Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.24.26
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:28
They'd be climbing to get back on. What do you think the chances are of the Steelers winning twice in five days with an offense that is averaging 8 points per game?
DaquidoBazzini
11:29
Hi Ray…Still early, but in retrospect, do you think McCarthy made a mistake switching McCormick and Fautanu from the right to the left side?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:29
Let's let them play a few more games before coming to a conclusion on that.
11:30
I do think some of it has to do with Iheanachor and not wanting to expose him to two positions as a rookie.
G Man
11:30
Hi Ray, if my understanding is correct, the Steelers don’t like to guarantee a lot of money in a contract after the 2nd year.   It seems like a lot of other teams are starting to guarantee more money in their player contracts the past couple of years.   Are the Steelers going to need to adjust how they structure player contracts in their future?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:32
Maybe. They adjusted for T.J. Watt, a future Hall of Famer. If Joey Porter Jr was thinking he'd take a page out of Watt's playbook then I think he overvalued himself. Porter doesn't even have a Pro Bowl to his name. Watt is a multi-time first-team All-Pro and won the NFL defensive player of the year award.
Takoma Tom
11:32
Any chance the game this Sunday will be competitive or will Cincinnati boat race the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:33
What's the bigger key to the game? Making sure Joe Burrow doesn't beat them, or making sure Dexter Lawrence doesn't beat them?
Williamrobert
11:33
What's the jpj and Michael Pittman status for this week?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:34
Both limited yesterday. We might know by Friday afternoon when the final injury report out of the week comes out.
Brad in Seattle
11:34
At this point, it feels like the Broderick Jones first round bust debacle (I know his injury complicates the discussion) has had far more catastrophic effects and setbacks on the offense than the Kenny Pickett first round bust debacle. Imagine the O-line if Broderick had developed into just a solid starter, not an all pro or pro bowl, just a solid dude - the whole right side, center and left tackle would be set. Would’ve just needed to find the new LG this year. Now, the line feels like it’s in a state of spectacular disarray. Or, in hindsight, do you think the disarray was  unnecessarily self inflicted by the new staff? Praying that iMax gets up to speed quickly either way.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:35
At this point, I'd blame Jones busting out more than the tinkering by the new staff. But that's right now Fautanu has to start playing better, or people are going to continue to bring this up.
Takoma Tom
11:36
After this season is it time to eventuate Omar?  I don’t think he’s doing a good enough job.  Give the job to Andy and reassign Omar.  Rodgers should have never been brought back.  He never should have traded for DK.  Those are easy one plus Broderick Jones.  Yikes were set sack years.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
Khan is already into his second contract. He's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Takoma Tom
11:36
Can someone ask AR2 when he’s stepping down at the next press conference?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
Rooney will not do an interview again until after the season is over.
Greenwood
11:37
Hi Ray. DK makes more, so I suppose there is pressure to play him, but Bernard (that one big mistake at the end of the game aside) has shown he can catch the ball. And he's known for YAC. At what point do they work the WR with better hands into a more prominent role than the one with consistent drops?
Also, do you think they miss E. Roberts in the run defense game yet?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:38
I'm with you on Bernard, as long as he has command of the offense. As for Roberts, he was a street free agent when they signed him in August. If he was still a really good player, don't you think someone else would have signed him before August? Or signed him by now? To my knowledge, he's still out there.
Tampa Too
11:39
Ray. If DK continues his poor play with multiple drops per game when does he get benched? Does it really matter how much money you’re getting paid per year if you’re not producing should you be playing?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:40
It does matter. You're not benching a $30 million dollar a year player. Not after two games. Probably not after even 8 or 10 games.
Wreck
11:40
It was reported that Spencer Anderson has a broken leg with a chipped bone. How is he still practicing and not on IR? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
11:41
He's not even on the injury report. I'm not familiar with the specifics, but he was able to finish the game and went through a full practice yesterday.
Mike
11:42
Has anyone taken credit/blame for the missed pick-up on that huge bone-crushing sack? Was it Fautanu's miss or did the RB make a bad read?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:43
Frazier took the blame. Said the call wasn't communicated down the line.
Dave Moody
11:44
Good morning, Ray, and thank you for the chats. We have receivers that can't catch, an offensive line that can't block, and a 42 year old QB that can't run. What could possibly go wrong the rest of the season? I know that it'll get better, but I can't imagine it getting worse. That was horrible. How would you fix it?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:44
Prayer?
Bryan
11:45
I know it's early, but have you noticed any pop in the return game that warrants a 4th round pick being used on Wetjen?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:45
Wetjen hasn't been bad. I'd say solid. McCarthy did say they were close in the return game so maybe we'll see some "pop" against the Bengals.
James Ryan
11:46
Hey Ray. Would you consider the DK trade the worst in Steelers history thus far? It feels like it was a bit of a panic move after the Aiyuk miss
Ray Fittipaldo
11:46
p there right now.
Greg
11:47
Can I get my money back for Rico Dowdle? I’m getting Jonnu Smith vibes: a new acquisition getting snaps because we brought him in, rather than because he’s outplaying the guy he replaced. Did we make a mistake moving on from Gainwell, or is the whole running game so stuck that Dowdle hasn’t had a fair shot?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:47
Still early, but he hasn't done much. And now he's banged up.
KMan
11:47
Hi Ray,

Just a comment re: JPJ negotiations vs Watt. I can't help but think of the scene in True Lies where Charlton Heston's character says to the newbie: "So what makes you think the slack I cut him in any way translates to you?"
Negative Nancy
11:48
Hi Ray, I thought when you predicted the Steelers would only win 8 games this season, you were being overly pessimistic, now it looks like you were being overly optimistic.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:48
Nah just my gut feeling about the team.
11:51
OK that's all the time I have for today. The Steelers play on Thursday night next week so Ill be bck the following week.
Connecting…