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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 1.29.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:46
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started.
Kevin S.
1:47
I am a Steelers season ticket holder in Atlanta.  For the last several years I have noticed a significant number of seats unoccupied during play at home games, regardless of whether I am physically there or watching on TV.  It appears to be considerably greater than the old days at Three Rivers.  Two questions, if you please.  Is this a function of the attractions at Heinz Field and does this negatively impact the players as it must be equally noticeable from the field and sidelines?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
Yes, ownership is aware. They certainly don't want empty seats in the stadium, but this has been happening for a year or two or three now. As for why, I honestly don't know.  We all know a certain segment of the population was turned off by the kneeling and the national anthem stuff. That could be a part of it.
Chiefar
1:49
I always heard from "football experts" that GREAT coaches have their teams ready for the BIG games. I can think of two from the past, one from Penn State and one from the Steelers. Where do you think Mike Tomlin fits in, good, bad, great and why? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
Tomlin is 1-1 in Super Bowls so he's had the Steelers in the playoffs consistently over his tenure. However, in three of their past five playoff appearances the Steelers have been one-and-done, and I'd argue they suffered bad losses on two of those occasions. The 2011 wild-card loss to Tim Tebow should never have happened. The same goes for the Jacksonville game this year. To me, those are two inexcusable losses. I give him a little bit of a pass for the 2014 wild-card loss to the Ravens because of Bell's injury and their inability to find a back to play in that game. So overall, he's a good coach in big games as his Super Bowl appearances attest. But it's starting to get to the point of 'What have you done for me lately.'
John M.
1:52
I have read about how the Steelers can use the franchise tag on Bell and then trade him for two 1st round draft picks. Is this correct  and if so why wouldn't the Steelers do this?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
No. They can place the franchise tag on him. That allows them to control his rights through the 2018 season whenever he signs it. If they place the non-exclusive tag on him another team can sign him, but they would owe the Steelers two first-round draft picks. That's not really a viable scenario because a team would never do that. Well, no team except the Browns. Maybe.
Moose
1:54
Do you think Bell was truthful when saying the Steelers knew he was going to miss that final practice?  Why would he and Tomlin take so much heat for a whole week before coming out an saying it was excused?  And I haven’t heard Tomlin confirm what Bell stated have you?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
I have no reason not to believe Bell. Cam Heyward also said Bell's absence was excused. He's a team captain. I have no reason not to believe Heyward, either. As for Tomlin not coming out and saying it earlier, he never really is active in that kind of stuff. I just don't think he cares enough to correct it.
Moose
1:55
I think any player would be crazy to play in the Pro Bowl, how about you?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Why? Rosie Nix makes about $500,000 a year. You don't think that extra $64,000 is important to him? That's life-changing money for someone like him.
Moose
1:56
Do you have any possibilities as replacements for Shay either via draft or FA?  Smith from Georgia would be awesome, but he will be gone in rnd 1 unless we move up.  It is sad to even say replacement, but they have to plan as if Shay never plays again right?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
You are right. There are a few other ILBs I've seen in the first round of some mock drafts. There's Evans from Alabama and a couple of others who might slide into the second round. But as Louis Riddick told me over the weekend this isn't really known as a great draft for linebackers.
Moose
1:58
What is this team missing the most, preventing them from getting over the hump to the next level?  Personnel?  Coaching? Focus?  Discipline?  Strategy?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
All of the above. That's what happens when you lose in the playoffs. Everyone should shoulder some of the blame. But for me, the biggest issue was personnel, especially at inside linebacker and safety. The Steelers weren't very good after Shazier was injured and the play of the two safeties last season was pretty bad overall.
Dave
1:59
Could you see the Steelers trading up to get an impact inside linebacker? They're really aren't in a position to wait for guys to develop to improve this defense next year.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
They've done that occasionally in the past. They traded up to get Polamalu. They just don't do it very often. So maybe if there is a player there they really like, but don't count on it.
