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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.31.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
I just don't see it. Yes, they'll have cap space, but they have a lot of guys, including the QB, to sign.
Harry Newsome
12:25
Lamar Jackson is a rookie QB and wins the division..Baker is great already..are the Steelers and Tomlin now becoming the old outdated Bengals and Marvin Lewis?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
I would say "Baker Mayfield is great" already. He'll make the Browns a much tougher challenge than usual, but let's not make him out to be the next Joe Montana yet either. And let's hold off on the Lamar Jackson stuff too. I still think Roethlisberger is the best QB in the division. The coaches and maybe the owner have to convince him that his gunslinger ways might not be the best thing for this team right now. I know it's toough to change, but you can't lead the NFL in interceptions and expect to make the playoffs. It was kind of weird last night to hear Rotherlisberger lament the turnovers on one breath and then in the next revert back to the 'I'm not going to change my gunslinger ways'. He has to change if this team is going to be successful next season.
Bob M
12:28
How soon to we clean house.Some new blood needed.Coaches and players way to complacent with the way things are.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
Change will be inevitable. Many players won't be back. Ramon Foster and Marcus Gilbert might have played their final games as Steelers. There are plenty of others won't won't be back.
ryanh
12:30
do you think butler, and danny smith will be brought back
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
We'll find out soon. They usually make decisions on their assistant coaches with a week or so of the season ending.
Hasobesecats
12:32
Please tell me the Steelers will go with some middle grade FAti replace Dupree next year instead of paying out nearly $10 million
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
They can't keep him for the $9.2 million. That's just not good business.
Devin
12:32
I know they were 13-3 last year and I might get made fun of for this but am I dumb to think that this years Steelers team was better than last years? I know they gave up leads and minimal turnovers but the defense was ranked in the Top 10, offense was great in red zone and third downs. I think last year they played an easy schedule and got a lot of bounces. This year, a hard schedule mixed with bad luck (missed calls), bad bounces and too many interceptions. I might be in the minority and naive, but I feel better entering this offseason than last and I feel good about next year.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
You are certainly in the minority, Devin. I get your point about last season. They didn't face a lot of good QBs en route to those 13 wins. That's the luck of the draw. But there is no excuse to losing to the Raiders or the Broncos or tying the Browns with Tyrod Taylor at QB. None. You have to win those games. I know there were bad calls in some games and some untimely turnovers, but you have to  be good enough to overcome that stuff. They weren't good enough.
Colin
12:35
Promote Munch and can Tomlin? I would do it, then fire Butler and st coach.  Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Not their style to do that.
Andrew in ATL
12:35
A lot of discussion about Tomlin's coaching but to me the biggest problem for the Steelers is Ben's interceptions.  What can the team do to get him to have better ball protection.  I understand you can't sit him but something has to change.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
It doesn't sound like the offensive coordinator will do it. Did you hear him back in November when he was asked about the pass-run ratio? I think the quote was: "I have Ben Roethlisberger. I have Antonio Brown. Why wouldn't I throw it?' So it would have to come from ownership.
ryanh
12:38
what players shouldnt be brought back next year
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Ramon Foster almost certainly is gone. Others as well.
Clark
12:39
Ideal Draft: Corner in the first.  ILB in the second.  Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Not a bad assessment. But as always, what's going to be available? This year at least they have No. 20.
Juice
12:40
Put a good word in for me with the Steeler higher ups....I'll sit in the booth and help Tomlin with the challenges for free next season.....I only ask for a 6 pack of Iron City each game. I couldn't do worse than him.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
I'll let Art know.
Mike
12:40
First round pick has to be used on either a corner or a linebacker correct?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
I would think so, yes.
mrbig
12:41
cb, ilb, blah blah, I'm tired of talking about players... we have the roster to AT LEAST make the playoffs! Would you agree??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Yes I think they underachieved and were outcoached in several games. Can't happen.
thomastown
12:42
Lost in all the talk of the Steelers' collapse is the fact that the Ravens really took the bull by the horns and won the games they needed to win. Compared to the Steelers, do you think this was due to the Ravens coaches doing a better job at preparing and keeping the team focused or was it due to having better talent?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
The Ravens don't have better talent than the Steelers. But John Harbaugh certainly did a better job of coaching his team this year. I don't think there is any doubt about that. He got more out of less and knew how to get the most out of his players.
Mark
12:43
Happy New Year, Ray!  Question: which 5 veterans would you say are least likely to be with the team when training camp opens?  I'll spot you Stevan Ridley...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
Foster and Gilbert are two great candidates. Foster is 33 and Gilbert will be 31 and has been injury prone.
Juice
12:44
ILB has to be a priority for next years draft right? Also, should we target a veteran CB in free agency to help Haden? No one on the roster seems to have separated themselves.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
I'd prefer the draft. Get a good one at No. 20 if he's there. Let him learn from Haden.
ryanh
12:45
do you think the team has to trade up in the draft this year to finally get a game changer on defense
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I wouldn't be against it. And this year they'll be in better position to do that because they pick earlier. It's harder to do when you're picking at the end of the first round.
mrbig
12:46
In your honest opinion, do you think Tomlin has hit his ceiling? I don't think he has what it takes to put together a complete season -
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
He has a team that's built to win now and hasn't delivered. I think he might have, but I also think he'll get at least one more opportunity to get it right.
Rocky
12:47
Ray, Happy New Year! I hope this year they can finally get a punter to help the defense in the 5th or 6th round.  This has been a problem for the last 6 years but it never seems to get addressed.  What say you about the current punter?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
I think he could do a better job of directional kicking, pinning opponents inside their 10, that type of thing. Even when the Steelers are at midfield it seems like the returners are fair catching it at the 20. That's not good enough. He's not the worst punter in the league, but they can do better.
Jeff G
12:50
It seems to me the Steelers challenges with lesser teams all start with Big Ben.  Would love to know what is QB rating is in our losses to bad teams. The defense played great for nearly the entire game and did not give up a touchdown.  Ben plays down to lesser teams.  3 picks in Cleveland, stunk in Denver, stunk in Oakland before getting hurt and a pick six yesterday.  He's awful against bad teams.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
I don't know about awful, but they shouldn't have as many close games as they do.
Gregory
12:51
Steelers failed to sign Weddle and Hightower when they had the chance, but did sign Burnett, Green, and Bostic.   Terrible evaluations of need and their find talent on the cheap really cost them.  Really should consider changes in the front office.   Agree?
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