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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.25.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
I get what you're saying, but I don't see the Steelers eating the final two years of that contract. Maybe there's a common ground where they mutually agree to part ways. Tomlin gets another job and they're not on the hook for the entirety of that contract.
stlslash
11:04
Hi Ray Can you please give me your take on why the Steelers did not take advantage of the glaring weakness of the Bears linebacking and throw over the middle.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
How about running more on them too?
Ryan
11:05
Ray Will highsmith be back this week also if Porter jr and Broderick are out will Samuel and peat dress
Ray Fittipaldo
11:05
He was limited late last week so he'll have a chance this week as long as he didn't have a setback.
Jim K in Jax
11:05
Biggest need for area of improvement on this team would be? Heaven knows there's plenty to choose from...

Thanks PG for all the great coverage and Happy Thanksgiving!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
Defending the pass. It's way too easy for teams to find open receivers. It's like they're playing pitch and catch with no resistance from the Steelers.
SS
11:06
Hi Ray, how in the world can two different coordiantors come in over the last 4 years and have the same vanilla and predictable offensive game plan? There are high schools with more rhythm and imagination.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
What if Mike Tomlin does not allow them, or discourages them, from throwing to the middle of the field?
SMP
11:07
Ray, I thought you nailed on your review of the coaching staff, when the run game is finally working, you got a lead and going against a yet proven qb, you gotta continue running and establishing the line of scrimmage. Great call.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
Thanks SMP!
SS
11:07
I get that Pickens was a huge problem both on the field and in the locker room. But wasn't that the knock on him coming out of GA? Why draft him in the first place?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
Tomlin thought he could fix him.
Steelers Maniac
11:08
Hi Ray, here in a nutshell is the problem with the Steelers organization:  Last year, they could have traded T.J. Watt for a first round draft choice which could be used to get a top wide receiver in the upcoming draft.  Instead, they sign him to a long term, high priced, quaranteed contract only to watch his skills erode and reduce his trade value to almost nothing. Their obsession with keeping fading stars as one hat players is contributing to their slide into mediocrity.   Do you agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
No I do not. You always want to keep your good players. Watt's play this season is well down the list of their biggest issues.
Baltimore Steelers Fan
11:09
While I do appreciate that former Steelers' players remain passionate about their team, do the Deebos of the world really believe current players and coaching staffs pay any attention to (or give a darn about) their critiques or is it just about getting clicks and attention?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
I'm sure he's trying to monetize that podcast with Haden. It's a little over the top at times, but I can promise you the Steelers see it and are aware of what he says. It's like anytime Roethlisberger says something controversial on his podcast. Or when Rocky Bleier says something. They're not putting their heads in the sand. They know there is criticism out there, and I'm sure it's uncomfortable for them that it's coming from distinguished alumni.
Steeler Joe
11:11
Hey, Ray -- was this really that bad of a loss? I thought it was a tight game in a difficult place to play ... Steelers just came up short. There's so much apocalyptic talk afterward ...
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
It was a bad loss. The Bears defense stinks and they had a bunch of backups playing due to injuries. Plus, they had a 21-14 lead late in the second quarter. You can't squander leads like that. They had a chance for the double score since they deferred to begin the game. So they got the ball first in the second half. But the Bears kicked a field goal before halftime, which TJ Watt called "unacceptable" and they forced a three-and-out and then took the lead on the ensuing possession. The Steelers had all the momentum and led the Bears steal it back in the span of three series in the game.
Steve in Columbus
11:13
Hi Ray, Piggy backing on Barry in MD's comment, is Rodgers saw it, why didn't Tomlin see it and call time out?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
Correct me if I'm wrong, but they didn't have any timeouts left after Pierre failed to get off the field when he was injured. So it was up to Rudolph to notice and obviously he did not.
Henry Hill
11:15
Greetings Ray. Given that the Bears were without a lot of their starting linebackers, would it have made sense to try to throw more short passes off the line to Mt. Washington?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
Yes. And run the ball more.
JPinPDX
11:15
Good morning Ray. When you say the Steelers have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs do you mean that as a mathematical exercise? I could see this team winning only two more games!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:16
I don't think they will, but my point is they're tied for first place and have two games left versus the Ravens. We can talk about next year after they lose a few more.
J D
11:18
Ray, the field in Chicago was slippery and looked like a lot of sand.  If so, why are NFL fields looking unsafe and so bad (Pittsburgh leading the bunch) and why doesn't the league office step in to rectify the situation like they did in Madrid?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:19
It's grass. It's not going to be perfect. And players don't want artificial surfaces. They think it leads to more injuries.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:21
Ray:  where do you stand on the debate between:  Tomlin gets the most out of these diva WRs vs Tomlin creates these diva WRs through a lack of discipline and accountability?  Pickens has certainly not gone the way of Claypool or Diontae.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Pickens has CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
Just The Truth
11:22
Ray, Patrick Queen said the quiet part out loud. Do you agree that the scheme asks the ILBs to do too much? I have been saying this for years. They have had a revolving door at that spot and nobody has really had much success since Shazier who was an athletic freak.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:22
I always listen when players complain like that. What Queen basically said was the coaches aren't putting them in positions to succeed. They need to figure that out.
11:23
Ok thanks for all the questions this week. We'll do another chat next Tuesday.
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