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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.21.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:22
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we'll get started at 10:30.
Josh
10:30
Hey Ray, thanks for the chat.  Miscommunication is a term that keeps getting thrown out there by the defensive players, especially when they have a poor performance.  How much of that do you believe is on the player(s) themselves and how much of that issue is on the coaching?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:31
I think there is enough blame to go around. Sometimes you'll see the players wanting the call earlier from the sidelines. Other times, the crowd noise is an issue. The players also say there are no excuses. If they can't hear they need to communicate with hand signals. And like I always say if the players can't handle it the coaches have to be a little more basic in what they're playing.
SteelByDesign
10:32
It's becoming apparent that Slay just can't hang with top-flight receivers anymore, and Ramsey is more swiss army knife than outside CB at this point. Do we start to see more Echols and/or Trice outside?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:34
I'm intrigued by Trice when he does come back, but they haven't even opened his 21-day window yet. So he's probably not close. But he is tall and big and can play press, which is what they need. The deep ball to Iosivis was a bit alarming for me. That's Cincy's No. 3 WR and he beat Slay without much of an issue there. They need better plays from their corners overall. All three of them have struggled at times this season. When it comes to Ramsey he's probably not capable of following a player like Chase anymore, but he's plenty good in the slot or at safety. They need Porter to take a step too. He had another disappointing game against the Bengals.
Silent Bob
10:35
Hi Ray - let’s say the Steelers make a stop at the end on Thursday. Would that be anything to feel more optimistic about? They still have no pash rush, no run stoppage, no turnovers and a very leaky secondary. If defense wins championships this team is not tracking.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:37
I agree with you. They are giving up 375 yards per game. They were fortunate enough to create some turnovers early in the season that greatly contributed to their victory total. They haven't had any the past two games. You can see against a good QB like Flacco how those yards can be converted into points. You might get away with it against a rookie like Dillon Gabriel or other below average QBs, but good QBs will convert in the red zone. The Steelers defense also has to get off the field more. They're giving up way too many third-and-longs. That's been a big issue too.
Jim
10:37
With the QB class looking like a bust this year, will we have to go with Howard next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:38
What about the guy who is looking like he's 31 rather than 41? If Rodgers continues to play at this level the Steelers should talk to him after the season to gauge his interest on a return. He's been better than I expected at his age.
Jim
10:38
Any idea why Herbig wasn't utilized more on Thursday? By design?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:40
Tomlin holds his weekly presser at noon so we might find out then. I suspect it had to do with personnel packages. Flacco was getting the ball out quick and they probably felt like they needed more cover people on the field rather than an extra rusher in the form of the 3-OLB package. I was surprised when I saw how little he played compared to Highsmith. Teryl Austin said they were going to find ways to get him on the field and they didn't really commit to that against the Bengals.
the real guest
10:41
Benton is a fine DL. He is not a NT. The Steelers need a NT. MT has little respect for the NT position. Do you see where this is headed?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:42
As soon as the Steelers get a big nose to plug the run teams will automatically start throwing when that guy is on the field. What they need is better play overall from the DL and for guys to play gaps-sound ball. Cam Heyward and TJ Watt said after the game the issue was guys not being in their gaps. That's discipline.
Stu from the Slopes
10:43
Do you think the Steelers may explore some defensive trades at the deadline if things don’t improve over this two-game home stand?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:44
Never say never, but I tend to think their big acquisitions came over the offseason. Unless some team is going to have a fire sale and you can make a good deal impactful players are not going to be on the market. As I said earlier, maybe Trice coming back from IR and giving the secondary a boost will help. And I write that knowing he's never really consistently performed for this team due to injuries. They just seem like they need an infusion of speed and cover ability back there.
Tampa Too
10:45
Ray. It seems that now the offense has to carry the defense in order for the Steelers to win. Does that surprise you?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:46
It does surprise me, but it happens. You never know when a defense and its aging players will fall off, but we might be witnessing that. This offense is stepping up though. They enter the Packers game 12th in the NFL in scoring. They're starting to look like a dangerous unit.
