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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.16.17
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
OK let's get started. I have about 45 minutes until the Steelers locker room opens. Ask away!
RD
12:28
Ray, we're still seeing serious mental lapses from the team; the blown kick coverage after the safety, the wrong route by Brown resulting in the interception. Both could have easily changed the outcome of the game. It's week 6, and the team is still having problems focusing on the task at hand. Problem with coaching or player execution?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Good points. I wrote about that today. Brown made the big play at the end, but he could have been the goat if Phillip Gaines hangs onto that pass. Or at least he'd share the blame for the loss. It's not just him. They need to get their goalline offense squared away. They should be scoring more touchdowns than they are now. All that being said, they went to KC and beat the last remaining unbeaten team in the NFL. There were more positives than negatives yesterday.
George M
12:30
If you had to guess by what you have seen so far, who gets a contract extension, Dupree or Chickillo?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
That's actually a really good question. I was thinking about that last night. Dupree hasn't played to expectations this season. This was a big year for him. Still is. There are 10 games to go. But it's not going to be small change to pick up his fifth year option. It's going to be a lot of money, and he's going to have to prove that he's worth it over the final games if he wants to remain here.
Zach B
12:34
Hi Ray - any truth to the Bryant trade request nonsense? Rappaport is always wrong and hate we are even talking about this after a big win! FAKE news?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Ed Bouchette confirmed it this morning. It is true that he requested a trade. Bryant tweeted last night that he is happy to be a Steeler, but the trade request was put in by his agent two weeks ago.
SteelByDesign
12:35
You're going to get 10,000 Martavis questions. Can you just say it's not happening, and move on?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
It's probably not going to happen. Thre Steelers are a better team with Martavis Bryant, but the trade request was real. It did happen. He is apparently unhappy with his usage in the offense. I've asked him point blank about his snaps in recent weeks and he's always said the right things. I guess his agent thought the right time to leak the information was after the Steelers' biggest win of the season.
KJ
12:37
How much credibility does the "Martavis Bryant wants to be traded" story have?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
It's true. He did request a trade. Maybe Bryant will talk today and saw something else. Maybe he meant what he tweeted last night. But it's not made up.
SteelByDesign
12:38
That interception wasn't Ben's fault, but the amazing grab by AB late in the game SHOULD'VE been a pick. Ben still didn't look good to me. Can LeVeon really handle 35 carries a game all season long? Think Conner gets more going forward?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
They're going to do what they have to do to win games. If that means Bell getting 35 carries then so be it. Believe me, it won't happen every week. And if they do have to run the ball that much over a long period then yes James Conner's role would get bigger. But things happen. There will be weeks when he's not involved as much.
SteelByDesign
12:39
And update on injuries to Vince Williams and Marcus Gilbert yesterday?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
Locker room opens at 1:15 so no update yet. Williams tweeted he was fine this morning. The Gilbert injury looks like it could be a lingering thing. He's tried to come back and has had setbacks. They'll probably just rest it now and try to have him come back in a few more weeks.
JOE
12:40
Any insight to Martavis Bryant wanting to be traded? I find it laughable that a guy suspended multiple times for substance abuse issues and all last season is not happy with a team that has been more than Accommodating to his mal behavior and disruption to the team. Unbelievable!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
I tend to agree with you. Does he think he'd be happier in Cleveland? Or in San Francisco? Or with a dozen other teams that have inferior QBs than the Steelers. I find the request strange, but the timing of the leak even stranger. I half expect The Rock to walk into the UPMC training facility today. I feel like I'm in an episode of "Ballers" every week covering this team.
KJ
12:42
What is your assessment of Bell's 32 carry 179 yard 1 TD day? I, for one, would have liked to see him score more than once given that amount of production, how about you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
Yep. You have to run when you have first-and-goal at the 2. That's inexcusable not to run it down there. I'm not saying you have to run it three times in a row, but don't line up in the shotgun on first down.
Lambert Lunatic
12:44
Hey Ray, a W is a W so not complaining, but that game was much closer at the end than should’ve been. Why 2 passes on 1st & goal at the 2-yrd line? Then Ben in shotgun on at least 2 other 3rd & 2s (none converted). And why punt with 4th & 2 at Chief’s 35 when dominating in trenches? Or how bout a makable 52-yrd FG there on a sunny, calm day?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
Yeah the red-zone struggles have to be fixed if this team is going to go anywhere in January. They can't continue the way they're going and expect to win consistently. You are right. That game should have been in the bag a long time before Brown hauled in that TD pass. They have to make the simple plays such as catching a free kick. They booted a chance to pounce on the Chiefs and instead let them take the lead in the first quarter. That didn't hurt them in the end, but it certainly could have.
Zack B
12:46
That catch by AB was amazing, but on 3rd a 2, why not run Bell again?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
You'd have heard that from now until kickoff Sunday at Heinz Field if that ball was intercepted and the Chiefs pulled that out. I tend to agree with you, but they made a play to get the win. Let's give Brown credit for that. He came through when they needed him.
CC
12:47
Hi Ray. Don't you think they should go with Landry the rest of the way? He can't be any worse than Ben, who never could read defenses.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
Even after a win?
Chris
12:47
Martavis Bryant requesting a trade is ridiculous after all the patience this organization has has with him.  But he is right that he's being underutilized.  Why do you think we haven't seen the sort of production from him that we're used to?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
Not sure why, but it appears he is unhappy that JuJu Smith-Schuster is getting more playing time. I think he sees that and probably understands JuJu is going to be around a while. It's always about the money with these guys. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. He's thinking about his next contract. He's right to be thinking about it, but he should realize he can get paid if the Steelers win and he produces when it counts -- late in the season and the postseason.
Kevin
12:49
Do you feel that Artie Burns is a liability in the run game.  He appears to avoid tackling at all costs.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
I don't know about liability, but run support isn't his best asset.
Jess from Montana
12:50
Great win proud of the guys to overcome the drama of the past week but any chance we can see Nix on the goal line and have them just pound it in?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
I'm all for it.
KJ
12:50
Everyone can nitpick the Steelers' performance against KC, but the importance of this victory, especially on the road against the league's last unbeaten team, is quite impressive. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
Absolutely yes. It puts them right in the thick of the AFC race for the top seed.
JImmy
12:51
Ray,  I have been very impressed with JuJu's play.  He's a different type of receiver, but do you think he is a replacement for Bryant, who just doesn't seem worth it ?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
JuJu has to stop taking penalties first and foremost. He's had way too many. But there is a reason they like him. He's good as a blocker when he's not holding or blocking guys in the back and he's a pretty decent possession receiver. I don't know what Brown, JuJu and Bryant can't get enough touches. It seems rather easy. If Brown is single covered you throw to him. If they're doubling him or giving a CB help then you look to Bryant and/or JuJu or a tight end.
Glenn G
12:53
With so many weapons on offense, why is there still such inconsistent play on the offensive side of the ball, especially in the red zone?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:54
In my opinion, they have to develop a run-first mentality near the goalline. Too much passing down there. That was some mystifying play-calling down there yesterday the way they passing and not running. Don't understand it.
smullins43
12:55
AFC seems so wide open now...if we somehow get that chemistry on offense with consistency there would be no reason not to ride this thing to the SB? Assuming we become consistent?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
This team hasn't put together a complete game yet. Not even close. (Jim Mora voice) And you're talking Super Bowl? You want to talk about the Super Bow? The Super Bowl?
KJ
12:56
How well did James Harrison play yesterday? I imagine it was far better than his stat line of 3 tackles and 1 sack (HUGE) indicates, what do you say?
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