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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.02.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:31
Welcome and let's get started.
Takoma Tom
10:32
Rodgers looks old and expired the Steelers could just do everyone a favor and put him on IR. He would save face and they could play Will Howard.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:32
Not going to happen, but he was beat up after that Bills game. By the way, Happy birthday to Aaron!
Tom M.
10:33
How do you think Peat did on Sunday? We didn’t hear his name much which is usually good sign. How did his play compare with what we’ve been seeing from Jones?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:34
Pressure was not an issue for the most part, but I don't think any of the linemen blocked well in the running game.
Tim
10:34
How much draft capital will Steelers be willing to give to move up and finally get their franchise qb?  Secondly, were you as surprised by the “keep watching” comment by Tomlin as I was?  “Collectively”, I have coach, for the past 10 seasons since our last playoff victory
Ray Fittipaldo
10:35
I don't think Tomlin knew what to say after that game... As for the future franchise QB, that's why they collected all those picks. They're prepared to do whatever it takes if they think they have their guy.
TXSteeler
10:36
Is the reason Jonu is out snapping Froermuth (which is insane) Arthur Smith and his history with him (much like Patterson last year)? It makes zero sense. Why hasn’t anyone directly asked MT or AS “Smith has not been productive, Friermuth has been - why is Smith out-snapping him?”
Ray Fittipaldo
10:37
We've asked that question in some form almost every week to either Tomlin or Smith. They seem to think Freiermuth is only effective against zone coverage. Tomlin referred to him as a "zone buster" earlier this season. Smith doesn't seem to have much use for him otherwise. Smith is his guy and Freiermuth isn't. Sometimes that familiarity matters for a coach.
Tom M.
10:38
The fans are in an uproar over this team and the NFL draft will be here in the Spring. Do you see any negativity carrying over to that such as the fans booing them there?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:38
No the season will long be over.
Takoma Tom
10:38
Will AR2 give coach T another year to straighten out the team? If he does, will anything really change?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:39
I don't think Tomlin will be fired for his on-field performance, but I could see both parties coming to a mutual agreement that things are stale and it's the right time to move on. Tomlin, of course, would be the one who wanted a fresh start.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:40
What do you think the plan should be with Aaron Rodgers going forward? If they fall to six and eight and are hopelessly out of the playoff race, do you have him continue to play or do you give somebody like Will Howard a shot?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:40
If he's healthy I don't see them sitting him as long as a playoff berth is still on the table.
Jeremy
10:41
Ray, with how the Steelers are performing, it is easy to see an 8-9ish finish with the Ravens winning the division. Is there anything encouraging from this season for 2026? Rodgers has tailed off and probably will retire. Watt and Hayward look to be losing to Father Time. The high draft picks on the O line have been ok, but the run game performance has been below average this year. Herbig, Warren, and Gainwell look like decent contributors for 2026, but certainly not All Pros. I’m not sure that the Fitzpatrick-Ramsey swap has paid any dividends (certainly not from Jonnu’s contributions).  Slay was a bust. DK has done less than expected. Even punting has gone downhill. Schematically, neither side of the ball seemed to figure out anything positive. This team has not even flashed indications of strength in any area. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:43
Man Jeremy, that's pretty depressing when you lay it out like that. I guess the good news is they probably will extend Herbig and Washington. The bad news is they have tough decisions coming on Broderick Jones and others. Picking up the rookie option on Jones would be a big gamble in my opinion.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:43
i’m seeing some finger pointing on the sidelines right now. Has Tomlin begun to lose the team?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:44
I think what you're seeing is Rodgers' leadership style is a bit abrasive to some. I don't mind it. He's tough on players, but expects a lot out of them.
user412
10:45
If the Steelers were to commit to a full sell off and rebuild, which players on the current roster are untouchable?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:45
The ones with big contracts... because no one will want to touch them after this year.
