You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.20.20
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
OK let's get the chat started.
Dr. Mike
1:56
The Steeler front office has a chance to make a "Fitzpatrick" type of move if they can get the Jets to give up their linebacker Williamson for future draft choices.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
If the Steelers make a trade for an inside linebacker make no mistake it won't be a "Fitzpatrick" type of move. The Steelrs hit the jackpot last yar when the Dolphins wanted to get rid of him. He is an All-Pro player. Avery Williamson is 28, in his seventh NFL season and has never made a Pro Bowl. So let's get that straight right away. I am not ruling out a trade. I think Kevin Colbert will do his due diligence. But the Steelers have gone down that road a lot in recent years. They've tried other team's playrs to fill that dime LB role and they didn't have a lot of success. Most recently, it was Mark Barron, who was cut after one season. Moregan Burnett was cut after one season. If there is someone Colbert and Tomlin really like then yes they might make a trade, but I think this organization has success because they groom players to step up in these situations. Robert Spillane will get a chance to play in the base. And I think the Steelers will use some of their versatile DBs in sub-packages.
2:01
I'm not ruling out a trade, but don't expect a "Fitzpatrick" type of move.
V. Fontaine
2:02
Do you think Cam Sutton will play a bigger role with the Devin Bush injury?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Tomlin didn't tip his hand today other than to say Robert Spillane probably won't be playing all the snaps. So if you read between the lines defensive backs like Cam Sutton could be seeing more playing time.
V. Fontaine
2:03
I think my new favorite play is the tight formation with Chase Claypool in motion. It sets up so many potential plays because of Claypool's ability to run. This is clearly Matt Canada's influence on the offense.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Yes and teams haven't figured out a way to stop it yet. Claypool is so fast that even if the end man on the line of scrimmage recognizes the play right away he still might not get Claypool. Or, if he does read the play too well, Claypool is big enough to turn it up inside and get tough yards. It really is a nice, new wrinkle.
Alan in Nashville
2:05
Hi Ray. Now more than ever, the Steelers are showing that they just don’t fire coaches anymore at all. They just let their contracts expire and sometimes, they go in a different direction before they do. Randy F is still calling the plays, I think, but this is Matt Canada’s offense and Mike Tomlin/T. Austin’s defense. And I like both much better. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
I wouldn't take it that far. Tomlin did bring Austin and Canada in to help make some changes. There is no doubt about that. But I wouldn't take it to the point where Butler and Fichtner are merely bystanders. They're still the coordinators and have plenty of input.
IdahoSteeler
2:06
Are you seeing evidence that the 2020 Steelers are more "team focused"?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Call it whatever you want, but they are playing exactly the way they need to play to have success. It's an offense that's not turning the ball over much backed up by a defense that can turn the ball over and frustrate opponents. In other years, you might have heard about issues with receivers complaining about their roles, etc. That's not the case this year. JuJu Smith-Schuster can have two catches for 6 yards and he's as happy as when he has 10 for 200.
Artie Bridge
2:08
Ray, with Bush out for the season, do you anticipate roster moves to address the deficit at inside linebacker?  Trades?  Signings?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
I think they'll see what they have in Spillane and then experiment a bit with some of their versatile DBs. They might not have to worry about it this week because Mike Tomlin said Tennessee doesn't force you to go sub-package very often. But eventually I think you'll see them make some tweaks when teams want to play small on offense.
Soupy in MD
2:10
Ray, so If the Steelers are going with Spillane at ilb in place of Bush do you think Gilbert, Edmunds or Allen will see some snaps?  I know in 2017 Shazier’s injury Was so late in the season they had few choices but we’d hate to see a stubborn Tomlin and Colbert not seek outside help and have a repeat disaster of the playoff game in 2017 vs the swamp kitties or the entire 2018 campaign.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
If you've noticed, since the Shazier injury, they've drafted a number of bigger safeties that can play in hybrid roles. I'm talking about Terrell Edmunds, Marcus Allen and Antoine Brooks. I think eventually we might see Edmunds drop down and play dime LB in sub-packages with Sean Davis or Cam Sutton dropping back to play deep safety. Davis has the experience and so does Sutton. When you're talking about guys like Allen and Ulysees Gilbert, they don't have much experience. This is a Super Bowl contender. I think Tomlin and his staff are going to lean on experienced players to fill those roles.
AK
2:12
Is Sean Davis not fully recovered from his injury last year?  Is that why he was cut by Washington and he’s not getting any defensive snaps?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
He's not getting any defensive snaps because Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds are starters and durable players in front of him. But as I wrote above, he's an option now if the coaches want to move Edmunds into the Bush role in sub-packages.
