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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 2.4.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:52
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we'll get started soon.
Waldo Jeffers
11:54
The Rams should probably fire Sean McVay, right? That’s what you do when your coach doesn’t make half-time adjustments and loses the big game, right? You fire him. His team also got hit with a too-many-men-on-the-field flag, so clearly they’re all undisciplined divas.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:56
Sean McVay, like hundreds of coaches before him, was outclassed by Bill Belichick. Belihick stopped the run and forced Jared Goff to win the game. He failed miserably. I saw the Rams on a few occasions during the season and I never thought they had great WRs. That was proven last night. Brandin Cooks came up very small on the few occasions he had a chance to step up and make a play.
DW
11:56
Ray, were you surprised Faneca didn't get into the HOF this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
No because I had been hearing it was going to be hard for him to get in this year. I was surprised that Kevin Mawae got it. He was the only one of the four offensive line up for the hall this year that did get in. Faneca, along with Tony Boselli and Steve Hutchinson did not make it. As most of you know, Faneca had more Pro Bowls and All-Pro honors than any of the other four linemen. Mawae only had three All-Pro selections. The good news for Faneca is the only slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer in the 2020 class is Troy Polamlau. That should allow Faneca and others an easier path next year.
DaquidoBazzini is
11:59
Hi, Ray - I know it’s probably not there, but at what point does the tampering line get crossed with Antonio Brown and the SF 49ers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
That's a good question. For the most part, it's been mostly Brown making overtures toward the 49ers and not the other way around. 49ers TE George Kittle  wrote something on Twitter, but he's a player and not a member of the front office.
BB
12:01
Ray - Thanks for the chats.  In last night's game, it looked like both teams have defensive backs and linebackers who can actually run and cover their opponent.....and a coaching staff that game plans and makes adjustments....the Steelers are more than a player or two away?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
It was a good night for the defenses. The Rams were impressive. The only issue they had was covering Edelman and many others have failed in doing that. Littleton, the ILB from the Rams, impressed me. You're right. The ILBs on both teams were close to receivers all night. That's what the Steelers need. Devin White and Devin Bush are the two best ILBs in this year's draft. Both would look great in a Steelers uniform.
Sam
12:03
Is there any greater summary of the divergent direction the 2 franchises exist in than the fact that on the same day as we watch the Patriots match the Steelers with 6 rings, we have to read reports that the Steelers are actually considering using another tag on Le’Veon Bell?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
That's offseason business. The Steelers are trying to make sure they get max value in return for Bell leaving. If the transition tag does than then so be it. They would not be tagging Bell to keep him.
Jeff Haney
12:04
What are the Steelers top 3 needs (in your opinion) come draft day?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
ILB, CB, OLB. WR enters the equation if Antonio Brown is traded.
Ryno
12:05
Any chance Burnett announced he wants out of Pittsburgh because he figured the Steelers wouldnt keep him because of his performance and injuries?  Maybe hoping other teams would have soe interest that way?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
I think that's a good assumption. He was injured a lot and the team could not depend on him. By asking for his release, he might have been trying to make himself more attractive to other teams. Either way, it was an odd move and one that did not put him in a very positive light.
SCL
12:06
Ray, if there is an equally rated first round corner and inside linebacker available when we pick, who do you think we pull the trigger on?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Good question. I would say ILB because you might be able to find a good outside corner in the second round. The number of fast, three-down ILBs isn't that long. I have Devin White and Devin Bush as my top two, and I would not draft another one in the first round. Mack Wilson of Alabama is probably third in that list, but he's not as fast or explosive as the Devins.
PANTS
12:08
Hi Ray----  I understand when james harrison is killing tomlin and brown and bells issues but now Hines ward demolished them the other day basically laughing at them , doesnt that have to have rooneys seriously thinking of making a change?? Oh and i forgot about rocky bleier
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I think that's part of the reason Art II did not commit to signing Tomlin to an extension in July. It's obvious there are some major issues facing the team and Tomlin will be challenged to right the ship. Other than Brown, I think all those other guys simply want what's best for the organization, and they're speaking their mind on what they see.
