and its audibles too. So it's likely to go both ways. The good teams will adjust and find a ways to thrive in the new environment.
Joe Momma
1:56
Overall, what position do you think has been the strongest throughout the Steelers organization? I often hear about our ability to find quality WR’s, and we’re known for our LB’s, but I think our centers have been consistently top quality. Webster, Dawson, and Pouncey will likely all be HOF’s. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Hard to argue. And don't forget about Jeff Hartings, the starting center in Super Bowl XL. He's not a Hall of Famer, but he bridged the gap there for a few years before Pouncey arrived. Justin Hartwig too. He was solid and started on the Super Bowl XLIII team. Will be interesting to see how the voters view Pouncey. He has all the accolades -- the Pro Bowls, All-Pros. But he also seems to have a lot of detractors.
Bil
1:58
Any word on BB's spin rate?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
No problems right now with his spin rate.
Bil
1:58
It's been brought up that the offense is a bit bigger. Will we see a more controlled plan w/less (hopefully)turnovers that in in 18?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
It's hard to get a gauge on that with limited opportunities to speak with the coaches during the pandemic. Vance McDonald said today he thinks the offense can be "explosive" and "super-productive." He was raving about the WRs. We'll see how it goes, but I never got the sense the Steelers were going to be conservative when I listened to McDonald talk about the offense today.
Debbie Z.
2:01
Hey Ray.   Any truth to the rumor that Steeler great Jack Lambert will present Cryboy Cliff Harris for the Hall of Fame? (lol)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Present him right off the stage.
Ryno
2:01
Fans seem concerned the Steelers won't be able to pay players like Cam, or JuJu next season.  But isn't one reality that other teams also won't be able to pay them next season, due to a lower cap?  Could we see players getting smaller contracts for a few years?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Other teams are in a bit better shape than the Steelers when it comes to the cap. Much of it has to do with how the Steelers structure their contracts. They also plans for there to be an increase in the cap. But with the cap likely declining (and maybe as much as $23 million) there is some work to do in terms of getting these deals done.
JunglyAJK
2:03
Do you think the Steelers can compete with KC and Balitmore?  Kinda dumb to say they can't win the division when they should have won an OT game against Lamar Jackson last year, right Ray?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I think Kansas City is the clear favorite, and I think the Ravens should be favored over the Steelers in the division. But yes, the Steelers can compete with them for supremacy in the AFC. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Steelers were right there with them at the top of the AFC standings by season's end.
David
2:04
Assuming JuJu  has a bounce back year I'm starting to think the tag would make sense since Ben would have one more year left as well. Price will be high but have to go for it one last time right?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Well, there's only so much money to go around. And you've seen how they've drafted receivers in recent years. They've taken one in the third round or higher in each of the past three years. It won't cripple them if he does move on in free agency.
Ryan
2:05
Good afternoon Ray how has Tuitt and chase and jarron jones offensive lineman 79 looked in camp so far that you’ve watched
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Chase Claypool had a very good first practice in pads. Made an acrobatic catch over Joe Haden in a goalline drill -- a really nice back-shoulder fade. Tuitt's teammates say he's looking good. Easier to talk about the skill guys after one day, but I'll let you know on Tuitt as camp progresses.
David
2:07
Can you elaborate more on the restrictions for what you are allowed to report on practices and has that always been the case or is that special because of COVID for some reason?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
When camp is at Saint Vincent we can report whatever we see or hear because it's an open practice with fans in attendance. What they're doing now with camp at Heinz with no fans is attendance is pretty much like a regular-season practice. It's a closed practice. So whatever we see in practice we have to confirm with a player or Tomlin afterward. For instance, I wrote about the backs on backers drill after practice yesterday. I could do so because I asked Tomlin about it, and he talked about it. I couldn't have written about it if I didn't ask him about it afterward. The only change from a regular-season practice is the Steelers streaming a live feed for 45 minutes. So we can actually write whatever we see for 45 minutes. But that's during stretching and individual. For all the good stuff -- like backs on backers, O-line-D-line 1-on-1s, team periods -- it's closed. Hope that helps.
Carl
2:10
Ray, now that Finney is gone, who will back up Pouncey?  Can a Wisniewski play center?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Yes Wisniewski is the top interior reserve right now. He is the backup center and the top backup guard.
Johncn
2:11
Have seen some reports that Ben's throwing looks good, but the motion is different. Is that something you have noticed? If true, is it potentially important?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I didn't notice that at all. He looked really good to me. And more important, his teammates are saying he looks like his old self.
Guest
2:13
With so many limited reps in pads, how difficult is it to figure out sub packages ? How comfortable is the staff if noticing improvements in guys like , UG3, Marcus Allen etc.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
That's going to be a challenge, no doubt. And that's why I think they'll lean on veterans quite a bit early in the season.
Jack Lambert's tooth
2:15
Who is a better slot guy among juju, dj, jw?  Why do the Steelers need a switzer if one of these guys can play slot?  Add claypool and you have some matchup problems for defenses!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
They all can line up inside. JuJu has been very effective there in the past. If I had to choose I'd say JuJu, but it's not a knock against the others. They can all line up anywhere and have success. As for Switzer, he's smaller, shiftier type of player the Steelers hope can get open underneath and convert some short third downs.
Alan in Nashville
2:16
Any talk of the Steelres
Doing like a black/gold game sort of like college? Just to get a feel for the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I don't think there will be a full-blown game, but they will scrimmage at some point in camp.
Zack B
2:17
Safety depth is bad, ILB is also shaky.  What do you expect the FA to do?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Those are definitely two positions where they could search the waiver wire for depth.
Jeff
2:18
Thanks for the chats Ray.  Say we go 3-1 and Bens arm falls off.  Defense picks up on where they left off last year.  Do we go get a vet or ride the Rudolph train again
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
What vet would be available in early October and what kind of shape would he be in? I'd ride with Rudolph.
Buster
2:20
Do you expect the Steelers to have a more prepared thought out  offensive plan if Ben should go down again,  instead of the rinkydink mess they trotted out last year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
Yes. Part of the problem last season was the inexperience of the QBs. It was the first time Rudolph and Hodges took snaps in NFL games. Don't underestimate the affect on the offense. It's hard to play with a player that hasn't worked alongside you. Could the Steelers have leaned more on their running game? Sure. But they're not built to run. They're built to pass, and they were trying to stay in character.
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