Guest
2:13
Good Afternoon Ray, What would you say the Steelers must hold Derrick Henry to as far as production to win the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I don't think there is a magic number. The Titans blew out the Bills when Henry only had 57 rushing yards and 63 total yards from scrimmage. The Titans are not the Browns. They have a QB in Ryan Tannehill that can win games on his own. Make no mistake, they like to control the game with Henry, but Tannehill has proven he can do it with his arm, too.
AK
2:15
I’ve seen a couple of articles that say the Steelers should trade for Darnold.  What would the Hets want for him?  I believe it would be a bad idea. Do you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I'm not sold on that idea. And if I was GMKC I wouldn't give up more than a fourth-rounder for him.
AK
2:15
Do you think Spillane will be better than Baron and Bostic at ILB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
When it comes down to it, I don't think the Steelers are going to ask him to play all the snaps. I think it's obvious they have confidence in him, but that's probably only in certain situations. He was an undrafted free agent for a reason. He can't replace Devin Bush in all of the sub-packages. They'll need others to fill that role. Tomlin wouldn't even commit to Spillane wearing the green dot for communication and he came out and said Spillane "probably won't play all the snaps."
AK
2:18
Colquitt hasn’t punted all that well so far but has he been bad enough to replace?  I think he’s done well as a holder on a couple of bad snaps.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
The Steelers didn't sign Dustin Colquitt to be a holder. They signed him to be a better punter than Jordan Berry. And so far, he hasn't performed all that well. This is the second time in a few weeks that Tomlin has commented that Colquitt has to step it up.
Raymund 111
2:19
Ray, looking at Bush it seems he gained some weight from last year, even if muscle gain, seems he was playing heavier from last year, could that have been the cause for the acl tear? Actually it seems he was faster to the ball last season .. why not keep last season weight.. well to late I know, just food for thought.. hope the kid recovers well.. any comments?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
I honestly didn't notice that he put on all that much weight.
AK
2:20
Steelers aren’t using McDonald much as a receiver. Are his days as a Steeler numbered?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
He is on the books for another relatively high cap hit next year. And with the cap likely decreasing there will be lots of speculation about who gets cut. And yes, when weighing productivity versus salary, McDonald would be a prime candidate.
DaquidiBazzini
2:21
Hi Ray...With a SB possible , I think the Steelers almost have to bring in someone with experience to replace Bush. What are your thoughts and who might be a candidate?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
There has been some speculation about Avery Williamson, who plays for the Jets. He's in the final year of his contract and on a team that might like to get some draft picks. But as I mentioned at the top of the chat, the Steelers haven't always had success with other team's players. Their track record in free agency is not great in recent years. Just look at Burnett and Barron and the money they had to eat with those contracts.
AK
2:23
Who’s been defensive MVP for the Steelers so far?  Heyward?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
Lots of candidates. You could go Heyward, Dupree or Watt. All three have played really well.
tomorrow
2:24
Titan's Henry is a heavy load to handle- do the Steelers have a way to handle him? And I watched the Raiders beat K.C., but is there something in this defense that can do the same when the time comes? I'm confident that the Steelers can play well against the Ravens, but Tenn. and KC look tough; worried about the individual matchups.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
This week will be tough because they'll be trying to replace Devin Bush on the fly. Replacing a guy in the middle of a season is difficult. But this is the NFL. There are injuries to key players on every team. The Titans just lost their left tackle for the season. The Steelers will be trying to exploit that matchup this week just as the Titans will be trying to exploit the middle of the Steelers defense. It's the way the NFL is. We're going to find out very quickly on Sunday about Spillane and the new left tackle for the Titans, whoever that might be.
ASIANGOLFERMAN
2:26
Next question Ray Fittipaldo - you there?  Priceless!  What about Alec Ogletree to fill in at ILB if Spillane doesn't work out.  He's on the street and is proven .  You're gong to say - why is he on the street?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Why is on the street?
2:27
I was doing some research today and Ogletree's name actually came up. But not in that light. I was doing some research on how Mark Barron moved from safety to LB for the Rams. Well, it just so happens that took place because of an injury to Ogletree. Not really pertinent to any discussion here other than maybe the Steelers taking a flyer on him. But again, you answered your own question: why is he on the street?
Leslie
2:28
We had a great game all around no question Ray, however realistically Mayfield was not 100 ready, and the Browns played poorly, so when Spillane played all 2nd half the Browns were done, so that cannot be a measurement stick if he is the solution moving forward.. we know Gerry and yourself have contacts can you mention to them to go after Avery Williamson if possible within reason please, this could be our year, next year with cap and so on could be to late, what’s in your mind Ray?
Connecting…