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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.12.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:55
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started.
ShawnP
11:56
I think Mason is doing a pretty darn good job out there. Why do so many Pittsburgh sports writers, radio hosts etc. ( no names) think he is doing so poorly?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
I'm not sure. I hear a little bit of it. For what it's worth, I gave him a B on my report card against the Rams. I thought it was one of his better games. Plus, he had zero help from his receivers in that game. I think maybe some see the state of the offense and correlate some of the inefficiencies to the QB position. And by no means has Rudolph been perfect. But he is playing winning football. He's not making mistakes. And he's 4-2 as a starter. Can he improve? Yes. But it takes time for a young QB to get used to playing in the NFL. This will be only his seventh NFL start against the Browns.
Nathan
11:58
Ray is it that hard to bring Eli Rogers back now? He definitely could be a spark on returns and help at WR specially in short passing game.. We really need something on offense!! Would You give him a chance?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
Good question. I haven't thought about Eli in a while. Ryan Switzer has a back injury. Practice starts in a few minutes so I'm not sure about his status for the Browns game. But the Steelers haven't made a move to this point so we shall see what happens. To my knowledge Rogers isn't on a roster. Perhaps that's another sign that he's not the same player he used to be.
livinthedream
12:00
Ray,I am looking for Minkah to have a great night against Johnny Mayfield. Am I on track?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:01
If the Steelers can stop the Browns rushing attack then yes. But the Browns have a good running game, and the Steelers have struggled at times stopping the run. If the run is there for the Browns, it will open up the passing game. Like last week against the Rams, the Steelers have to shut down the run, get the Browns and unfavorable downs and distances and get after Mayfield.
ALB
12:01
Ray,  could Thursday vs. Brownies be perhaps this season’s most pivotal game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
I wouldn't say that. If the Steelers lose Thursday and win their next three against the Bengals, Browns and Cardinals then I think they'd be just fine in playoff positioning. The more pivotal game could be against the Bills because right now they're ahead of the Steelers in the wild card standings.
Emily
12:03
What’s going on with Nix Knee Ray? We need him in there, Is this a long term issue? What have you heard?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
Well, he's already missed six of the first nine games. This is will 7 of 10 so that's not good. He's been a guy who has dealt with a lot of injuries during his time with the Steelers. I guess there remains hope that he can be available for the final six games, but that knee has been bothersome for him all season.
BB
12:04
Ray - in the final minutes of the game, you have to milk down the clock and salt away the W.  Running three dud plays for no gain and running less than 30 seconds off the game clock is unacceptable.  How does that happen in professional football?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
Mike Tomlin said he didn't want to risk putting the ball in the air. The decision turned out to be sound. The way the Steelers defense was playing I was actually OK with the Steelers running three times and making the Rams burn all three of their timeouts. That made the final drive much more difficult. But to your original point, maybe there could have been a rollout run/pass option for Rudolph. Get a WR or RB in the flat. If he's covered, Rudolph runs or gets on the ground and takes a loss. That's one way to get a little more creative than simply running up the middle three times.
DaquidoBazzini
12:06
What’s with all the dropped passes? Receivers just not that good? Rudolph’s throws hard to handle? Makes little sense.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
Maybe it's contagious. Drops have been a problem all season. Moncrief had four in the first game for crying out loud. The concerning thing is JuJu. He's pretty sure-handed, and he's had drops in the past two games. You can't have that from your No. 1 receiver.
Retire21
12:08
The 76th player in the 2018 draft, who thought he should have been a first round pick, may some extra incentive to excel against the No. 1 Pick of that draft.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I'm sure you're onto something. I wrote about the 2018 QB class about a month ago before the Steelers played the Ravens and Lamar Jackson. Rudolph told me then he plays with a chip on his shoulder when it comes to competing against those guys. I was doing some research this morning and came across an old NFL Network interview when Mason was talking about how he thought he was the best QB in the class. I'm sure he'll be motivated after falling all the way to the third round.
Jay
12:10
Hi Ray.   How do you feel about MR?  Dont think hes gonna be a franchise QB.  He is an upgrade over Landry/Dobbs, but his decision making is poor.  He too often holds the ball too long or too quick to check downs.  From stadium view he doesnt see open receivers well.  Numbers suggests hes solid, but performance says otherwise.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
He's still learning. As I wrote in a previous answer he's 4-2 as a starter. He knows he's playing on a team with a really good defense. In a lot of these games all he has to do is not make mistakes and make a few plays here and there. It's not pretty to watch, but the Steelers have won four in a row.
