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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.28.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Good afternoon. Let's get started.
Yates
2:00
Hi Ray-  Congrats!! I have appointed you new Assistant OL coach. Assuming no new Covid issues and your read on injuries who do you start across the OL these last two games to give us the best shot of winning out?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
You can't make changes just for the sake of making changes. If Kevin Dotson is healthy I'd insert back in as a starter. And maybe if Zach Banner is healthy you can play him at right tackle.
Yates
2:02
Ray-  Is it me or does it seem inconsistent for MT to say in the same press conference that he has no issues with Canada’s play calling and he has no issues in turning over the keys to #7?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I think he's genuinely open to ideas that will work, but I have to say he could have had Roethlisberger run the offense a month ago. He resisted and has stuck with Canada. But will he change now? And if he does, what does it say about Canada's job security after the season is over? I'm not holding my breath, but I'd like to see Roethlisberger drawing plays up in the dirt. Let the ol' Cowboy have one last ride.
The Dude
2:04
Regardless of how good a coach is, it seems there comes a time that someone new would be a positive change. Isn’t that where the Steelers are, along with the Seahawks and perhaps others?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
What you say is true, but I don't see Art II making that move after this season. He just extended him. They've had injuries and a lot of turnover on the roster in a year where they were up against some major cap issues.
Henry
2:05
Will we see a new offensive coordinator to work with Rudolph next season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
That's the first question that will be asked once the season is over. This offense is really bad. And yes, they have young and inexperienced players in major roles. And yes, their talent is lacking in some positions. But coordinators need to put their best players in positions to succeed, and Canada has failed to do that this season. And he's failed to make the running game a factor.
Henry
2:07
Would you go offensive and defensive lines with first two picks in draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Yes unless there was a QB available that could be a slam dunk high-end starter for the next 10-15 years.
Phil in Johnson City, TN
2:08
Ray, has the use of draw plays to counteract pass rushes-- other, that is, than quarterback draws-- pretty much disappeared from offensive playbooks?  Draws were playbook staples back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, Nixon was president, and I was in high school.  If so, what happened?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
RPOs have become popular. QB. It's a way to keep defenders honest. The Steelers aren't the best in their RPO game, but other teams with more mobile QBs are. I think that's part of it.
artie bridge
2:10
Ray, By now we all know how bad the OL is and how last off-season's attempt at a fix didn't work.  My questions:  1) are any of the incumbents likely starters next year? and 2) which OL positions would you address first?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
They've let Dan Moore start all season so I think they'll keep him at left tackle next season unless they draft someone better in the first or second round in 2022. And maybe Kevin Dotson at left guard, but he hasn't been reliable in terms of being able to stay on the field.
Next Coach
2:11
Of the Steelers end up drafting a quarterback, doesn’t it have to be in the first round? There is no sense spending a lower pick for a guy likely to be no better than Rudolph, Haskins, or Dobbs.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Yes. Draft one in Round 1 or not at all.
TruSteele
2:12
Will blame ever go Colbert's way????????????????????  Most of this teams problems with roster construction and under performing assistant coaches fall on his shoulders. Yet I never hear a whisper in the media, nor by many fans that he should bear the blunt of a good portion of the blame on why the team is in the spot it is in.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Tomlin hires his assistant coaches. And yes, Colbert does get criticized. Maybe not as much as the head coach, but that's probably the dynamic in every NFL city.
Henry
2:13
Odds are Steelers go a 6th straight game without a TD in first half?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
99%
Henry
2:13
I am very disappointed in Tuitt for not having his teammates backs?  Out of the league next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Tuitt might not want to play. He's obviously going through a traumatic experience.
AtlantaDan
2:14
With regard to Mike Tomlin’s comment on the departure of Adrian Klemm that he wanted to eliminate the perception that he had a coach on his staff who wasn’t fully committed to helping the Steelers reach the playoffs, why not send Klemm on his way as soon as it was announced he was off to Oregon & isn’t that a shot at Klemm given that UGA head coach Kirby Smart has no problem with UGA DC Dan Lanning, the next Oregon head coach & Klemm’s future boss, staying with UGA to coach in the college football playoff games?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
Right. If Tomlin was concerned about perceptions he would have made the move last week when Klemm told him he wanted to take the job.
Henry
2:15
Lots of blame to go around, however, bringing back Ben and JuJu has to be top of list.  I get there has been a TON of injuries, but I just feel bad for Ben.  Do you think Ben regrets coming back?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
When they lose, yes. When they win, no.
Henry
2:16
Why keep throwing it to behind the sticks on 3rd and 4th down.  It has to be because of Bens arm right?  Also Canada’s play calling is ridiculous, fire him
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
So you're telling me Ben can throw it four yards but not five??? They don't throw short of the sticks because of his arm. It's play design that's the problem.
Miles McGuire
2:17
Hi Ray, I think a small bright spot, or building unit, is the the secondary. #25 has the body of Ike Taylor, push Cam back inside, resign #23, you have all pro #39, maybe resign #34, who has been trending up. I think a lot of teams would take that. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Lots of money to sign Haden again. I agree he'd be part of the solution, but at some point you have to move on from older players and begin the process of rebuilding. Haden is 32, probably wants to win a Super Bowl. He doesn't have a good chance of doing that if he re-signs.
Lou
2:18
Happy New Year Ray!  We've seen Ben not want to talk about retirement, but he has seemed very reflective, and he's had his family at the KC game, took away a QB sneak TD ball, then there he was alone in the tunnel......I'm thinking maybe if he opened up about it, and addressed the 12000 lb elephant in the room, maybe he would play better.  He seems uptight with everything.  Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
He's brought his family, or least his oldest son, to many of the road games this season. This is the way he's chosen to handle it. He doesn't want it to be about him, which I admire.
Luke
2:19
Any thoughts on why Anthony Miller isn’t getting a chance in the slot? Surely he can offer more than Ray Ray
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
The Steelers think Ray-Ray is the second coming of Julian Edelman.
Steeler24
2:20
Carnell Lake was a linebacker at UCLA and became a great safety in Pgh.  Is it possible for Devin Bush to do the same.  He has the size and speed to be a pretty good safety.  Gets pushed around as a linebacker.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Lake was moved as a rookie. Bush is three years into his career. They won't make that move now.
FreeTankCarter
2:21
It's not "slow starts" for the offense.  It's that nothing they do works, and the only thing that does seem to work is when they go backyard football and let Ben do his thing.  The O-line can't win any battles so every play falls apart.  At least with the backyard ball it keeps the defense a little bit on their heels.  Why not let Ben call everything on the fly these last 2 games?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
I'm all for it. But I don't think Mike Tomlin is. Or else he would have done it weeks ago.
Miles McGuire
2:22
Ray - off-season optimist. Sign vet C/G, draft round 1 C/G, positionyou didn’t sign in FA, draft most athletic DL on board in round 2, draft WR or most athletic LB in round 3. I know the team is not fixed after that. but I think that would fill a lot of holes. Especially if that C from Iowa falls in our lap. Thoughts ?
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