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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.24.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:57
Merry Christmas. Let's get the chat started.
CJ
10:57
Have we seen the last of James Conner in a Steeler uniform?  I like the kid, but he can't seem to stay on the field.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:57
I don't think so. He'll be in the final year of his contract next season. It's a cheap rookie contract. Why cut him? Let it play out. He's proven to be a quality player when healthy. He just hasn't been healthy enough.
Jacque Strap
10:57
Can Paxton Lynch really be that bad?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
The Steeles better hope not. He's one snap away from playing now. Mason Rudolph was placed on IR this morning.
Rich
10:58
Hi Ray. Thanks for the char and Merry Christmas!  Steelers need a lot of players on offense and not many draft picks. Do they have the cap room to sign a few impact players not named Moncrief??
Ray Fittipaldo
10:59
Depends. If they cut some veterans on bad contacts then yes. I imagine they will trim some of the fat. It happens every year. The only question is how much cap space can be gained. It won't be a ton of money that's cleared.
Scandall
10:59
Can Sean Davis play Edmunds  safety position better? Obviously talking about next year. Hard to tell who’s at fault for the long completions, but seems like #34 is always a step too late.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:00
Sean Davis is playing out the final year of his rookie deal. I can't see a scenario next season for him playing with the Steelers. Edmunds is a first-round pick, and I don't think they can give up on him after only two seasons. It just won't happen. Davis will sign elsewhere.
Rocky
11:01
Do you think the Steelers are regretting not addressing the punter in 2019 draft?  I believe they could have had a great one in the 6th round.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:01
Berry was decent for most of the year, but this month has been brutal for him.
pozone
11:01
Ray do you see the Steelers resigning Finney and releasing Foster? many different reports on Ben do you see him playing next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:04
They'd be smart to cut Foster. They can clear about $ 4 million in cap space if they do that. I'm not convinced they'll re-sign Finney though. He's an unrestricted free agent. They had a chance to sign him to a long-term deal last spring and elected to bring Foster back as the stater instead. If you're Finney, why do you come back? It's obvious the Steelers questioned if was stater material just nine months ago. I think the moe likely scenario is moving Matt Feiler from RT to LG and then inserting Zach Banner or Chuks Okorafor as the starter at RT. But you still draft an OL high. They have to start upgrading that unit with younger and more talented players.
TXSteeler
11:04
Cut Foster, move Fueler to guard and play Chucks or Banner at tackle. Cut Vance, draft a TE in round 2. Cut Big Dan, roll with current depth. Cut Berry and take a NDFA. Gets us to over $20mm in cap space without hurting team, enabling them to do business in offseason (Heyward, Bud, etc). Thoughts????
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
Wow TXSteeler. I swear I didn't look ahead to your question. We are definitely in the same wavelength. Not sue they'd pull the trigger on McDonald with such little depth behind him, but he has been injured and ineffective this season when he's been on the field. I think it's a consideration. I just don't know if they'll do it.
Stlrdave1
11:06
As Steeler fans, we should be thankful that we have one of the best organizations in football. No don't get me wrong, no one is hoping more for a Xmas miracle for the Steelers to get into the playoffs. The Steelers goal is always winning a Super Bowl. But I've appreciated that with 4th stringers and practice squad players, they have given a nice meaning to playing as a "team' And let's hope for that belated present this Sunday!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
I know what you're saying. I was speaking with someone from the Steelers hierarchy before the Jets game in the press box. He basically echoed your sentiments. It's been a great run. He'd love to see it happen because they were so close to doing it.  But you do have to have some perspective in a situation like this. Most teams would have folded, gone 4-12 and the season would have been over at Thanksgiving.
mrbig
11:09
Maybe since the WR's aren't stretching the field is why there's not many te's targeted?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
Well maybe they need TEs that can stretch the field then. That's allowed, right?
VAsteelersFan
11:10
Hi Ray, I think we've seen a market correction with the Duck (though god bless him for how he stepped up and helped this team). He just can't make the throws. What would you say the odds are of a Paxton Lynch sighting against the Ravens?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:10
I certainly wouldn't rule it out. It's a game they have to win to have any chance at the playoffs. You do whatever you have to do to win.
mrbig
11:10
Do you think Connor's recent injury  shows it's time to move on from him?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:10
Probably but not until after next season. As I mentioned earlier he's on a cheap rookie contract.
dougp
11:11
Some Coaches are famous (or infamous) for showing up and working on Christmas. Do you know if many of the Steeler's Coaches come into work or do they stay home? No judgement, just curious. Merry Christmas!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
Merry Christmas. They are practicing tomorrow afternoon. Mike Tomlin is letting the players enjoy Christmas morning with their families before practicing at 2. I'll be here with them. Yeah!
Jeff
11:12
is Pouncey a bit overrated?  feels like theres a little bit of the "ben effect" when it comes to his linemen, particularly Pouncey, definitely Foster.  Do you see the same starting O line next year?  Seems we could save some considerable cap space and certainly not get any worse
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
After the way this season has gone I can't imagine them standing pat on the offensive line.
Goose
11:13
Would you offer Tomlin in a trade to the Redskins for their 1st and 2nd round picks in the 2020 draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:14
Thanks Goose. These questions disappeared for a few weeks. They're back now after two consecutive losses. Just leaving this here to let the masses know I still get these questions.
Scooter
11:14
Happy Holidays Ray! Without sounding condescending, other teams have staggering injuries and win games they need to win. Would finishing 8-8 not be disappointing after sitting at 8-5 three weeks prior?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:14
Sure it would be. They had to find a way to beat the Jets, who were 5-9 entering the game. I don't care if Duck Hodges was the QB.
Charlie fromphila
11:15
Ray. Would you agree that the biggest disappointment and challenge for the future is our highly touted offensive line?  There hasn't been a game solo season that they underperformed and likely the reason our young and have been running for their lives on every down
Ray Fittipaldo
11:16
There are definitely issues with the offensive line. But the RBs are involved in the running game, the QB, the TEs as well. I'm not making excuses for the line. They haven't played well as a unit. But pointing the finger exclusively at them isn't right. It's a team game. Everyone on the field has to do their job in order for the running game, or any other facet of the offense, to work.
No Rest 'Til Tucson
11:16
No one thinks run-run-pass ad nauseam is a good game plan, but why did the Steelers give up on the run game Sunday knowing how ineffectual Duck was? Also, where was the trickier stuff (wildcat and such) that manufactured a win in the first Cincy game? ZERO creativity in a situation that required it.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:17
Guess there's only so much chicken salad an offensive coordinator can make if you know what I mean.
Kingribel
11:17
Isn't it ironic that Rudolph finally goes under center on Finney's first snap of the game and ends up on IR from it?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
Exactly! I remarked the same thing to Dulac and Collier as we drove out of MetLife Stadium Sunday night. They were lucky enough to get a 9-yard run on first down. They want to run it again, and their QB suffers a season-ending injury because the center (B.J. Finney) got driven into the backfield. Guess that sums up the season for the offensive line.
Big Ben
11:19
What are you hearing on Ben's recovery? Mort 1st reported he may never play again and now he's doing well.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:20
Chris Mortensen basically retracted his original report and came back and tweeted what we've been saying all along at the P-G: he's on track to play in 2020. I don't want to get into what these national reporters do. They are paid a lot of $ to break stories. On many occasions they feel like they have to make a splash and report something big. And stuff like this happens.
Mary
11:21
Conner and Ju-Ju are both up after 2020. Does either get extended in the off-season or because both were terrible this year Pitt makes them play it out?
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