You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.17.24
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Good afternoon. Let's talk Steelers.
Seferg
2:01
I don't know how fair it is to praise or criticize Justin Fields since we don't know what limitations he is working under so 2 questions: How sustainable is this formula and would Russel Wilson be under the same conditions?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
The formula is sustainable against bad teams like the Broncos and even mediocre teams like the Falcons. It shouldn't be unfamiliar to Steelers fans. It's pretty much the same approach Mike Tomlin had when Mitch Trubisky or Kenny Pickett was his QB the past two seasons. I think it's harder to win like that against quality opponents, specifically quality opponents with offenses that will be able to put some points on the board. As for your questions about Russell Wilson, I think the Steelers would have more trust in him because he's a veteran and has seen more over the years. But I don't think their game plans would drastically change. Tomlin would still want to lean on his defense and running game and play a physical brand of football.
Michelle
2:04
Is Harris playing well enough to play Arthur Smith's ground and pound offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
I have no issue with the way Najee Harris is playing. He always plays hard. But if you noticed, with Jaylen Warren healthy, it was back to more of a 50-50 split in snaps for them. That will be the norm this season. They like both backs.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:06
Ray: both the team and Broderick Jones himself have now had numerous chances to blame his collapse on an elbow injury, but they haven't done so.  Do you think his issues are from lack of offseason conditioning, lack of in season preparation, lack of in game focus or bouncing between left and right (which he really has not done that much of)?  The Panthers seem to have given up on Bryce Young from the same draft.  Is this the end of Jones as a future tackle for the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
There is no way this should be the end for Jones, but it's up to Jones in how he responds to this adversity. Does he go in the tank and feel sorry for himself? Or does he come out fighting and try to improve? Jones remains the future at left tackle. Dan Moore is in the last year of his contract and will become a free agent in March. The Steelers very much want Jones to their left tackle, but he has some things to clean up. I also think he's lost some confidence. He needs some time to develop his game and to work on some things.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:09
Ray: what kind of draft pick compensation would you give Carolina to get Diontae Johnson back?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
I don't think they want him back, but I'll play the game. A fourth or fifth.
denver
2:10
I would like to know if the coaches actually teach nfl players to hold, to a certain extent?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Here's a little secret. You are allowed to hold an opposing defender as long as your hands are within the framework of the opposing player's chest area. In other words, as long as the hands are inside in the breastplate area. That is legal and taught. It becomes holding when players grab onto shoulder pads or other parts of the body outside the framework.
Dan
2:12
Hey Ray, thanks so much for the chat. What’s your take on the officiating so far? Specifically the Steeler games? I can’t recall two games in a row where it felt like this many huge plays were negated by penalties. It’s been frustrating to watch.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
It's not a good product right now. I guess there is the old fallback that officials call it tight early, and that might be true again. But ultimately, you want the players deciding the game. I thought there were some terrible calls in the first two Steelers game -- both for and against the Steelers. I don't expect it to change. The NFL has an officiating problem, and little has been done to fix it. By the way, Mike Tomlin is having officials at all three practices this week because he's fed up with his players getting penalized too much. Clearly, he's putting the onus on him and the team to adjust and not the other way around. Typically, Tomlin only has officials at practice on Fridays.
Tyson
2:15
Is this the week we see if the Steelers D can actually stop the run? And, how are the Steelers favored - have the oddsmakers watched the Steelers O?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
The Chargers have a very good running game, and Tomlin spent a good portion of his news conference talking about it. It's very much designed like the Ravens rushing game from a few years ago because former Ravens OC Greg Roman is the Chargers' new OC. And he has plenty of former Ravens players on the team, including RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins and center Bradley Bozeman, among others.
bwalker
2:16
Frazier seems to be doing a really solid job. Snaps seem to be good after the first drive of the season and haven't noticed any major errors. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I think he's been very good. He's physical and isn't satisfied just to block his defender. He wants to plant him into the ground. He definitely plays with an edge.
artie bridge
2:18
Ray, I haven't heard DeMarvin Leal's name called much in these two games.  How's he doing, and does he have a role going forward?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Leal played five snaps against the Falcons and four snaps against the Broncos. For all the talk over the summer about how much he has improved the coaches sure have a funny way of showing it.
Seven
2:19
Hi Ray. I get that the offense has been unwatchable for the first two games. But the goal was to win two road games against relatively weak opponents, so if curling up in the fetal position offensively while the defense wreaks enough havoc to win ugly, I can't argue. The question is, can the offense improve enough now to win against more potent offensive teams?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
We're about to find out because there are better teams on the schedule coming up. After the Chargers the Steelers go to Indy and then come back home to face the Cowboys. All three are better than the Falcons and Broncos.
