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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.08.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Welcome to the Steelers chat. Let's get it going.
Justin
2:03
Your thoughts on Minkah after his first three games with the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I think he's really good. I don't think it's a coincidence the defense has been much better since he arrived. I think they have 11 turnovers in the three games he has played in. I don't want to say he completes the defense, because they're not a finished product, but he definitely filled a big void for them. He's an excellent player.
Jaxon
2:04
Ray,
Seems like we need to draft multiple positions early; WR, RB, TE, OL
Do you see our strategy changing to free agency more ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
That's a long ways off. Maybe they'll re-sign Nick Vannett if they like how he plays. If that happens I'm not so sure you have to draft a TE. The WR thing is interesting. We'll have to see how things go with JuJu for the remainder of the season, but he certainly needs more help than he's getting. I agree with you on the O-line. They have to get younger there. I know they like Fred Johnson, but if they can get a quality G that can impact the running game they should consider it.
Eric
2:06
Why wasn't .fichtner fired on the spot for the insanely stupid decision to have
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
I don't think he should be fired, but having Samuels pass out of the wildcat was not a good decision especially when you're deep in your own territory. Fichtner has to find a way to get more out of his personnel. The defense is playing well enough. It's time for Fichtner to draw something up that will help the team win some games. What he's done for the past three weeks hasn't been good enough.
Franco
2:08
I really like Mason long term but I kind of want to see Duck Dynasty. I think he could potentially give us the spark that we need to get going by moving the ball downfield and generating points. This D is on its way to being elite in my unit, we just need some ball movement and we can get on a run! Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
A glass-full type of guy! I like it. Hodges looked good in his debut. He has "moxie" as Tomlin likes to say. But let's see how he does when a team has a week to prepare for him. I'm not saying he won't be a success, but there's a reason he was a tryout guy and not someone who was drafted or signed right after the draft.
KN
2:10
Hello. Thank you for taking the time to answer all the questions.  1)Do you see Washington playing this week ? I only heard Shoulder AC injury which does not tell you much about the length of absence 2) Do you think Nix will be back this week and would we see another RB added to squad , because of Samuel out for a month?  Thank you very much as always.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Hard to say at this stage of the week with Washington. He was in a sling yesterday. They practice for the first time this week tomorrow. I'd say he's questionable at this point. Tomlin seemed to think Nix would be able to practice this week. Not sure if that means he'll automatically play, but it's a good sign he's going to practice. He's been out for a month, and I think he can help the running game.
Timmy
2:11
Any word about dumping Moncrief to save the comp pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Gerry Dulac wrote about that last week. They can do that by Week 10 to ensure they'll get a third-round compensatory pick. In a related note, with Washington questionable this week, Moncrief could get back into the lineup after being inactive for the past three games.
Ashley
2:12
Tomlin still doesn't know how to use timeouts effectively. Why does he constantly get a pass? That's a major part of coaching.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
I don't think he gets a pass. I tweeted about the sequence just before halftime. I factored that into his coaching grade in my report card. I gave him a D. I've given him Fs in other games this season. I think we do a pretty decent job of criticizing him when he deserves to be criticized.
Charlie
2:14
Steelers will be first to tell you that the goal is to win the Super Bowl every year, but this is starting to seem like a mini-rebuilding year where the team transitions from an offense-first team with Ben/Brown/Bell to a team built around a playmaking defense featuring Heyward, Tuitt, Watt, Bush, Fitzpatrick, and solid corner duo in Haden/Nelson. Is there anything to that?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Sure, there is something to that, but they'll still try to win their remaining 11 games. That won't change.
Amy
2:14
Pitt is losing with the ultra-conservative offense and losing qb's to injuries. Why not open it up and let it fly?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I'd do the opposite. I'd get my offensive linemen in 3-point stances, run the ball with a fullback, possess the ball and keep my defense off the field. That's not conservative. That's smart football. You can play-action off that. You can do a lot of things when you run the ball effectively. Now I don't know if they're capable of changing their spots at midseason, but it's been done before. How about the Ravens last year? They changed their entire offense in the middle of the season and came back from the depths of the AFC North to overtake the Steelers.
Suzi
2:17
Time to change the touchback rule in the nfl to the college rule? That way Pittgets to the 25 yard line.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
Maybe. If they truly are concerned about head injuries they'll do that.
Harry
2:18
Status of Mason Rudolph. What stage is he in the protocol?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Rudolph will have to pass tests each day of the week and then he'll have to be evaluated by an independent neurologist before he is cleared.
Carey
2:18
With Samuels out who will make up for his passing? Kidding, of course. Benny Snell to backup rb then who?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
I think Trey Edmunds will be elevated from the practice squad. He had a good camp.
DaquidoBazzini
2:19
Hi, Ray....I was at the game and sitting in the corner end zone near the Mason Rudolph hit. First of all, it was horrific. Earl Thomas should've been thrown out and should be suspended. Second of all....I never saw a flag. Did I miss one?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
I have to go back and watch the play, but I was told the flag came out well after the play was over. So I don;t think it was thrown immediately.
Kenny
2:19
Vince Williams looked great in his return but can't cover at all. Is it Barron and Bush versus the Chargers?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Barron has a hamstring injury so not sure about that. Plus, Williams might be useful against Melvin Gordon.
DaquidoBazzini
2:20
What do you think of the Tomlin to DC rumors? I actually thought about this a couple weeks ago. I'm not so sure it's possible. You?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
I don't think it's likely. First off, why would he want to walk into a situation like that? Washington hasn't been relevant in years. Plus, everyone in the NFL knows how Dan Snyder operates as an owner. Sure, he'd get paid a lot of money, but he already makes a lot of money. But the thing people are missing is he's under contract through 2021. The Steelers would have to trade him to the Redskins, and I don't think that will happen unless Snyder gave them 5 first-round picks. Even then, I'm not sure they'd do it. They believe in Tomlin and the way he runs his team.
Billy
2:22
Any coaching staff changes during the bye week assuming Pitt falls to 1-5?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
I don't think so. They usually do those after the season.
Tomlin
2:23
Thoughts on Tomlin's decision to kick to open overtime?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
After his explanation postgame I was fine with it. I'm not saying he was right because it could have backfired big-time if Baltimore went down and scored a touchdown. But I thought the reasons behind the decision were solid. It doesn't say much for his confidence in his special teams, but I was OK with it after I heard him explain why he did it.
Tampa Too
2:24
I saw where Ben got fined $5000 for wearing a watch on the sidelines. Do you know where this money goes? Is it charity? Does the league keep it? Just curious
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
They use it to pay Alberto Riveron bonuses at the end of every season.
(I'm kidding)
Matt
2:25
What, if anything, are Ju-Ju and James doing to correct their late game fumble/choke issues? The number's up to 5 now.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Be more aware of game situations and squeeze the ball. JuJu was up front with us after the game. His mindset was to get more yards. I respect that. He's trying to make a play. But there are times when you cover up and get to the ground to fight another day. One of those moments might have been in overtime with the ball near midfield and Ravens on their heels. He'll learn. I'm a bit more concerned with Conner because he handles the ball much more as a RB. They should always be aware of defenders trying to strip the ball.
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