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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.25.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Good afternoon. Let's chat about the Steelers.
Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher
1:57
Do you think the Steelers might consider bringing in Mark Whipple as an offensive consultant next year? I wouldn't hire him as the O.C. but the work he did with Pickett speaks for itself. It might help accelerate Pickett's development.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Well, the last time the Steelers hired a former Pitt OC... Nevermind. Listen, it's not a terrible idea. He knows Pickett well and has a background in the NFL, including three years as Ben Roethlisberger's QBs coach in the same building. At the very least, I think Whipple would be a fine consultant to help the Steelers figure what they want to be on offense.
MD
1:59
Ray:  While I definitely think that it is too early to label Pickett another Colbert/Tomlin 1st round bust, do you find it concerning the high percentage of his throws that go over 12 yards downfield and are intercepted?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
You're right. It's too early. Way too early. He's a rookie. They all make mistakes. I'm sure you've seen the Interception:Touchdown ratios for Terry Bradshaw and Peyton Manning in recent days. Every quarterback goes through this to varying degrees. I think it's magnified with Pickett because he doesn't have a very good team around him and his offensive coordinator appears unable to scheme things up to help him.
MD
2:00
For all of the talk of trading a young, talented, low cost asset like Claypool, shouldn't this team be looking to trade higher priced, underperforming players or guys on the last year of their deal?  Heyward, Sutton, Ogunjobi, Bush, Wormley, and Diontae Johnson have some combination of high cost, low years left on contract, and poor performance.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Heyward? Underperforming? He's not having an All-Pro season, but he's played well. I think Ogunjobi is coming on after a slow start. And they're not trading Johnson after they just signed him to a deal that keeps him in Pittsburgh through the 2024 season.  Those guys are starters and potentially part of the solution. As far s Claypool goes, I don't think the Steelers are looking to move him. He's their No. 3 receiver, and they don't have a lot of good options to replace him. I tend to think these Claypool rumors are coming from Claypool's camp. It makes sense. He doesn't have a future with the Steelers after his rookie contract expires. Not with Johnson on a new deal and George Pickens quickly ascending to No. 1 receiver status. But that doesn't mean the Steelers want to trade him. They always try to win no matter what their won-loss record is. The only way I can see the Steelers dealing him is if they get a second-round pick or more in a trade.
Even then, they'd have to play the final nine games with Miles Boykin or Cody White as the No. 3 receiver. I don't think they want to do that.
MD
2:06
Diontae Johnson has about $21 million of payments left on his new deal to play for 2.5 more seasons.  Claypool is still on a rookie deal.  If Ray Fittipaldo were the GM and Green Bay calls to inquire about Claypool, why wouldn't you say...well what would you give us for Diontae?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Because I think Johnson will be a quality No. 2 receiver for the next two seasons opposite Pickens. I think people have to reminded Johnson took a hometown discount to remain with the Steelers. It's a three-year deal worth $36 million. That's $12 million a year, which is really good for a No. 2 receiver. It was reported by some as a two-year extension for $36 million, but you have to factor in this year, too.
PAMMY WHAMMY
2:09
Good Afternoon Ray! Is the glass half empty or half full? I saw a defense that gave up only 16 points (but can't haul in an INT) and an offense that had a chance to win (but some strange calls from Canada and some carelessnes) Which is it?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Miami had lost three in a row and had a QB coming off a concussion. He looked good on the first few drives and then the Steelers kind of figured some things out in terms of defending Tua and his weapons. In the NFL, it's week to week. If they get their doors blown off in Philly people will be calling for heads again. You have to look at the big picture with this team. They're not a legitimate contender, but they are young and those young guys are getting experience. Long-term, this doesn't have to be a long rebuild, but they definitely have to find some better pieces over the offseason.
Bill
2:12
Do you think the Steelers overreacted to Ben's retirement by signing Trubisky when Mason Rudolph was as good or better? And then by drafting a second QB in 7th round?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
I can't explain the Chris Oladokun draft pick. But with Trubisky, I think it's as simple as the Steelers believed they could contend with a better option than Rudolph. It hasn't worked out that way, but I think it's obvious they didn't view Rudolph as someone who could lead them to the playoffs.
Bill
2:13
If you are Mason Rudolph, what are you thinking and feeling about this year as 3rd string QB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I'd be thinking about my future and where I could land next. Anyone in his situation would.
Bill
2:14
Do you think the Steelers would trade Mitch Trubisky for a 6th round pick? I think it makes sense.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I don't think they're looking to trade Trubisky and I definitely don't think they'd do it for only a sixth. Not unless he complained and asked out. And I don't think he's done that.
