Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.24.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:01
Good afternoon. Let's get the chat started.
Daniel
11:01
Thanks for doing the chats.  I know things haven't looked good for the team especially last week but still early in the season.  Some long runs allowed but overall I've been impressed with the defense as not a lot of points allowed.  Is this week key to see if they can do that against an elite offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:02
Absolutely. Joe Burrow is one of the top QBs in the league, and he has two elite WRs in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Asante Samuel and Jamel Dean will be tgested. Dean, by the way, did not practice yesterday so we'll see if his status changes later on today; That, obviously, will be a big key.
Greg
11:03
Hi Ray...Assuming the Steelers had made an offer to JPJ before the season started, I'm wondering what would happen if he or his agent decided to accept it now. No negotiating, he just signs the sheet. I don't believe it would be any different than any other in-season signing, would it?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:05
That would be interesting. Porter would have to accept soon though. I cannot imagine the Steelers keeping the same offer on the table if Porter misses many more games. I'm not even sure it's there anymore. Their best offer was north of $27 million a year. Gerry reported that over the weekend We don't know the term of the guarantee structure, but we do know the ballpark the Steelers were in with AAV. And in terms of AAV, it's a very competitive offer.
MP
11:05
Good morning Ray.  The Steelers appear are purposely trying to get younger, which I imagine is why they kept all 10 players drafted this year.  But it doesn’t seem like many have gotten much playing time thus far.  Why go younger if they’re not playing?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
Give it some time. Germie Bernard got to play against the Patriots because of the injury to Michael PIttman Jr. He played well for the most part, made some plays. And this might be the week Max Iheanachor cracks the starting lineup.
MP
11:07
It’s still very early in the season but if things continue as they are, when might we get a chance to see what Allar can do?  I think he possesses the most upside of the backups.  He’d be mobile behind an unsteady line and he has a big arm.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:08
But is he ready to play? Does he know the offense? Does he know how to read NFL defenses? You cannot force a player like that onto the field if he's not ready. Plus, the Steelers did not bring Rodgers back to  bench him. Unless there is an injury or the season is totally lost in December I do not seem them making a change.
RhinoSteeler
11:08
Could the Oline being bad so far this year be blamed on coaching since they flipped the line in training camp instead of keeping continuity??? Cook flipped and so did Troy plus the guards.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:10
People are going to come up with all kinds of excuses if this continues. I didn't hear Fautanu complain about it this summer. The only thing he has pushed back against is the potential of moving to guard. He will not do that willingly. He admitted in camp it was taking some time to get comfortable on the left side, but it wasn't something he seemed really worried about. But I guess we'll keep hearing this kind of stuff just like we did with Broderick Jones, who flipped sides through his early years with the team. In the end, he just wasn't good enough.
John from Toronto
11:11
Hi Ray. When will the Joey Porter Jr saga end?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
Your guess is as good as mine. Will be interesting to see what Porter does today after the Steelers removed back injury as the reason for being on the injury report. Seems like this has to end soon, but who the heck knows?
obxandy
11:12
What are chances JPJ plays Sunday? Thank you for your insights.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
If you were JPJ, would you want to return against Chase and Higgins? I'm not thinking that would be the smartest business decision.
J D
11:14
Ray,  how can JPJ get so much bad advice and not lock in to the new offered contract for big money?  Is he so out of touch and arrogant that he will bypass the $ because he has hurt feelings because he thinks he's worth more?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:14
Apparently the issue are the guarantees in the contract though we don't know exactly what the issues are.
Pittfan
11:15
Hi Ray. We've seen in the last 19 years the Steelers manage to win more games than they lose. Does it happen this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:16
We're only two games in, but I'm starting to wonder if this is the year. I've had similar thoughts in the past. In 2013, they were 0-4 and rebounded to finish 8-8. Things looked really bad in 2019 when they lost Ben Roethlisberger and had to play Duck Hodges for long stretches of the season. And yet they still finished 8-8 again. Of course, Mike Tomlin had a knack for getting the most out of his teams. Maybe we'll see if Mike McCarthy can do the same.