Eddie C from KY
12:12
With Only 8 catches the entire year and Punt Return average of only 3.7 yards per return, why did the Steelers keep Switzer over Eli Rogers?  Was it the uncertainty of  Rogers health?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
Not entirely sure, but I never though Rogers would beat out Switzer for that final WR spot. Switzer is tight with Ben, and that matters. He's fallen off the radar with Rudolph as the QB. He's only getting a few snaps a game. I think you see the coaches seeing what you're seeing in terms of the punt returns. Diontae Johnson was back there half the punts against the Rams. I think you'll see that continue especially when there is a good chance for a return.
Nick
12:14
Hi Ray, do the Steelers practice just on Tues this week with pads? Do they rest on Weds when the game is on Thurs? Is James connor healthy enough for full participation in the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Just one practice today. No pads. It'll basically be a walk-through with another day-before-the-game walk-through tomorrow. Playing an NFL game on three days' rest is ludicrous. The NFLPA should look out for the safety of their players in the next CBA negotiation. And the owners should realize it's not good for their players.
And yes it appears Conner will be good to go.
MTScott
12:16
Why is the O-Line not being dominant this year?  Is age catching up with them?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
I would disagree with you if you thought they were dominant last year. They were a very good pass protecting group, but the struggles in the run game date to the middle of last season. I think some of the struggles in the run game are because of the young QB not being able to push the ball down the field. Safeties and LBs don't really have to worry much about Rudolph making big plays. But I do think much of it has to do with the players not aging very gracefully. I wouldn't be surprised if they drafted an offensive lineman with one of their first three picks in April.
MTScott
12:18
Do you think Cam Sutton is capable of replacing Mark Barron in that role?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
Well, he played that role last season in a pinch when there were some injuries. But why do you want to switch? Barron just played 71 defensive snaps against the Rams and played well.
574Fan
12:19
Thanks for chatting Ray. Gerry wrote an article yesterday that touched on Conner's running style.  Obviously Bell's style is unique in the league with his patience. But I remember analysts mentioning more than once during the Bell years how his style made it more difficult for his line to block for.  It seems like, in hindsight, that style might have been easier for this particular group to block for than Conner's more traditional style.  And does Conner's style, which is more sudden and straight ahead, contribute to his frequent injuries?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
I'm not sure about what's causing Conner's injuries. But the RB position is one where you take a lot of hits. Conner has a long injury history dating to his days at Pitt. It's obviously an issue for the Steelers as they move forward and plan for the future. I just don't know if an RB is capable of changing their style in mid-career. I mean, they made it this far by playing one way. I just don't think they can change on the fly and be successful.
BoKnows
12:21
Hey Ray, thanks as always for taking time to do these chats.  Thursday night will be the first real hostile road environment we've faced since NE - and the first one Mason has ever faced as a starting QB.  (Sorry, i can't rank the fans of the Santa Clara 49ers as equivalent to Browns fans when it comes to hostility.)  How significant an aspect do you think this will be?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
It'll be a tough game. But remember, if the Browns scuffle early that crowd will go from being loud to booing Baker Mayfield if the defense has a good game.
Spanky LaValliere
12:22
The problems in the run game seem to stem from the offensive line.  Are the problems scheme related or player related. What is it going to take to be able to run the ball and close out games?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Well, we're nine games in, so I'm not confident things will change drastically. Anything can happen, but the personnel is the personnel. Maybe the return of Ramon Foster will help some, but it's not like the running game was good when Foster was playing. It's been pretty bad all season long.
VAsteelersFan
12:23
Hi Ray, 20+ penalties in the game against the Rams. Unwatchable. Do you think an NFL ref should make the cover of Madden 2021?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Yeah and maybe then they'd get jinxed.
Harold H.
12:23
Hello, Ray - A little concerned about the Browns’ two RBs. How confident are you that the Men of Steel can contain them?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
That's probably the No. 1 thing the Steelers have to accomplish in this game. That's one of the ways they can lose this game.
And no, I'm not completely confident. The Steelers are very average against the run.
Harold H.
12:24
Last year, the Steelers’ D was very effective in confusing Mayfield - especially in the game at Heinz Field. How do you expect the Browns to attack the Steelers with Mayfield?
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