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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.06.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:09
The season rides on it so I'm sure they're hoping sooner rather than later.
Ryan
10:10
Do we have better depth at outside linebacker than a week ago?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:10
Yes I believe so. I like the Reed acquisition.
Homer
10:10
I think Baltimore is the class of the division and I see the Bengals taking a step back. Do you see any scenario where the Steelers win the division?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:11
Sure, but they're a long shot. If the defense is one of the best in the NFL, you know they'll be in a lot of games. I just think winning the division is a stretch with the Bengals and Ravens a little better at some key positions.
Najee
10:11
Can this offense get off to fast starts under a new QB?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:11
It can't get much worse than last season, can it?
Najee
10:11
We all talk about Mitch Trubisky’s leash, but what is Devin Bush’s leash?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:12
I'm guessing it's short. We all know Spillane is more than serviceable.
Guest
10:13
Ray,  prediction request,  I think Friermuth takes a leap into TE elite category this year.  Is 80/900/10 realistic this year you think?  And which QB you think he had beer chemistry with in camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:14
I think you're a little high on the number of catches and maybe touchdowns, but I definitely think he'll be more involved this year. Look for a higher average per catch. They want to get him involved more in the middle of the field. Last year he was this great option in the red zone, but they know he offers much more than that.
Beal
10:15
Can I have any hope that the O line will be an upgrade from last seasons group?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:16
Well, as Andy Dufresne said "Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things." But I'm not sure Andy would have much faith in this offensive line.
OK_Joe
10:16
Do you have a prediction for the Steelers' record this season?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:16
My official prediction will be in our NFL preview later this week.
Ule
10:17
Is the greatest shortage in the NFL today the large 300 lb + starter-ready offensive lineman?  If not, where do you see the toughest position to fill today, besides QB?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:18
You're definitely onto something. Finding quality offensive linemen is really hard right now. They're coming from systems when many of them rarely play out of three-point stances. They're doing different techniques in college because so many college teams have gone away from pro-style offenses. There are a lot of projections happening with college offensive linemen and it's been something NFL teams have struggled with over the past few years.
Yates
10:19
Hi Ray-  Wouldn’t the roster have been better with Haeg in lieu of K Green?   How do you see Steelers deploying ILB who are below Bush on the depth chart first quarter of season?  Odds Bush is not the starter by bye week?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:20
You're forgetting Green is a third-round pick and Haeg was a free agent signing. They have much more invested in Green, and they didn't want to admit a mistake after one year, if indeed it was a mistake. Maybe Green can turn his career around. As for Bush being the starter by the bye week, I'll say it iffy.
RayJay
10:20
Any update on how long you think Kazee will be out? He seemed to be a good player IMO and could help provide depth.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:20
I think he has a chance to get back by midseason.
wallace82@comcast.net
10:21
Hi Ray. Fairly ironic having apparent strength at quarterback, after losing an 18 year starter. Then, hiring an ineffective OL!
Ray Fittipaldo
10:22
Would you feel any better if they drafted an offensive tackle in Round 1 and missed out on Kenny Pickett? That's the other side of the question. I'm the first person to tell you the offensive line is a major concern, but if Steelers brass believed Pickett was a future long-term starter when they drafted him then that's why you select him before an OL. But no doubt, they have to address the line with higher draft picks in the coming years.
kevin in Punxy
10:23
Ray, do you think that this is the year that HCMT has a LOSING season?  Will it matter to ARII?  Probably not!
Ray Fittipaldo
10:23
Yeah I don't think it will matter.
Bill
10:23
Why do you think the Steelers dumped Derek Tuszka in favor of Jamir Jones? Tuszka  played well last year and is a bigger guy
Ray Fittipaldo
10:24
They believe Jones has more upside.
Steeltown
10:24
Hey Ray, Any chance Jesse Davis gets the start in Cincy? Can’t believe they would start Dan Moore Jr.?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:25
No they're going with Dan Moore this week.
Where is My Clark Bar?
10:25
Hi Ray, Mr. Dulac’s recent article where he broke down each position rated the o-line as worse than last year. How do you feel about it, compared to last year? Moore can’t be any worse than himself plus he has a year of experience, Cole is an upgrade over Green at center, Daniels is an upgrade over Turner, and Chuks is himself. Not to say this is a good line, but it is slightly more talented than last year right??
Ray Fittipaldo
10:26
I never thought I would say this, but they do seem like they might be worse this year. I think a lot of it has to do with the new coach coming in and the players aren't quite comfortable yet with his techniques and schemes. But this is the NFL. It's all about production and those guys have to get better -- and fast.
Lenny from NY
10:26
Good morning Ray. Would you trade Claypool and Rudolph for a decent OT. WR room seems to be stacked. OL is the teams eeriness IMOP. THANKS
Ray Fittipaldo
10:27
It's not so stacked if Diontae Johnson is hurt. One injury can change a lot of things. I keep that room intact.
KimChee
10:28
What is this "Pat Meyer technique" that folks are talking about? Is it the one-hand / independent hand strike? Is his O-line philosophy that much different than other coaches around the league? I know some teams employ different schemes (cut-and-roll, outside zone blocking, whatever). Is Meyer's special sauce in the scheme, the technique -- or is he changing both?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:30
I know one thing is getting hands on a DL early. So jump-setting has been encouraged. We saw how that went for Kendrick Green in the preseason. If you don't get your hands on the guy it can be disastrous. It can be effective too, but I don't think we saw enough evidence of that. I think with Moore he needs to work on his kick-slide and don't give up his outside shoulder as easily as he has. It's little things. I'm sure they're working on all of it, but it takes time. And it might take a lot of time when some of these guys are on their fifth line coach in five years.
Ryan
10:30
Ray who leads the Steelers in touchdowns this year I’m going with Najee
Ray Fittipaldo
10:31
That's a good guess. I'd go with Najee or Johnson.
Jay Daven
10:32
Ray, with the offensive line in tatters, who is to blame for this, poor coaching development, poor drafting, wrong technique or all of the above?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:32
They need to start investing some high picks on the OL and they need to find a good coach who will stick around for more than a year or two.
Najee
10:32
Keys to success for the season?
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