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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.30.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Welcome and let's get started.
Bern
1:59
What exactly are "communication issues"?  We've been hearing this excuse for a few seasons now and I'm still not sure what that means.  System too complex?  Players don't know the playbook and assignment?  Or is it just BS boilerplate after an "elite defense" gets run?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
It has to do with the call from the coaches coming in in a timely manner then that information being communicated to the players in timely fashion. That has not been happening for the past three games, and it happened early in the season. It was temporarily fixed and we'll see if they can fix it again. Tomlin seemed to push the communication issues off on the injuries in the secondary, but he also said there are some schematic and personnel-related issues to be worked out before Saturday, so we'll see what those changes are, if any.
Ed in LA
2:01
Unfortunately, it seems Wilson is under pressure from defenses the same way Kenny and Mitch were. He rarely has time to further than his 1st option at receiver. Is it not time to look for a new OL coach? Our OL cast offs seem to do well after landing on other teams.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I believe Pat Meyer signed a new contract after last season ended so he has at least another year and maybe two years left on his contract. I know everyone wants immediate results, but Meyer cannot control the injuries that have plagued the unit this year. They lost Troy Fautanu and James Daniels for the season in back-to-back weeks early on. That certainly changed things. But I get your point. The line has underperformed for quite some time now and you want to see better results. The Steelers aren't the type of organization to eat contracts with a year left on them so I think Meyer will get an opportunity to put a better product out there in 2025, especially if everyone is healthy. Next season should have Broderick Jones at his natural left tackle spot, Fautanu at right tackle and Frazier, McCormick and Seumalo at center and guard, assuming Seumalo comes back for the final year of his deal.
Doug
2:05
Would rather play Houston on road rather than hot Chargers team at home...agree ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Yes, but playing at home is always coveted. I think the Steelers could beat the Chargers at home, but it has such a small chance of happening that it's barely worth mentioning. The Browns have checked out for the season. They're 18.5 point underdogs at the Ravens on Saturday.
Rich
2:06
Ray are the Steelers poorly coached? Many of us feel this way. They seem so easy to game-plan against …among other glaring things
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
I would say they were poorly coached in the Kansas City game. And I think they what you saw in the previous weeks against the Ravens and Eagles was an injured team that failed to make timely plays in hostile road venues against really good teams. So I would hesitate to say they are a poorly coached team on the whole, but they could certainly learn to adjust better in games against the better types of teams they've faced in recent weeks. Those are the types of teams they'll be seeing in the playoffs anyway.
epiballo
2:10
Glad the Steelers have a 'mini-bye' to get try to get right, but is it enough time? They seem to be getting players back; is Joey Porter Jr. one of them? They will need him to contend with Higgins and Chase. They better - it's a big difference between playing the Texans and the Ravens.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I agree with you on the Texans and Ravens. The Texans have lost three of their past five and are injured. They are missing Tank Dell and Stephon Diggs. They're not nearly as good as they were last year. And we all know the Ravens are supremely talented. I know a lot of people will say the Steelers have their number, and that's true to a certain extent, but I'd still want to play the Texans in Houston... And yes, Mike Tomlin said today Porter is expected to play against the Bengals on Saturday.
DaquidoBazzini
2:12
We've heard about TJ Watts' low ankle sprain, but on the Christmas Day game against KC, the announcing crew mentioned a thumb injury that was hindering him. Do you know much about this?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
No and Tomlin did not even mention Watt today at his news conference.
Chill Dave
2:13
Hi Ray, can Broderick Jones' inconsistent play this season be explained by him playing on his wrong side -- something they refused to subject Dan Moore to -- or are his struggles more than that?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
I certainly think that's part of it, but he's young and learning what it takes to play at the NFL level. He didn't play a lot in college, came out after his redshirt sophomore season.
epiballo
2:13
Was the frustration boiling over after the Chiefs game a sign of blowing that game, or do you see a more deep rooted problem in the locker room?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
The problem has its roots in not being able to communicate and leaving players wide (bleeping) open, as DeShon Elliott said after the game. It's been going on for the past three games and it was an issue early in the season too, most notably in the losses to the Cowboys and Colts. TO their credit, the Steelers did seem to fix those problems in the middle of the season. Now they have to work extra hard to eliminate them. They cannot afford to have that happen in the playoffs, obviously.
Tampa Too
2:16
Ray. If Russell has a bad game against Cincinnati and another bad one in the playoff game, do you think we should really actively resign him?  Do you think Fields has a much higher upside?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
If they believed Fields had more upside he would be playing now. They saw what he was and decided the offense could be more productive with Wilson. And it was until Wilson started to have some ill-timed turnovers in recent weeks. So I think this has less to do with Fields and more to do with Wilson and what they think of him. My best guess at this point is they'll make a push to sign him, but obviously the playoff performance will play a role in that and how strong of a push it is.
