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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.16.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
Welcome and thanks for spending part of your day with me. Let's get the chat started.
Butcher
11:57
Hi Ray, thanks for the chats as always.  Is this our Tomlin trap game where we play down to the competition? Flacco, against the Steelers? Thursday night short week curse? If we don't win this one, doesn't matter how we play. There is no pyrrhic victory for this game.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
If ever the Steelers were going to break their trend of losing on the road on Thursday nights this is the game to do it. The Bengals have one of the worst defenses in the NFL and their best defensive player (Trey Hendrickson) is questionable with a hip injury. Plus, the Bengals remain without star QB Joe Burrow. Yes, Joe Flacco is better than Jake Browning, but if the Steelers can continue to generate a pass rush the way they have the past three games Flacco will have a hard time finding Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for big plays.
Daniel
12:00
Thanks for doing the chats.  I know our Offensive Line coach got some grief (from fans) with how the season started but do you think he deserves some good "shout-outs" with how things are going in the right direction now?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:01
Yes I think Pat Meyer and Arthur Smith (and by extension Aaron Rodgers) deserve a lot of credit for the decrease in sacks. Rodgers continues to get the ball out faster than any other QB in the NFL. The blocking scheme last week to neutralize Myles Garrett was executed really well. They're playing to their strengths and trying to minimize their weaknesses.
epiballo
12:02
Hey Ray - thanks for the chats. Will the combination of Porter-Slay-Ramsey be able to shut down Chase-Higgins? Will the D be able to get after Flacco? They do those two things and it's over, isn't it?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
Yes, if they can execute that. The pass rush has to get home though. If not, Flacco is a seasoned vet and will be able to find those WRs. They're big-time playmakers. We'll have to wait and see how they decide to match up against them. Ramsey was brought in to cover Chase 1 on 1, but he's playing with a hamstring injury and on four days rest.
Scott via Louisville
12:04
What would be your game plan on offense tonight. I think they will prepare for us going big again. Would you maybe try something else or trot out the beef most plays like last week?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
They should do exactly what they've done the past two weeks. The jumbo personnel package has been effective and they've found ways to create big plays out of it so they're not predictable or one-dimensional when Washington and Anderson are on the field. That's important.
AK
12:05
What do think the chances of Pouncey and DeCastro getting into the HoF are?  It looks like Ward and Harrison will never get in.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
Pouncey has a better shot than DeCastro. Pouncey has more All-Pros and that's what the voters look at. Sad to say about Ward and Harrison. I think Ward still has a chance, but it might have to come via the veteran's committee rather than being voted in by the writers.
RCATLANTA
12:06
It appears Offenses are running more of the Jumbo packages with additional Tackles/TE, what is the solution to offset this approach and is this just another fad the offense has evolved into?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
The solution is to bring in bigger players on defense or sell out more to stop the run when those packages come onto the field.
Uncle Leo
12:07
Ray, if our season keeps going in this direction, I will happily admit I misjudged many things in those first 2 games. Fortunately, I took your advice and “patience”prevailed. Near the bottom of my list was questioning the choice of Warren over Najee. It’s now pretty clear that was another great roster move this season, yes?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Uncle Leo, Hello! Yes, Warren has been playing really well. He's such a good all-around back. Same goes for Gainwell.
B Jones
12:09
Ray, I see that PFF is fielding some well-deserved questions on their legitimacy after assigning me a pathetic grade last week. Your thoughts, if any?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I stopped long ago paying attention to PFF grades. I sometimes visit their site to look at snap breakdowns and other stats that aren't offered anywhere else, but when it comes to them grading player performance I don't look at it. Neither should you. They don't have qualified people watching the games.
HeHateMe
12:10
Why would you sign Pat to a contract if you aren't going to use him?🤔
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
It's interesting that they told Najee they weren't going to pick up his option because they wanted to see how he'd fit in Arthur Smith's offense but they signed Freiermuth. I guess maybe they projected Freiermuth would be a better fit for the offense. I'm not sure. Or maybe we're overreacting a little bit. His decreased playing time has come against 4-3 teams. It will definitely be time to sound the alarms if he's playing 15-20 snaps a game against 3-4 defenses.
