JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.09.21

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.09.21

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Ray Fittipaldo

1:28

I think a Hail Mary would have had about the same chance. But yeah, that kick never had a chance.

Gary V.

1:28

In the event Ray Ray is replaced or hurt, who would assume the return duties? Thanks.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:29

Anthony Miller if they're going to elevate someone from the practice squad. Among guys on the 53-man roster now, Anthony McFarland can return kicks.

Carl in Carrick

1:29

Hi Ray. With the poor performance of the offensive line, do you think Tomlin may consider playing Banner? Thanks.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:30

He may, but he didn't tip his hand one way or the other today when he was asked about it.

Ralph LA

1:30

I know that Chicago was shooting themselves in the foot a lot, but do you think that most of your colleagues would feel that the refereeing was pretty bad last night?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:31

I know the Bears fans believe that. I tweeted out the pool report from the postgame interview with referee Tony Corrente, and the Chicago fans were going berserk.

JerseySteel

1:31

Hi Ray - what happened to Trai Turner on that sack? Looked like he had never seen a LB blitz before. Would expect to see that kind of mental lapse from a rookie, not a veteran.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:31

Yeah the guard always has to check blitz first before helping out his tackle. Not sure why Turner was so eager to help Chuks there. Led to a big sack though.

Mr. Max

1:32

Hi Ray, I've always been curious how often during the practice week Chris Boswell (or any kicker) practices kicking at Heinz Field (or their own home field). He really has those long kicks down at Heinz.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:32

The kickers and punters work with the rest of the team at the South Side facility.

JerseySteel

1:32

Hi Ray - both Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth look to be special players. Fans like to highlight the Jarvis Jones, Artie Burns, and Terrell Edmunds type of picks, but they need to give GM KC some serious credit for those two picks alone - and I think time will tell on the draft class as a whole. Agree?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:33

For sure. Those two picks are looking good. But we're still allowed to point out some bad picks too. We're not cheerleaders.

Greg

1:33

I thought Fields looked a competitive rookie QB with a good future (haven't watched his other games). Able to take off running for a first down, pretty accurate overall. Did we just make him look that good? What did you think of him after the game?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:34

The Bears entered the game averaging 127 passing yards per game so I definitely was not expecting to see Fields go off for 291. I think the Steelers did well against him in the first half, but he kind of exploited some mismatches in the second half.

Steelers Fan

1:35

What do you make of the O line's performance last night? Arrow seems to now be pointing down. Root cause?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:36

They're young and learning on the job and honestly no one is really sure who among them is going to be a long-term starter. Lots to prove for all of them going forward in the second half of the season.

ctmascaro

1:36

HI Ray, I can't imagine Ben just wants to keep throwing 4 yard outs, slants, and screens. The offense can't score because they barely move the ball outside of the occasional 3rd and 2, 25 yards pass/prayer. Why do you think Ben/Canada refuse to push the ball down the field like their opponents do?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:36

Pass protection, or the lack thereof.

Jason

1:36

What are you seeing from the offense at this point? I like this new version of Ben throwing 30 times for between 200 and 300 yards. Need to do better on the ground though and I think you have something.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:37

I like the formula, but I think the offense and the defense need to get much better at closing out games once they have a lead.

LarryG from Punxy

1:37

Did you think the Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty on Marsh for taunting was controversial? Maybe it was ticky-tack, but Marsh did motion toward the Steelers bench and the official made the call based on that.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:37

I don't have a huge issue with the penalty because it is a point of emphasis this season. However, I'm not a big fan of the rule and it being a point of emphasis if you know what I mean.

Haledon

1:38

Hi Ray, I was watching the game without sound last night (wife was on a conference call in the room). Was there an explanation on why Tomlin’s challenge failed? Sure looked like the receiver was still trying to gain control of the ball when he went to the ground and the ball popped out.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:38

No explanation. The ball was definitely moving, but I guess they determined it wasn't being bobbled. Subjective call.

MrCJJr

1:39

Question 2: Lions game....trap game? Playing a winless team coming off a bye week (2 weeks to prepare) is a dangerous combination. Your thoughts? Thanks

Ray Fittipaldo

1:39

It's the NFL, which stands for Not For Long when you take opponents lightly. Or something like that.

Justin

1:40

Where was Tre Norwood last night? I didn’t notice him at all. He’s seemed like a gem thus far. Was Maulet taking snaps away from him?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:40

Maulet had been playing more than Norwood in recent weeks. That was not a change.

Mercury

1:40

Do the Steelers coaches really think, as Louis Riddick said, that Pierre is going to be a “superstar”?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:40

I know they like him and think he has potential, but I never heard any of the coaches say he was going to be a superstar.

BigE

1:41

Hey Ray. Thanks for the chats. How do you think Friermuth's snap count is going to change with the return of Ebron. Shouldn't be much? Just Ebron instead of Gentry/radar now?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:41

Agree. I'd keep feeding Freiermuth. He's doing well with the added snaps.

1:41

Ray, the O Line was pushed around alot. Are our linemen, especially Moore and Green, undersized? Compared to averages around the league?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:42

Green is definitely undersized. Doesn't mean he can't play his position well, but he's one of the smallest, if not the smallest, center in the league.

Guest

1:42

I like Johnson but otherwise WRs are quite underwhelming, was supposed to be a position of strength and it’s a weakness, they miss JuJu

Ray Fittipaldo

1:43

And JuJu and James Washington are free agents. I think they'll draft a WR in the top four rounds in the spring unless they bring one of those guys back.

Linda

1:43

Do you think Freiermuth has a chance to be rookie of the year? Thanks Ray.

Ray Fittipaldo

1:43

No, but Najee Harris does. Freiermuth is playing extremely well though.

Darla

1:43

Hi Ray. Is it too late in the season for Tuitt to be of value to the defensive line?

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