Carl in Carrick
2:20
Hi Ray, do you think Omar is still looking to trade for a wide receiver e
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
If he's not he should be. But the trade deadline is still weeks away.
CG
2:21
Ray, what week do the Steelers score 20+ points in a game? My guess is October 28 vs. the Giants.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
That's a mighty low bar you have there, CG. I'll say they get more than 20 points in Indy, how's that?
Seven
2:22
Ray, is the ineptitude of the receiving corps (except Pickens) more the fault of Fields' inconsistency, or simply a lack of talent? Is there a fix?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
It's several things. For one, they know they don't have a lot of WR talent beyond Pickens so they play tight ends a bunch. In the limited snaps the other WRs do get it doesn't seem like they're targeted very often. And when they are they produce very little. Can it be fixed? Yeah it can be fixed, but Omar is going to have to wheel and deal to get a No. 2 in here to help Pickens.
KJ
2:25
The Steelers have not been to the Super Bowl since 2010. In the meantime, the 49ers have been there 3 times since 2010, mostly because they were not "afraid" to have a losing season to secure high first round draft choices.  However, they also do not have 18 seasons without a losing season like the Steelers do to hang their hat on.  If things continue, it seems like the Steelers are headed for another 10-7 or 9-8 record.  Why won't the Steelers "bite the bullet" and let things play out so they too can get a higher first round pick - something they will need to find their next franchise QB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Why tank when No. 1 picks might be Bryce Young? I'll bring up the 49ers because you did. Brock Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant and Trey Lance was the No. 3 pick in the draft. Tanking guarantees you nothing in the NFL.
Dr. Sardonicus
2:26
Hi Ray!  Dreaming of 3-0.  Any injury updates on Roman Wilson and Isaac Seumalo?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
According to Tomlin, Seumalo "might be closer" to returning this week. Not sure what that means, but he didn't go on IR so he should play this week or next week in Indy. If not, they made a mistake when evaluating his injury.  because they would have placed him on IR and had another body on the 53-man roster. As for Roman Wilson, Tomlin said he'll continue to practice, but it still doesn't sound like he's close to getting a helmet although I might argue a new face in the WR corps couldn't hurt.
DaquidoBazzini
2:28
It's clear that everyone's fear of not having a strong #2 WR is now complete reality. What would you rate the odds of a team who is losing early in the season, parting with one in a trade with the Steelers? Any candidates?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
I'm sure some teams will be willing to do that, but not in September. They'll want to wait and see if they can contend for a playoff spot before they trade away a commodity.
Dr. Sardonicus
2:29
Hi Ray!  Wasn't Chukwuma Okorafor a cornerstone of our offensive line a couple of years ago?  Is this an indication of how bad our line was, or has he fallen off that much as a player?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Okorafor was never a cornerstone. He was paid a big contract because the Steelers didn't have any better options to replace him. Basically, they did a poor job of building quality depth at the position and were stuck with him until they started putting more draft resources into the line. Anyone who ever watched him play knew he was an average to below average tackle in the league.
Guest
2:31
I"m confused about Jones still being at RT. I thought the plan was to move him to LT when Fautanu returned.  Did this reduce his practice reps this past week that got him out of rhythm?  Jones strength was supposed to be LT, why isn't he there?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
Right now, Broderick Jones is the swing tackle so he has to rep on the right and left side because he has to be prepared for either scenario if there is an injury in the game. Even if he was starting, Jones would have to rep the right and left side in practice because the Steelers view him as their best versatile tackle, if that makes sense. In other words, Dan Moore can't play on the right side and the Steelers believe Fautanu is better suited to play on the right. So let's say Jones won the starting LT job in camp and Fautanu won the starting RT job. Moore would be the swing tackle, but if Fautanu got hurt he'd go to the left and Jones to the right. I know it's confusing, but that's the deal. It all has to do with Jones being versatile and Moore only being able to play one side.
steelmann58
2:35
Hey Ray question after two games is it Obvious Omar needs to get tis team a Upgrade at the WR spot? Pickens cant do it all. I would not mind adding Thielen he a great Route Runner.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
Thielen would be a great addition if this was 2019.
TVC15
2:35
Could Sunday's Steelers/Chargers game have big implications on who gets the 7th playoff seed?
Connecting…