TVC15
10:46
JPJ seems to constantly underwhelm. Is it still too early to label him a bust?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:47
Let's see how he plays for the remainder of the season. He has to get more consistent. He can't be so grabby with his hands. That's why he's called for so many penalties.
Groundhog's Day
10:48
This defense is just giving me flashes of all the ones that have been brutalized in the playoffs during Tomlin's tenure. If an offense protects the ball, they can't get a stop. What would it honestly take to see a change, whether that be at head coach or defensive coordinator?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:48
Won't happen until after the season is over. And they're not changing head coaches. (By the way, he also is deeply involved in coordinating the defense).
Roll Tide
10:49
It seems like they play such a soft zone. Corners playing 7-10 off and safeties playing 15-20. This got exposed Thursday, do you think they change it.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:50
Well, they have to change something. What they did against the Bengals was disastrous. The team coming in Sunday night is pretty good. They're a top-10 scoring team.
steelbydesign
10:51
Any idea what's up with Roman Wilson? Feel like his speed could be a big asset but clearly he's not impressed them on the practice field?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:51
I thought he was good against the Bengals. He played more snaps than Skowronek and Miller and made a few plays. Depending upon Austin's status for Sunday he could have a similar role versus the Packers on Sunday night.
SteelByDesign
10:52
I know this defense is old, but individually there's still SO much talent out there in my mind. What's the issue?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:53
There are a lot of issues. That's what's concerning. They don't stop the run consistently. They can't get off the field on third or fourth down and they've given up some chunk plays to top WRs. If they're getting turnovers they're not going to be effective.
SteelByDesign
10:54
Think there's any chance Rodgers stick around another year? If they took a project at QB like LaNorris Sellers or Ty Simpson, seems like it'd be a great situation to have them sit for a season.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:54
At this point I'd be all for that. But let's see if they can keep him upright and whether he wants to do that.
GB The Uppity Yinzer
10:55
Hey Ray, I have been a fan of yours for years. First time on the chat. Keep up the great work, sir. It seems like everyone is talking about WR2 right now as a trade acquisition. I would love to sure up our defensive trenches alittle more. Here’s a wildcard name for you, Christian Wilkins. He’s still a free agent, had that weird stuff go on in Vegas, also had a foot injury too, but this guy is a baller. Could you see Omar sniffing around him or another vet DL to help consistently stop the run and provide more pass rush? Thanks. 🤝🏽
Ray Fittipaldo
10:55
He's a talented player, but if he's healthy there is a reason no one else has signed him. You mentioned the "weird" stuff in Vegas. I'm sure other teams know exactly what went on there so that could be a reason he's unemployed
3 and aht merchants
10:56
What happened to the plan to move TJ around?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:56
They've done it a little but maybe not as much as fans expected. I will add he likes the left side and doesn't necessarily ask to be moved around.
3 and aht merchants
10:57
Any word on Calvin’s injury?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:57
We'll find out more from Tomlin today but Austin said "hopefully" yesterday when he was asked in the locker room.
Pittfan
10:58
Hi Ray. The Steelers can easily lose their next 5-6 games. Will the fire Tomlin chants start? I am a Tomlin fan but maybe it's time. Hopefully the Steelers land in a Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles situation. Win, win.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
Don't hold your breath on any of that.
Art
10:59
RF, if I scored a HC job, would it count as the first sapling within Coach T's barren forest? Most would say no, since I've little about D during my tenure under his tutelage. Your thought, if you're so inclined. Go Fed Ex.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:00
He's already been a head coach and spent his formative years under a number of head coaches in Tennessee, including Mularkey and Vrabel. I would give credit to them for Smith before Tomlin when it comes to coaching trees, but let's give Tomlin some credit for recognizing he'd be a good fit for the Steelers.
Mr Rooney
11:01
Is Ramsey still an improvement overall after the CIN fiasco?
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