You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 2.26.18
powered byJotCast
Ray Fittipaldo
11:49
Let's get started.
Justin
11:49
If Derwin James or Ronnie Harrison is available which are you leaning towards?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:51
Derwin James has been the more highly touted player. I've seen him in the top 15 in most mock drafts. I've seen Harrison mocked to the Steelers at No. 28. But if both are available I'm going with James because he's the better player. He's more athletic and has more range. I just don't expect him to be there.
TEAM
11:51
Is Lawrence Timmons returning to the Steelers this season a realistic possibility/is it a good idea?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:54
Reports out of Miami are that he'll be cut March 14, the first day of the new league year. Knowing how the Steelers operate yes it's a distinct possibility. They value players who know the defense and the culture. Plenty of other players have left and come back. It doesn't always work, but if Timmons is willing to play for somewhere around $2 million a year on a two-year deal I think it makes sense for the Steelers. It gives them a quality albeit aging player at a position where they are desperate for depth. But I wouldn't go much beyond $2 million a year for Timmons because I'm not sure that he projects as a full-time starter.
Mr. Ray
11:54
Ray, are you going to be in Indy for the Combine?  Or is Gerry gonna be?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:55
Gerry is driving to Indy tomorrow and will have daily stories every day after that. Kevin Colbert is scheduled to talk Wednesday morning so stay tuned for Gerry's dispatches from the combine.
Shrinkage
11:55
How much weight should an NFL front office ascribe to a one year trend? Referring specifically to Pats and Eagles getting to SB without a feature back / people using that in L. Bell argument.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
Well, considering the Patriots have had the same philosophy for most of the past two decades and have been to eight Super Bowls in that span I'd say it's  more than a one-year trend. And, it should be noted, the Patriots and Eagles are not alone in the way they approach the RB position. Plenty of other teams have no clear-cut No. 1 and have multiple players who fill a variety of roles within their offense. The Steelers like having their bell cow in Bell, but there are other ways to fill the void if they cannot come to an agreement.
PGH
11:58
So, areas of need in the draft/free agency in order of need...1. ILB 2. safety 3. then what?   THANK YOU
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Assuming Bell is on the team, WR. If they let Bell walk, then RB becomes next immediate need after ILB in first round.
MItchell fan
11:59
Is Mike Mitchell definitely not returning this season?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
They have not cut him yet, but it's certainly a possibility they will.
Guest
11:59
Losing Chris Hubbard (probably) will be tough. Who is the guy best-suited to replace him?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:01
Chris Hubbard played center, guard, tackle and tight end. There is no one on the roster who can do all of those things. So they'll have to rely on different guys to fill his spot. Jerald Hawkins now becomes the top backup tackle and perhaps the third TE is they keep that package as a staple under Randy Fichtner. The top interior backup is BJ Finney, who is back on a one-year deal.
Guest
12:01
What do you think a Randy F. offense will look like as compared to the Todd H. offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
He has been given a directive from Art Rooney to improve in the red zone and in their situational play-calling on third and fourth downs. So I would expect some wrinkles in those two areas. The rest of the offense I would expect to remain very similar to Todd Haley's offense. That's the main reason they kept Fichtner. They wanted to keep things rolling in the same direction.
TEAM 2018
12:03
If Mike Mitchell is released, are there any FAs out there who might be able to fill in well for him and are affordable?  Thank you, Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
Vaccarro from the Saints will be out there. He's a former first-round pick. But honestly, I would expect a draft pick because right now with Bell's situation up in the air I'm not thinking the Steelers will be all that active in free agency. That might change if they decide not to retain Bell, but their intentions are to keep him and he'll eat up a good portion of the remaining cap money, especially if he gets the franchise tag again.
Guest
12:05
How do you expect Keion Adams to contribute this season? Will he make the team?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
He was injured fairly early on in camp last summer so I don't have a lot to go on. I do know they kept him on IR all season, which means they like his potential. But he'll have to show that he can play in prseason games to warrant a spot on the 53-man roster.
Guest
12:06
Is Cedric Wilson's son really as good as some of the local media are making him out to be?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
I'm not sure what others are saying about him, but I had him as a fifth-round pick in my first mock draft. I think he'd be a good option then. Not really sure that qualifies as making him out to be really good.
