JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.04.22

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.04.22

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Ray Fittipaldo

1:58

Good afternoon... let's get the chat going.

Guest

1:59

Good Morning Ray? Did Tomlin address the inexplicable 4th quarter, up-tempo play called after a Steelers 1st down, in filed goal range, with a 10 point lead, just before the interception? It lost yards and started the downslide. Was it to keep NY's personnel package on the field? Things were going so well...

Ray Fittipaldo

2:00

He was not asked that question today. I did find it interesting the coaches felt comfortable going to tempo with Pickett even though he hadn't practiced much with the starters. And let's be honest. The fact they went with tempo there didn't really hurt them. The bad pitch to Warren by Pickett and the bad decision to throw to Freiermuth in that situation cost them. Those are things you'll go through with a rookie. There are going to be bumps along the way. The good news is he played with confidence, his teammates responded well to him -- and, gasp! -- he led them on a couple of touchdown drives. That's something to build on.

Jacque Strap

2:01

Hi Ray. Obviously as someone who covers the team, you focus on today. I'm not hoping for it, but if this season continues on a similar path, how soon until you personally start to look at the draft, and what the Steelers could do drafting high in every round? 6-10 got them Big Ben.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:02

Yeah but they don't need a QB now. They'll continue to try to win. They don't rebuild in spite of what Diontae Johnson said. I can tell you the draft is the furthest thing from their minds right now. It's about finding a way to beat the Buffalo Bills on the road Sunday afternoon.

doyle37

2:02

What level of draft pick could the Steelers get for Trubisky ? Would they be required to pick up part of his salary ?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:04

Depends on a team's injury situation. If they're desperate they could offer a mid-round pick. As for the salary aspect of it the Steelers already paid him a %5.2 million signing bonus. So that's gone. They're also paying him a salary of a little over $1 million this year, which would be pro-rated in the event he is moved.

IneligibleMan

2:04

Do you remember a player regressing so quickly as Claypool? He should at least be able to win against a 5-8 DB if he does nothing else (which he does not).

Ray Fittipaldo

2:06

After such a promising rookie season, too. He had size and speed coming out of Notre Dame. That's what got him drafted in the second round. Unfortunately, there is more to being a good receiver in the NFL. He's not a great route runner. He's not good on 50-50 balls. And he leaves his feet far too often when he could continue running.

Bill

2:06

Now that the Trubisky era is over. Do you agree that he was never even better than Mason Rudolph to begin with?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:06

That's hard to say, but the only thing that matters is the Steelers believed he was, and now they have to live with their decision.

Bill

2:06

What do you think caused Mike Tomlin to stop living in his fears and call on Pickett to start the 2nd half against the jets?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:08

We still don't know, but it would appear Tomlin made a gut or emotional decision. I say that because it made no sense to put Pickett in at halftime when they had 10 days to prepare him to be the starter. If Tomlin had plans to start him he would have done it after the Cleveland loss. Sometimes gut decisions are good. Other times not. We'll see what happens with this one.

2:09

Gunner O. is terrible and has been a liability with the fumbles - it is well known that Tomlin despises fumbling and has pulled running backs for putting the ball on the ground...is it time to see what Steven Sims can do as a returner? He looked great in pre-season and some would argue that the big returns that he put up cemented his place on the 53-man roster.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:10

Tomlin addressed Gunner Olszewski at his news conference today. It sounds like Sims might get an opportunity this week. Calwin Austin is elgible to come off IR too, but he has a 21-day window so they don't have to bring him back right away. So yes, if a move is made it likely will be Sims over Gunner.

Guest

2:10

Ray, Probability the Steelers are 1 and 7 at the break? I say 90%+

Ray Fittipaldo

2:11

That's a little high for me. I don't know how, but I think they find a way to win one of these next four. So I'd go 60% or so.

Mark

2:11

Hi Ray. When the Steelers play Tampa Bay, assuming the starting QB's are Kenny and TB, will that be the biggest experience differential in NFL history?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:11

That's hard to measure over the years. It wouldn't be with age because KP is 24 and I'm sure Brady has played Qbs who were younger in the last year or two.

J$Money

2:12

Where do you put the chances the Steelers trade either Trubisky or Rudolph before the trade deadline?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:13

I could see Trubisky because of how this played out for him. So 50-50 depending upon their desire to end the marriage so to speak. Tomlin was asked today if Trubisky would still go out for the coin toss. He said yes. That's fine, but it's a very awkward situation where he's a team captain and leader and he can't lead due to the circumstances. But again, it depends on what they'd get for him and whether it would be worth it to deal him.

