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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 08.20.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:51
Good morning. We'll get started soon. In the meantime, keep those questions coming!
Stairway to seventh seed
10:56
Ray: it seems like a lot of people are making excuses for Jones.  He's injured even though he has missed no time even in practice.  He's bouncing between left and right too much even though he has been at RT probably over 80% of his pro career.  Rousseau is an emerging star even though Jones has been beaten by just about everybody that lines up in front of him dating back to the very first play against Houston.  The coaches seem to realize it more than the media as they are telling us that Jones will be in a competition with Moore.  My question is should the team consider starting Anderson or Cook at RT against the Falcons and maybe all season given what we also saw from Fautanu?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:57
No, the Steelers should not start Anderson or Cook because Fautanu had one rough outing. They really like Fautanu, and they should plug him back in at right tackle when he is 100% recovered from his MCL sprain. The Jones situation is a bit more complicated. Sometimes there are injuries that you have to play through. There is nothing that will make it better or make it worse. Maybe we'll get a chance to speak with Jones today about the issue. He declined an interview after the game because he said he had to go see the doctor. On the whole, the play of the entire offensive line through two preseason games is discouraging. That's a big issue because Arthur Smith needs a strong O-line to make his offense work. Specifically, they have to run block well, and we haven't seen that either... By the way, love your handle.
Mike from NY
10:57
Hi Ray. Will Cam Heyward or TJ Watt play in the last preseason game or will they be held out to ensure they are healthy for the regular season?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
Tomlin played his starters in the third preseason game last year. But every year is different so we'll see. The injuries are starting to mount on offense, and the last thing they need are important players on defense to get injured in another meaningless game.
Guest
10:58
Are we seeing a problem with coaching the offensive line or a problem with the acquired talent?  I specifically am referring to Dobson’s emergence with the Rams and Jones potential regression.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
You mean Dotson. I get it. He thrived once he left here. But was it the coaching here, or was it the fact that the Rams put Dotson in his natural position? Either way, it's not a good look for the Steelers especially if Dotson plays well again this season. In talking to the offensive linemen the past couple of years about Pat Meyer he will change your technique. He's not afraid to do that no matter your pedigree entering the league. He does it with free agents too. James Daniels was taught a different way to do things after he played four years in the NFL. My point is it takes time when you develop guys that way. Every NFL O-line coach does that to a certain extent. Good lines don't develop overnight. They take time. The Steelers are young on the line. These young draft picks aren't going to develop into Pro Bowlers as rookies.
Retire21
11:03
not a typical final preseason game, right? They’ll have to start a lot of offensive starters, except Najee? Unless he gets hurt, Wilson’s, the starter a QB Week 1, no matter what, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
I agree with pretty much everything you said. The offensive line needs to play together. They haven't been good. And yes, rest Najee Harris. You don't want to go into Week 1 with Cordarrelle Patterson as your starting RB. I think Wilson will be the starter Week 1 for sure.
WVblack
11:05
Hey Ray!  I had not heard of O-line play being an issue in camp.  Can we chalk Saturday up to just a bad night, or is there more to it?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
It really hasn't been an issue in camp. But going against the same players and the same defense for three weeks straight can create a false sense of comfort in their level of play. They didn't play well against the Texans or the Bills. They need to come out and play better against the Lions. Pass protection is the biggest issue, but the run-blocking has been inconsistent.
Big Snack
11:07
Hey Ray, with the increasing likelihood that Aiyuk re-signs with SF, do you think the Steelers kick the tires on a JuJu reunion?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:08
I wouldn't close the door on Aiyuk. As far as JuJu goes, they have enough guys like him. What they really need is a No. 2 WR and they don't grow on trees.
Lou
11:08
Hi Ray. Isn’t 2 games into preseason combined with some injuries, rookies, new players….just waaay toooo early to cry about the sky falling?  Seems ridiculous to worry before you even get to real game 4.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
A complete 180 from last year when everyone was excited about Kenny Pickett and the offense. But there are certain fundamental things you want to see from certain aspects of your offense that haven't been there. Can that be cleaned up in a few weeks? Sure. But injuries might complicate matters.