Texan Steeler
2:15
Hi Ray, Would you trade TJ Watt if someone offered you something like 3 1st round picks? I read Carolina was offered 2 1st round picks for DE Burns who has 4 sacks this year.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I would not. He's a generational player and future Hall of Famer.
Josh
2:16
The cupboard isn't that bare on offense. Do you think Bienemy or McVay would be struggling this much with Johnson, Pickens, Friermuth, Harris, and Claypool?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
No but Nathaniel Hackett might.
Ryan
2:16
I think Kenny will be ok in time.  However, what a difference in having an experienced HOF quarterback.  We might have at least 2 more wins with Ben right?  That end of the game management just can't be taught.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Yes of course. Pickett doesn't have the experience yet to get his team in better plays. He doesn't see things veteran QBs see. That will come in time. On the other hand, Ben Roethlisberger wasn't going to scramble 16 yards to set up the only touchdown the Steelers scored either. So there is some give and take with your premise.
G man
2:18
Ray, do you think they should activate Austin from IR?  I know he missed camp and preseason but wouldn’t it be a good idea to try to get he and Pickett working together?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I suppose, but this isn't junior high ball. It's the NFL. And the Steelers are trying to win games. So while I appreciate that they could benefit from working together I would counter they can do the same next spring and summer. The only reason to activate him to the roster is if you think he can help the team this season. And based on Mike Tomlin's answer today it doesn't seem like Tomlin believes he can.
LarryG from Punxy
2:20
Coach Cowher would often say "there's a fine line..."  There is a fine line between winning and losing in the NFL.  Other than the Bills game, we could have won those other games that we lost.  Are we a bad team trying to figure out how to win?  Or are we a good team that just finds a way to lose?  Or something in between?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
Somewhere in between. Let's say they're 3-4 now. Would you feel like they're a contender? Even if they were 4-3? They have a young QB with some good young skill players. They have some All-Pro caliber players on defense in Watt and Fitzpatrick. But they need to get better at pretty much every other position. This isn't a team that's a player or two away from competing for a Super Bowl. They need more than a few pieces to turn this around.
Guest
2:23
Ray, Do you think the Steelers will try to resign Edmunds and Bush? Not talking brake the bank but something reasonable for better than average talent.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
Yes I could see that.
LarryG from Punxy
2:23
How many wins do we need to make the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Well, the AFC isn't as good as many thought it would be, but I still think the seventh seed will have to have at least nine wins and likely 10 to get into the postseason.
STEEL72
2:25
Hi, Ray. Outside of draft picks, if a trade were to be made before the deadline, what/who would you be targeting to be of the most immediate help in any area?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
draft picks.
erie guy
2:26
Ray has any reporter asked MT why they ran a play before the 2 minute warning on the Pickens TD drive.  That give the Dolphins enough time to kick a FG before half. Huge blunder that not many have talked about.  Totally avoidable.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
That question was not asked today. While I have been a frequent critic of Tomlin's clock and game management I think some of the blame has to go on the defense there. They had them backed up, and they still went down the field and kicked a field goal. They were going with pace quite a bit against the Dolphins. They did it on the penultimate drive as well. I thought they could have huddled and taken more time off the clock. Perhaps it had something to do with keeping the Dolphins in a certain personnel package. I did ask Tomlin today about the third-and-1 when Najee Harris was stopped for no gain, and they had to punt early in the fourth quarter. Pickett probably should have called a timeout or audibled into a different play, but Tomlin said that's part of the risk when you go without a huddle. I think that's especially the case with a young QB. Any QB with any kind of experience can count and see they were outnumbered there.
Tom88
2:30
Hi Ray, Mike Tomlin has the reputation of a "great coach", I'm not qualified to say he is or isn't.  But shouldn't there be repercussions for the many, many bad draft picks and dreadful coordinator choices (assuming he has a lot of influence on these choices) regardless of his "great coach" rep?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Sure. That's all factored into his legacy. Remember, Chuck Noll had some dry spells after Terry Bradshaw retired. It's going to take some time for the Steelers and the coaches to figure things out with Pickett as the QB.
Retire21
2:32
If Steelers finish the weekend 2-6 and the trade deadline looming, and not withstanding new injuries, what are the odds they move Mason (%?) , Chase (%/) or anyone else given they're already  down a 4th and 5th pick next year and they could be drafting high?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
I think they'd have to get a second or better to trade Claypool. I could see them dealing Rudolph for a low-round pick, but they'd be happy to keep him too.
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