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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.27.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
Canada does appear overmatched. Again, there are a lot of factors involved, but adjustments aren't happening quickly enough.
MD
2:25
Do Greene, Dotson or Moore show anything that makes you think they can be part of a long term solution or do we need to look for 5 new linemen this offseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
I was thinking about that today. I sort of framed it as will any of these guys be here in four years? In other words, will any of them be signed to second contracts. I don't know. But if you asked that question in 2012 you'd say all five could be signed to second contracts. And they were. But they were all first- and second-round picks except for Ramon Foster. Maybe these guys will get better, they're off to a rough start.
The Dude
2:27
I think it is time for Ben to get his 400, then “get hurt” and go off the field to a nice ovation. That is the best scenario to end this nightmare, don’t you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
If they keep losing this "nightmare" could turn into a top-10 pick.
FiringAllMyBullets
2:29
Do you think Canada “ran out” of plays or was Tomlin covering for Ben panicking and dumping it off?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
I actually thought Ben had a better explanation than Tomlin, who looked foolish saying they ran out of plays. But the thing I don't understand is Ben said they wanted to get blockers out in front of Harris. He was met at the line of scrimmage and there were no blockers in sight. It was just poor play design, poor play-calling and poor execution. A high school coach knows you have to throw it in the end zone there.
Sunner in Orlando
2:30
How do the injuries look for Green Bay next week? We can't have guys that were on our practice squad trying to cover or rush the passer.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Tomlin has his presser tomorrow and we'll have a better idea. They need to get healthy on defense to make the Packers game competitive.
Guest
2:31
Ray I know its silly to speculate the season being over and what draft slate the Steelers will be in but is this the wrong year to potentially be a very bad team in need of potential successor to Ben? There really isn’t any QB in this class that wows me like this years rookie QBs and look how they are playing. Can only imagine next years abs making more mistakes. The only QB I kinda think about drafting is Carson Strong and thats only because of height and arm strength.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Yes it is too early, but this year's QB class does not look strong.
Sunner in Orlando
2:32
A bunch of pundits are saying sign Cam Newton. What good will that do when he is running for his life like Ben is currently doing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Cam Newton is not the answer.
Robbie
2:32
Teams in our league are getting progressively better while we are getting worse. What do they have we don't?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
A good offense?
artie bridge
2:33
Is the future really as dim as yesterday's game indicates, or will the return of the injured lead to brighter days?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
The return of the injured will lead to more competitive games. But if they want to win games the offense has to get much better. And fast.
AtlantaDan
2:34
Was there ever any serious consideration to going outside the organization rather than promote Matt Canada to OC and, if not, was a factor not just the Steelers practice under Tomlin of promoting coordinators from within (Arians, Fichtner, Butler) but difficulty in attracting promising young offensive coach assistants who would be reluctant to butt heads with Ben to control the offense as Todd Haley did?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
I certainly didn't hear of any qualified names during the OC search. At least not many that piqued my interest.
Baghdad_Ben
2:34
I didnt feel this low after the Pats put up 50 on the remnants of the Polamalu era D. Are we at the same point with the Ben era and looking at another 5 years to rebuild the O?  Thats what it feels like.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
I think we are approaching something like that. And they are hoping it doesn't take that long to fix.
Steeler Fan in GA
2:35
On the plays where he DOES have time, Ben is doing a lot of pump faking, ineffective scrambling and holding the ball.  Are guys not getting open, is he confused by what he's seeing, or something else? He looks very indecisive sometimes.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
He does look very indecisive. In those situations he just needs to throw the ball away. Holding onto the ball only creates negative yardage plays or turnovers.
Jeffrey P.
2:36
Steelers are 1-2. The season is still salvageable. Do you make a QB switch before the Packers game, have a quick hook if the game is slipping away, make the switch if they’re 1-5 at the bye, or let Ben ride it out even if they finish 5-12 and he looks a shell of his former self?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
If they're 1-5 at the bye things could get very interesting regarding the QB situation.
David
2:37
Tomlin still can't manage a time clock. First and goal at the three with 1:09 left & he calls time out. If he felt a TO was needed he should of at least burnt some clock first. The following Cincy score changed the whole complexion of the game.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
I agree. Tomlin was asked about the timeout after the game, and he said he pretended not to know what the reporter was asking about. That's hard for me to believe. It was the turning point in the game. Steelers fans deserved an explanation.
NC Yinzer
2:40
I think it's obvious that injuries are part of the issue, but I also think a large part is due to our coaching "talent".  How many of Tomlin's staff (specifically coordinators) have been targeted for head coaching positions under Tomlin? Look at Shanahan & McVay's coordinators in their brief head coaching careers that have moved on to head coaching positions.  Do you think we are antiquated in terms of selecting coaches for todays NFL?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
As the losses pile up you'll hear more of this criticism. Tomlin, for whatever reason, favors coaches who have previously served under him. That's fine if they produce. But his last few hires have not produced. Go back to Randy Fichnter and Shaun Sarrett and now Canada. New blood is good sometimes.
Tommy
2:42
Reading Mike Tomlin's answers/comments in print, it came across as disrespectful when he said "you can write whatever the h*** you want... " when asked a question. Did it come across, in the room that way?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
No coach likes to be grilled after a loss like that. But I don't think he was any more "disrespectful" than usual.
Paul
2:43
Hi Ray rough few games. Do you think Haeg may get a chance to start or is Banner getting close to return?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:43
Banner doesn't appear close. Haeg might get an opportunity this week. Chuks Okorafor has a concussion.
SteelAddiction
2:44
Good afternoon Ray, thanks for the chat today.  When an offense is so inept in almost all facets, how much of it can be laid on execution and how much should be viewed as the coaching staff and scheme not putting players in a situation to be successful?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
I think it's everything, but I do not think coaching has been good enough.
Alex B
2:44
The Steelers talked about being a balance offense but are not committed to the Run they drafted an athletic running back but he is also getting destroyed out there , would adding a fullback to the mix help ? Why is there no attempt to get Derrick Watt back there?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
Watt played seven snaps. I know that's not a ton, but it's more than usual for the Steelers.
21-58-66
2:45
Ray - Three games in.  Have you seen enough of the O-Line play....any hope for optimism?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
Not really.
Vontaze Burfict
2:47
How does an 18-year veteran making $15M continue to make high school QB mistakes with all the sacks, interceptions, missing open receivers, lack of throwing the ball away, etc.?   Also, on the much talked about 4th down play - why doesn’t Ben just call his own play there if the play that The OC called is doomed to fail?  He’s an 18-year vet, surely he has some credibility to call his own play?  The whole organization just looks clueless.
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