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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.27.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:48
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's begin.
Stuck-in-Philly
1:48
Good afternoon, Ray.  What happens first:  the Steelers win a game in which TJ Watt does not play or a Steelers QB throws for 300+ yards in a win?  Regarding the possibility of Steelers win w/o TJ Watt, if it does not happen on Sunday it may not ever happen!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
Well, they do play the Jets on Sunday, so both could happen. The defense has faltered late in the past two games, but they've been pretty good in the first halves of the two losses to the Patriots and Browns. So I'll go with winning without Watt.
1:50
And yes, the schedule gets brutal after the Jets so you might be right, Stuck-in-Philly.
Utah Jim
1:50
I’ve noticed an increase in illegal man down field penalties this season. Why doesn’t the NFL understand more penalties doesn’t the game better?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:51
I tend to agree. Gerry Dulac asked Tomlin today if an illegal man downfield penalty could be called on a shove pass and Tomlin's answer was "Evidently, yes." But he got his point across that he thought it was a terrible call.
Utah Jim
1:51
Cam hasn’t done much the last two games. Are teams giving more attention to him with TJ out, is he worn our from all the snaps, or is he slipping?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
I think h's getting his share of double teams. Time for someone else. Maybe it's Montravius Adams, who has ascended to starting nose tackle ahead of Tyson Alualu.
Utah Jim
1:52
Was attempting a 50-yard field goal into a fierce wind a bad decision?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
I saw the replay. Boswell definitely had enough juice on the kick, but the wind took it. That happens sometimes, especially in Cleveland where the winds can whip in off the lake.
AK
1:53
What do you say to the ridiculous reactionary fans who want to fire Tomlin and Canada during the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
It's not going to happen. That's not the way the Rooneys operate. But I also understand the fans' frustration.
Gus Fring
1:54
How would HC Ray Fittipaldo go about fixing the offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
To paraphrase Bill Parcells, if I'm going to cook I want to buy the groceries, too. In other words, I think there are some personnel problems on the offensive line.
Paul CLT
1:55
Hi Ray....thanks for the chats.  I feel like a two keys for the game against the Jets is for the defense sacking or hurrying their QB along with our offense staying on the field.  Our defense needs to be on the field less.  What other keys do you see as important?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Minkah Fitzpatrick being available. He is in concussion protocol.
MD
1:55
Ray:  Najee seems to be getting a lot of criticism with some even calling for more of Warren.  The Steelers have had success in the past drafting big backs like Bell and Conner and then having them lose weight to add quickness.  Najee on the other hand, has reportedly put on 14 lbs since college.  What are your thoughts on his weight?  Quickness?  And whether this is looking like another failed Tomlin/Colbert 1st rounder?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Way too early to tell, especially with the way the offensive line has struggled to open holes for him in the first three weeks. They're averaging 90 yards per game on the ground, but Chase Claypool has many of those yards. The traditional run-blocking has not been great.
epiballo
1:56
The Steelers have a 'winnable' game this weekend that 'should' put them at 2-2. Then comes a brutal run of four games that could leave Coach Tomlin staring at the possibilities of his first losing season. So, what will their record be when that gauntlet is run?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
3-5? Beat the Jets and then win one against the Bills, Bucs, Eagles and Dolphins. If they're 4-4 after that stretch they'll have a chance to make things interesting down the stretch because the schedule lightens considerably after that.
Number 14
1:59
Hello, Thanks for the chats. George Pickens says he’s open 90% on the time. I believe GP may haven undersold himself. With his great TD catch in the preseason against the Seahawks and his unbelievable grab against the Browns, what does the Steelers offense have to do to get the ball in his hands more often? Have a good day.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Quite simply, throw it to him more. It's not a difficult concept. His targets increased Thursday night, but I'd like to see Pickens be second on the team in targets behind Diontae Johnson, not Chase Claypool.
epiballo
2:00
Which team will next get a parade in downtown Pittsburgh - the Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Hmmm, I'll say Penguins.
ZakMan
2:02
Hey Ray, What do we need to do to get better at stopping the run?  We have to figure out a solution until we get TJ back in the lineup.  It's painful to watch!!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Montravius Adams at nose tackle could help although he didn't make things appreciably better when he started a bunch of games toward the end of last season. I think keeping the ILBs clean is important. Sometimes they get swallowed up by bigger offensive linemen. That can't happen.
Zburdette34@gmail.com
2:03
I’m a diehard Steeler Fan, as all of us are, but man, I’m really getting sick and tired of watching the same thing over and over, which is mediocracy! Atleast with Pickett - there is some hope and excitement sitting there like a unused super car in the garage - my fear is Tomlin is stubborn and waits too long to put Pickett in, because Trubisky just isn’t an NFL QB, he’s a serviceable backup, that’s it. Will Tomlin ever be held accountable for anything and when do you predict Pickett will finally be inserted into the starting lineup??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
My educated guess remains the bye week, but we all know it depends on Trubisky's performance.
Guest
2:04
Does the run defense still have issues or is it that they just play too many snaps and get worn down in the second half due to an anemic offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Well, the issues date to last season so I do not think it's solely fatigue. They obviously felt like there was a personnel issue, which is why Alualu is being benched.
AZ Stiller
2:06
Do you think that Flacco will start on Sunday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Last I saw was Wilson is expected to start.
DCSteelers
2:08
I understand the need to tune out the whims of fans and talking heads when you’re a head coach, but what happens when the “elevator music” is actually on point?  A revolving door at the O-line coach position, “running out of offensive bullets” in critical situations, an uninspired OC hire that has not aged well, a QB that is unsure if he can audible, players unclear on what the offense is all about, etc.  I mean, the elevator music has a point sometimes.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
True. Tomlin is trying to control the message. He's trying to exude confidence in Trubisky and Canada for one more week. When he makes a decision to go to Pickett he'll sing a different song, but for now it's stay the course.
Ghost of Steelers future
2:09
Assuming that the Matt Canada show leaves town at the end of the season (at the latest), who might be a new offensive coordinator who could mentor KP and get the most out of him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
If that happens, it night be time to go outside the organization because the last two promotions of assistant coaches didn't quite pan out.
Pickledpunk
2:10
I meant to ask this earlier in the week but forgot. On a 3rd down play for the Browns. I forget what the penalty was but it negated a pretty big play. So they brought it back to replay 3rd down, but they said it would be 3rd and 4. I saw MT talking to the refs like he didn't understand but nothing was ever said by the announcers to explain. Wondering if you remember and can explain.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I'm assuming that was the shovel pass to Jaylen Warren that was called back due to an illegal man downfield penalty. And yes, I remember some confusion about the spot. Perhaps it was one of those deals where the RB is credited with yardage and the penalty is marked off from the spot.
Jim in Az.
2:12
Ray, if Tomlin was so enamored with Pickett being there when they drafted and has these high expectations for him why is he so stubborn about change?  What does Trubisky have to do to prove to him he's at best an average QB?  Why not make the change now before everything goes south?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I think they're trying to figure out when the right time is to make a change.
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