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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.19.18
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Adam
12:46
It sounds like the STeelers intend to use the full force of the CBA to make life for Bell miserable.  Will they have the cap space to threaten Bell with the transition tag or will they cut bait and run?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
The transition tag could be as little as $9.5 million depending on the outcome of possible arbitration. The Steelers are contending Bell made $0 this year. Bell's agent believes he should make 120 percent of the $14.5 million he would have made if he did play.
Jim
12:47
Steelers going to pay for only having 2 OLB on the roster now?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
They have 2 on the practice squad -- Keion Adams and Farrington Huguenin. Plus, Ola Adeniyi, who was a training camp phenom, can come off IR anytime and begin to practice.
James
12:48
Hey Ray! Wondering if yesterday was a blueprint for defending the Steelers, or just offensive miscues. Do you think teams will inherit the Jaguar’s gameplan or do we just need to be sharper? Also, surprised (annoyed) that our games still hang on to Ben’s consistency, after all these years.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
I think it'll be tough for other teams to mimic what the Jaguars do to the Steelers. Not many teams have their personnel.
steelmann58
12:48
Ray any chance the Cinny gets flexed to late if its for the division or it for seeding for the steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
No late games on final weekend of the season.
JR
12:49
Hi Ray. I was at the game...Winning TD right in front of me. Unreal! I feel like this is the type of win that says a lot about a team, something special is brewing. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
Certainly a character-building win. We can look back and write about the importance of such a win after the playoffs are over. You know as well as I do no one will make a big deal out of this win if they don't make it past the divisional round again.
fredward
12:50
What should we focus on more? the incredible last 2:30 or the pathetic first 57 minutes of the game? How much was Jacksonville, and how much was rust from being off five days?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
Mostly Jacksonville, with some Steelers ineptitude mixed in. Then just the opposite in the final six minutes.
Guest
12:51
This team is on a roll, without question, but what sort of seed do you see them ending up with? Can you see them finishing better than 11-4-1? The Pats and Saints games look rough. And one more slip up -- at the Broncos or against the Chargers, maybe -- means 10-5-1.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:52
10-5-1 is almost assured of winning the AFC North. Won't earn a bye and might only be good enough for the No. 4 seed. 11-4-1 might be good enough for No. 3 seed. They pretty much have to go 5-1 or 6-0 to get a bye in my opinion. And that will be a tough assignment given the schedule.
Bake
12:52
I think the Jags defense is best we've played this year by far.  Do you think some of their team chemistry issues are related to the disparity between the play of their offense and defense?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
I'm sure that plays into it.
Dave in Denver
12:53
My boys "the stillers" are coming to town this weekend. I can't wait to see Steeler Nation take over the stadium. How do you see that match-up shaping up for our boys?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:54
The Broncos don't have a very good run defense so this is a game where James Conner should be involved quite a bit. The Broncos are 27th against the run. They still have talent in the secondary with Chris Harris and the pass rush is good, led by Vonn Miller. It won't be an easy game, but I think they Steelers will win. These are the types of games you have to win if you want to get a bye in the playoffs. Can't have slip-ups against teams below .500.
DC
12:54
Tomlin's decision to take the penalty that put Bortles in 3rd and long vs 4th and short (Jag on own 30yrd line?)....worked out, but right call??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
I would have taken it because I thought there was a chance the Jaguars would go for it. It was fourth-and about a yard. I know it would have been a gutsy call, but they were running well. It certainly worked out for the Steelers taking the penalty. They got a sack and changed field position.
Chris
12:56
Steelers defense in my opinion is looking better every week. What say you ?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:56
It's been really good, almost dominant, during this winning streak, especially in the past four games.
Greg
12:57
Is Sensabaugh good enough for a playoff run? I understand he is preferred to Burns at this point. Very enlightening to see how we can manufacture a win by basically keeping teams to 3 instead of 7. Would love to see that against better teams than the 3-6 (now 3-7) Jags.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:58
The defense has been much better with Sensabaugh as the full-time starter. It's hard to argue that. But to your point, they will face better offenses over the final six games so we'll know more by the end of the regular season.
Doug from Raleigh
12:58
New Orleans is overwhelming teams,  more so than KC.  Are they the unstoppable force that won't win the Super Bowl,  as so often happens?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:59
They certainly look like the best team right now. Certainly the best offense. Their defense is getting better too. Like the Steelers, they had some early-season issues that aren't as noticeable now.
CJ
12:59
If the review showed Ben down short of the goal line, does the game end ala what happened to the Lions last season?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
I was wondering the same thing yesterday, but I think the competition committee tweaked that rule. I'll have to check on that.
Alan
1:01
Why would the Steelers bother with the transition tag with bell when they realistically won't match a really high offer from another team? Plus they then would lose a compensatory...
Ray Fittipaldo
1:01
They could sign him and trade him to another team. Risky but it's an option.
Greg
1:01
Are you happy with TEs/Switzer/Connor filling in the WR3 position or would you prefer a true WR3 *cough Washington* in that role?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:02
Would be great if Washington steps up into that role. But they've been piecing it together each week without a true No. 3.
Seren
1:02
Going 4-2 down the stretch gives Stillers the North, seems realistic to me. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:02
Doable. Not sure about realistic.
Brad
1:03
Hey ray, I know Ben is putting up big numbers and the teams winning which is most important but why the large drop off in AB’s numbers. Just seems like he isn’t getting separation like he did every other year. Do you think not having a deep threat is the reason?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:03
That's certainly part of it. And it's why I'd like to see them throw one or two deeps balls to Washington. That's what he's known for.
Greg
1:03
Did Matt Feiler take a step back (figuratively)? At least he got out of Ben’s way at the end ....
Ray Fittipaldo
1:04
That was a tough matchup for Feiler. No. 91 is good and he's really good when you;re in second and third and long all game like the Steelers were.
SteelBone925
1:04
Do the Steelers have any matchup problems against the Broncos this week?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:04
Not like they did against the Jaguars.
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