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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.10.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:50
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started early. I have a feeling you folks want to get some things off your collectives chests.
Larry in KY
11:51
Were we caught "looking ahead" to New England again?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:53
Nah. This team has a ton of problems. The defense can't make crucial stops. You have a running game is almost non-existent. Their turnover differential stinks. And their in-game coaching hasn't been good. Did I miss anything? To paraphrase Chuck Noll: The Steelers have problems and they are many.
Jack Straw
11:53
Let's start with the obvious.  Who doesn't put in an available future HOF QB over a guy that previously took one meaningful snap in the NFL?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:56
Here is my take: If you can play, you play. Why did they wait until they fell behind before putting the starter back in? Mike Tomlin told the Fox sideline reporter before the second half began that he expected Roethlisberger to play in the second half. I don't know what happened after that. Did Roethlisberger tell him he wasn't ready yet? Did he take a painkilling shot that had yet to take full effect? I don't have the answers. I do know Roethlisberger's radio show is tomorrow at 11 a.m. and Tomlin's news conference is at noon. We'll search for the truth.
Bake
11:56
With loss to the Raiders, is # of teams with 7-6 records is it possible/likely Steelers could miss playoffs all together?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
Absolutely yes. Did you look at the schedule of any of those 7-6 teams? I don't know if the Titans or Colts will lose again in the regular season. It's AFC North or bust. That's why the Oakland loss was so huge. The Steelers now have to go 2-1 against the Patriots, Saints and Bengals and hope the Ravens go 2-1. That's it. If they go 1-2 there is now way this team is making the playoffs. And even if they did they wouldn't deserve it at 8-7-1.
Dammer
11:58
Are we finally about to see the last 3 games of the Keith Butler era? I have no idea how that defense was statistically #7 in the league heading into yesterday's game.  Sure doesn't look like a top 10 defense.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
The defense just can't get off the field in crucial situations. No one can make a big play. I kept waiting for the pass rush to get home one one of those two final touchdown drives. They never got home. They need more consistency from their pass rush. They need a great pass rusher and they don't have one. And the secondary...it's just not very good. The final score of the Patriots game might be 70-63.
Joe
12:00
Do you think the Steelers make the playoffs and what is their record over the next 3 games?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
I think they'll go 1-2 and miss the playoffs. Which, by the way, is what I said after they started 1-2-1. I never would have imagined the season would unfold the way it did after that, but I did say way back then that they would miss the playoffs.
Andy
12:01
Steelers' inability to beat Oakland - It's the curse of the Immaculate Reception.   Seriously, don't you think that we need a stronger running game coupled with better defensive coverage and pressure?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Andy, you should read my film study that will be published early this afternoon. It's on the struggles in the run game. It's an in-depth look at what went wrong in Oakland and the previous month. As for the pressure, it wasn't good enough Sunday. The coverage hasn't been good enough for a lot of the year.
Nikki
12:02
Can anybody on this team cover a tight end? Would you try Brian Allen or just stick with Burnett?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
Listen, when the other team's tight end is also the top pass-catcher, I don't shy away from putting a corner on him. I don't know why the Steelers continue to use safeties and linebackers on these hybrid tight ends that are more receivers than tight ends. It doesn;t make sense to me. Put Haden on Cook. Or Sensabaugh. Yes, play Brian Allen or even Artie Burns on a tight end. I don't care. It's better than watching the linebackers and safeties trail in coverage and get beat so easily. Play with seven DBs for all I care. They unveiled that package in training camp, promised to use it and we've barely seen it.
12231972
12:05
avid fan since '72. seen lot of  losses by own foot shooting. they could
beat Pats&Saints, and it aint gonna take the taste outta my mouth how badly
coached, schemed and executed this D is. T's platitudes/sound bites have worn thin,
there's gotta be an angst at the corp lvl (minority owners).  any grumblings????
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
There are always grumblings among the minority owners. But they don't make any of the decisions. It will be up to Art Rooney II if he wants to make a change. No one else.
DaquidoBazzini
12:05
Hi Ray, what do you think Mike Tomlin would say (at the end of the season) if upper management told him they were firing his entire defensive coaching staff, hiring a new one of their choice, and he would have minimal input?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
If they're going to keep Tomlin as their head coach at some point they have to let him take complete ownership of the defense. That would mean having Tomlin hire his next coordinator and assistants. If Art Rooney gives that mandate he might as well just fire Tomlin too.
