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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.19.18
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Bake
12:25
Jags ran the ball at will in first half, but were stopped cold when they needed to run out the clock and secure victory. What changed scheme or guys just getting off blocks better?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I think it was just guys getting off blocks and making plays they weren't making in the first half. It also seemed like the run blitzes were being telegraphed in the first half. Williams and Bostic weren't shooting gaps and making plays. They were just getting swallowed up by linemen and Fournette found the holes. Run blitzes can be effective, but they can't be telegraphed and the ILBs have to sneak through to make a few plays. Otherwise, they'd be more effective on the second level and making tackles after 3 or 4 yards. Lots of those early runs were of the 8-10-12 yard variety.
Adam
12:27
Were the Steelers that good in the secondary or were the Jags that bad?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
The Steelers secondary is much improved. But the Jaguars certainly had something to do with it.
Shane
12:27
As much as he drives us nuts with the trash talking would Ramsey be a good fit on D if the Jaguars were interested in trading him next season now that  we have more cap space?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
He's a great player. He must really be a pain in the butt if they want to trade him. Top corners probably make a ton of money so they'd have to pony up if they wanted him in the long term.
steelmann58
12:29
Ray what happened with Conner and the running game was it just a bad game for all.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
The Jaguars front four is very good. And they're a bad matchup for the Steelers.
Doug from Raleigh
12:29
Not that I really care,  but is Marrone sitting on a boiling seat at this point?   He has mismanaged some games to a level only seen by ex-coaches.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
I think Marrone is a good coach. The Fournette injury hurt that team. Did he get too conservative yesterday? Hindsight says yes, but he won a lot of games last year and almost made a Super Bowl. It would be short-sighted for the Jaguars to fire him now.
Adam
12:30
Is this pass rush for real?  Perhaps its good enough to pressure Brady and Brees.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
It was very good yesterday against a banged up Jaguars offensive line. But the sacks continue to pile up every week no matter the opponent. They could lead the league for a second year in a row.
Mean Joe
12:31
Why is James Washington progressing so much more slowly than JuJu did last year? Are the Steelers concerned?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
All players develop in different manners. There is no script teams follow. One thing I have noticed is the Steelers haven't really given Washington a chance to go deep and compete for 50-50 balls. He does that so well. When he is being targeted now it seems like everything is underneath. His once catch yesterday was a sideline route, an impressive diving catch as he went to the ground.
Tommy in A2
12:33
When their last... ek hemm... drive (:05) failed, did you mourn your 23-20 JaJas prediction?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
I had the Steelers' score pegged! I knew it was going to be a tough game for the Steelers. They just don't match up well with that team. I'll say it again: That was a big win if only for the reason it crippled the Jaguars chances of making the playoffs. The Steelers won't have to see them again this year.
Guest
12:35
I know they won the game, but is it concerning they keep having these games against lesser opponents? Tough schedule ahead.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Jacksonville might be the best 3-7 team in the history of the NFL. The Jaguars have talent. That's not debatable. It's just not clicking for them team-wise this season.
Ken Ward
12:36
Hi Ray, do you think they should have continued to try and run the ball yesterday? Seems to me they were throwing too much with Ben not having his best day. Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
That's a tough call. Conner and the offensive line really gave Fichtner and Roethlisberger no reason to go back to it. Maybe they should have called more short passes to get in more manageable second and third downs. I never got the sense that Conner was going to break one, did you?
steelmann58
12:37
Ray what do see the steelers record  with their remaining Schedule. Think the NO is the toughest besides NE
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
6 games left. They would do well to go 4-2. That would give them an 11-4-1 record at season's end. Even if they go 3-3 they'd be 10-5-1, which would likely be enough to win the AFC North. Baltimore and Cincinnati are 5-5 now so they'd have to undefeated in order for the Steelers not to win the division in that scenario.
Mean Joe
12:39
Do you think the extra time off hurt the Steelers yesterday? They looked like they were sleepwalking in the first half.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
I think the Jaguars hurt the Steelers more than the time off.
DannyB
12:39
Ben’s road issues continue. Jags just a bad matchup?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Jags are a terrible matchup for the Steelers.
Guest 6Rings
12:39
I'm glad Coach Tomlin didn't follow your Twitter suggestions and yank a HOF QB for a player with three career attempts :)  Tomlin said the defense did not make any adjustments - how did our D-Line actuall improved through the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
Once again, I just think they got off blocks and started to make some plays. The runs that were going for 8 and 10 yards in the first half were 3 and 4 yard gains or less. That's huge.
Mean Joe
12:41
It seemed like the run defense got better as soon as McCullers left the field. Do you agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Well, I certainly noticed Hargrave more than McCullers yesterday. That's for sure. He had two sacks and made a few tackles in the run game too.
Guest
12:41
Any idea why we struggle against the Jags, just a personnel match up issue?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
They have elite talent on defense. They remain one of the top defenses in the NFL. It's their offense that holds them back.
Epiballo
12:42
If the Steelers transition tag Bell, as is being reported, so they can match any offer, if they decline to match, do they receive any compensation?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
No they do not.
steelmann58
12:42
Ray  James conner had a bag game Rookie wall or just a bad game.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
Just a bad game I think. Plus, this is Conner's second year.
DC
12:43
Not a big mystery in the game vs the Jags...we had Big Ben and the didn't. My question: looking at the rest of the AFC playoff teams and NFC Super Bowl possible, the Jags D was the toughest that they will see.  Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
I think so unless they see the Ravens again. The Ravens statistically are right up there with the Jaguars, even better when it comes to points allowed. The Ravens handled the Steelers at Heinz Field and only allowed 23 in the rematch in Baltimore. That would be a tough wild card matchup for the Steelers just because of the familiarity. The Ravens right now are the No. 6 seed. Like the Steelers, they have a tough finishing stretch though. I think they'd do well to finish 9-7. Will that be enough to be the No. 6 seed?
Bus Driver Johnson
12:45
Ray, TJ and Bud seem to be feast or famine with the sacks. Sometimes they come in flurries, sometimes they get knocked down by blockers. Think Steelers should send them to James Harrison power camp in the offseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Watt has 10 sacks. He's the first Steelers OLB to reach double digits in sacks since 2010. He's on pace for 16. That's a pretty nice season if you ask me.
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