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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.14.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Great couple of weeks. You had Browns at Baltimore last week. Then Steelers at Bengals next week. These games could go a long way toward deciding who's in the playoffs and who's out.
Guest
2:20
Is this the worst 6-3 team in NFL history?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Or the most opportunistic 6-3 team in NFL history. But I get your point.
AtlantaDan
2:21
Hi Ray - thanks for the chat.  After watching extended Bengals-Texans highlights where CJ Stroud had repeated success throwing down the middle of the field, do you regard the lack of such attempts by the Steelers to be more due to Matt Canada’s offensive scheme (Steelers did not use the middle of field much with 2021 Ben and his washed arm either) or that the coaches recognize Kenny Pickett currently does not have the accuracy, arm strength and ability to go through his progressions for those routes to be successful
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
It's everything you mentioned. Stroud is much more of a prototypical first-round QB. He's bigger than Pickett and has a much better arm. But the offensive scheme plays a role as does Tomlin's approach. He'd just rather his QB throws for 125 and not turn the ball over than throw for 300 with more chances at turnovers. Like it or not, he believes in this formula for winning. And it's worked to this point in the season. I still don't know if it's sustainable, but we're halfway through now.
Steeltree
2:23
Ray I get that KP’s ball security is important and a main factor in the 6-3 record (for contrast see Zack Wilson and the Jets).  But doesn’t Tomlin and Canada have to take the training wheels off him and let him take more chances downfield especially in the middle of the field?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Yes, but when you know you can win one way it's hard to achieve both. Maybe it comes down to the Steelers getting behind big in a game and then the coaches taking the reins off.
Paul from Beaver Falls
2:24
It seems like the Steelers don’t trust Kenny to throw over the middle.  Every pass looks like a sideline pattern.  If they don’t trust him he shouldn’t be playing.  Have they already made up their mind to get a new QB next year?   Small hands, weak arm, not accurate and can’t ready defenses.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
I don't think they've made up their minds about anything, but they are trying to work around some of his deficiencies.
brewalker
2:25
Lots of hamstring problems this year. Usually stretching or muscle imbalance cause these things. I would think the strength and conditioning coach should be getting a little heat about this??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Every team deals with soft tissue injuries. I'm not sure the Steelers have had more than other teams to be honest with you.
BernardBuckeye
2:26
Any thoughts on how Steelers address injuries at ILB near term?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson will start. Mychal Walker and Tariq Carpenter could have expanded roles as depth players.
Nick F
2:27
Kenny is clearly holding up this team from being special. If this season ends with him not showing anything more then he has do they seek a veteran like Cousins to re him or deal for like K Murray who will be available
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Let's see how this season plays out first. I will say adding a $50 million QB wouldn't be ideal with some of the other contracts they currently have on their books.
Tampa Too
2:27
Ray, how long do you think the Steelers need timewise to evaluate whether pickets going to be the guy or just a guy?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
They should have a pretty good idea by the end of this season. That would be about 20 career starts.
LarryG from Punxy
2:28
Do you think we can keep the running game going strong against the Browns?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Will be much tougher because the Browns have a good front, but I think that's how the Steelers want to play on Sunday.
Dan
2:29
Hey Ray, thanks so much for the chat. Any chance we see Minkah on the field Sunday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
Small chance. Tomlin said today he's "battling" to come back. I think he would have been more positive if Fitzpatrick was closer to returning.
CanadianSteelersFan
2:29
Are you concerned about the secondary? They give up a ton of yards/deep passes, but always seem to come up clutch when it matters.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
Tomlin talked about that today and blamed a lot of it on communication issues with Holcomb and Alexander out of the mix. Whatever the reason, there are far too many guys running free in the secondary and getting big plays.
LarryG from Punxy
2:30
Will the loss of Alexander in the middle be too much to overcome?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
Maybe until Fitzpatrick can come back. He can absorb some of that load upon his return.
CoalportKid
2:31
Why do you think the Jones for Chuks change has had such positive returns? I don't recall Chuks being considered particularly poor at run blocking for instance.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
I never thought Chuks was a good run blocker. Jones, on the other hand, is very good at it. And he's an athlete so they can pull him and get him in space. They didn't do that with Chuks because he's not nearly the athletes Jones is.
Michael
2:32
Ray, is Jones now a full time starter at RT?  Where does he line up next yr?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
LT I think but let's see how the rest of this season plays out first before we worry about that.
steeler in nc
2:32
Thanks for the chats, Ray. What do the steelers do to strengthen the ILB position? free agent, other team's practice squad?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
Players already in the building will get first shot at being part of the solution.
Michael
2:33
Ray, I know you’re an advocate of drafting a DL in the first rd.  But couldn’t a solid argument be made for Center, Middle Linebacker, and Safety?  Best player available?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
Unless there is a great center available you just don't see that position get drafted much in Round 1. Same goes for safety. And ILBs are becoming that way too. Tackles, however, are coveted so that's why they go in the first round more often.
Michael
2:35
Ray, assuming they move on from Okorafor, what is their cap situation heading into free agency?  Any other veteran releases that you anticipate?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
Sure, but we'll get to that in January.
John
2:35
'Sup Ray!  Are the Steelers soon to be 6-5?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
Even if that happens they'd still have a very manageable path to the playoffs.
Michael
2:36
Ray, if a practice squad player is selected by another team, can the player refuse to go and remain or does the new team now own their rights?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
The existing team would have to elevate them to the active roster.
Andrew in ATL
2:37
Hi Ray. Why have the Steelers used Allen Robinson more than Calvin Austin? Doesn't Austin offer more opportunities for big plays especially if he can get the ball in space when defenses are focused on Dionte and Pickens?
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