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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.05.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Welcome to this week's Steelers chat. Let's get started.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:01
Ray:  it seems like Roberts and Alexander outplayed Holcomb in the preseason.  Should we be worried that they will stubbornly stick with Holcomb just because they paid him more?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Very small sample size in the preseason. So what you watched in a limited number of snaps likely isn't what the coaches see day in and day out in practices. Holcomb is the only legitimate three-down ILB among the trio. I'm not saying he's Ryan Shazier, but he can play the run and cover. Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexanders at this stage of their careers are not every-down players. That being said, I think all three can and will help the defense this season. They all bring something different to the table.
Ken
2:03
When Nick Herbig was drafted there was a lot of talk about him also playing ILB.  Do you think that still may come about during the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
No. Why would they do that? He's making terrific progress as an edge rusher right now.
Jim
2:04
To me the Steelers look great on paper, why the disrespect from national media? Is it the 2nd year QB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
I think it's the opposite. I think more and more members of the national media are jumping on the Steelers bandwagon. I watched Good Morning Football on the NFL Network this morning before I headed to the facility. All four people on the panel picked the Steelers to make the playoffs. They're not alone. In fact, I think there are more members of the national media picking the Steelers to make the playoffs than miss. I think what you see are the oddmakers in Vegas not showing the Steelers a lot of respect. The Steelers have the worst odds of any team in the AFC North to win the division and the Super Bowl. Yes, even the Browns have better odds. Go figure.
Jay
2:07
Hello Ray.  Finally football is here!  SF defense is very good even without Bosa, is it reasonable to expect the offense to struggle against that unit?  Would probably need to win TO battle plus a few big special team plays to win.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
You are right. SF was the No. 1 in scoring defense and total defense last season. The 49ers are much more than Nick Bosa. They have Fred Warner and Hafanga, the All-Pro safety. Plus, they added former Steelers DT Javon Hargrave in the spring. They are stacked. I don't think anyone with a clue is expecting the Steelers to go out there and score a lot of points on Sunday. I think the games is going to be in the teens. I'd be surprised if either team got to 20.
42211
2:09
Have the Steelers been experimenting with any other “Big Guys” at fullback since K. Green’s trade?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
No.
Khan Game
2:10
While I’m thrilled we got anything for Green (I would have settled for a ball boy for him), does this trade highlight our poor drafting over the years? We got back the 6th round pick from the Dotson trade in the Green trade. We essentially gave up Green (3rd round), Dotson (4th round), and a 5th round pick for a 4th and 5th round pick. In the big picture, didn’t we give up a 3rd round pick for nothing??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Not every third and fourth round pick pan out. Take a look around the league. I also think some of this has to do with the changes in the front office. Omar Khan and Andy Weidl have a vision for what they want the Steelers to look like, and Dotson and Green did not fit the bill. There always is big change when there is a big change made in the front office. I think you're seeing that take place.
NFL Light
2:12
Players are being treated softer than they were in the past – taking practices off, light practices, barely playing in the preseason, not being allowed to tackle hard, etc. The reason given is player safety. I believe that expecting players to go from such light work to full speed week 1 leads to more injuries. Is the softening of the NFL actually causing more injuries?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
It's a good debate. I know a lot of the old-school players who played before the current CBA was signed in 2011 feel that way. You can run and lift and do all you want to try to be in great shape, but there is no substitute for practicing hard and playing hard. I think it's just something coaches have to deal with in the modern era. The owners are driving this train. When the Steelers signed TJ Watt to that record contract in 2021, for instance, they didn't want to expose him to reps in the preseason. You want to get your best players to the season. Whatever happens after that is injury luck, or bad luck.
Jake
2:14
If Dan Moore plays well, and there are no injuries to he or Chuks, how does B. Jones see playtime?  They usually don't rotate lineman in and out.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
Special teams -- FG and PAT unit. And even though we haven't seen it yet they can play with an extra tackle when they want to pound a team with the running game. That's one way to get Jones more playing time.