Ryan
12:10
Do you think the Steelers will go Draft or Free Agency to fill their ILB need? My guess is they will go with a combo but the starter will come via the draft.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
I could envision signing an ILB that could start but in an ideal world would be a top backup. I'm thinking Sean Lee if he's released and wants to come home to finish his career. He's older, but he's a leader and he can still run well enough. But make no mistake, they need to get a young three-down ILB in the draft if the right one is there.
Justin
12:12
When will the Steelers take notice of the Patriots running attack and deploy Nix more often?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
I tweeted a story on Bill Belichick last week. The premise was he zigs when the rest of the league zags. While the Steelers and a lot of other teams threw the ball more than they ever have Belichick figured out that these lighter/heavy defensive back packages were susceptible to the run. It's one of the things that makes him so great. He can see the future before it's here.
Steeltown
12:14
Do you think Steelers can be better without LB&AB?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Yes, did you see the Patriots win the Super Bowl with guys like Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, James White, Rex Burkhead? It can be done. Can the Steelers do it? Well, that's another question entirely.
Sam
12:16
From 2001-2004 the Patriots won 3 of 4 Super Bowls.  Immediately following that the Steelers went to 3 in 5 years while winning 2.  Other than the head-to-head dominance of New England, the franchises were at least fairly close in success for the decade of 2000-2010.  What in the heck has happened since?  They both have the same QB that won those titles and it could be argued the Patriots have had several seasons with “weaker” roster composition.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
Well, Brady and Belichick for starters. They're two of the best to ever do it. We say it every year, but the Patriots will not be the same once he retires. As good as Roethlisberger is, Brady is better. When you look at from an organizational standpoint, I think in the last decade the Steelers embraced talent and the star system while the Patriots went after smart players that fit their system. They might not have the most talented roster, but they have players that can adapt on the run. They do that better than any other team in the league.
SCL
12:19
Is there something to be said about taking a smaller corner who makes plays on the ball (byron murphy
) as opposed to a bigger corner who is consistently sticky in coverage but lacks making big plays (deandre baker)?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
I have Byron Murphy higher than Baker even though he's smaller. First off, when you watch him he doesn't play small. He throws his weight around when he tackles. And he's more of a ball hawk.
Bones
12:21
Am I the only one that thinks the Rams probably have serious buyers remorse with the Todd Gurley extension?  Why would the Steelers waste a single dollar on Lev Bell after watching younger/cheaper/hungrier backs succeed in the playoffs. That $10-$15 million/per would be a much better investment elsewhere.  Even in the Rooney's pockets to carryover again if no free agent signings happen this year.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
I think we're going to hear that Gurley was dealing with some kind of major knee issue that will require offseason surgery. He was their Bell and he was on the sidelines for half the game. Something is amiss. To your larger point, yes I think they are having buyer's remorse. He had knee issues in college and now he has them in the pros. Running backs take a beating and they have short shelf lives.
SCL
12:23
Ray, talent wise it doesn't seem as though our defense is far off from New Englands... Is it realistic to think we can reshape this defense in an offseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
The Patriots have some very talented players on their defense. Stephon Gilmore is a first-team All-Pro. Dont'a Hightower continues to play at a high level despite his advancing age. But the rest of them for the most part are good players that fit their system. They find players that can excel in their system and make it work. JC Jackson was an undrafted free agent. He was a starting CB in the Super Bowl. They just have a knack for finding and developing defensive players under Belichick.
Steel
12:26
Still believe AB is gone week 1? Do you believe teams will refrain from offering a first round pick for him? Feels like we lose if we get anything less...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I've said from the beginning you have to get fair value in return for him. And I agree anything less than a first-round pick wold be disappointing. However, the way he's acting the Steelers might be better off without him one way or the other.  When Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson are your mentors then you're beyond salvaging.
Kyle
12:27
Do you think the HOF would elect 2 former steelers in the same year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
Yes, why not? A couple of years ago they had two go in at the same time. I believe it was the year Bettis and Jack Butler got in.
Steel
12:28
Would we take a slightly higher rated defensive tackle/end, or go with best corner/inside linebacker available first round?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
The only problem with taking a DE in the first round is Heyward and Tuitt are signed to big contracts and are entrenched as starters. This is a good year for DEs and DTs so they could be in a position where one with a high grade does fall to them, but all things being equal I think they take an ILB or CB if the right one is available at No. 20.
Steel
12:30
DK metcalf seem like a possible first round target?
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