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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.30.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we'll get started soon.
Big_Bri
11:18
Is Pat Freiermuth the 3rd TE now? If so that contract does not look that good. And what reasons would you ever replace Mt Washington with Conner Hayward?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Yes, that was a very low snap total on Sunday for a starting TE, especially one you are paying $12 million annually. I understand they went to big personnel with Spencer Anderson and Darnell Washington to get the run game going. It was very effective, which only leads to the question: will Freiermuth get squeezed out of snaps every week. If that's the only way to run the ball effectively then that's a problem. I'm sure Freiermuth will be utilized more both as a blocker and a receiver, but there are some very real questions about his usage going forward after the success they had on the ground against the Vikings.
Big_Bri
11:21
The Steelers OL is young, raw and lacking experience but they seem to be getting incrementally better every game, do you see the potential of this line becoming great?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:23
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The run game was better against the Vikings. That was certainly encouraging. And the pass pro has been better the past two games. The ball has been getting out quick though so I think there are still questions about the ability to protect for extended periods. The good news, as you note, is they do seem to be getting better week by week. If that continues, the offense should be in better shape for the stretch run.
STXSteelersfan
11:23
When will we know about the severity of injuries to Ramsey and Austin?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:25
There is an open locker room later this afternoon so maybe they'll be available. We also get to talk to some assistant coaches as well so perhaps they'll be able to shed some light on that. If not, we might have to wait until the next injury report next week as to the severity of those injuries. I know Gerry reported the other night they'll miss several games so it does seem like they'll have to get by for a while without them.
123
11:25
What is up with Rodgers not throwing to Pat F?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:27
Well, he only played 15 snaps or so against the Vikings. You have to be on the field to be targeted. We had this same discussion last week about Metcalf. They finally decided they were going to make that a priority, and they got him more involved. Maybe all it takes is a concerted effort from Arthur Smith to make that happen. But as I noted above in response to the first question, if the Steelers have to play Anderson and Washington to run the ball effectively then that's going to eat into Freiermuth's snap counts.
Chris
11:28
The Steelers have basically avoided Roman Wilson at all costs. With CA3 likely to miss at least a game, would either Tomlin/Smith/Rodgers force-feed the likes of Skowronek and Scotty Miller instead of Roman?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:29
Skowronek might get more targets because he's so involved in the run game packages. Miller got more time than Wilson after Austin exited the Vikings game, but that could change with more time to game plan, etc.
JR
11:30
It was nice to a pass over the middle to DK. Why does AS seem to ignore the middle, especially with our TEs? Thanks for the chats Ray!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:32
It's a dangerous part of the field for turnovers. I know Mike Tomlin has mentioned that in the past. I'm not sure if he tells Smith to stay away from the middle of the field, but I'm sure that's part of it. I do think you'll see the tight ends involved more as the season goes on and the middle of the field will open up as a result. If the run game is more consistent then I think the middle of the field would open up more because the linebackers would get sucked in on play action passes. I know it was a boring answer last week, but Arthur Smith, Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf all said the run game has to improve in order for the passing game to improve. They work hand-in-hand.
yes
11:33
Do you think Tomlin was angry privately about Rodgers bullying him into going for it on 4th down late in the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:34
I don't know if he's angry, but he's probably disappointed that he allowed the players to pressure him into that decision. His first instinct was right. I think he should have kicked the field goal and gone up by 13 in that situation. Or, if you're going to go for it there, put the ball in Rodgers there and don't just hand off.
Cookie from Stanton Heights/Morningside
11:35
Ray, Assuming Austin & Ramsey miss time, what roster moves and/or schematic moves do you think the Steelers might consider?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
You'll just see more playing time for the backups so Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller at WR and more time for Thornhill and Echols in the secondary. There might be some roster moves if either has to go on IR.
how come
11:37
How come every game sees AT LEAST one big play given up in the secondary due to some kind of supposed miscommunication? This is not just a this season problem. When will the mainstream media finally acknowledge that Austin is not a particularly good DC?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:38
Tomlin blames it on the injuries, but you're right. The communication issues date back to last season and even beyond that. I'm not sure Austin is the problem though. I'm not absolving him of blame, but there's a lot that goes into it.
Ci
11:38
Now they’re thin at WR  do you think there trade for a WR?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:38
Honestly, depends on how long Austin is out.
Alan in Bama
11:45
Ray, good to see improvement on both sides of the ball Sunday. Communication has been identified as a problem with the D. I can’t remember players being drafted as good communicators. Isn’t this nothing more than coaching?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:45
Sometimes it's about scaling back and giving the players what they can handle. Tomlin alluded to that on Sunday I think.
Tampa Too
11:45
Ray what are your thoughts on them not kicking a field goal when they went for it on fourth and goal?  I thought they should’ve kicked the field goal and make them score 2 touchdowns to win.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:46
I 100% agree with you. Go up by 13 and force them to score two touchdowns there.
TXSteeler
11:46
Ray, why do you keep saying Troy F is the Steelers best lineman? Maybe one day he will be but every metric and the ey test clearly show it’s Frazier.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:46
Frazier is doing fine. Fautanu has been above average too. Higher ceiling for Fautanu though.
AJM
11:47
Rodgers was thoroughly criticized when he was signed (not by me - I loved the match). Where are all the naysayers now?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:47
Didn't Dan Orlovsky of ESPN say they were going to start 0-6.
Cdub
11:49
Did the guy that Metcalf bulled over at the end of his eighty-yard run get physically hurt or just emotionally scarred?  I kinda felt bad for the fellow.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:49
That was a big man running fast for sure.
Yates
11:50
Ray-   Best guess if Steelers continue to replicate TE usage employed for the Vikings game?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:50
It will be week t week with the game plans.
Bud
11:51
Ray, the way the offense has run to this point, there doesn't seem to be much urgency to get many receivers or tight ends involved. It's DK and then a different guy or two each week. Are other guys not getting open or is the reason there was little urgency to get another wide receiver and bring in another big TE salary because they knew they wouldn't use them much anyway?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:51
As I mentioned earlier, if the run game is more consistent the passing game will open up.
Yates
11:51
Ray-  saw your tweet on MT’s two bad judgments in last 5 minutes of game that led to unnecessary nail biter.   Which of the two was the most egregious in your view?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:51
The decision to go for it rather than kick the field goal.
Daniel
11:52
Thanks for doing the chats.  I was surprised when Austin got hurt that they didn't seem to turn to Wilson.  Do you think he'll be more involved going forward if Austin is out or do they have more confidence in other players?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:52
Wilson took a big jump in training camp when Austin was injured. I think it could happen again.
fan in europe
11:53
The decision to punt at the end of the game has been much-debated - Was it the wrong choice?
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