Mike from NY
11:09
Did I see Sutton playing against the Bills? So he can play in preseason games even though he's suspended for a number of regular season games?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:10
He can play in the preseason games and practice with the team until his suspension begins. Once the regular season begins he cannot participate in practices and obviously the games.
Guest
11:11
Ray, with the poor play of the offensive line so far this pre-season, is it beginning to look like the Steelers have again done a poor job of drafting offensive linemen?  If the young guys are not ready to go early in the season, will the Steelers dig too big of a hole to climb out of to make the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
Well, Frazier has to be ready no matter what because Nate Herbig is out for a while and maybe the season with his shoulder injury. Sometimes that happens. It will be baptism by fire for him. I'm not really concerned with Fautanu. I think once he is healthy he's going to show why he was a first-round pick. I'm a little more concerned about Jones because it does look like he's regressed in the first two preseason games. I just don't know if it's the elbow injury that is holding him back or another issue.
Christopher
11:13
Morning, Ray. Sure you are going to get a ton of Aiyuk questions, but what do you think the odds are he ends up as a Steeler? Seems like the 49ers can’t reach a deal with him and might be leaking some stuff to the media to make the Steelers up their offer.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
According to reports out of San Francisco, the 49ers and Aiyuk were close on a deal last week. If it hasn't happened by now I'm not sure it's going to happen. Either they want him or they don't. If you're Omar Khan you just sit back and wait for the 49ers to make their decision. They already have the framework of a contract worked out. Keep the pressure on the 49ers and see if they want to deal with this soap opera during the regular season.
JN
11:15
Aside from Harris, Warren and CPat, what RB may make the roster? Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:16
I don't know that they'll keep more than three, but Jonathan Ward was the best of the others at Saint Vincent. He has been banged up so not sure if he'll play against the Lions though.
The Dude
11:16
The Steelers used a number one pick the past two years on left tackles, yet neither one is playing left tackle. These cannot be considered wasted picks (yet) but doesn’t it indicate something is wrong?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
There are plenty of offensive linemen who play one position in college and are better fits at others in the NFL. It happens quite a bit actually. And the Steelers have said Jones will be the left tackle eventually. They just haven't given a firm timeline.
Florence Fan
11:18
Hi Ray!  Any news on new contracts for Najee or Muth?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:19
They might get something done with Freiermuth before the start of the regular season. If they wanted to sign Najee Harris they would have picked up his fifth-year option in May.
Caleb
11:20
Hypothetical: Say we finally get Aiyuk. From what we have seen from 1st team offense so far, does this immediately make us better on offense? Not fully blaming the o-line for the issues. I read somewhere this morning that the other WRs just aren't showing enough effort to get open when a play breaks down.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:20
Of course it would. He's a top 10-15 WR in the league. He would make everyone around him better too.
Jud
11:21
If Warren is out Wk1...who would be Najee's backup at this point?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Probably Patterson.
Just Preseason
11:21
How much of the offensive struggles do you believe are simply tied to executing a new offensive scheme?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Pat Meyer has been here for four years.
JPinIndy
11:22
Good morning Ray! In your opinion who’s on the 53 among Darius Rush, Cory Trice and Beanie Bishop?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:23
All three might be. At least initially. Maybe they won't after other teams make their cuts.
Jud
11:23
Do you think Freiermuth regains form this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:23
I have more confidence the OC knows how to get his best players the ball.
Turk in MD
11:23
Hi Ray.  Thanks for the chat.  If Dan Moore is not the long term LT, why isn’t Broderick Jones starting at LT?  If Dan Moore is the starting LT b/c he is a 3 year starter who is playing well, why did they draft Jones to be their starting LT?  Something doesn’t make sense.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:24
Well, either Jones is injured or he's not developing as quickly as they had hoped. It's one or the other.
Bones in Iowa
11:24
What is the biggest concern for you...Broderick jumping back and forth and mastering nothing?  Or the obvious elbow injury hindering him that never gets mentioned?
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