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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.08.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get it started.
Guest
1:56
There are some top notch coaches out there such as Sean Peyton and Jon Gruden. There are also quality coaches like Frank Reich. There are even young guys waiting for a chance like Leftwich. Why are we still holding on to the guy that does the same thing every year with the same results (especially when the results have been poor for over 10 years)?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
I think Reich could and should be a candidate to the next offensive coordinator. Maybe Bryon Leftwich too because if you haven't noticed he's not exactly immune from criticism for what's going on in Tampa. But let's get past this stuff about Tomlin not being the head coach in 2023 once and for all. He's going to be the coach. Discussion about his staff is what should be taking place. The other stuff is just fantasy.
Guest
1:57
We are in great position for a top 5 draft pick. When Colbert/Cowher drafted, they didn’t miss on first round picks – Ben, Heath, Troy, Santonio, Hampton. Once Tomlin replaced Cowher the drafting got really bad with first round picks such as Ziggy, Mendenhall, Jones, Burns, Edmonds, Bush, Harris. Is there any reason to expect Tomlin to get it right next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Well, you failed to mention T.J. Watt in 2017. He's turned out to be OK and Colbert and Tomlin did the scouting on him. But I get your point. The drafting wasn't nearly as good in the second half of Colbert's tenure. I think that's the reason Omar Khan made some changes to the personnel department. I don't think he felt like the sttaus quo was good enough. New ideas can be a good thing for an organization. Andy Weidl will set the board and they'll collaborate on the choices as always. But don't discount Weidl and Khan's influence on the new process. They were hired for a reason.
Alaska Steeler
2:01
Ray, what scares you most, our history of drafting a CB, or our history of signing/trading for a vet (sans one Joe Haden).
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
I'm kind of intrigued by Weidl and his staff having a new slant on the position. Maybe some new eyes and new voices can change their luck with CBs.
PghFNinCali
2:02
Hi Ray. What would you say has been the biggest disappointment to this season so far? QB play/Passing Game, Naje Harris running?, The play of the defense? Coaching?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
The play of the defense. I know there have been injuries, but we were told by Tomlin this unit would be "dominant." Your defense can't fall apart due to one injury. I know TJ Watt is a generational player, but it's been disappointing to see the defense falter in his absence.
Blam Morris
2:03
William Jackson III: potential impact player, a la Joe Haden (ie, not a top 5 CB, but maybe in the 10-20 range), or another CB scrap heap addition that the Steelers are famous for?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Maybe somewhere in between.
Heisenberg
2:04
We know teams have big scouting departments for how they recruit players, but who does the scouting for coaches, specifically the key OC and DC levels. Is there a group that head hunts and does research or is this more in the lap of Coach T.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
The pro personnel department. Sheldon White and Dave Petett head that department for the Steelers.
Tampa Too
2:06
Ray. Regarding next year’s draft if there is a stud defensive lineman available in the first round and a stud offensive lineman available which one do you pick? Or another position?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
That's a great question. I think it depends on the player honestly. I tend to lean toward a defensive linemen because of the ongoing issues NFL teams are having developing college offensive linemen. Having said that, if there is a can't-miss left tackle prospect who can anchor the line for a decade then that would be very tantalizing, too.
Tom P.
2:08
Ray, besides the Steelers there seems an awful lot of very dismal offensive performances around the league this season. Better defensive talent, college offensive systems producing few NFL schematically ready QBs, or other issues. Will the NFL make any changes to improve the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Any changes will take place in the spring when the owners vote on such matters. I think it's a combination of everything you mentioned. It's not your father's NFL. I think NFL coaches are still trying to infuse college concepts they feel comfortable with to take advantage of the types of players that are being produced.
TV
2:09
Frank Reich - the perfect person to take over for the Steelers OC, or old, outdated offensive ideas and we need a young up-and-comer to right this offense
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I think they should interview Frank Reich for sure. I think his issue in Indy was inconsistency at the QB position. He proved he could scheme up a quality running game. And when he had competent QB play his teams were in the playoff or on the fringe of the playoffs. Plus, he was the OC in Philly when the Eagles won the Super Bowl following the 2017 season. Nick Foles was his QB, by the way. I think the man can coach. Now that's not saying you don't cast a wide net. They definitely should. New up-and-comers should get interviews, too. But if it's me making the hire I get a guy who has been there and done that. What we're seeing now is sometimes what you get when you hire an OC without any NFL experience.
