Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.22.26
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George T
12:25
Ray, with Joseph-Day placed on IR today who do you think will replace him on the 53 man squad?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Probably just a special teams player this week. But it does mean a bigger role for Gabriel Rubio and maybe even Kevin Jobity Jr., another rookie from this class.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:25
Good morning, Ray. Thanks for the chat! I know Dowdle was brought in to make sure Warren doesn't take too many hits in a long season, but can this hurt Warren's production as he seems to need a bunch of touches for him to get going? He seemed a bit out of sorts against the Bucs.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
I agree, but he did show up at the end with that nice catch and run. It's tough to balance I'm sure, but I'm always giving Warren more touches. Dial it back if it's too many, but I'm making sure he'd fed early and often.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:26
How is Freiermuth doing this week? He was banged up going into the Bucs game.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
Not on the injur report so that's good news.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:27
Have you noticed a different style of coaching by Crossman vs Danny Smith? Is it talent or scheme as the biggest difference in the special teams of last year vs this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
I don't necessarily want to judge him after six games, but there have been a lot of issues on almost every unit of his. Not saying McCarthy will make a change in-season, but if things don't improve it's something he'll probably look at hard once the season ends.
Jim
12:28
At first the international games were interesting, especially considering I am married to a Brazilian, however, now they just seem forced and watered down. What is the end goal here, international merchandise sales, larger tv contracts since the game is "international", NFL Ego? Do you foresee in the future an actual franchise that isn't based in the US as a member of the NFL?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
The goal is one internationla game a week. The NFL has come out and said they want this to happen. I've also heard of the NFL wanting a team someowhere overseas. I think international travel would have to get a lot better for that to happen, but it's on their radar.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:29
Looks like Elliott will be dressing this week correct? Will he get limited snaps or will he start?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
MIght be on a snap count. They like Spears-Jennings so I don't think they'll be afraid to rotate there util Elliott can find his sea legs.
5shutouts14games
12:30
Really enjoy your weekly report card, and especially when I miss a game.  Very much like how you called out Mr Metcalf and Mr Metcalf seems very willing to block and to go over the middle.   No, I’m not a friend or tied to his agent,  Just like well played football, and good team play is entertaining as well.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Thanks!
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:30
Is the experiment over with Herbig moving inside to create more pressure up the middle since he had a couple of sacks coming off the edge? How will they split up the snaps going forward with Watt,Highsmith,Sawyer and Herbig?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
I'm not saying they won't go back to it on occasion, but Herbig was terrific off the edge in Tampa. Why mess with a good thing?
Lambert’s Teeth
12:31
I do not favor the Steelers bringing Najee back, and although he was not a breakaway threat, he had 9 20 plus yard runs in 2024, tying him for 5th in the league.  If he were running behind Emmit Smith’s offensive line, how do you think his career with the Steelers would have differed?  I think he was continuously trying to make something out of literally nothing.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Najee Harris was an OK back for the Steelers, but he definitely did not deserve to have his option picked up. Steelers made the right call. Look at what's happened to his career since he left.
KC
12:32
What are your memories of the Steelers not signing Franco Harris for his final season?  FH was a few hundred yards from breaking Jim Browns all time yardage record.  That was a huge letdown for me to see FH finish in Seattle,
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
I remember it well. I was 11 years old. My dad was a huge Steelers fan, but he was an even biggger fan of Franco Harris. We bought tickets to see the Seahawks play in Cincinnati, but Harris didn't end up playing in the game so we didn't go.  But that was something that bothered Dan Rooney for a long time after it happened.
KC
12:34
Given a mulligan do you think they should have signed JPJ B4 all the backups like Herbig & Washington?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
He'd help the secondary, but he turned down close to $28 million a year. At a certain point, you have to ask if the players wants to be with the team.
