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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.03.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started.
Tom
2:02
If we are unable to stop the run on defense, why not at least try Fehoko even if he can't get to qb? How many inside sacks did they even get last year? Are those few pressures worth giving up runs regularly? Seems it is only classic stubborness at this point.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
It might be time to give Fehoko a shot, but you might be grasping at straws here, too. Fehoko was signed for the veteran's minimum over the offseason. He did not make the team out of training camp. When he was cut no one else signed him. You see where I'm going?
Tom
2:04
I said in a preseason chat that our Big 3 (Pickett, Johnson, Harris) just aren't good enough to beat other teams outwright. Our offense will depend on how well Canada can mismatch secondary players like Warren, Friermuth, Heyward, and Austin. (Pickens is now WR1). Is this his biggest failure in being unable to move the chains?  The depth seems to be the strength of the offense but is it utilized?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
There are problems with the offense, and they are great. It's the QB. He's not playing well. It's the coordinator. It's the line. It's the RB. It's everything. They need to get to the bye week in a bad way and try to regroup like they did last year.
Arnold Slick
2:05
Pickett seemed to really be accurate with his ball in the preseason. I doubt he lost it that quickly, so what changed? Too much rush pressure, poor scheme not knowing where to go, 1st reads never open?   Is he having to rush and force his passes or is he just not accurate anymore?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Confidence and a great mentality are two things that a QB needs to be successful. He's not playing with either now. He's not seeing the field. He's making bad decisions. Mike Tomlin called him out on it today in his news conference. He said leaving the pocket and extending plays, especially early in games, leads to negative plays. It's obvious Tomlin believes Pickett is a big part of the problem. Anyone who watches the games already knew that, but Tomlin verbalized it today. It's not a good situation for a second-year QB to look so lost on the field.
Arnold Slick
2:07
I get not bashing coaches and players in the media, but do you get any impression Tomlin is giving negative feedback in meetings? Canada still runs his gimick plays, defense won't play run stuffers, you have a veteran like Pickens who underperforms but acts like a diva weekly, and young guys aren't developing (JPJ still grabs every WR).
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Of course they are. But you also have to remember it's a 53-man roster. There are only so many changes in personnel to make. And if those changes weren't made in the spring or summer they're probably not worth making now.
Wild Bill
2:09
If Tomlin hadn't won a Super Bowl with Dick Lebeau and Bruce Arians, it might make sense he doesn't feel the need for better assistants. How can you see that and be satisfied losing with Canada and Austin?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I think Tomlin likes to have control of the offense and the defense. Some might say he's earned it. It happened first with the defense and now it's happening with the offense. One could make a strong argument Tomlin needs to step back and trust his coordinators to do their jobs. Or hire people who are strong enough to lead those units. I think Austin is highly qualified for his role as DC. But do we really know if he's calling the plays? Probably some, but Tomlin surely calls some, too. We've known that for a while.
Pittsburgh Phonies
2:11
Hey Ray. When I think of the Pittsburgh Steelers I think accountability, discipline, tough, hard-nosed players that fight for each other and never give up. There is nothing about this team over the past decade or so that even resemble this. I don’t see any trait in this organization that lives up to this. This team has become unrecognizable. This goes to the top and every level below. My question is….is there a succession with Art II and when do you think it would happen? This man is a joke. He destroyed what his father and grandfather built.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Art's son, Dan Rooney, will take over when Art steps aside. Dan has worked in a variety of roles for the Steelers after graduating from Dartmouth. He was a coach on the field. He worked in the league office. He now works in marketing.  The idea is when he does take over he has a full grasp of the entire organization.
Tomlin Firsts
2:12
Have the Steelers ever lost to a rookie QB and rookie head coach? I remember when rookie quarterbacks looked scared and confused trying to play against a Lebeau/Cowher defense. It’s sad how far this team has fallen.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I think Tomlin had lost to four rookie QBs previously, but I'm not sure if any of them also had rookie head coaches. It was a terrible loss. No two ways about it. But I do have to say DeMeco Ryans is doing a nice job down there. And it goes without saying, CJ Stroud is playing extremely well for a rookie.
SteelersWV
2:14
It looks like the defensive game planning has regressed a bit since the departure of Brian Flores to the Vikings. Any thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
This is the first time this has been brought up. The Steelers got off to a 2-6 start when Flores was involved last year. And remember, he was not the DC. He was the LBs coach with a fancy title. So yes, the run defense is bad. I'm just not sure it's the fault of Teryl Austin. They got too old on the defensive line and now they're having to let young guys grow on the job. There are going to be growing pains.
Benny
2:16
Do you think AR2 will step in and make changes in the middle of the season?  Tomlin gives us the same lip service every week about changes and nothing happens.  It has gotten to the point that this is not your typical fans overreacting.  This team has major flaws both on the coaching and players side.  We have lost our ways as an organization.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
That's not the way the Rooneys operate, but I will say this situation might be getting to the point where it is untenable. And it's much easier to fire a coach in the final year of his contract. So, to answer your question, I won't rule it out, but it would go against how the team has operated for decades.