The Real TP Hunter
2:12
What should we expect to see from Kenny Pickett in the second half of the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I think they'll simplify some things for him. That should cut down on his turnovers, which obviously have been a big issue for him. Young QBs grow at different rates so it's impossible to say when the light will go on for Pickett, but I don't think you'll see him turn into a Pro Bowler between now and the end of the season. It's a process with rookie QBs. There are no short cuts. They have to experience things on their own and figure it out themselves.
The Real TP Hunter
2:14
Hi Ray. What's your guess on how the Steelers finish the season? With TJ back and a weaker schedule, does 5-4 sound unreasonable? That would be just good enough to knock them out of a prime draft position, which is so Pittsburgh.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
It's not unreasonable, but I don't think it's likely. The Ravens and Bengals are playing well. The Browns will have Deshaun Watson when they play later in the season. Sure, there are some winnable games, starting this week against New Orleans. I just haven't seen enough from the offense to suggest they can have a winning record in the second half.
Sunner in Orlando
2:16
Hey Ray thanks for the chat! After watching the Saints last night, I would favor the Steelers this Sunday especially with the D getting a few guys back and Jackson possibly helping in the secondary. If they don't win the tank job should commence. Do you concur?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
They won't tank, but I agree the Saints are very beatable.
SC Steeler
2:17
Good afternoon Ray.  Thanks for you great work keeping us informed about the Steelers.  Today I have a generic football question.  Any chance the NFL and/or NCAA will re-implement some sort of rule against assisting the ball carrier. Some of the scrums are getting ridiculous. The announcers gush over the leg drive and effort by a ball carrier "pushing the pile" when he is often being pushed forward by half a ton of offensive linemen.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
You're very welcome. Thanks for participating in the chat. The NFL sent out something to teams in the last week or so to clarify the rule. Players can push teammates. They cannot pull.
JPinIndy
2:18
Ray - in your opinion, what's more embarrassing? HCMT's pure stubbornness in retaining Matt Canada as OC, or Colts Owner Jim Irsay's shock hire of Jeff Saturday as HC?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
People are saying this is embarrassing for the Colts, but it's only unique to the NFL. Out of the box coaching hires happen all the time in MLB, the NBA and the NHL. Bob Brenly went from the broadcast booth to World Series champion. Larry Dierker had a really good run with the Astros after being their TV analyst. Maybe the NFL is just behind the times. Now, I will say not having anyone on the staff who has ever called plays is embarrassing. Not sure how Saturday plans to handle that, but it sounds less than ideal. ha ha.
Jana
2:21
We have got to look for other options on first and second down besides failed runs.  What is your opinion about passing down field on those downs til other teams stop loading the box against us ????
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Great idea, but the Steelers haven't exactly been efficient throwing the ball down the field, either.
Sunner in Orlando
2:21
Will TJ be on a pitch count Sunday or will he play the majority of the snaps like he was when totally healthy?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Knowing Watt's history, I think he'll play as much as he can, and I never underestimate him.
Ghollywoodg
2:22
This line is historically poor….but who do you see as the greatest liability there… I for one have had more than enough of Dotson…
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I've said in the past they can upgrade at all three positions on the line, but Dotson and Moore have probably struggled the most.
STEEL72
2:23
If it were up to you, would you hire and install Frank Reich as a temporary OC? If he could take the existing playbook and tweak it reasonably to produce better results... using the second half of the season as test to see what an NFL guy can do with the same offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Just give the new OC a clean slate after the season, whoever that is.
Bernard
2:24
Were you surprised the Bears gave up a #2 for Claypool?  Does the trade change the Steelers approach to the draft next season or is it still OL, DL, CB priorities?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
I still think those are the top three priorities. But remember, they have some $ to spend in free agency, so maybe one of those needs will be addressed there before the draft.
Tom P.
2:25
Ray, which impending Steeler FA do the Steelers need to sign?
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