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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.24.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Good afternoon. I'm waiting on Cam Heyward to jump on a zoom call so the chat might not start exactly at 2. In the meantime, get your questions in.
1:57
Or maybe I'll answer a few while I wait.
Reston Stiller Fan
1:57
Hello Ray, Any injury news?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Not much today as of yet. They just ended practice. But honestly, I don't think we're going to know on most of these guys until Wednesday afternoon or even Thursday afternoon. I am guessing JuJu and Haden will both be listed as questionable.
Jacque Strap
1:59
Hi Ray...nice to hear Randy say that Snell and McFarland should be more involved, but is that realistic given this team's run/pass ratio?what would you say, based on your analysis, is this team's biggest issue that would prevent them from reaching their ultimate goal?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
I would say the turnover ratio. As long as it remains among the best in the league the Steelers can beat anyone. I know that's a rather simple view, but I think that's why this team is winning. They are playing to the strengths of the defense and doing whatever it takes on offense to win games. They're not taking many chances.
Greg
2:00
Hi Ray.  I heard this morning that there were additional positive tests at Raven’s facility?  Any idea who?  I know Dobbins and Ingram are out.  When will they decide if they have to move this game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
I haven't seen any reports of the names, either. The additional positive tests were just reported an hour or two ago. And there would have to be a major outbreak for this game to be pushed back. It's a Thanksgiving night game on NBC. Can't flex another team into the time slot. And it's a major moneymaker for the network. They'll do what's right for the players and coaches, but they'll do everything in their power to see this game is played on time
Adam T
2:02
Hey Ray, looks like the Steelers listened to me ( yeah right) and benched Buggs for Davis. Have you heard the team mention Davis at all? He looks like the real deal to me.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
I haven't bothered to look at how much Davis played on special teams, but I am guessing it was due to special teams more than defense. And obviously, they like Davis. He's been on the roster all season. Not all seventh-rounders make it.
Tampa Too
2:03
As always Ray thanks for the chat. Do you think this is Tomlin’s best year of coaching?  Or was it last year when he had no quarterback and had to improvise
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
This year and last year were/are impressive. But if he doesn't win it this year then when will he? As long as he keeps winning, that is.
MikeM65
2:04
Is the Steelers' running game becoming predictable, if there is such a thing?  I mean the pre-snap movement seems repetitious and doesn't seem to be doing much anymore, they don't run much on second or third downs, and the blocking schemes seem repetitious.  Maybe it's time to get some new stuff on tape since the old tape seems well studied.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Sorry I needed to ask Cam a question. Back to finish the chat...
2:09
I just don't think the linemen are moving people. It's not all that complicated as you suggest. In the run game, it's about moving people, and the Steelers aren't moving people.
Greg
2:09
Are we doing some west coast offense with the quick passes and short throws? Seems the same to me. Maybe it's our best version of a running game substitute right now?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Yes, Randy Fichtner likes to use short passes as run-game substitutes. It's a way of getting the ball into the hands of their best athletes, too. They still want to run the ball, but they don't feel like they have to in the traditional sense. Just when they need it.
Steeltown
2:10
Hi Ray, Now that Hilton is back do you think we’ll see less of Sutton? He almost had another pick for a TD on Sunday, hoping his role doesn’t diminish too much.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Yes they like Hilton in the slot for his blitzing and run-game support. But Sutton will continue to play in the dime and you might even see him some in nickel in certain situations. Probably not this week though with the Ravens. They like to run so this is a Hilton type of game.
Greg
2:11
How much harder is your job without the personal access and interviews? Are you dividing up topics since you all see most of the same stuff?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
It's hard. I'm not going to lie. All reporters have pretty much the same access. You have to get creative sometimes while knowing the fans still want the news too.
Buster
2:13
Ray, to your knowledge have any of the Steelers veterans expressed an interest in coaching when their playing days are over?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I know Willie Gay did to me at the end of his career, and he followed up on that. He's coaching in college now. I am sure others in that locker room are interested as well. But obviously this year, those aren't the types of things to come up on zoom calls.
Michael Mozart
2:15
If Pit goes 15-1 with a loss to an AFC team  and KC wins out, who gets the bye? Or are there other considerations we can't guess yet (e.g., strength of schedule)?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I looked that up the other day out of curiosity. If I read the tiebreakers right I believe it goes to common opponents as the first applicable tiebreaker because head-to-head and conference record are the first two. So in order: conference record and then common opponents. If I'm wrong, please correct me.
David K
2:17
Do you think. The ravens game will be affected because of the infected ravens players?  I am surprised that the game has not been postponed so far, given the lack of practice time for the Ravens.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
The NFL has pushed on during similar circumstances in previous weeks. The Raiders had a bunch of players miss practice last week, and they took part in one of the more entertaining games of the year Sunday night against the Chiefs.
Ryan D
2:18
Hey Ray,  thanks for great chats.  How do you think the Steelers match up against KC?  When you hear the national media it sounds like KC is far and away better than the Steelers, but to me our defense is better and great at getting after the quarterback which may at least slow down Mahomes.  And the offense has shown it can put points up against any defense in the league.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
To break it down simply: The Steelers have a much better defense, and the Chiefs have a much better offense. So to me, in a potential playoff matchup, it would come down to the Steelers winning time of possession and scoring touchdowns on their drives. There is no way they could punt five times as the did against the Jaguars and expect to beat the Chiefs. You just can't give the Chiefs extra opportunities to possess the football. Eventually, they're going to put up more points than you.
Guest
2:20
Ray,  It's great that the Steelers are undefeated, but I still feel they have too many weaknesses in the running game and run defense to beat KC with a healthy Mahomes in the playoffs.  The obvious formula for beating Mahomes is to limit his possessions with a strong running game.  I just don't see it happening.  Am I wrong?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
You can possess the ball without having to run it a lot. You have to be efficient, and you can't turn the ball over, but it can be done with a precision passing game.
TPhunter
2:21
Heaven knows nobody in Pittsburgh wants to cut the Ravens any slack, but why are they forcing this game on Thursday since Baltimore can't practice? They could move it to Sunday.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
NBC paid big bucks to get that game.
Retire21
2:21
Do you think the league has caught on to the East/West run game with Ray Ray and Chase? That said Ray Ray looks like he can be a receiver, too?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
Yes, it hasn't been very effective in recent weeks. Might have to change things up there, throw in a wrinkle or two to keep teams honest and guessing. As for Ray-Ray as a receiver, yes he is decent there too. He has some wiggle to him.
Retire21
2:23
10-0 is remarkable but also not one Steeler is anywhere even close to the top 10 in individual offense stats. That reflects team ethic?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Absolutely it does. The Steelers have talked about that a lot this year. Remember that 2014 teams with all those gaudy numbers with Ben, Bell and Brown. In the end, what did it get the Steelers? Nothing. They went down in the opening round of the playoffs. I know Bell missed the game, but numbers don't matter. Wins do.
PAMMY WHAMMY
2:24
Is the biggest concern moving forward for the Steelers their health/depth? With some "easier" games coming on the horizon, when should Tomlin consider pulling some starters, gaining rest for some and experience for others?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
It's the NFL. You don't rest players against inferior opponents. This isn't the NBA, which has an 82-game season. You might rotate a few more players in on short weeks as the Steelers did in Jacksonville, but that's about all you can do.
Dirt Dawson
2:25
Is next year’s draft the time to start looking for Pouncey’ replacement? To paraphrase Tomlin, the tape does not lie.
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