Johnny C
12:35
Ray, if by chance the Oline struggles through the year, what changes would you consider for next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Well, I don;t think Brock Hoffman is a long term answer at guard so they need to find a starter there. Maybe that will end up being Gennings Dunker. He's been injured so it's tough to say now.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:36
Ray: I have theory on Iheanachor that I want to get your view of.  Max has had two very good games and two very poor ones.  It is simple enough to say that he is struggling with crowd noise on the road, but I think it is that he doesn't adjust right away to facing a variety of rushers.  I think Cleveland and Tampa challenged him with both big power rushers and speed rushers.  His lapses seem like they come from not adjusting right away to facing a speed rusher after mostly blocking a power rusher.  It is hard to follow exactly who he faces on every play, but have you noticed this issue at all?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
Crowd noise is always an issue. And young offensive linemen are going to take your lumps. But you can just see in his game and his presence that he's going to be a good player for a long time.
Lifeguard Jim in Liquordale
12:38
Hey, Ray... big fan! What's up with Boswell? I know he's still one of the best kickers in the league, and there no need to panic, but... Has Boz addressed any issues he may be having? Also, why does Wetjen refuse to use his speed and run around the ends toward the sidelines and run straight into the pack every run back attempt? It's frustrating to watch.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Every time Boswell signs a new deal he struggles. Probably more mental than physical. As for Wetjen, they need to look at alll options because they're losing the field position game pretty much every week.
George T
12:39
Hi Ray, I don’t understand offenses holding in the NFL.  Many times I see TJ being what I believe is holding but it’s never called.  The offense tackle is behind him with his arm around is neck. Why is this not holding?  I know calls for holding can be called called on every play the league doesn’t want call them to influence the game but not calling one that’s so obvious is also influence the game.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
This happened with James Harrison too. At some pojnt, offensive coaches lobbied officials to convince them if a defender trips an under move with a rip that causes holding, or makes it look like holding when it isn't. To me, a hold is a hold. If you dont want to be in that position, move your feet so you're not choking the guy.
Dan
12:41
Hey Ray, thanks for the chat. What do you think is the hold up for Hines getting in the HOF? He’s got great stats, two rings, was the SB MVP and is widely regarded as the best blocking receiver in the history of the league. What exactly are they looking at?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
There is a sentiment there are too many Steelers in the Hall of Fame. That's a real thing. The other issues is the logjam at receiver and the numbers these guys put up. As good as Ward was, there are other WRs with better numbers also waiting to get in. Of course, they couldn;t block like Ward and step up in big games like Ward could. All of this is part of the discussion when it comes to the Hall of Fame. Unfortunatley, I don't think there are enough football savvy voters on the panel to realizd who should be in and who shouldn;t be in.
KC
12:43
Thanks for sharing your memories on Franco, last Steeler season was 1983 with 1007 yards rushing.  So it was perplexing why he faded so badly in Seattle (8 games with 170 rushing).  My compliments on your Report card.  Did you have a favorite Steeler from the 1980's?  Louis Lipps, Merriweather, Ilkin, Wolfley...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
Those were some leans years for the most part. Definitely not like the 70s. But I watched every game. The 1989 team was fun to watch. They never had stars like the teams of the 70s but there were guys like Ilkin that were top notch at their position.
Turk in MD
12:45
Does MVS play this weekend or is he an insurance policy?  I thought Germie played really well and probably opened things up for DK.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
I'd be surprised if he played this week.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:45
Ray:  Patrick Queen continues to be a massive disappointment.  I can't ever recall an ILB playing so many snaps and making so few tackles.  He is accused of avoiding contact to "make business decisions", but as he heads into free agency, who is going to want to give big money to an ILB putting the film out there that he is?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I('m not sure anyone will, but he'll keep working. He's not a terrible player. Just not worth $16 million a year.
Footballtahn
12:47
Is it just a coincidence that the steelers started to lose their dominance and personality when the rules changed and removed alot of the hard hitting from the game?  Hard to be the tough intimidating defense when in trying to make the game safer they made pittsburgh d rely more on technical skills than brute force. Coincidence?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
I guess you could say that about the Raiders too. In the end, it's about talent. When you;re relaly good for so long it takes time to replenish the talent.
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