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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 1.15.18
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Doug in Raleigh
12:42
Supposedly Tomlin does "exit interviews"  with the players,  does Art Rooney have one with him?  This can't be a very happy owner today.  It's one thing to over or knee jerk react,  quite another to keep whistling past the tombstones.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
All members of the organization have meetings at year's end. Don't imagine this will be a pleasant one between Rooney II and Tomlin.
Matt
12:43
Is it coaching or talent or both
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
Both, let's be honest. I think some of the players they've drafted on defense in recent years are struggling. So it's not just players, coaches. It's the front office, too. Whenever you lose it's not one group. Everyone shoulders some of the blame.
Matt
12:44
With  all the high picks we have why isn’t our defense good ?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Great question. Burns has not progressed. Dupree didn't play like a first-round pick this season. They have an interesting decision to make with his fifth year option.
Burley
12:45
Am I being too simple, or did Jville have the exact same strategy on offense yesterday as they did in the first game, and somehow we were less prepared for it?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
Pretty much. They gashed the Steelers for 231 on the ground in the first game and got 164 yesterday. If you can't stop the run you're not going to beat that team. That's how Borltes had all of those wide open receivers. They established the run and put him in positions to succeed.
Ron from Iowa
12:47
How bad does this defense need to be blown up?  Tweak it or scrap it and start over?  The offense was not perfect, but did enough to win.  Watt, Heyward and Tuitt are all nice pieces, but they disappeared all day yesterday.  Everyone else is replaceable.  Do you agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
You have to keep Haden. He's your only good corner. Burns is too inconsistent. The safeties struggled this season with inconsistency too.
john
12:47
Also, all the players that opened their stupid mouths should also be gone....I don't care who they are.....all of them!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
Maybe they will be.
Doug in Raleigh
12:48
So is the defensive talent way overrated, or are they not put into the proper schemes?  Yes,  coaches don't make plays,  but the Jags sure looked like the better prepared team.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
Little of both. Just because you're a first- or second-round pick doesn't mean you're good. Some of these guys have underperformed.
Philly Jim
12:48
This team is undisciplined and poorly coached.  Lots of talent but underperforming.  Given Mitchell's ranting outside the Jags locker room, which is outrageous, it is apparent to me Tomlin cant control these players.  Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
I guess Jaguars players said that about Mitchell after the game. I wasn't there to hear it, but that's what I heard. If that happened it's even more inexcusable than running your mouth to the media. You have to go and do it in person, too, to get them even more riled up? That's crazy if that happened.
Joe Hanuscin
12:51
I sent a question to Steelers.com that was not chosen (which is fine) about do we need to be concerned about a defense that gave up a lot of points to a 0-16 team in the last game of season (that defense was only missing Cam Heyward that day)?  Clearly we did.  That performance was absolutely pathetic from every aspect.  Is that the worst defensive performance from a Steelers team in the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
Yes. The only other time they gave up 45 was in 1984 and that was to Dan Marino. They gave up 45 to Blake Bortles. Enough said.
Rick
12:51
Hey Ray,. Cowher would of never put up with all the bull going on with this team, Tomlin has big management of the game issues,and player issues that he feels is not a problem...What say you...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:52
Wasn't Cowher the coach in 1994 when Eric Green and Co. produced that rap video  before the loss to the Chargers in the AFC championship game?
Tim from Big T Country
12:52
Good Morning Ray. It seems like the Steeler's been drafting linebackers in the first round for ever but that's exactly what they need to do again. I think the defense wouldn't have stopped them even with Shazier playing. I think Bud Dupree is a bust. Your thoughts.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
They have to draft another ILb but through no fault of their own. Shazier suffered a catastrophic injury. The Dupree thing, yeah it's not looking like a great pick. He has to produce more.
rman
12:53
The Steelers do not seem to match up very well against teams that play "smash mouth" football.  What are your thoughts on this statement?  Also, I thought Ben, for the most part, was spectacular....maybe his best game ever.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
No way was that Ben's best game ever. As he said after the game he was responsible for giving the Jaguars 14 points. You can't do that in a playoff game.
Dave
12:54
If you to had to make a change and let go of one coach on this staff, who would it be and why?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
I'd think long and hard about Tomlin because of the clown show that was the 2017 season. I know that's not what they'll do, but there was way too much drama surrounding this team. They need to tighten up.
MB
12:55
Ray,  this season was a complete failure given what happened last year and the expectations for this year. No playoff wins and you lose to a Blake Bortles led offense giving up 38 offensive points. This loss is an indictment of the coaching staff from top to bottom and major coaching changes should happen otherwise I don't expect next season will be any better.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:56
Sometimes change is good. Look at all the teams that made changes last offseason and how they did.
Steelcity21
12:56
Colin Cowherd had talked about the Steelers on his show that he likes them but they aren't buttoned up enough in the way they handle and discuss business with the media. Is there a sense from you that this is true?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:56
Yes.
ralph
12:56
No sacks? do you think #82 would have put some pressure on Bortles? O I forgot he didn't have it anymore. Do you think he would forget his assignments?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:57
You mean 92 and I agree any pass rush would have been welcomed yesterday.
jim
12:57
Was all of the miscommunication on the defense this year the DC or the players. I have never seen so many wide open receivers as I have this year by our secondary.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:57
Should not happen in Week 19. Inexcusable.
Steelcity21
12:57
Do you think the Steelers talk to much? Is this the HC fault?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:57
Yes and yes. He's in charge. It's his team.
Ralph
12:58
With all the clamoring for coaching changes, do you really think changes will happen any time soon?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:58
Yes
jim
12:59
Yes, lots of doom and gloom today, that happens after you get embarrassed on national television like that. What do you think was the biggest reason for this debacle?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:59
Lack of focus on the team they were playing. Lack of preparation. Lack of attention to detail...I can go on and on
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