You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.21.21
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat
KJ
1:40
Ray, having watched many preseason practices and other practices, do the Steelers have screen passes to Najee Harris in their playbook?  How about lining him up out wide (like L. Bell used to do) and throwing it to him out there in space?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:40
Yes they can split him and yes they should do it more if he has a mismatch. He's very good as a receiver.
Rjt
1:41
with the injuries on d line the Steelers have to kick the tires on somebody right?  They really can’t think buggs, Davis, and loudermilk can get the job done
Ray Fittipaldo
1:41
They signed Taco Charlton to the practice squad. He's in between an OLB and a DE. I think they'll probably line him up an an OLB and not ask him to drop if he is called up.
TSH
1:42
Is Ben's pectoral injury on his throwing side or non-throwing side?  After Coach Tomlin's comment that players need to be ready to answer the call, do you interpret Ben's availability as questionable or doubtful?  Thanks Much!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:42
I did not read anything into Tomlin's words because he was fairly vague about it.
Buster
1:42
Has the luster worn off Ray Ray? Is Sexton still out there?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:43
The luster wore off after about four games last year, but they still decided to keep him.
Tom
1:43
Ray, the offensive line may be the worst in the league. Undersized center who is consistently stonewalled, a left guard who just doesn’t take plays off, he takes series off and a left tackle for whom run blocking is an allergy. Right side is barely acceptable, Any options
Ray Fittipaldo
1:43
Apparently not. Tomlin said today he's not making any changes.
TSH
1:44
Thank you for your time! J. Bettis used to say he needed 10-11 carries to get a feel for the defense. N. Harris had 10 attempts total against The Raiders . Is coach Canada’s version of the run game to be a “change of pace” w/ 10-12 carries per game?  If we were committed to running the ball shouldn’t Harris and the O Line get 2/3 of the snaps in the first 3qty. series to build momentum for later in the game and season. Despite a young O Line & RB, they are on the field – play them..yes / no?   Where do you think 10 carries falls if attempting to improve the run game? Thanks Much!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:45
Bettis played during a different era -- and behind a much better O-line. I appreciate your question. There is something to be said for getting a feel for the game, but it doesn't make much sense to run when the results are so bad. Maybe they just need better players.
Anthony
1:45
What is the reasoning on Tomlin going for it on 4th and 10 or whatever it was, and failing, obviously, in the first half whenever there was a 55ish yard field goal on the table? And then the move that only Mike Tomlin makes, punting down two possessions on 4th and one, AND THEN on 4th and 10 Tomlin sends out Boz and he drills it from 57. Make it make sense!!! Also run the GD ball more, even if it isn't fruitful at first
Ray Fittipaldo
1:46
The first fourth down try was in Raiders territory so it was a longer field for the Steelers to defend. The fourth and less than a yard was in Steelers territory. I thought Tomlin should have gone for it on fourth and less than a yard, but I'm just letting you know how coaches think in those situations.
Idggy DeBeau
1:47
How about the QB sneak? Did the Steeler organization forget that it is still a football play. …Tom Brady hasn’t.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:47
Does a QB sneak work if your center is undersized?
Ray
1:47
I'm not seeing a lot of reciever seperation first 2 games. Are they overrated?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:48
I certainly didn't see a lot of separation against the Raiders. That's why Roethlisberger was holding the ball. Guys weren't open.
Buster
1:48
Are there already signs of friction between Ben and Canada?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
i saw Roethlisberger get frustrated late in the game. Not sure I would call it friction at this point, but it bears watching.
NCSteve
1:49
Hi Ray, thanks for the chats.  Not really a question but a statement.  Its a long season and you do not want your team to peak in September.  Therefore I'd say the Steelers are in great shape!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
Now there's some positivity on a Tuesday!
Ryan
1:50
Why is Muth not TE1 yet? He has better hands and is a better blocker than Ebron. Ebron still struggling with drops.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:50
He is TE1. Look at the snaps and the targets. I think they should target Freiermuth more than they have, but he's already playing more and getting more targets than Ebron.
AK
1:51
Steelers HAVE to draft a QB this offseason right? There seems to be no succession plan in place. And Ben don't have it anymore.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:51
Depends where they draft and who is available. But I'm thinking offensive line is priority No. 1 right now.
HT
1:52
Ray better players of better coaching? Which is it?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
Maybe both.
Sunner in Orlando
1:52
Was TJ's injury the result of no preseason reps or was it a normal strain that could happen to any player??
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
It's football. Injuries are going to happen. Watt is in great cardiovascular shape, but there is no substitute for wrestling and jostling with 300-pound linemen for three hours.
Charles Demarr
1:53
Wouldn't more screens make sense against the pressure LV was bringing last week?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Yes. I mentioned that earlier. Canada had to do something to take advantage of their aggressiveness. It wasn't just the penetrating DL. It was safeties coming up hard in the box. Play-action passes might have worked, too.
OK that's all the time I have for today. Have to get back to work. Let's do it again next Tuesday.
Connecting…