Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 08.19.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:34
People will certainly read into his comments and the fact that he's not playing. And they might not be wrong.
Ryan
11:35
Ray what do you think about the play of Gabe Rubio and Kaden wetjen i think both looked good on Thursday and i think both will get playing time during the regular season with Logan Lee being injured
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
Rubio has been better than I anticipated. He is a good run defender. Wetjen was impressive in his first outing as a WR, but I still go back to what McCarty said a day or two after that. He really challenged Wetjen to produce more as a receiver and said he expected him to score.
Mr Rooney
11:37
Lots of excitement after Allar's strong showing against GB. Can a simple change to footwork and rhythm truly make that big of a difference? Granted it was against 3rd string camp bodies. But when up against first-rate competition, can what appears to be very basic modifications truly take a QB from under performer to NFL starter...or even NFL champion? It seems too rudimentary to be so IMO. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:38
I think what we're seeing is Allar has been coached by professional coaches for fourth months, and it's showing up in his game. The coaching he received at Penn State wasn't close to what he's getting with the Steelers.
The Robber
11:38
Hi Ray, after witnessing a glimpse of McCarthy’s coaching prowess with QB’s in the preseason game against Green Bay, doesn’t this illustrate a HUGE gap in Tomlin’s resume?  The QB is universally regarded as the most important position across all team sports. Yet Tomlin completely failed to develop anything after Big Ben. His talent evaluation was terrible (e.g. Trubisky and Pickett). His development of QB’s was equally poor (Fields & Wilson). And he undercut Rogers’ ability to take reasonable risks. (DON’T turn the ball over!). Tomlin didn’t even see the need to have a QB coach on his staff some years. It’s a QB-driven league and McCarthy elevates that position and develops it. Why didn’t Tomlin ever understand that?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:39
I'm sure he understood the importance of the position, but I'm not sure if he was always able to attract top quality assistants.
Jim Bow Dean
11:40
Aren’t there only three roster decisions to be made? Four QBs vs. three, Homer vs. Heidenreich, and Kaleb Johnson vs. a seventh DL? Seems to me everything else is obvious.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:40
How about the secondary? That position was not easy for me to go through and decide who was on and who was off especially at safety.
Turk in MD
11:41
Everybody needs a Turk.  :-)
RJ
11:42
I tend to be overtly optimistic, I see the O being more pass oriented utilizing the ENTIRE field, I see many O sets utilizing two TE's and I see more passes to the flat area utilizing the running backs. What do you see for the Steelers O ?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:43
I definitely think the offense has a chance to be better. It's not just the scheme and design of the offense. They went out and got Michael Pittman Jr. They signed Rico Dowdle. They invested again in the offensive line.
Jewelsongs
11:43
Good morning Ray, do you think it makes sense to spend a roster spot on Homer?  I know special teams are important, but is he that much better than others?  He doesn't add anything as a running back.  Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
11:44
He doesn't add anything as a RB, but neither did Miles Killebrew as a safety. Same with Skowronek at WR. There are some guys who are on the team strictly for the abilities on special teams.
Hometown
11:44
Any chance the hometown guy (MM) gives another hometown guy (EH) a chance to live the dream?  I saw your roster projection and noticed he didn't make the cut.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:44
Practice squad I think.
Dormont_Legacy
11:45
Nice article on the 53 man projection. But it makes we wonder - why would a skill player not be able to learn or play special teams? Isn’t that just about being an athlete and staying in your lane? I don’t get why someone on the bubble for a roster spot couldn’t learn special teams.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:45
Special teams have to get their nose dirty. They have to be tough and instinctive football players. Not every skill position player has those traits.
Steeler Joe
11:46
So, Rudolph sits. That means one of a couple of things: they want to keep him healthy as trade bait; they are looking to see if they can survive with just the two young kids behind Rodgers; or Howard and Allar are battling for one spot. Which do you think is the most likely scenario?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:46
I think they want to find out if Howard can be the backup. If they come to that conclusion there is no reason to keep Rudolph.
Turk in MD
11:46
Can MM really determine whether Howard or Allar can be a starter by the end of this season or is the team locked into drafting a QB in round 1...possibly with a ton of draft capital?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:47
I think McCarthy can have a pretty good idea. Listen, you never know until a guy is in that situation, but I think he can learn enough in practices and the preseason games about where he is in his development.
RJ
11:47
Just saw the plan is Howard 1st half and Allar 2nd half Friday. I like this, because, in my view if the kids do well, Mason is trade bait. What is your take on this, Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:48
I think you might be on the right track.
Tin Cup
11:48
Ray, which position group will Patrick Graham's scheme benefit the most?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:49
Hard to say without seeing his defense in a real game yet, but he is a creative play caller so I think you could see Jalen Ramsey flourish in his scheme and others who will have freedom to move around and use their instincts to make plays.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:50
Ray: after all of that draft capital investment, is offensive line still your biggest concern going into the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:50
I would not say it's my biggest concern, but they definitely need to take a step forward as a group.
JR in SC
11:50
Thanks for the chats Ray. Can you expand a little bit on what footwork issues Allar has? Just saying he has issues is a little too generic for me.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:52
He had footwork issues in college. When he got to the Steelers McCarthy put him through his QB school. McCarthy has a very specific and detailed way of developing his QBs. I think you saw the improved footwork in the Packers game when he was asked or had to roll out of the pocket. It was night and day difference between his PSU days.
SoCalFan
11:53
Hi Ray…we’re almost there! My question relates to Rodgers. By all accounts, he can still sling it as accurately as anyone can put great zip on it. Is the reason he is no longer a “top” quarterback less about mobility (MVP Stafford can’t run) and more about not being willing to take a hit in the pocket? His IQ and ability to manage a game is a real treat to watch!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:54
Right. I think Stafford is a good comp. They both are really good at diagnosing defenses and know where to go with the ball at this stage of their careers. Athleticism was a big part of their games when they were young, but they've adapted as their athleticism has diminished.
11:55
OK that's all the time I have for today. We'll chat again next week.
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