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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 1.8.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
You have to pick your spots with stacking the box. You don;t want to give Bortles easy throws or chances for big plays either. They just have to stay in their gaps and be disciplined. Several of the defensive players said today they weren't in their proper gaps enough in the first meeting.
mtsteel
1:58
Hi Ray, Thanks for the chat.  I can't help but talk about how the one Jesse James catch changes the path we have to the Super Bowl.  Now the Pats get a relatively easy game at home against the Titans and we get a tough game against the Jags top defense. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
You are 100 percent right. Jacksonville should be going to NE this week and the Steelers should be playing host to the Titans. But Alberto did his thing, and they're in the position they're in. As Mike Tomlin would say: "No use crying over spilled milk."
Zach B
1:59
Hi Ray - The way to beat Jacksonville is with quality run defense and to Run the ball on offense!! Do you see our strategy as Run to set up the Pass come Sunday??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
They'll certainly try to be more balanced. I think you have to be careful. The Jaguars know the Steelers want to establish th run in this game so the passing game might be there early. It's a chess match. Todd Haley obviously got check-mated in the first meeting. He'll look to redeem himself in the rematch.
Keith Butler
2:01
Ray, So I'm thinking basically contain Fournette and we have the game, agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Sure, but that's a big if considering Fournette went for 200 in the first game. If it was that easy they would have done it the first time.
Zach B
2:01
Ray - hope that Spence is up to speed by now because if our run defense looks like it did against the Ravens we may be in trouble!!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
True. He's been better since the Ravens game, but he'll certainly be tested. The Jaguars would be negligent if they didn't try to run right at him.
Zach B
2:02
Ray - Bortles is horrible - should we put 8 in the box leaving Hargrove on the field with Davis as a Spy and and have our secondary play match up zone?? Load up to stop run??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Can't keep 8 in the box all game, but you are right in one respect. Play basic, sound, fundamental defense and make Bortles beat you. Don't run around, trying to confuse him. They've confused themselves too often this season. Just line up and play football. If that doesn't work then adjust at halftime. But I'm kind of sick of watching this defense with all of their communication errors. No need to fool this team. Just line up and play football.
Jethro the Go-rilla
2:04
Ray, do you think the Steelers will have someone shadow Bortles to prevent/stop his running? Who would they use? Dupree? Watt? Williams?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Dupree or Watt. Don;t think they did it much if at all in the first meeting against the Jaguars.
Sal Riveron
2:04
Ray..what is your biggest complaint on the whole NFL replay review system?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
There is no consistency. That Jalen Ramsey INT was no different than the Jesse James touchdown. The ball hit the ground. It was trapped. At least with James he made a football move, stretched across the goal line, etc. Ramsey rolled over and clearly trapped the ball against the grass, and yet his INT was allowed to stand. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Alberto Riveron is a stooge who has no idea what he is doing. He'll be fired in a few weeks, but in the meantime he's going to ruin more of the NFL's product.
Jethro the Go-rilla
2:06
Ray, if the Steelers get past Jacksonville and the Pats beat the Titans, do you anticipate another 3 a.m. fire drill in your hotel next Saturday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Probably at their hotel. Luckily, we'll be staying somewhere else.
Jethro the Go-rilla
2:07
Ray, not many weaknesses on the Jacksonville defense. Campbell is scary and the d-backs proved in October they can step in front of Ben's throws. Make for a heavy dose of Le-Veon Bell Sunday?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Certainly more than the 15 carries he had in October.
Gilberto Riveron
2:08
Why are receptions microreviewed but any other plays such as interceptions are not?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Ask Alberto.
Mongo
2:08
I think this team has one glaring weakness and it's Mike Mitchell...do you agree and if not please tell what he does well as a Safety?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
It's not all Mike Mitchell. They have other issues such as communicating well enough, tackling well enough, covering well enough. I'm looking for this defense to get ack to where it was early in the season. I know that's difficult without Ryan Shazier, but I feel like they can do much better than what they've been showing late in the season.
Jon
2:09
Jags have a solid pass rush and it seems that they were able to force errors by putting Ben under pressure last time, how do you see the OL stacking up against the Jax front this time around?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Have to help them out by running the ball more nad more effectively this time. Can't ask them to pass protect 55 times and expect them to hold them off every single time.
Joe
2:10
I think the Steelers must use a lot of no huddle in this game to move the ball. They weren't really using it when they played the Jags earlier. Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
I wouldn't mind seeing it mixed in.
J. Schmoe in CLV
2:10
Ray - the Ramsey interception that sealed yesterday's game was reviewed and upheld due to lack of conclusive evidence. Clearly the ball moved but it was hard to say if his hand stayed underneath it.  Makes sense and as a fan I agree with that logic. My question is how was this any different from the James' catch that was overturned against the Pats? No conclusive evidence was present. Frustration overload here as I feel NY should keep their noses out of calls made by their officials on the field.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
It's not any different than the James catch. And I disagree with you. You can clearly see the ball hit the grass. It was an incomplete pass by the letter of the law.
Jon
2:11
Without Shazier this time around will the Steelers D be able to contain Fournette?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
By the defenders being in the gaps they're responsible for.
Doug from Raleigh
2:11
While it would be terrific to see Bell get 30 productive touches,  Ben doesn’t really start cooking until he throws 8, 10, 12 passes in a row.   How do strike the proper balance, unless everything clicks?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Doesn't matter as long as they are moving the ball. Run, pass, it doesn't matter. This game will be all about converting the opportunities in the red zone.
Kevin in Punxsy
2:12
Sorry, but I didn't see a "great" defense when I watched yesterday's game between the Jags and the Bills, The Bills had receivers open most of the day, but Taylor couldn't see then and connect.  I don't see Ben having the same problems. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Roethlisberger is certainly better than Tyrod Taylor, but he certainly had his issues against this defense a few months ago. I don't know how you ignore that going into this game.
Pants
2:13
Hey Ray, Usually I want the easiest road to sbl but not this year.  I want the pats.  We have been to the sbl enough times.  I think beating the pats will add alot to the steelers legacy.  Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Better worry about beating the Jaguars first.
Jon
2:14
Ray, we all know that the Jags defense is and has been their strongest asset. But bottling up the Bills very mediocre offense is not exactly a shining example of defense prowess. Have they lost a step since week 5?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I haven't watched all of their games to know that. I know SF did score 44 on them late in the regular season. They're certainly beatable. However, this won't be an easy game for the Steelers by any stretch of the imagination.
SMF
2:15
Great Chat Ray.  The Pro game hasn't changed.  Outside Winter football is won with running the ball and tackling the run.  If the Steelers do not do that well Sunday, they will lose.  Made more check downs and short stuff to #26.  Who can tackle Fournette--Spence, Vince, Hargrove?  If it's left to Burns, Gay, and Mitchell--long day.
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