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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.26.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:39
Welcome and let's get started.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:39
Ray: Blitzes are infrequent.  Rarely do you see stunts or games on the defensive line and I can't remember the last time it seemed like the Steelers really fooled a QB with a coverage disguise.  Has the defense simply become: soft cover 3 and hope TJ guesses the snap count to get pressure?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:41
What I see is the defensive linemen being handled on a lot of occasions with single blocks, which only emboldens opposing offensive coordinators to double-team and chip Watt. No one else is winning in the pass rush. For that reason maybe they do have to blitz more to get some pressure. Or maybe until Alex Highsmith returns to the lineup. He makes a big difference. Highsmith talked today after practice. He seems kind of iffy at this stage of the week as to whether he'll play. It would be big if he does.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:42
Minkah has $15.5m of cash coming to him for 2025.  No splash plays have been a theme for a while, but now he is also getting beat often in coverage (Andrews several times and Jeudy on the big 3rd down) and missing tackles (McClaurin).  Are we getting to the territory where he should be a cap casualty this coming offseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:44
That's the thing. If the Steelers are content to let him play in coverage and be the last line of defense he can't get beat on the Jeudy play. I'm sure he is frustrated, but I don't sense the Steelers are unhappy with his play. He's doing what they ask and doing it well for the most part, the end of the Browns game excluded. And I don't see them moving on from him in 2025. You mention the salary, but he's a $14 million cap hit. They very rarely eat that much money. It's a more reasonable $6 million in 2026, the final year of his contract.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:45
Ray: there have been a lot of bad losses to bad teams or in bigger situations, but from a pure coaching decision making standpoint, does this loss rank as Tomlin's worst performance ever?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:47
Top 5 in my mind. I hated having Fields throw on the third-and-four when they had a chance to win the game by running out the clock. I did not like the early-game decisions of attempting a 58-yard field goal in that weather or going for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 46 on the next series. The Steelers were playing a 2-win Browns team. Punt, play field position and force them to drive the length of the field. There were other head-scratchers, but those are the ones that stick out to me. No one talks about the decisions in the first quarter, but I think that set the tone of the game. It was almost as if Tomlin didn't respect the Browns. They sensed that and gained momentum when they got stops there.
60 Prevent Slot Hook And Go
1:47
Hey Ray, love your articles. What’s your take on the offensive line struggles? I know having two rookies starting is part of the equation. We’ve invested pretty heavily though and it appears like the talent is there overall. Can’t seem to get a push in short yardage situations and the pass blocking isn’t up to snuff either. Love to hear your take, thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
They can get hot and play well for stretches in the run game, but they're not consistently strong in the running game. When that's your identity that can hurt you. The pass protection has been average to below average, but I think they get better as games go on. And you mention the injuries. They're not getting Daniels or Fautanu back this year. That's two starters. McCormick and Jones are doing as best they can, but Daniels and Fautanu were starters for a reason.
Kingribel
1:50
Najee has appeared on the injury listt he last couple weeks. Is this subtly contributing to the lack of explosiveness he was starting to generate before the bye?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:50
Perhaps a little, but everyone is banged up this time of the year. They have a pretty good rotation there so it's not like they're asking Harris to carry 25 times a game.
Farmtastic
1:51
Ray, lots of grumbling about 39 lately and perhaps rightfully so. It certainly appears he's lost a step. I'm certainly not questioning his leadership or worth ethic but do you think he's become a bit dejected and maybe it effects his play? Look at his pass break up against the colts and his blocked kick this year. They were both erroneously penalized. Flashback to Nick Chubbs injury last year, which Minhah took a lot of heat for and it makes me wonder if he's in the same place mentally and emotionally as far as football goes. He himself said that this current version of football isn't the game he loves.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
As I mentioned earlier, I am sure he is frustrated. He expects to be a player who creates turnovers for his team. He just hasn't been in position to do that much over the past couple of seasons. As for him losing a step, I've hears others opine about that. I haven't really noticed a lack of a speed, just maybe a lack of opportunities to make impactful plays.
Kalamazoo Dave
1:53
Mike Tomlin’s and/ or Arthur Smith’s poor decisions on play calling last week (going for it on 4th down on their own side of the field in the first quarter and attempting a 58 yard field goal in snowy & windy conditions gave the Browns great field position and lead to points. Poor coaching decisions have been costly in the Steelers losing several games the last few years.  Have you ever heard Tomlin admit he’s made bad decisions?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
If he has in the past it hasn't happened often. When we ask about those decisions he'll usually walks us through what he was thinking.
Guest
1:54
George Pickens can catch a football.  Would you extend his contract?  I think he's a hand grenade that the proverbial pin would be pulled with a new deal.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
I'd be very careful with that. He's very talented, but he's mercurial. Could be more trouble than it's worth to commit big money to him.
