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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat 10.15.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
I think some of this stuff will be eliminated when Morgan Burnett is healthy again. You missed the one time Anthony Chickillo was on Tyler Boyd on the one touchdown in the first half. I guess sometimes stuff like that happens when you play zone, but it seems to happen to the Steelers a lot more than other teams.
David
12:19
do you think yesterday was another step in the right direction for the defense? i know they faltered at the end of each half but still only gave up 21 points and were put in bad spots multiple times
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Yes I think it was a good step, but they have to be able to play a complete game against better teams. After seeing the Bengals yesterday I'm not convinced they're going to be in the hunt all year long.
Gator/Steeler fan
12:20
Will Bell have to submit to a drug test along with a physical?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
He will be subject to a drug test upon signing his physical, yes.
12:21
Signing his tender...
Guest1
12:21
Let's say Bell does report this week.  5 weeks from now (assuming both are healthy) what's the split in PT between Bell and Conner?  I would guess it'll be something like 70/30 in Bell's favor.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Have to wait to see what kind of shape he is in, how Conner is playing, etc. Too many variables for me to answer right now.
Nate K
12:21
Tomlin will get blamed for bad challenges regardless, but who, if anyone, advises on when to throw a challenge flag?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
That's a good question. No Tomlin news conference this week so we'll have to wait until next Tuesday to get that answer.
Bake
12:22
With both Bmore and Cincy facing tough oppenents this week, we could come out of the by week first in the division.  Who would've thought that a couple weeks ago at 1-2-1?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Yes Bengals at the Chiefs will be a good game. I'd favor the Chiefs at home. Ravens versus Saints too but that one is in Baltimore. I favor the Ravens there because it's at home.
Tampa Too
12:23
Ray, Thanks for the chat!  I thought the referees were very good yesterday.  Not a lot of penalties, no ticky-tack calls on either team.  Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
They missed the Burfict hit on Antonio Brown. With all the emphasis on player safety and head shots those are the calls you cannot miss. And I'm sure the Bengals are complaining this morning about the no call on the final play to Brown.
BB
12:24
Ray - Artie Burns in a slump or is he not what they thought he was?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Pretty long slump if you ask me.
Nate
12:25
Burfict is a piece of garbage.  Everyone will focus on the hit on AB but I couldn't believe him on Conner's 1yrds TD run as well.  Kicking and pushing Conner and Decastro while they were on the ground in the end zone.  That guy just doesn't get it.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
He is a multi-time offender. I'd be surprised if this is not a multi-game suspension. But this is the NFL so who knows?
dkmoose Indiana
12:26
I know you'll get many questions about the 'supposedly' pick play when AB scored... what's your thoughts on if it was/wasn't legal ?  What exactly is the def on pick play ?  Thanks Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
That's such a tough call. The defender was close to him and was coming toward Hunter as the contact happened. Hunter definitely blocked him after the contact was made, ut Al Riveron said it was legal. And anything Al Riveron says about officiating is 100 percent right!
Jarvis Ragdoll Jones
12:27
Who is responsible for advising Tomlin on when to challenge?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
That question almost assuredly will be asked next week at his news conference. He doesn't have a news conference this week because of the off week.
Ryno
12:28
How isnt there a better system in place for Tomlin to get good advice on challenges during away games?  It seemed like he put no thought into the challenge on the Switzer play. But then on the play with James Conner, when it seemed like a challenge might be a better idea, there was nothing.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
They definitely have to clean that up. A few years back, the Colts hired Jim Tressel, whose job was to sit in the press box, watch replays and advise the head coach on close calls. That was his job. I'm not saying the Steelers have to hire someone like that, but they better have a coach in the press box whose job is to watch replays. It can be a quality control coach, just anyone other than a head coach who claimed yesterday he was relying on the video scoreboard in the stadium to show the play.
JoeB
12:30
Kicking the field goal to go up 6 was ridiculous. Now your force the offence to be aggressive and go for a TD. If you try on 4th and miss, they have a long way to go and are likely playing for a tie at best.  What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
We are on the same wavelength. Make them go 95 yards to win the game with less than three minutes on the clock. But again, if your offense can't get two yards on two downs then maybe you're not good enough to win that game. I would have put the game in the hands of the highly-paid offense line and a running back who was playing well. Or the 6-foot-5 quarterback who can fall forward for a yard on a quarterback sneak, which once again they did not try. They should have done that at the other end of the field after Conner came up short after the long run. It's not that hard yet the coaches make it hard.
Ryno
12:32
In your opinion, have we seen the best Artie Burns has to offer? Can this guy be coached to a higher level, or is this it?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
We are in the middle of year 3. I would not be holding my breath that it's going to get a whole lot better.
Ben
12:32
If bell is back, how would you use him to get most out of him, Connor, and the WRs (who could be nicknamed feast and famine)?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
Use Bell and Conner. Let them both get involved in the game. The Patriots do it with Sony Michel and James White. They did it last year with White and Dion Lewis. It can be effective.
JoeB
12:33
Do you think Bell is unhappy with Ben's joke about it being Conner's last game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
I don't think Ben or anyone else in the locker room is very concerned if Bell is unhappy.
edf
12:33
dont you think from a clubhouse perspective it would be better for levion to stay away and not show up?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
Yes, but then he wouldn't get his money. I can't see him forfeiting $14.5 million. People already question his stance after forfeiting $ nearly $6 million for sitting out the first six games.
Nate K
12:34
If Tomlin goes for it on 4th down there and they don't get in, do you honestly think people wouldn't be blaming him for a bad call?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
No. I would have applauded the aggressiveness. And again, I'll repeat, if your offensive line isn't good enough to get two yards in two tries then maybe you don't deserve to win the game.
Mtsteel
12:35
Hi Ray, very bad move by not challenging that Conner run, not to mention the spot was terrible. It should have been on the inch line, not the 1 yard. That's a big difference. Thoughts? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
I have to see the replay again.
Ryno
12:36
Is this the first-time Vontaze Burfict took out one of his own guys? Any status update on his own player that he hit? I watched the replay multiple times and it sure looked like he put effort into throwing that shoulder into Brown's head.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
Yes he did. The NFL looks at every questionable hit. I'm sure they'll look at that one.
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