CanadianSteelersFan

2:14

In your opinion, is it safe to assume this is not a playoff team this year? Do we need to all relax a bit and allow Pickett and this young offense a year to grow together?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:15

Pickett and the young offense will grow together, but they're still going to try to win. Losing seasons happen. The Steelers aren't immune. They had one in 2003. The next year they went to the AFC title game. My point is, turnarounds can happen fast in the NFL. This doesn't have to be a multi-year rebuild if they go about this the right way.

2:15

If/when Calvin Austin comes off of IR, what corresponding roster move would you make to add space for him on the 53, assuming that it's a receiver that gets jettisoned?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:16

If Gunner was sure-handed the decision would have been easy. But with Sims now in the mix it could get complicated. Like I said, they could wait another three weeks to bring Austin back to the 53-man roster so a lot could happen between now and then with Sims and Gunner and any of the other receivers.

NC Steeler Fan

2:17

Thanks for the chats, this is more of a comment than a question. Feel sorry for Mitch but the offense looked sizably better with Kenny in. Even the run game seemed to have opened up a bit. Even if Kenny stinks it up at least he’s learning.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:18

From that perspective, you are right. He'll go through ups and downs, but hopefully he's a quick learner who doesn't repeat mistakes.

J'onn J'onzz

2:19

What sense do you have from players regarding the QB switch? Professionally, they (generally) won't badmouth another player or their coach but I'm curious if there's a vibe among the players. Thanks.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:21

You say professionally they won't badmouth a player, but what Diontae Johnson did after the game was very unusual. Tomlin did not commit to Pickett being the starter right after the game, but Johnson all but did it for him. He said he played with "Swag" and noted how well the offense responded to his energy. Most players in that situation would say something along the lines of we're good with either guy, that's the coach's decision, etc. But Johnson had no problem letting the entire world he was in Pickett's camp. It shouldn't matter, but he's the No. 1 receiver on this team. He's the highest-paid player on the offense. What he says matters.

Benny

2:22

Why were the Steelers rushing to the line of scrimmage and passing on the last drive that resulted in an INT? They should have used the clock to their advantage and at least gotten a FG.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:22

It's easy to second-guess now. Listen, if they scored a touchdown there the game is out of reach. A field goal would have given them a six-point lead. The way the defense is playing now I don't exactly blame Tomlin for being a little more aggressive in that situation.

SW Steel

2:23

It seems that George Pickens is KP's favorite target so far. Do you think DJ & CC will start playing to their potential in order to get more targets?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:25

Pickens and Johnson should get the majority of the targets and then Freiermuth. Case closed. Claypool is a No. 3 receiver and you don't really have a No. 4 until Austin comes back. And we don't even know what he'll bring to the equation because he's been out for so long.

JackieFF

2:25

Hi Ray, I felt that Claypool and Friermuth were more responsible for the picks than young Pickett. They make those catches and the game is dramatically different. Also, any chance Kenny might change his name to Catchit? What say you?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:27

I agree with you on Pickett. I thought Pickett maybe let it float in the air too long, but regardless Claypool has to go up and make that catch. Or at the very least make sure it's not intercepted. I do blame Pickett for the INT where Freiermuth was the target. It's a ball that never should have been thrown. Pickett said it himself. Yes, it hands Freiermuth in the hands, but he was hit immediately and the ball was jarred loose. That one is on Pickett.

Guest

2:27

Ray, If the Steelers had gone 7 and 7 in 1968 and 1969 does the Steel curtain and Steelers Dynasty happen? Without Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw, I doubt it but hey we would have had "non-losing" seasons. I mean what are Lombardi trophies compared to "non-losing" seasons? I have had enough, from now on I am rooting for (A) a true Super Bowl contender or (B) no more "non-losing" seasons.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:28

It happens, but around here, it happens organically.

Texan Steeler

2:28

Hi Ray, What can the Steelers do to remain competitive for the remainder of this season? I know they listed Pickett at QB1 but what more can they do?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:28

Getting T.J. Watt back would help.

AZ steeler

2:28

The Rams like to trade draft picks. They may be looking for WR. Claypool to them for a 3rd?