HeHateMe
1:56
Mike Tomlin is a Motivator, not a Innovator. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
I think that's accurate. He's very good communicating with players and getting them ready to play games. I think where he struggles sometimes is in-game coaching like we saw on Thursday night. And let's be clear, there are only a few innovators out there. Guys like Dick LeBeau are in the Hall of Fame because of their innovation. The game as we know it doesn't change all that much from generation to generation.
Mike Brown
1:58
Thus far, how would you assess the defense in general and the secondary in particular?  The bend but don’t break defense is breaking at the most inopportune times.  In the secondary, Minkah is not playing up to his contract - we’re not seeing the splash plays anymore.  Further, Porter, Jr. is either giving up big plays or he’s being called for pass interference or holding too much.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Overall, it's very good statistically, but the Cowboys, Ravens and Browns all went down and scored on them late in games. The Cowboys and Browns won, and the Ravens might have if they made the 2-point conversion. That's a bit troubling to me. On the other hand, the defense created three turnovers against the Browns, including one with 4:22 remaining. At some point, the offense has to take advantage of those turnovers and help the defense. It's called complimentary football.
Lambert's Teeth
2:00
I saw a short video of the Pickens Ward interaction on the last play, which showed Pickens being driven out of the endzone, and the live broadcast captured a moment or two of security personnel bear hugging Pickens.  I did not see what happened in between but it could not have been long, and given the emotions of the moment I am not seeing what could have been so bad on the part of Pickens.  Can Pickens do more to get his emotions under control?  Yes.  Is he playing his heart out?  I think so.  Do he want him on my team?  Absolutely.  What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
He has to channel his emotions in the right way. I thought he could have done more to be a factor on the Hail Mary, fight through hand fighting and everything else that was going on.
Silent Bob
2:02
Hi Ray - Thank you for the great chats! What is more disappointing to you? The top-paid defense that cannot make a stop when it counts? Or the offense that went 7 straight quarters without a touchdown. I guess I've been used to the leaky defense for years and was hoping for much more under Arthur Smith.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
In the grand scheme of things the offense is the much bigger issue at this point. They are far too inconsistent and don't score TDs nearly enough when they are in the red zone.
TVC15
2:03
Hi Ray, This is a two part question: 1) Are the Steelers a lock to make the playoffs? 2) If they miss will Tomlin still be voted coach of the year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
  1. Even after losing to the Browns they still have a 91% chance of making the playoffs. So one more win and they'll be pretty close to a lock, especially if it comes Sunday against the Bengals. 2. Yes he'll still be coach of the year ha ha
David
2:05
Why would a team so invested in its defense refuse so many times in those conditions against a lesser opponent to simply punt and pin them deep? Once I could maybe understand but they went for it instead of punting at least 3 times around midfield. Was Tomlin asked about this?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
I agree 100%.
Tom P.
2:06
Ray, is TJ Watt playing too much—over 90% snaps on defense—which is affecting his effectiveness?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Yes, but it probably has to be that way until Highsmith returns to the lineup.
The Gurker
2:06
Ray, do you attribute a woeful loss to players not being urgent enough to put away a weaker team or do you feel it is on the coaches? Hard to fathom with the history of dropping games to lesser opponents that the locker room would be amped to put an end to past trends?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
I put that one squarely on the coaches specifically Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith.
Baghdad_Ben
2:08
Ray - is anyone else as annoyed by Tomlin going for it on 4th down in negative territory early in the game? Makes absolutely no sense. So much has to go right to turn into points and very little wrong to turn into points for the other guys. I like aggressiveness but that means throw down field some instead of WR screens on 3rd and long (except 3rd and 4 with Justin fields).  Maybe Tomlin didn't get my texts.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
I guess I'm not the only one who didn't forget about those decisions in the first quarter. I hated them too. Your team is built around defense. Play field position and make them drive the length of the field.
Jeff M
2:09
Hi Ray, If teams are going to use 2 or 3 guys to block TJ why don't they consider sending more blitzers? It seems like an ILB would have a chance to get to the QB unblocked.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Yes, but if the LB gets picked up the QB is going to have a better chance to complete a pass and get a longer gain. But I do think they need to change things up with their pass rush plan. More blitzing should be a part of that in the right situations. I can't remember the last time I saw a corner blitz from the Steelers, or a safety blitz. They've been a little too predictable I think.
TVC15
2:11
Will we see the Steelers season crash and burn on "Hard Knocks?"
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Check back after the Bengals game.
Yogi in Yonkers
2:12
I don't think the Steelers losing out from here is very difficult to believe. They should have lost the two games prior to the Browns and didn't exactly dominate the Giants, who have shown themselves to be the laughingstock of the league.
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