Jake
10:45
Do you think it’s reaching the point where Mr Rooney is seriously considering replacing MT?  Fans are fickle for sure but when they are chanting fire Tomlin which is broadcast nationally that has to be embarrassing.  He has run his course with this team nothing personal he just needs a change of team.  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:48
You forgot to mention how Steelers fans are selling their tickets to fans from other teams with regularity. I can't recall  Acrisure being like that in other years. Green Bay and Buffalo fans were present and loud. I get it. Fans don't believe in the team and can make a buck. The Steelers have no one to blame but themselves. As for a coaching change, as I mentioned above, I think it would have to be a mutual decision that things have run its course.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:49
What adjustments need to be made in the run defense? How long will Harmon be out as I think he is a very important cog in the machine.?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:50
We should get an update today on Harmon from Tomlin at his news conference. The run defense has been very inconsistent and downright bad in some games. But the Buffalo game was an embarrassment and took me back to Baltimore last January when the Ravens physically dominated the Steelers in the wild card game.
Bob
10:51
Hopefully AR2 is seeing what the Pens did and fired Sullivan, who won Cups here, and the new guy has them playing great. Do you think its possible that they "retire" Tomlin to get a young innovative coach in that can at least motivate the players who seem to be sleep walking in games?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:51
Depending on how things go the rest of the season, I don't think anything is out of the question.
South side Johnny
10:52
Good morning, Ray. A great leader acknowledges her/his shortcomings and surrounds themselves with individuals who are stronger in those areas. I just don’t understand why Tomlin doesn’t follow this truth. He doesn’t have a coaching tree and most likely never will. In your expert opinion, why do you think that is?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:53
He's had his share of good coaches. He hired Mike Munchak and he retained many of Cowher's assistants, which was a smart move. But as the years have gone on, he does not seem to have an ability to identify top young coaches.
Bob
10:54
Do you remember the crowds ever chanting Fire Noll or Fire Cowher like they chanted Fire Tomlin?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
I don't pretend to have that good of a memory, but there were lean years for both. Noll had some down years in the '80s, but he also managed to get the most out of some mediocre talent in a few of those years such as 1984 and  1989. They made it to the AFC title game in '84 with Mark Malone at QB. They almost did it in 1989 with Bubby Brister, if not for a Mark Stock drop in a divisional round playoff game at Mile High Stadium. Cowher also had it rough with fans from 1998-2000. And when he failed to get to the Super Bowl in 2001 and 2004. Cowher, of course, bounced back in 2005 and got the Steelers their fifth Lombardi. Had he not accomplished that feat his legacy in Pittsburgh and across the NFL would be much different I don't think he'd be in the Hall of Fame for one thing.
Lou
10:58
Hey Ray. Lots of chatter that probably won’t come to be about Tomlin being out the door. But IF that happened, who is out there to take this team to respectability?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:59
There are plenty of good young coaches. No one had ever heard of Mike Tomlin before Dan Rooney hired him.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:59
Who is to blame for Buffalo running all over them? Is it the defensive line or is it the inside linebackers or outside linebackers? Or is it a combination of all three?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:01
All it takes is one guy to be out of a gap for a run to be sprung. However, if you look at the play James Cook was running over and over again it appeared the Bills found a flaw in the Steelers scheme. They outflanked them and forced Steelers CBs to make tackles in space. Oftentimes, the CBs weren't in their gap or over-pursued. The defensive linemen weren't getting off blocks much either, but it seemed like the Bills were attacking a certain part of the defense on the perimeter.
Jim Bow Dean
11:02
If Ramsey is just going to play only Free Safety, should they have just kept Fitzpatrick? Smith has done nothing, and they gave him money. Bad trade?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
I wouldn't say it's a good trade that's for sure, especially when you factor in how much money they're making.
Soggy
11:03
Good Morning Ray.  When do the Pirate chats start? (only semi-kidding)  This offseason looks like it will be very interesting for the Steelers, lots of tough decisions to be made.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
Who's ready for Cut Them or Keep Them?
WestCoast Steeler
11:03
Dugger looks like a keeper.  What is his salary cap number?
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