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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.21.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:02
He might not be a shutdown corner anymore, but he's still a useful player. I'd argue their best defensive back.
Mr Rooney
11:02
Frustrating to watch the success of Parsons moving around as TJ sits like a statue in the same perch play after play.  Where's the hold up here...Austin or Watt?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:02
I'd lean more Watt there, but if it helps the defense he has to be more open to it.
Coach T
11:03
RF, if you've studied my occasionally exasperating coaching career, you would expect my historic team to bounce back this coming holy day, yes?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
Yes. Coming off a bad loss. In primetime. At home. This is a spot the Steelers usually respond.
Chris
11:03
Would love to see my steelers draft Fernando Mendoza what a surprise he is . Thoughts
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
He's intriguing, but he wasn't among the top prospects before the season started. I worry a little bit about any of these guys being flashes in the pan. This is going to be a big year for scouts and GMs trying to figure out who is an NFL QB and who might just be good college QBs.
Cdub
11:06
Do you think the Ravens will bounce back or are they cooked?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
I don't think they'll finish 3-14 or anything like that. I also don't think they'll win 11 in a row to finish 12-5 either. I'm guessing 9-8 or around there. Probably enough to make the second half interesting.
Mr Rooney
11:07
Hi Ray. Thanks for the chats. Can Rodgers and this offense actually carry this team to post-season success? Is the run game improvement to real or just an illusion over the past few weeks? Hard to read the tea leaves on all this.  What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:08
You have to have a dangerous offense if you're going to advance in the playoffs. I like what I'm seeing. The question is whether the defense can improve. If not, the Steelers might not make it there.
Commissioner
11:08
This defense is a complete mess. Slay and Ramsey aren’t who they were in their prime and Porter is way overrated and thinks he’s much better than he is. Who in their right mind is coaching on the sideline watching Chase catching 16 passes without adjusting? It’s time Tomlin and Austin are held accountable. That was atrocious!!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
I'm not absolving the coaches of blame, but they tried man and zone. Nothing was really working. Chase and Higgins were wide open. It didn't help there were communication issues too. To me, that's the most frustrating thing. When they compound their mistakes with issues they should be past by now.
JPinPDX
11:09
Good morning Ray. If the Steelers can establish the run game on Sunday will Art stick with it or outsmart himself again?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
He went back to it in the second half. If he stuck with it I think they had a better chance of winning that game. But listen, we all get upset when they're too conservative sometimes. He was being aggressive, and it backfired. Sometimes that happens. I just think with the opponent and the way the defense has been having trouble getting off the field the right move was to lean into the run late in the first half rather than throwing it more.
Mr Rooney
11:12
Warren's new contract which was met with some derision sure looks like a smart move now...no?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
I agree. He's been really good. He does all the little things so well too. That's why he's so valuable.
Mr Rooney
11:13
The Chiefs look like they too are rounding into form.  Are they again the most dangerous team in the AFC?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:14
Looks that way now especially with the Ravens and Bills having issues. Maybe the Colts are for real. If not, it seems like the Chiefs are going to be playing deep into January again.
Mr Rooney
11:14
As bad as the D looked last week.  The prior two games were pretty solid. Should we consider that these were two great WR's and a desperate team we played last week?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
I acknowledge the Bengals and their offense played well. But the issues with run defense and communication and third downs go back to last season. They're not the first time to make the Steelers D look that bad.
Mr Rooney
11:16
Indianapolis sure looks scary.  Feel like their run game might go for 200 against Keanu's gaps alone.  What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:16
The Steelers need to worry about Josh Jacobs and the Packers first.
Dan
11:18
Detroit’s patchwork secondary held one of the top NFL passers to 9 points last night. Our “most expensive NFL defense” couldn’t stop a QB who had only been with his team for a week. Coaching???
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
Coaching, poor player performance. It was everything against the Bengals.
Desert Rat
11:18
Hi Ray love the chats. Regarding TJ. If I make you one of the highest paid edge rushers in history should you be telling me you do not want to move around?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:20
I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons. If he's truly not comfortable on the other side, how effective will he be? But we've seen Watt drop into coverage and make interceptions. We've seen him be a selfless player. I think if he's asked he'll do whatever is best for the team. So maybe it is up to the coaches to call for him to move around a little more.
Mr Rooney
11:21
Rodgers sure looked pissed about being tackled by Jones after his TD throw. Is there maybe some friction with him and his OL we aren't seeing clearly? Or was it just a heat of the moment thing?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Heat of the moment. Jones said yesterday they squashed it. But Rodgers was really mad at the time.
Benson DuBois
11:22
Since 2019, the Steelers have lost 7 of 8 on 3 days rest.  It's not just a road and division issue, as it includes the Xmas loss to KC here in '24 and the home loss to 2-10 Patriots in '23.  What is it about the short week that causes them to fall flat, especially on defense?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:31
Maybe it speaks to their age. Maybe it speaks to their prep on a short week. Maybe they just played some better teams too.
Thanks for all the questions this week. We'll do it again next Tuesday.
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