SteelBone925
12:07
Hi Ray, I think the main reason the Steelers have come up short the last three games is the inability of the defense to come up with "splash play" turnovers or at least get a sack or pressure on critical plays. I see other defenses hawking the receivers, this team plays 12 yards off. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
I agree with you. Why was it out of the question that Mike Hilton pressed that No. 85 at the line of scrimmage and disrupt his route. Maybe make Derek Carr think a little. Instead, No. 85 gets a free release, Hilton slips and it's the easiest touchdown you'll ever see in that situation. It was like taking candy from a baby. Too easy.
Aaron
12:09
Have any kicker tried out today??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
I wouldn't be surprised. Nothing on Boswell yet. At least before I started chatting with you 20 minutes ago.
Greg
12:09
Do you still think Tomlin is a hall of fame coach?   Huge distance between him and Belichick in drafting, player development, clock management, game adjusting, and game planning.   Just to name a few.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I don't know if I ever said Tomlin was a Hall of Fame coach. I might have said he was on that trajectory. Honestly, he'd have to win another Super Bowl to get that consideration in my mind. And I'm not sure he'll ever get that chance in Pittsburgh the way this season is unfolding.
Guest
12:11
flow of the game - why not use the timeout you took home?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
The most inexplicable quote of the Mike Tomlin era. Like I said earlier, if Ben Roethlisberger was cleared he should have been back in the game as soon as he walked out of that locker room, unless, of course, Roethlisberger didn't want to go back in. In that case, Tomlin is off the hook. We just don't know the truth right now.
Bake
12:12
With only one victory against a team with a winning record this season can we realistically expect much success if they do make the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
I don't even think they're going to make the playoffs to be honest with you. I see them finishing 8-7-1.
Juice
12:13
Lather-Rinse Repeat with Tomlin and games like yesterday. Anyone who follows this team and this coach saw it coming. Am I wrong? Why not bring in a kicker to at least try out?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Yes, these losses to bad teams keep happening. He has to be held accountable. I don't know if Art Rooney II will make a move or not, but things got stale in Green Bay and the Packers made a move a few weeks ago with Mike McCarthy. It happens. If it happened here it wouldn't diminish Tomlin's tenure one bit.  He won the franchise's sixth Lombardi. He's been a good coach. But there is an expiration date on coaches. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. Ask Chuck Noll. Ask Tom Landry. Ask Bill Cowher.
BB
12:16
Ray - Gronk on the way.  Davis couldn't even begin to cover him last year.  Surely they don't think Edmunds can cover him...will they even have a plan or just let it happen?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
This Gronk isn't the old Gronk. He's not that type of player anymore. Now, he could still come in here and put up some big stats. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. I just think it would be a reflection on the talent on the Steelers defense rather than Gronk at this point. Problem is, the Patriots have Josh Gordon on the outside. Joe Haden must defend him. That leaves you with limited options for Gronk. I know what I'd do. I'd press him at the line and double him over the top with a safety. Play with six and seven defensive backs and make the Patriots run the ball down the field.
Doug from Raleigh
12:18
So what was the final take on whey Tomlin held Ben out?  DID he hold him out?  Some are suggesting Ben should have inserted himself no matter what,  which seems like nonsense.  Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
Maybe we'll find out tomorrow when they both speak again. But if you take them at their word Sunday night, Tomlin is at fault here for not putting him back in earlier when he was available.
TXSTEELER
12:19
With the season on the brink and them not likely going anywhere, shouldn’t they just hold onto Boswell and not suffer the cap consequences (ie future money they could push forward)  then make a change in the off-season when the cap hit will be much less punitive?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Cap hit will be the same now as it is in March. I'm not against the idea of putting him on IR with a fake injury and seeing if you can fix him during the offseason. If he's bad again next summer then you cut him.
Greg
12:20
Boswell has to go, regardless of his contract dead money hit.   Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
I'd be surprised if he's their kicker on Sunday. Don't know if he'll be cut or placed on IR, but it'd be tough to go into the Patriots game with such a damaged kicker.
SteelBone925
12:21
Any fan who says Big Ben is not a hall of fame QB or a difference maker on this team needs a shot of reality. Without him, the Steelers are easily well under .500
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