Ty Hink
12:13
If elliot is out is thornhill and peppers starting safeties tonight?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
Peppers probably steps in at SS. Would still be a setback for the Steelers because Elliott is the quarterback of the defense in the back end. But Peppers is a vet and played well against the Patriots when he had an extended opportunity.
Michael
12:14
Ray, is B Jones going to have his option year picked up?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
Too early to tell.
Jeff B
12:14
What's your thoughts on the odds the Steelers offense with Rodgers goes off in the passing game versus this really bad defense? Or should we expect the running game to just pound it at them?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Their goal, I'm sure, is to be the well-balanced offense they've been for the past two games against the Vikings and Browns.
Stash
12:15
Ray, an ill-conceived pre-game visit to Skyline chili is about the only thing that could derail their chances tonight, correct?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Ha ha yes that's the last thing -- or any of us -- need.
Nerd
12:16
Saw some click bait that suggested we trade Highsmith, Freiermuth, and Rudolph.  Considering the backups and their utilization, I'm not opposed.  Would this be crazy?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
If you fancy yourself a contender why would you want to weaken your depth at a position? Highsmith is a good player. Keep him for the remainder of the season and then reevaluate in the offseason. I won't close the door on Freiermuth being dealt if they continue to use him as their No. 3 TE. That doesn't serve anyone well. But as I said earlier, let's wait to see what his usage is against non-4-3 teams Time is ticking though. Only a few more weeks before the deadline.
Bill in LA
12:19
Do you think the Steelers and other quarterback needy teams screwed up by passing on Jaxson Dart?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
Way too early to tell
Mexican acerero
12:19
Hi Ray, we flew last weekend to Pittsburgh from Mexico for my son´s 1st Steelers game.  Overall an awesome experience!  3 things dissapointed me though:  1) Duquesne incline- Nice view, but an hour long line was not worth it for me.  2)  Primanti´s Pittsburgher... expected more.  3) Didn´t hear anybody use Yinzer, Yinz, etc!   do you still say that?  Anyway, we saw the steelers win and waved our terrible towels to Renegade, so that memory will be engraved forever!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
You certainly played the hits with your tourist destinations. I always go fried egg at Primanti's. Can't go wrong there. And you didn't spend enough time on the South Side if you didn't hear yinz at least once.
79 Buccos
12:21
Thanks for all of the great insights in your chats.  Two questions: 1)  Do you think the Steelers will play less soft zone coverage tonight knowing Flacco doesn't scramble?  You would think the tighter coverage would allow the pass rush to be more of a game wrecker.   2)  How much influence does Tomlin have on the defensive game plan?  It seems as though the unit has returned to the blitz more like LeBeau and Butler used to call.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
It's a perfect game to match up in man if you think the pass rush will be effective. Risky though because Flacco still has a big arm to beat you deep.
Texan Steeler
12:21
Hey Ray, can the Steelers buy out Pitt from Acrisure/facility/practice field deal? This is getting flat out embarrassing.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
The lease at the UPMC South Side facility is up in 2030. The expectation is the Steelers will have their own facility by then. As for Acrisure Stadium I don't know what a good alternative for Pitt would be. Playing in front of half-empty stadium is not ideal. It's too bad Highmark Stadium is only being expanded to 15,000 seats because if they could go to 30,000 there it would actually be perfect for Pitt to share with the Riverhounds. And there really is no place on campus at Pitt to build a 30,000-seat stadium.
Ryan
12:25
Good afternoon Ray Will the Steelers Get Freiermuth Involved tonight since he done good in Cincinnati recently
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Never say never, but I expect to see a lot of the jumbo package again tonight.
Jeff B
12:25
What is the issue for DeShon Elliot? injury or a personal/family thing?
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