Silent Bob
11:17
Hi Ray - When do you think things hit the tipping point where fans really turn on JPJ? This weekend if he doesn't play? We have the top WR duo - and division rival that is playing well - coming into town - with the Steelers already feeling on the ropes. I wonder how his teammates would respond to him not being on the field?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
That's a good projection, but I've been thinking this week about the fans turning on McCarthy if the offense has anther slow start. To me, the issues are all on offense right now. The defense has played well for the most part minus giving up a few big plays against the Pats.
Tim
11:19
Does Dunker have a realistic chance of contributing this year?  Mauler in the run game but lacking in pass pro.  Did the organization not realize this pre draft and is this something he can be greatly coached up?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:19
Not right now. It appears Brock Hoffman is the top choice at right guard if there is a change on Sunday. And there were signs pointing to that yesterday in practice.
Offensive
11:20
Ray, good morning, this is now 2 straight regimes that have forced “position flexibility” with the OL. And in nearly every case it’s been with young/inexperienced linemen. It all started with Tomlin's indifference towards Dotson, insisting on going back to Feiler, while ultimately trying to get Ben killed with Green playing center, to the last 3 high picks all playing different positions from College. Everyone seems to try and outsmart themselves. How has all this position flexibility turned out so far?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
I see your point. Your backups need position flexibility. Your starters do not. Perhaps the Steelers should have honed in on that rather than experimenting with their starters as much as they did in camp.
bill
11:21
Ray, should the o line have played together more in the preseason than they did?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Yes and maybe the coaches should have sold out and had Iheanachor be the starter from the jump.
Ted Lasso
11:22
Ray, why did the Steelers draft a FB and then only use him for 2 offensive snaps against NE. Nothing else was working. Maybe they should have tried to kick start the running game with a lead blocker.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:22
The running game was gold awful. The fullback might be part of the answer but so is Darnell Washington.
Jim
11:22
Good morning Ray, Was the injury designation removed from #24 so that the team could start to fine him if the holdout continues?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:23
It was removed last week too, and they didn't fine him. Porter claimed a back injury. I'm not saying he does that again today, but you see how this is an issue for the Steelers, don't you?
MrSamsonite
11:24
Good morning Ray. It’s only been 2 games but there is a clear difference between Warren and Dowdle. Do you think Coach M will acknowledge this and use Warren more? He is much better in pass protection and a more effective runner. Maybe more like a 60/40 split in favor of Warren?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:25
You and I see it, but I'm not sure they do.
Linus
11:25
I hate to say this but the Steelers’ offense looks absolutely horrendous. It has to get better or else this season will be a complete disaster. Do you think there is one particular reason why the offense looks so bad?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:25
DK Metcalf and the offensive line playing really bad.
Dan
11:25
Hey Ray, thank you for the chat. Do you think Ben gets in the HOF this year? I saw an article on nfl.com where the writer didn’t even list him in his projected inductees. I’m not sure if Ben is appreciated as much as he should be outside of Steelers fans. Playing in the same era and conference as Manning and Brady probably hurt him as well. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:27
Roethlisberger should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but I'm not sure the voters will vote for him. Especially with the new system. There are no writers from the AFC North represented in the voting. The Hall revamped the entire process and eliminated many beat writers from the process.
PK
11:27
Why are the Steelers not giving JPJ fines for not playing in games if the only reason now is conditioning? Seems like the Steelers are losing all their leverage by paying him to do nothing.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:27
Proving someone does not have a back injury is hard. It's not like an X-ray or MRI can prove it one way or the other.
RL Madison
11:28
As 'low' as things seem, they can redeem themselves and take early control of the North over this coming 5 day period - then have a 10 day break before hosting Indy. Would the bandwagon then fill up?
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