Steelers1987
2:15
Hi ray do who do you think will be the odd man out when Kenny Pickett comes up George Pickens TJ Watt or Najee Harris
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
I'm not sure why you picked those three players, but if I had to pick one out of those three it's an easy decision for me: Harris.
Tom in Dallas
2:16
The Steelers had a great preseason.  Rookie class  shows great promise and many can contribute day one.  The starters are all healthy.  49er's have a QB with less experience than Kenny, star defensive lineman likely can't or won't play, and star TE might be limited or not play.  And the game is in Pittsburgh.  A couple of months ago, many felt this is a game we would lose.  Now, shouldn't this be a very winnable game for us?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Well, let's see what happens with Bosa and Kittle before Sunday. They're two great players and their presence would make a big difference. As it stands now, the 49ers are still favored to win by 2.5. In the end, I think the 49ers being an established team that went to the NFC title game last season gives them the edge in Vegas circles.
BPOS
2:18
Feels like they are heavy on carrying 11 in the backfield and Pierre is likely the first guy out.  What's the likely hood they bring in someone in the next week and if so, what position is the most in need of depth?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
Eleven is a big number for any secondary. But some of those guys are on the roster for their abilities to play on special teams, so you have to take that into account. Your assessment is correct. If a move is made, Pierre is likely the first to go. He did not have a great summer. He does, however, offer solid special teams play.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
2:20
Do you believe the Steelers preseason offensive success was fool's gold and they will have extreme difficulties playing against the Niner defense or does this offense look for real and will score 24 plus per game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
You have to understand the offense can be for real and still only score 17 points on Sunday. The other team does have some say in how things unfold. And as I mentioned earlier, the 49ers had the No. 1 defense in the NFL last season.
Ron
2:21
Hey Ray, would you predict that the Steelers are more effective Sunday running or throwing the ball against the 49ers? My hope would be to establish the running game and get vertical in play action for some big plays as a result. But, they won't be facing a vanilla, preseason defense, will they?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
That's a pretty stout front to run against even if Bosa does not play. I could see the Steelers coming out with a more balanced game plan and let Pickett throw some passes early.
James Ryan
2:22
Hey Ray! Thanks for the chats. Any chance we see Desmond King at all against SF? I do think he will end up as the starting Nickel, but curious if they'll allow any play time this early
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I doubt King dresses on Sunday. He just arrived last week and practiced for the first time with the team on Monday.
British Bob
2:23
Does the team have a defined role for Desmond King?  Will he start or sub?  If he pans out this could be great as he is relatively young.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Tomlin was asked that question today and did not answer. He basically said it's too soon to tell. I think he'll figure into the nickel rotation at some point.
CoalportKid
2:24
What would you expect the division of labor at D-line to be? Outside of Hayward having 60% of the snaps, seems like everything else is unknown.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Yeah especially with Ogunjobi not practicing much in camp. I think that's part of the reason they are carrying seven DL right now.
Watt's your problem
2:25
There was a play against Atlanta, where Elandon Roberts had an opening to the backfield and exploded like a rocket to make the tackle for a loss.  Regardless of whether they were 2nd teamers or not, it was an impressive play. This new LB crew seems better and more aggressive than the past few years.  Do you sense this as well, and do the Steelers seem to have a little more swagger than they've had in years past?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
I do think there is more swagger, more confidence, but I also think I have to see this trio perform in games before I make any kind of assessment on their play.
Nick
2:25
Ray, I couldn't watch/listen to Tomlin Presser today. Was there anything new?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Not really. We have a story up on the web site that hit some of the main points: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2023/09/05/mike-tomlin-nf...
2:27
Plus, Gerry will have another story up later on this afternoon.
Cathy
2:27
Do the players stay at a hotel the night before home games or do they just stay at home?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
They stay at a hotel.
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