Sam
2:19
Happy New Year, Ray.  Mike Tomlin is a defensive-heritage head coach.  He's got the highest paid defensive personnel in the league. Yet his schemes never just stop anyone.  The entire defensive operation is dependent upon sacks and turnovers.  They don't have the front to stop the run, and the pass coverage schemes allow for easy completions.  The number of times in a row that Mahomes threw RPO bubble screens to just pick up an easy 7-10 yards was maddening.  Seems like every drive that doesn't include a "big play" ends in a long march resulting in points.  Why can't this unit, with a supposed defensive mind as coach, do more to just be consistently solid?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
You are right. They are reliant on turnovers, maybe a little too much if you want my opinion. They also believe opponents won't be able to march the field and consistently score touchdowns against them. That's been their mantra. That was true when they were going 10-3 but the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs sure didn't have a problem going up and down the field against them. That's why I found it interesting today that Tomlin said the biggest issue in the past three games was the turnover culture. I understand that, but a team too dependent on turnovers probably won't last very long in the playoffs. This defense has to get back to forcing three-and-outs and giving the ball back to the offense on a more consistent basis.
Timmy
2:22
HNY Ray - the chatter about communication seems to be directed at Minkah. Is he freelancing? making bad calls? Ignoring calls from the LBs, something else?  Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these question!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
It's hard to say, but it seems like he's been involved in a few of the blown coverages along with Cam Sutton. It's not important to out them so to speak, but it's important to note they are veterans and this hasn't been as big of an issue in the past. So why is it happening now? Tomlin blames it on the injuries in the secondary. OK, but that can't be an excuse. Someone can go down on the first play of the game on wild-card weekend the game would go on as planned. The head-scratching thing to me is Sutton and Fitzpatrick are regarded as two of their smartest players. So I wonder, are they getting the calls communicated in timely fashion? Or are opposing offensive coordinators honing in on their tendencies and using that against them? Tomlin is confident he can fix it, but we'll see on Saturday. Joe Burrow knows how to pick apart a secondary and if there are any issues he'll exploit them.
Guest
2:26
Ray,Happy New Year. We keep talking about how the Steelers have defeated the Chargers, Broncos and Bengals but these teams seem to have gotten better as the season progresses. However the Steelers seem to be doing the opposite as usual—. Your thoughts why does this keep happening each year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
Or was their schedule back-loaded? I've brought this up before. What if the Steelers started the season 0-3 with the Eagles, Chiefs and Ravens as the first three opponents. Would you feel any different about them if they were 10-6 and on a three-game winning streak heading into this regular-season finale against the Bengals? I get it. They've played terribly the past three weeks, but I think the schedule played a big part in how they started the season and how they are finishing it. We all knew the schedule was easier early on. To the Steelers' credit, they took advantage of that and put themselves in good position. Now they have a chance to turn it around after the three-game skid.
Jimbo
2:30
Has Pickins destroyed the locker room? When he doesn’t get the ball he is a petulant child? Why do teammates keep quiet?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
I don't know that he's destroyed the locker room, but I'm sure his teammates are frustrated by the fact that their season hinges on a mercurial player. If there was one failing of this front office it's that the offense became so highly dependent on one player. That's not a good spot to be in as an organization, and I'm betting they set out to change that once this season ends.
Mason
2:33
Hey Ray.  With the recent play and negative comments about Sutton, do you see him on the team next season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:35
He's not under contract. He hasn't been a difference-maker since he came back from the suspension. He probably won't be expensive if they wanted to bring him back, but do you do that at the expense of a guy like Beanie Bishop, who is younger?
John from Toronto
2:36
Hi Ray. What's with the reluctance of NFL coaches to use their timeouts, particularly when running the 2 minute drill? Atlanta had 3 timeouts and refused to use them last night and it cost them the game. Chicago, with a new coach, could have used a timeout with about 90 seconds left to help their rookie QB, but instead put him in a tough spot late in the game. Is it mismanagement or analytics telling them better to run down the clock and not score rather or score with as little time left then to give the ball back to the opponent with time left to go and score?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:37
I couldn't believe what I was watching with Atlanta last night. Their coach really butchered their final drive in regulation. Game management is bad all over. Some of these guys are first-time head coaches, and it takes some time to figure those things out. But like the Steelers' issues with communication it shouldn't be happening this late in the season.
epiballo
2:37
Would a playoff win against the Texans but a loss in the Divisional round be considered a successful season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
For me, it would depend on what the divisional round loss looked like.
David Hoffman, Apopka, FL, Lifetime Steeler
2:38
Hi Ray.  Happy New Year, and thank you for your report cards. As a 44-year teaching vet, I give you an A+.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
Thanks David!
John from Toronto
2:38
Hi Ray. Should the Steelers go all out to beat the Bengals? If the objective this year is to win at least one playoff game, then securing the 5 seed and a match up against the Texans seems to make sense. I don't see much hope of the Browns upsetting the Ravens to help the Steelers win the division and get a home playoff game, which might actually hurt their chances of winning a playoff game.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
I agree. The Texans matchup is much better than a potential matchup in Baltimore. And given the circumstances, I don't think resting players should be a strong consideration. They need to go into the postseason on a positive note and winning would do a lot for this team's psyche I think.
David Hoffman, Apopka, FL, Lifetime Steeler
2:40
Question:  Do you sense that Tomlin has lost his team, after his rather temperamental put down of the team after the humiliating loss to the Chiefs, without holding himself or his coaching staff in any way accountable—not exactly a way to build morale and team unity heading into the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
It's never a good sign when players are calling each out after losses. Tomlin downplayed it today and tried to put a positive spin on it, but what else is he going to do? Winning cures all. The Steelers really need a win right now.
Darnell
2:41
Ray, I think it’s safe to say that Mike Hilton is not the player he was when with the Steelers, but do you think the Steelers miss his blitzing ability?  Thanks.
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