Crazybaker
1:59
How high are the Steeler's on the play of Javon Hargrave? Chances of taking another nose tackle in the 1st 3 picks?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Good question. The run defense hasn't been great with him the past two years. Some blame the linebackers, both inside and outside, but there is no doubt the Jaguars controlled the defensive line in the playoff game. I wouldn't mind an upgrade or even some competition for Hargrave. Big Dan McCullers likely won't be back so there is room for another guy to compete in the group.
mtsteel
2:01
Hi Ray, Thanks for keeping up the chats! So Lewis Riddick, a well respected sports analyst, stated that he didn't feel like any of the guys in the secondary are that good.  Watching the way they played this year, I tend  to agree.  Joe Haden aside, the rest were not good.  A splash play here and there, but the overall play in the secondary was almost awful.  Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
I was a little surprised he said Haden was past his prime. I was under the assumption Haden had a pretty good year. But I'll defer to Riddick on that evaluation. He played DB in the NFL for six years and worked for two NFL teams as a personnel exec. He wasn;t saying Haden was bad. He just opined that they need to get better there. In my opinion, Haden is their best DB. Big drop-off after him. Burns was average to below average. And the two safeties were pretty bad. Only bright spot was Mike Hilton and I'm still not sure how great he is in coverage. He made an impact in run support and in the blitz game, but I'm not sure he's a great cover corner. That was Riddick's point. They need to play man and lock offenses down on third downs. They weren't able to do that enough last season
Doug in Raleigh
2:05
This idea that Rooney II can have a godfatherly talk with Tomlin and get him to address some of the things at which Tomlin is glaringly weak,  and expect it to happen, seems wishful to me.   First, Tomlin might not  see a problem,  and second, you just can't change a personality by command.  And if you then designate a time management/challenges/short yards coach,  and a discipline coach,  and take away his input to Butler,  what exactly do you need Tomlin for?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Doug, there is no way you can know what those conversations between Rooney and Tomlin are behind closed doors. Tomlin works for Rooney. I can't imagine Rooney liked what he saw this season with some of the distractions. Rooney will meet with the local media soon so we'll be able to ask him about it, but I don't think he has a problem telling Tomlin he has to change a few things.
Florida Steeler
2:06
Ray, I understand how the stock market works, buy a share it rises you cash out (if you want) How do the minority investors in the Steelers get a return on their money? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
NFL teams print money so they're getting their money back and thensome.
JC
2:07
Ray,  How do think the Bell situation will play out? Sign, franchise tag or let him walk?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Actually, it might be sign a contract or let him walk. They are negotiating with him now in hopes of getting something done before March 6. That's the first day of the new league year and free agency starts shortly thereafter. I think this year they'll do everything they can to get a deal done, but if they can't, they'll let him test free agency.
Emilio
2:08
If the Steelers do not sign Bell, and he signs with the Patriots. By how much the odds of beating them goes down to?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Belichick is not a big believer in running backs. He thinks they're pretty disposable so I just can't see a scenario where they pay him $15 million a year, especially for a players whose worth will depreciate over the period of a long-term deal. The Patriots don't operate that way,
ALB
2:10
Hi, Ray. Will there be any free agent linebackers, safeties or corners who could help the Steelers and have a price tag they might pay?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Navorro Bowman is probably the top free agent inside linebacker. They were willing to pay big money to Dont'a Hightower last March so I assume they'd be willing to do that again if they like Bowman or another ILB in free agency, especially with Shazier's future very much in doubt.
DaquidoBazzini
2:11
Hi Ray - I know you've mentioned the fact that the Steeler DL got mauled by the JAX OL in the playoff game. The Steelers have spend a lot of money on that line. What do you think caused this?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Great question. I think Tuitt was playing hurt all year. Hargrave had a back injury that prevented him from playing at full strength. Heyward was good all year but not all that good in that game. Stuff happens sometimes. The Jaguars controlled the game with their line. No one wants to hear excuses. The Steelers needed to be better along the D-line in that game and couldn't make it happen.
Jack
2:12
When is Art Rooney's year end press conference scheduled?  Do you expect to hear anything of substance (i.e. additional coaching changes, etc.)?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Probably in the next week or two. And I don't think you'll see any coaching changes at this point.
Jack
2:13
Is there any consideration being given to promoting Mike Munchak to Associate Head Coach?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Don't think they'd do that as long as John Mitchell is still in the same position. You can't really have two associate head coaches. And I don't think Munchak needs the title. Everyone in the NFL knows how important he is to the Steelers.
Rick
2:14
Hey Ray, Do you think I we should go to 4-3 and if we have the personnel to accomplish this,or simply get a real nose tackle like Casey Hampton..Just wondering what to do to help our run defense.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
You need more than a traditional nose tackle to stop the run. Bud Dupree wasn't very good against the run this year. And the inside backers struggled too. Plus, traditional nose tackles might get on the field 25 percent of the snaps in most games. Do you really want to invest a high-round pick for a player who doesn't play all that much?
Jack
2:15
How are Joey Porter and Carnell Lake still employed?  When you look at the lack of development and regression of some of our younger guys I'd have to give them a failing grade at this point.
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