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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.22.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
Welcome to my weekly Steelers chat. Here we go.
Greg
1:53
How high do you think TJ Watt *should* have gone in the draft? Top 10?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Based on his first three-plus seasons, absolutely top 10. Maybe even top five. He made All-Pro last year and was a candidate for NFL defensive player of the year. He might win it this year.
Alaska Steeler
1:54
Ray, what happened to the other set of eyes the Steelers were supposed to have on challenges?  Of all the awefull Tomlin challenges, last week's has to rank high on the stink meter.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
I agree. I did not like the challenge. It didn't take many views to determine Noah Fant had both feet inbounds. That burned a timeout and left them with only one. If the Broncos would have scored a touchdown that mistake might have been costly.
BB
1:55
Ray - The Steelers will be facing a string of better QBs in the weeks ahead than they have faced thus far....and the tape is out there.  They are weak in pass coverage from both ILB positions and the strong safety Edmunds....have to keep Minkah healthy because if past repeats, Davis is not the answer for sure.  What do you think they can do to shore that up?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
Maybe playing Cam Sutton more in certain situations. He's a good cover corner and he can play dime LB. Vince Williams got beat in coverage by Melvin Gordon. I think the Steelers knew that might happen every once in a while. They know his limitations. The more concerning thign for me is Devin Bush. He was drafted No. 10 overall because he could cover guys like Noah Fant. He really struggled on Sunday and that could prove more costly over time because Bush isn't going to come off the field. He has to get better.
Livinthedream
1:58
Ray, In week 15 we will look back on week 3 as tie-breaker Sunday. Not saying it is must win just saying it is worth at least a game and a half. Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
This game means much more to Houston because the Texans are 0-2. The Steelers are 2-0. On a side note, the Steelers have a chance to severely hurt the Texans' chance of making the playoffs. It's always good to eliminate a quality QB from the postseason, and the Steelers could put Deshaun Watson and his teammates in a hole they might not be able to overcome. Brutal schedule for them early on: Chiefs, Ravens and Steelers.
Scott
1:59
The Texans have been poor against the run through 2 games. What are the chances the Steelers actually  make an effort to get Watt on the field and run the ball a little bit?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
The Ravens are one of the best running teams in the league and Clyde Edwards-Helaire of the Chiefs ran for more than 100 against them. I get it. They've struggled. But the Steelers aren't going to change their offense because the Texans have poor numbers against the run. Mike Tomlin said he likes the general trajectory of the run game. Not sure I agree, but the Steelers are a passing team. I don't expect James Conner to get 30 carries in this game.
CanadianSteelersFan
2:02
Good morning. What do you think it will take for this team to stop making critical errors during the upcoming games? Better coaching, more focus? We seem to let teams back into games we should easily win far too often. With that said this team is shaping up to be quite formidable.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Mike Tomlin said today they are bringing in officials to work practices. He bemoaned the penalties in the Broncos game. There were a few on offense, holding calls that stalled drives. And there more on defense that extended drives. They can't have those. Tomlin said they're not good enough to overcome those types of errors.
Paul
2:03
Hilton should have been signed to an affordable deal last few years now he'll get a big offer. He has been a standout. Sutton  cant blitz like him.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
There is only so much money, Paul. Not every free agent can re-sign. Sometimes they can make more $ elsewhere.
Bill
2:04
I don't know what the steelers have planned for Mcfarland but I would be practicing some special plays for him and unleash him for the ravens game. They are going to need to throw some new stuff at them since are running game has been so poor.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Well, the Steelers don't play the Ravens for another five or six weeks. But if Benny Snell keeps fumbling, McFarland might get his shot to play sooner than expected.
Retire21
2:05
For not having a No. 1 pick, Steelers are getting a lot of mileage out of this draft class. Claypool has the splashes, Dotson gets a start in his second game........how is Highsmith doing.....I know he's out there a lot?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Highsmith seems to be doing well. He's played about 10 snaps per game the first two weeks. And you're right, those guys have done well. It's early, but they've already made significant contributions.
Retire21
2:06
Will Ebron get noisy if he doesn't see more balls....he seemed an unhappy camper elsewhere?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
I don't get that sense yet. He hasn't been targeted many times. Neither has Vance McDonald. It just seems like Roethlisberger is more comfortable throwing to his WRs right now.
Bob R
2:07
Ray, have any of the players commented on what it's like playing in empty stadiums?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Yes quite a bit of them.
Tom in Dallas
2:07
on injuries across the league, have we seen more than average after a couple of weeks, or are we about 'normal'?  I know there were concerns the numbers might be high w/o preseason and less training.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
I'm researching that this week. I know the names of the players that were hurt over the weekend grabbed the headlines. Lots of high draft picks are done for the season, including Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa. But I am still in search of the numbers and how it compares for previous years.
Guest
2:08
How likely will Snell be buried on the depth chart because of his 2 fumbles in 2 games? Does this leave the door open for McFarland or Samuels to get some touches?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Tomlin has no tolerance for fumbles. Another fumble by Snell could very well mean it's McFarland time.
Guest
2:09
Can the Steelers avoid the catastrophic injuries to their star players this year as we have seen around the league? Are the injuries related to bad luck or not enough conditioning from missed OTA's? If they can stay reasonably healthy, I say 11-5 is a possible record and 9-7 if we lose a key player or players and all bets off if it is Ben. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
All NFL teams were concerned with injuries this year. Tomlin said he today he was more concerned with soft-tissue injuries. Those are groin and hamstring injuries. He seemed to indicate knee injuries aren't necessarily tied to the offseason structure being altered due to COVID.
Nitro
2:11
Greetings Ray -  Any idea if Tuitt is dealing with a minor injury?  He was virtually invisible on Sunday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Yes only one tackle against the Broncos. Tomlin went over the injuries today at his weekly news conference and Tuitt's name was not mentioned.
Nitro
2:13
Hi Ray -   Watched MNF last night and thought crossed my mind that for alot of teams, their RBs just seem so much faster to the hole than Steelers RB.  What is wrong with run game?  Will McFarland get a chance for some carries soon?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Maybe but don't hold your breath. It's fairly obvious Tomlin views Conner has his "bell cow."
Sunner in Orlando
2:14
Are we not hearing Mincah's name because he is doing his job and teams are avoiding him or is he just not making the splash plays like early last year and that this is the true Mincah who is a very average safety who the Fins couldn't wait to get rid of for a valuable first round pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
It's only two games. Believe me, he didn;t all of a sudden become a bad player over one offseason.
Mercury
2:15
Ray, how many of their next 6 games do you see the Steelers winning?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
They've got the Texans, Titans, Eagles, Browns, Ravens and Cowboys over the next six games. I'd say they'd do very well to be 4-2 in those games. If they do, they'd be 6-2 at the midway point. Not a bad position to be in if they can make it happen. The toughest games in my mind are at the Titans and at the Ravens. Cowboys won't be easy on the road either.
Uncle Jim
2:18
It wasn’t too long ago that everyone was calling for Keith Butler’s head and demanding Tomlin keep his hands off the D. Did trading for a Miami safety suddenly turn them into defensive geniuses?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
It certainly gave him an All-Pro in the back end. With all due respect to Sean Davis, Fitzpatrick seemed to be the missing piece last season.
Tprod
2:18
Ray, considering the success other teams have throwing over the middle against the Steelers, maybe the the Steelers could utilize that concept and throw in the middle, maybe even to a TE. Your thoughts?
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