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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.29.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Welcome. Let's talk Steelers.
other Jeff
1:56
Love the chats and even more so the grades.  if you had to pick one grade that gave you the most trouble which would it be?  I still feel like secondary shouldn't be getting anything better than a C-.  I am concerned with the poor performance against poor teams with average receivers
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
Sunday's game was a tough one to grade for sure. Watson picked them apart in the first half. But in the second half they held him to five completions and 62 yards. And Mike Hilton had an INT that turned the momentum in the game. There have been some issues with coverage through the first three games, but it's not all on the secondary. The ILBs have given up some of those players, especially in the Broncos game. Can the secondary be better? Yes, but they're 3-0 without the entire unit clicking on all cylinders. That's a good thing.
Guest
1:58
Unless someone beat me to it, what are the options on the table for the titans game now?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
As of 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon the game was still on. But obviously lots can change between now and Sunday. What we do know is the Titans have shut down their facility until Saturday. The league can reschedule the game later in the season. The Steelers are still preparing as if they're going to play Sunday. So stay tuned.
Guest
1:59
Ravens looked outmatched... can you find any reason(s) to think the steelers fare any better against the chiefs?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Any team that plays the Chiefs must possess the ball and finish their drives with touchdowns. They're just too explosive in any other scenario. The Steelers, or any other team, have to limit the possessions Pat Mahomes gets.
David
2:00
I realize Conner has played well but they have to give Mcfarland more touches after that limited audition right?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
I liked what I saw of McFarland. He has a bust that Conner, Samuels and Snell don't have. I wouldn't expect him to become the starter anytime soon, but I would expect him to get 6-8 carries a game. He has six for 42 yards against the Texans. That's pretty darn good.
D S Fischer
2:02
As well as James Conner has been playing, is he really going to be gone next season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
They have so many other pending free agents that yes I think Conner leaves after the season. They have JuJu Smith-Schuster, Bud Dupree, Matt Feiler, Mike Hilton and others. You can find good RBs in the second round and after. As much as they like Conner I think they'll move on without him next season.
livinthedream
2:04
Ray, There are 16 games in week 4. Five of them are excellent and five more are worth watching. So why are the worst three being showcased on Thur, Sunday and Monday nights? I know the NFL didn't know in April how bad Denver, Jets, Phil and Atl would be but they knew on Monday that those teams are now 0-11-1 and they know  rotating games without fans has never been easier and they know TV ratings and revenue has never been more important. Why come no rotating?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Networks can flex games and choose other matchups but not until a certain point in the season. This year is starts in Week 5. However, flex scheduling cannot be applied for Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games this year. So really the only primetime games that can change are Sunday night matchups. They can be moved to earlier in the day and then NBC can choose another game scheduled for earlier in t he day and put it in primetime.
Baghdad_Ben
2:07
Should we see VW shining this week?  Tennessee is an offense that makes you glad to have some old school ILBs.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
This is definitely a game where having a big banger on the inside is a benefit. But Ryan Tannehill can throw it a little too. They have to be prepared for play-action as well.
Buster
2:08
Covid outbreak with Titans. What would it take for the NFL to cancel the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
It's too hard to say right now. They're doing contact tracing and other things to see how may potentially are affected. Right now they have eight positive tests -- three players and five staff members. If no one else tests positive this week then there is a chance they play. But this is changing by the hour. Lots of contingency plans in play right now.
WV Black & Gold
2:09
Ray, it seems to me that penalties have been less frequent.  Do you think it could be because the refs aren’t being influenced by the crowd reactions?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
I've noticed that as well. I kind of like it. Let the players on the field decide the game. If there is an obvious penalty call it, but otherwise, err on the side of caution if you;re not sure.
Tampa Too
2:10
Ray. I was pleasantly surprised at the sharing of the running back duties on Sunday. Tomlin typically sticks to one back for most of the game. Do you think will see more of this in the future?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I would hope so. McFarland brings home run hitting ability to the offense. No one else in the RB has that. I'd like to see more of him.
CT Dad
2:11
what is the protocol for a team with a COVID outbreak?   If the game has to be cancelled when would it be made up??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
There is a scenario out there where the Steelers-Ravens game scheduled for week 7 be moved to week 8 and the Steelers-Titans game moved to Week 7. It would shift around the off weeks of those three teams, but that's the most plausible scenario I've seen.
Tom
2:14
Tennessee should forfeit. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Not unless there is no way it can be made up. It's a matchup of two good AFC teams. I'd like to see it played if it's fair for both teams.
Mark
2:14
Last season the run defense was a weakness & still a concern coming into this season.  At something of a sacrafice to the secondary in the first 3 games, have you seen enough to judge whether the run-D is now better positioned to handle the likes of Cleveland's running game and running AFC QB's in Lamar, Mahomes, Cam, and Josh Allen?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
We are going to find out. Tennessee provides the first stiff of the season. They'll see the Browns and Ravens twice and the Bills later. Those are some of the best running teams in the league.
Don
2:15
Is the Oline on an upward trajectory?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
I think that's fair to say. DeCastro came back against the Texans and played well. Chuks Okorafor seems to be settling in at right tackle.
Tom
2:16
Does Tomlin get enough credit for playing to win?  That 4 and 1 call looks pretty gutsy compared to Pederson's punting on 4th down in overtime with seconds to go.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I do give Tomlin credit. He went for it twice on fourth down. But I don't blame Pederson for what he did either. The Bengals would have gotten the ball near midfield and still time on the clock. The Eagles are in a bad division. A team like the Eagle could win it with eight wins.
STEEL72
2:18
Ray, you have no crystal ball, but how could there be a game given the Titan infection and current protocols? Further, how can the season not start to take on an 'asterisk' season if these situations continue?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
This is the first team outbreak. Let's wait to see how this unfolds before we make any judgments on the whole.
Greg
2:19
Just saw that Titans suspended in-person club activities due to some positive COVID results. If the Titans can't play this weekend is that a forfeit which moves us to 4-0, or would the Steelers just stay 3-0?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
The belief now is they'd try to reschedule the game.
Alan in Nashville
2:20
Hi Ray. What do you think of Minkah so far? I was in a small minority that never really believed in all the hype. I always thought that he’s a good young player that was able to capitalize on balls bouncing the right way for him. After his first 5-6 games as a Steeler, he’s been adequate at best.   And I don’t buy into the fake news theory that QB’s ignore him. Guys like Reed, Troy and Jamal Adams have terrorized OC’s and QB’s but true generational talents still make plays. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Little bit of a slow start, but I do think there is something to teams throwing away from him. QBs are looking for mismatches, and they're not targeting Fitzpatrick a whole lot. They seem to be focusing on the Steelers CBs.
SteelerFaninGA
2:21
What position group has performed the best through three weeks in your opinion?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
I'd have to go with outside linebackers.
Lenny from NY
2:21
Good afternoon Ray. With about two minutes and thirty seconds left in the game, the Steelers decided to go for it on 4th and 1 up by 7. Why not kick a FG and go up by 10?  They made the first down to secure the win but a risky move. Your thoughts?
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