JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.31.19

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.31.19

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Ray Fittipaldo

2:29

A little maybe. But Chandler Jones is getting a lot of hype, and the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs, either.

JDBWatt

2:30

With the lack of cap space, do you see players like McDonald, Foster, and Chickillo gone prior to free agency in March?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:30

Foster won't be back and I think they'll cut Chickillo, too. McDonald is an interesting discussion. I'll detail that in a story on Thursday. COuld be an option.

GSMP

2:31

Any word on whether Kevin Colbert will remain with the organization? He's on a year to year contract and there have rumors connecting him to Carolina.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:31

Colbert's contract runs through April. He is contracted to be around through the end of the draft in the spring.

Ga Steeler Fan

2:31

Ray, will Paxton Lynch be given a serious opportunity to be the third string QB or will the Steelers move on.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:32

Maybe, but he was around for most of this season, and he couldn't even play in front of Duck Hodges in late December. That doesn't give me much reason to think the coaches are high on him.

DaquidoBazzini

2:34

Not a question that I thought I would be asking earlier in the the year.....But do you think Juju was still hurt in the last couple games or did he seem to quit on this team?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:34

He was hurt.

Greg

2:34

Are we really just a healthy Ben away from being competitive? Suddenly our offensive line, WR1, TE1, healthy RB, and kicking positions (to name a few) seem so concerning. Where did the high level of play go? Trying to stay positive here, but do we have the draft capital to win the division next year?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:35

Ben's return will help the line and the RBs and the WRs, but as you mentioned, there are issues at each of those positions. The WRs didn't get open enough. The line didn't block well enough the RBs didn't run well enough. They can use some new talent at each of those positions.

Rob

2:35

If we would have beat the Jets are we in tbe playoffs this weekend?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:35

No.

Greg

2:36

How did Vance McDonald’s play fall off so much this year? I thought a talented TE would be an undrafted rookie QB’s best friend.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:36

McDonald did not have a good year. He didn't get open against man coverage very often.

Alan

2:36

If a really good Guard, TE, and RB is available in round 2 when the Steelers pick, which position would you take and why?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:37

Left Guard. A big, nasty tone-setter than can help you transition to a different style of offense where the running game is relied on more.

Alabama Steeler fan

2:37

In you opinion besides Dupree who is the most import free agent the Steelers need to resign. I think it is BJ Finney

Ray Fittipaldo

2:38

I keep having to remind people the Steelers had a chance to sign Finney to a long-term deal last spring and chose to re-sign Foster instead. I don't think they view him as a starter.

Greg from Ohio

2:38

Paid for a Post Gazette digital subscription this year so I could get you and the other PG reporting, and it’s really insightful and appreciated. Thanks! I barely noticed Steve Nelson this year, so did he do a good job?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:38

Thank you. And yes, Nelson had a very good year. That was a good signing by Colbert and his staff last March.

2:39

Foster, Chickilo, and Mcdonald account for approximately $17 million of cap space next year. Would you bring any of them back? Even if Dupree leaves, would you pay Chickilo $5 million?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:40

I would not bring Foster or Chickillo back. McDonald's best days are behind him, but it's not like they have a young TE in-waiting to take over for him. I can see the Steelers releasing him, but it's not a no-brainer like Foster or anything like that.

Doug from Raleigh

2:41

With Brown finally off the cap hit, the possibility of no Bud, and some other annual house cleaning (Burns, etc) shouldn't the team be in decent shape to sign a meaningful FA or 2 in March? Or am I too optimistic?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:41

They won't have any problem being in compliance with the cap, but they won't have the type of money to sign a significant free agent, either.

Leonard

2:42

Ray, not matter how I which way I look at it, Terrell E. appears to be a step late on a significant amount of his tackles, they need an upgrade at that position.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:43

You might be right, but he's a first-round pick. They're going to give him every opportunity to improve. I could see them moving him to nickel safety and replace Mark Barron if they let him go. But then you'd have to find a starting strong safety somewhere. Could Mike Hilton cover better? Maybe.

livinthedream

2:44

Ray, In my opinion the Steelers toughest opponents this year were Lady Luck and themselves. Even the Baltimore flood was winnable if Duck and Berry don't "kill us". What say you?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:44

They couldn't stop the run in that game. I was more encouraged by their play against Lamar Jackson and the real Ravens back in September.

YinzSerious?

2:45

All of you PG beat guys are delusional. All of you think a 38 year old fat guy with a bum shoulder is going to come back and save the franchise. I've never seen local media build in more excuses for the coaches, players and anyone associated with the Steelers. The Steelers are going on the 10th year of accomplishing nothing, and alot of that blame falls directly at the feet of the nerds writing for PG who are too scared to question anything from their daddies, the Steelers. Grow a pair.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:45

Happy New Year to you too!

IkeSteelheart

2:46

Which teams do you like of the remaining 12? Me, any team but the Pats.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:47

I picked a Pats-Saints Super Bowl before the season started. Both are No. 3 seeds. I like the Saints chances of getting there more than the Pats, who always seem to need home-field advantage to get to the Super Bowl. So if I had to amend my preseason SB picks I'd now go with Saints vs. Chiefs.

Daniel in Dallas

2:47

How do we fix our aging OL?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:48

Cut Foster. Draft a LG in Round 2 or 3. If not, move Feiler to LG and insert Chuks or Banner into the job at RT. That will help.

Nitro

2:48

Hi Ray - Interested to know if you think there are any sleeper teams to win this year's Super Bowl? Predict winner and score for Pats & Titans game?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:49

Not really. I don't like the Texans or the Titans all that much. I suppose the Bills if I had to pick a sleeper in the AFC. But I don't think they're a Super Bowl team. I'll go with Pats 24, Titans 22. I think it will be close, but I like the Pats to win at home.

Daniel in Dallas

2:49

Terrell Edmund's is a bust. I don't think you can coach instincts which he lacks. Can he bulk up and become a LB?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:49

See above answer. I think he could move to nickel at some point.

PA Steeler Fan

2:50

Any chance Sean Davis stays on the roster?

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