You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.24.23
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
1:51
We'll get the chat going in a few minutes. In the meantime, get your questions in!
Tom
1:54
With the poor play of Wallace, are you suprised the Steelers moved on from Desmond King so quickly?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
No because King is a slot corner and Wallace is an outside corner. All along, the Steelers had Patrick Peterson pegged to play in the slot in sub-packages, which negates the need for King. I don't know if the Steelers will be active at the trade deadline, but they could use some help at outside corner. It kind of went unnoticed but James Pierre played a few snaps in the second half for Wallace. If there is an injury to any of their outside corners Pierre is the first guy up.
Ken
1:56
Analytics have given the Steelers a 50% chance of making it into the playoffs this season.  What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
Yes I've seen anywhere between 52 and 54% this week after they beat the Rams. It's a brutal division. I think it will be close. AFC record will be important. They're 3-1 in the AFC now so they're off to a good start when it comes to the wild-card standings.
Tom
1:57
Is Watt our best cornerback now, too?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
That was a heck of an INT by Watt. Tomlin praised the play again in today's news conference. He's a phenomenal football player.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:58
Ray:  Is the Steelers roster poorly constructed in terms of paying HUGE money to edge rushers, but then not having even competent corners that can press for even a short amount of time?  TJ and Highsmith can be easily neutralized when the QB can fire quick passes to WRs that are wide open less than 2 seconds into the play.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
I'll be the first to tell you they need better play from their corners, but when you have two home-grown outside linebackers playing at a high level you should pay them when their contracts come up. That's the name of the game: draft and develop. Yes, they need to supplement their defense with better corners and the cap plays a role in that, but other teams encounter the same issues and have better corner play than the Steelers.
PAMMY WHAMMY
2:00
Is Porter Jr the starter soon or is Tomlin's easing him into the system and setting him up to succede going to continue?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Not according to the depth chart. They haven't officially made the move, but Porter is going to continue to warrant high snap counts as long as he continues to play well.
Ken
2:01
Why do you think that the production from our tight ends have been so low this year?  Is it possible to get them into the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
It's possible, but they don't seem committed to making it happen. Tomlin was asked about that subject today, and he basically said the NFL in 2023 is a game of matchups. So some weeks the TE will be involved more and some others not so much.
mrbig
2:02
I didn't see the replay... was Watt offsides?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
I was in the press box with an end zone view and limited access to replays. He did not look off sides. However, Tomlin talked about it today. He basically said most officials warn players if they are in the neutral zone, and Watt did not get that courtesy.
SMF
2:04
Hi Ray:  Thanks for the chats.  I was at the SOFI game, amazing to see the terrible towels by the thousands.   I am just at a loss for the Steelers never throwing inside the 10 yd. line.  Teams will just expect the run.  We heard all Summer the rookie 6’7 TE Washington was unstoppable in goal line drills.  What is going on?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
They don't seem very interested in throwing the ball to Washington. He's a rookie, and while tall, didn't make his mark as a receiver at Georgia. He made his mark as a blocker. We're six games in, and he's only been targeted three times. That could change as we get later into the season, but I don't think it's going to change that much.
Y-Town Steeler
2:06
On the Puka catch that was reviewed, Doesn't the whole foot have to be in bounds if its not really a toe tap? I also noticed they kept stopping the replay as soon as the toe touched down and never ley it finish.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Probably one of those ones where if it was ruled incomplete it wouldn't have been overturned. That's why the call on the field is so important.
Frank the Tank
2:07
Steeler CB’s could not cover me in a phone booth. Pat needs to move inside , Porter needs to start. Sullivan should be gone , and Pierre has to be better than Wallace.  Any chance for changes to be made?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Well, you saw Porter for a bunch of snaps against the Rams and you saw Peterson inside for much of the game too. I think that will continue. And you saw Pierre get in some for Wallace late in the game. I can't guarantee any of those changes will be permanent, but they are working toward a different rotation.
Phil in MTL
2:09
Hi Ray, do you think the Steelers will take a look at the TE position in early rounds for the next draft? (or at least a big  body WR). 88's heatlh and durability is starting to be a concern. We can see now that the TE depth is already problematic. Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
You don't see many tight ends drafted in the first round. Maybe one or two a year. And while Freiermuth's injuries are a concern the Steelers know he's a good player when he's available. The question is how much will the injuries hurt his earning power. He could be in line for an extension next summer, but I'm sure the injuries will play a factor in how much he's paid by the Steelers.
epiballo
2:11
At 4-2, the Steelers can go 6-5 and finish 10-7. Would that be good enough to make the playoffs? And how many AFC North teams do you think will qualify for the post-season? Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I think the AFC North will produce two playoff teams and a third will be in contention in the final week of the season. And yes, 10-7 should be good enough to earn a spot. 9-8? Not so much.
Paul from Louisville
2:12
What are chances we make a trade for CB before deadline?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
That's definitely a position of need.
Change of Heart?
2:12
Last week you were asked about Pickens maturity and behavior, and you said he’s been a model teammate this season (or something along those lines). I believe you said there is no reason to believe he will act up. Has your opinion changed after his foolish antics Sunday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Not really. One taunting penalty won't change my mind. If its repetitive then yes I'd change my mind. He just has to keep more of an even keel. After the game he said the Rams were by far the most aggressive in trying to goad him into penalties. He made it seem like it was part of their game plan.
MikeM65
2:15
Do you have any idea why the Steelers offense gets better later in games?  Matt Canada getting a better feel for the defense and calling better plays?  Kenny getting more confident?  Something else?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
The Steelers don't even know! If they did they'd make sure they'd score more to avoid all of those nail-biters. Tomlin said today there were plays to be made early in the Rams game. He cited a Pickett pass to Pickens that sailed out of bounds. He also mentioned the early sack on second-and-short that forced a third-and-long. Tomlin is of the firm belief there are plays to be made early in some of these games.
Big Bill
2:17
Do you believe Tomlin does ANYTHING to hold players accountable for unsportsmanlike penalties? It sure doesn't seem like it.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
I'm sure that's communicated in a firm manner behind closed doors. In public forums such as news conferences, Tomlin is not going to throw his players under the bus.
Jana
2:19
Living in Texas I couldn’t get the game.  Just wondering if there was any up tempo or hurry up in the second half that helped Kenny get into a rhythm???
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
I'd have to go back and look. Maybe a couple of times if they wanted to keep the Rams in certain personnel packages but I don't think it happened often.
Tampa too
2:20
Ray. What did you think of Tomlin’s response to the 2 taunting penalties?  He said he would rather say whoa than sic em.  It seems to me that he is tacitly approving this behavior.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
I think it's fair if it happens again to criticize Tomlin. He said earlier today there were signs the game was going to be officiated tightly. He said it's his fault because he couldn't get the message across to his team that penalties would be more frequent.
Rusty in Alaska
2:21
Good morning/afternoon, Ray. Thanks for your work and these chats. I know it’s been discussed here and there, but seems like the Pat Meyer approach for the OL is a bigger problem than it needs to be. Could you speak to what makes his scheme difficult for the players to learn/execute and why it’s worth the risk in sticking with it?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I don't know that it's entirely the scheme. I think when he gets new players whether it's via the draft or free agency, he likes to teach them his techniques. Some of the linemen have talked about that and how much more comfortable they feel in Year under Meyer.
Mark Houston, Tx
2:23
Thanks for the chat Ray! I love them. I was glad to see Steelers play Joey Porter Jr more vs Rams and like that they have been playing Keanu Benton, after Broderick Jones played well against the Ravens why do you think the Steelers went back to Dan Moore at LT?
Connecting…