Used Car Salesman
2:18
Tomlin spent a lot of time today talking about how great Baltimore is. I know he does this every week.  Is there a time limit on how long the press conference runs? Does he do this as a tactic to reduce the number of questions? I can see why he didn’t want a lot of questions today.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
It was a fairly long soliloquy today, but there is no limit to questions. If reporters continue to have questions Tomlin will stand there and answer them.
Whaaattttt?
2:19
Tomlin blamed the 4th and 1 call on lack of big men being available. He mentioned Friermuth and Moore specifically. Isn’t Jones bigger than Moore? Isn’t Washington bigger than Friermuth? Does he know what he is talking about?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I think he was talking about how short-yardage situations require two tight ends and Freiermuth was one of them. He also suggested Jones is part of a jumbo extra tackle package, but unless I missed it we haven't seen that for one snap this season. I have no doubt injuries made him think twice about lining up under center, but I still think it was a terrible call to go shotgun there. Put Connor Heyward in as the other tight end. That's why you dress three tight ends.
Howey in the Hills
2:20
How much of the offense's problem is poor execution vs the play calling?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Not to avoid your questions, but it's both. The QB is playing poorly, but the QB isn't benefitting from elite play design or creativity, either.
SteelersWV
2:22
If the Steelers continue to stick with Canada as the OC, how are they going to determine if Pickett is their franchise QB?  Where is Mark Whipple coaching? :-)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I'm not sure if Whipple is coaching anywhere this fall. I give Whipple credit for what he did with Pickett. But I know for a fact he wasn't operating an NFL offense at Pitt. It might have been pro style, but he was asked to read the entire field. He had one or two reads and that was it. The ball was out. Clearly, the NFL game is more difficult for him. And as it should be. If it was easy, every team would have a franchise QB.
artie bridge
2:24
Hi Ray.  Like a lot of fans, I was high on this year's Steeler draft, especially the top four - Jones, Benton, Porter, Washington.  I'm certainly not writing any of them off, but I haven't seen impactful play from them in their limited roles so far.  What am I missing and what's your take?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
You haven't missed anything. None of them are starting although Jones will this week and Washington might because of the injuries to Dan Moore and Pat Freiermuth. Benton has been strong and could start seeing more time, too. I always thought the bye week was a good time to reset and maybe have these guys take on starter's roles. We'll see if I'm right when they play in Los Angeles the week after the bye.
Laverne Smith
2:25
Hello Ray!!!  Even if the GM and Assistant GM draft excellent players, the current coaching staff will manage to get the worst out of them. Do you foresee another Cohwer/Donahue situation in a year or two given the current trajectory of the organization? Thank you Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Listen, anything can happen in these situations when new regimes take over. I think the personnel has to continue to be upgraded. The Steelers are not going out there and out-talenting other teams. So yes, the coaching has to be better. Much better than it has been.
mrbig
2:27
Is Omar truly "the khan artist"? Some of these old, mentoring players are getting burned!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
The exchange of Cam Sutton for Patrick Peterson is looking worse by the week. And yes, I know Sutton is making a few more million a year. Maybe the Steelers should have spent their money there instead of on the defensive line. Second-guessing for sure, but it's not looking like a great free agency addition right now.
Spjack
2:29
Hi ray love the chats! So what I got from Mike Tomlins press conference is that if they practice in helmets everything will be fine. How clueless can he be??? I give up.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Every team is forced to practice in helmets for the majority of the season. Under the CBA, teams are allowed only a handful of padded practices in-season. Coaches are selective on when they use them. The decisions Tomin makes are no different than any of the other 31 head coaches make. It shouldn't be an excuse, and Tomlin using it as an excuse is a bad look. How about your players come out and play hard and play physical no matter what. The franchise is built on being physical and out-toughing people. And we're here on a Tuesday afternoon blaming the attire for the poor performance.
mrbig
2:32
Who's hurting us more, Pickett or Canada? Sure looks like the opportunities are there for Pickett!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Some opportunities are there. But I can turn on the tape and point out other things about play design and play-calling and why Canada is part of the problem, too.
Vince
2:33
Hello Ray.  I think part of the Steelers’ offensive woes have to do with the receivers not getting separation with a few exceptions. Is this something the coaches can address or is on the receivers to do so?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
Yeah teach them how to run faster. There is nothing they can do. They are who they are although Diontae Johnson's return in a couple of weeks will help. He is their best route runner.
Lou
2:34
Hey Ray.  I saw Coach T today and I don’t think he said anything about Cam. Do they think he will be back a week or two after the bye?  Beat the Ravens this week and they are in first place. Not bad all things considered.
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