Cam
12:07
As a big Hawks fan I’d love to see the Steelers draft Jewell, do you think there’s any chance he slips to us in the third round? I couldn’t see them taking him in the second.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
I guess it's a possibility. He's not a guy who is going to test all that well this week. But honestly, he's a good player, and expecting him to fall toward the end of the third might be wishful thinking.
Utah Jim
12:08
Hi Ray, if Spence was better than Matakevich then why wasn't he on the roster in the first place or was the latter injured?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
Matakevich was injured in the same game as Shazier. He was able to come back and play on special teams, but his shoulder was not healthy enough to play as a linebacker. They still like Matakevich, but I don't think they view him as a starter, certainly not a long-term starter.
Moose
12:10
Good day Ray.  Only 2 RB's over the age of 26 have rushed for over 1k.  Factor in Bell's past off the field issues, serious injuries, and that it is a passing league, shouldn't the Steelers tag Bell and let him walk at age 27?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
I don't think your stat is correct. There have been plenty of players 26 or older to rush for more than 1,000 yards. But your final suggestion that they franchise him again and let him walk after next season remains a possibility. The Steelers are keeping that option open if they can;t sign him long term.
Moose
12:11
Realistically, what is the highest draft pick could you see us getting for MB?  Would you trade him for a 4th?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Realistically a fifth, maybe a fourth. But that's not worth it for the Steelers. In Bryant, they are getting a cheap player in the final year of his rookie contract that can help them be a contender. Not to mention that he'll be motivated because he'll be in the final year of his deal and eager to play well for potential 2019 suitors in free agency.
question from last week
12:13
Ray, per your chat from last week I was able to connect the dots a little bit on the theory that Trey Griffey was signed as part of a publicity stunt with the Mariners designed to play off the fame of HOFer Ken Griffey Jr. It turns out that Jack Zduriencik, who until just recently was the GM of the Mariners, is from New Castle, PA and went to Cal U of PA for college. Presumably, he is a Steelers fan and if we connect the dots I'm betting he had a hand in getting Trey Griffey to the Steelers. The publicity will pay off even if Griffey doesn't make the team.   Thanks for the great chats, Ray!   Think Griffey will make the team?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
Not sure it was a publicity stunt, but he has an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster.
Franco
12:14
Hi Ray, Franco from Canada.................any chance the Steelers look into signing Tyler Eifert. He has been cleared and would be a fantastic weapon if healthy. I know a big if but might be worth the risk! Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Vance McDonald was a very good receiving threat when he got healthy late in the season. I honestly see a need for the Steelers to sign a TE in free agency or draft one in the first few rounds of the draft. Maybe in the fifth round or later but not before then.
Moose
12:15
I really like the kid at ILB from Boise State.  He, like TJ, just looks like a football player.  Will he be gone by the time we pick in round 2?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
Yes, Leighton Vander Esch will be gone by the time the Steelers pick at the end of the second round. But he might be an option in the first round, especially if he tests well and interviews well at the combine. I like Rashaan Evans a little better than Vander Esch, but I am starting to think he might be a guy the Steelers consider at No. 28. He only had one really good season in college, but TJ Watt was sort of the same way. He didn't have a ton of college production. The Steelers saw traits they liked and pulled the trigger. Could be a similar scenario this year with Vander Esch. He's definitely a player to watch this week at the combine.
Guest
12:18
Why don't the Steelers just adopt the same mindset towards Leveon Bell that they have towards Chris Hubbard? That is, he's too expensive for us, so let him test the market and we'll all move on towards solving our defensive deficiencies and replace Bell via the draft.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Well, mostly because Chris Hubbard is a backup who has filled in admirably as a starter. Bell is an All-Pro, and the Steelers like to keep All-Pros when they are in their prime years. And at 26, Bell certainly remains in his prime. I'm not saying it's the right move by the Steelers. Paying a RB double what any other RB makes would be a bold move. I'm just telling you the philosophy the Steelers have on star players who are still in their prime.
zero
12:20
Did the Steelers expect to get Compensatory picks or is this ruling of zero picks a non-surprise to the organization?
Load More Messages
Connecting…