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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.27.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Ok let's get the chat started.
Guest
2:00
Steelers need to bench Ben and move on if they do not shore up the O Li e
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
They can't really shore up the offensive line in the middle of the season. And I doubt they bench Ben after three games. He's not playing well. No one on offense is playing well.
DCSteelers
2:01
Ben will likely be in the HOF one day, but when you look closer at the length of his career, how would you compare his first few years to the last few years?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
His first few years he had a great defense and made enough plays each week to win the game. In his first two NFL seasons he was 25-5 during the regular season. Recently, he's had a good defense, but he hasn't won as much. Most obviously, he's not able to scramble around and make plays like he did when he was young. He's just not mobile enough to give himself some extra time. It's kind of painful to watch.
Utah Jim
2:02
With Highsmith and Watt out I expected a lot more blitzes. Were there any?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I'd have to go back and watch, but the Bengals were using a lot of short passes so the Steelers pass rush was not a factor. That was part of the issue. The other part was the Steelers were playing with guys named Jamir Jones, Derrek Tuszka, Henry Mondeaux and Isiah Buggs.
Matt C
2:05
Ray, I prefer an offense that moves along at a healthy 1 or 2 yards per clip but sometimes like when we're down late in the 4th Q we just need to light it up and go for the whole 3 yards. You don't think I am being too aggressive do you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Don't sell yourself short. Your approach qualifies you to be offensive coordinator for the Steelers.
Rich
2:05
Afternoon Ray ok 1-2 start but doesn’t 7 wins look impossible now? And with Tomlins comments how long will they stick with Canada’s offensive offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
The Steelers typically do not make coaching changes in-season. Having said that, this is a special case where the offense looks lost and Canada hasn't had the answers. Nothing would surprise me, but I think they'll stay the course.
Utah Jim
2:06
New OC, OL Coach, and lineman but same poor results. What’s the common denominator? Tomlin, Ben?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Yes and yes. And the another common denominator: the receivers.
MD
2:08
If the Steelers are 1-6 by the trade deadline, is there any chance they could get something in a trade for Haden or JJSS?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Sure if teams are willing to wheel and deal. Maybe they can recoup some draft picks.
Oregon fan
2:09
I’m sure doom and gloom will dominate this chat. I think we are seeing a young line struggle as well as a severely injured defense. I thought 9-8 would be the record. Do you see a collapse for when the defense gets healthy, we will improve a lot?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
When healthy, this defense will keep the Steelers in a lot of games. So they'll win a few. But if they're banged up and depleted the way they are now it's going to be tough.
Jones
2:11
I watch games all around the league and WR are wide open all over the field and downfield. Any completion Steelers make seems to be contested if it is more than 10 yards from the line. Lack of seperation, bad scheme, Ben not seeing the open man, or Ben not able to let the play develop before throwing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Probably all of the above. I don't want to place too much blame on the coaches when the talent assembled hasn't delivered, but to your point about the plays. They don't work. I turn on the TV and see bad teams and their offensive schemes are better. I know there are a lot of factors involved, but Canada's scheme and play-calling leave a lot to be desired in my opinion.
You'll See
2:13
Man Ray, I didn't see the game, and it sound like its probably a good thing?  What is going on?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
The offense stinks, the defense gives up big plays and the special teams aren't special. And oh, they apparently ran out of plays in the playbook late in the game against the Bengals.
Jones
2:14
Am I crazy in thinking Ben can still be a competent QB with a good running game and OL? Clearly he is not going to be able to put the cape on at this point in his career but he isnt getting much help from his coordinator, receivers, or OL.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
That was the plan. But with a bad offensive line he's not the answer. Not that Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins is either. The entire season was predicated on the running game improving and it hasn't. So we are back to Square 1. Defenses are just teeing off on Ben and the short passing game. It baffles me how the Steelers have failed to adjust.
Jones
2:15
Can we please get Ebron off the field. He cannot catch anything. It is painful.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
And he played more than Freiermuth yesterday.
MD
2:16
I wrote in during the preseason and asked if this was the worst OL that the team has brought into a season in 50 years.  You suggested that 2003 was worse.  Marvel Smith, Faneca, Hartings and 2002 #1 pick Kendall Simmons - before we realized he could not play - were on that line which was eventually beset with injuries.  What do you think now?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
If this keeps up they'll be the worst in my lifetime. That's for sure. And I watched some bad football in the mid 1980s.
Big Ed 71
2:17
The players and coaches should be embarrassed by their performance yesterday, but you know who else should be embarrassed? The fans! 10,000 no-shows! Are you kidding me?? What the hell is up with that! You go back to Week 1 when we played the bills, there wasn't an empty seat in that Stadium! What an embarrassment!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
They might have 25,000 no-shows for the Broncos game if they lose to the Packers.
Sunner in Orlando
2:18
Hi Ray thanks for the chats! Hypothetical speaking, if the season starts to go sideways and the Steelers are 1-7, do they bench Big Ben or let him ride out the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
At that point, he might come down with an "injury."
MD
2:18
Why did they let Feiler go for a $7m per year deal?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Feiler took one for the team and moved to guard. He got paid by the Chargers. Good for him. But Matt Feiler wasn't going to change this line's fortunes.
Yancey
2:20
Are the Steelers just a poorly coached football team? Everyone is focused on the issues up front, but the whole operation on offense looks uninspired.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
They look like a poorly coached offensive unit.
Quinn
2:21
Good afternoon, and thanks for all your hard work. Teams with  "low" talent and back-up QB's score. Mr. Canada's scheme is not working, but is his scheme and play calling limited (dare we say hamstrung?) by Ben truly not comfortable with it and/or poor play(-ers)?  Ben's, at times, poor decisions and incccurate throws will make any offense look bad (ask McVay and Goff)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
You are right, but he's here and not going anywhere. You can criticize the decision by Art Rooney II to re-sign Roethlisberger, but what good does it do now? They have to try to make it work.
Matt
2:22
After three games and seeing Pittsburgh having a difficult time competing with some of the powerhouses in the afc,  why wouldn’t Pittsburgh be like the New York giants (Daniel Jones/Eli Manning) and make Big Ben their back up just so the can see what they have with mason Rudolph or Haskins going forward.  While I do not see this happening, next offseason will have to address their offense and it would be nice to know if you have a qb on your roster or not that can be your successor to Big Ben.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
Daniel Jones was a No. 1 pick. That's not the same as inserting Rudolph or Haskins. And yes, I know Haskins was a first-round pick, but he wasn't the Steelers' first-round pick.
Sunner in Orlando
2:24
Paul Z was speaking today that Canada is in over his head. Do you agree or is it a matter of personnel and not scheme? Although the play call on 4th and 10 from the 10 was the most ridiculous call since the pass to our tackle in the playoffs last year.
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