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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 2.5.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
I think the Steelers can play smash-mouth if they want. I just don't think it suits Bell's running style. He has that hesitating style that has worked for him and to an extent the Steelers. Just not sure if it's always the best thing for the offense. The Eagles didn't have any negative running plays. Bell is always good for one or two or three a game. Not all his fault. Sometimes the OL is at fault. But I honestly don't think the issue is personnel on the offensive line. I think it's in the style of the running back who is getting most of the carries. And the Eagles do it without a fullback. They ran mostly out of 11 personnel. They ran well out of shotgun. You don't need a FB to have an effective running game. You just need to block well up front, and the Eagles do that exceedingly well.
Oldschool
12:29
During last night’s SB game, two very good defenses gave up a big yardage, big plays, and big points.  This offseason I know the Steelers will try to improve in all areas of the game, but are they better off putting a larger portion of available resources (money & draft pics) in the offense in hopes of just being able to outscore anyone? It pains me to ask that question as I love defensive football teams.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
I get where you are coming from, but had Jacksonville closed the deal in the AFC title game we might be talking about how the Jaguars defense won the Super Bowl because it shut down Nick Foles. You need both. You can't count on scoring 41 points to win a Super Bowl game. The Eagles know that. The Patriots know it, too. They're just so much better on offense than almost every other team. That's the way you have to play to beat them. You have to be aggressive and take chances. Otherwise, Brady will find a way to beat you in the end.
Bob Price
12:32
How perfect was the Ertz TD at the end, Ray.  Was it a case of the universe getting what it got wrong with Jesse James, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Steelers fans would argue the universe will be right when the Steelers hoist another Lombardi trophy on a similar play.
D. Fence
12:32
Ray, there are a lot of quality free agent safeties available.  LaMarcus Joyner, who only made 1.2 million this year comes to mind - granted he will make a lot more in free agency. Eric Reed 26 SF, Kenny Vaccaro 26 NO are a few others.  Isn’t it time to part ways with Mitchell and his 5.3 million that they can give to upgrade the position?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
Yes, but you have to know which of those players, or one in the draft, will be the right fit for your defense.
Joe in Greensburg
12:33
1. Haley was brought in and told to reduce the number of hits on Ben and to get the ball out quicker and help him to miss less games.  he did this.  Ben was more productive, took less hits and played in more games.  I disliked some of the play calling but why was Haley fired when he did what he was asked to do?  They did score over 40 in the playoff loss.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
You are discounting how relationships with players and coaches factored into the decision. Sometimes, it's about more than stats.
MaryI
12:34
Why on earth did coach refuse to play Harrison more?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Harrison missed some tackles and a sack last night, but he did collapse the pocket a number of times. He could have done that for the Steelers. He just couldn't drop into coverage with much effectiveness. I'm not saying the Steelers were right, but that's how they used their OLBs this year. They weren't rushing every single play.
Tom88
12:35
Do you think the refs taking away Jesse James TD had anything to do with the refs allowing Philly's?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Who knows? There's not a lot of transparency with the NFL office when it comes to these things. Seems like they make it up as they go along.
Unsullied Earholes
12:36
Yet again STs played a huge roll yet leading up to big games they rarely get talked about. NE's long snapper is ranked dead last before yesterday... just sayin'
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
I really need to know where you find these long snapper rankings!
Ike Steelheart
12:37
How do you think Randy F. will call plays, like Arians or like Haley?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
Probably like Randy Fichtner. Not being smart, just the reality. He's his own man and he'll put his own stamp on the offense.
OKC Dave
12:38
Do you think the play calling will get better now? Running wide on one of the fastest defenses in the league was ridiculous on 4th and 1. Bells "patience" works well on undisciplined plodding teams, but fast, better tackling teams can eat him up.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Play-calling can only do so much. Are the coaches really going to tell Le'Veon Bell how to run? They have to decide it his other skills are worth it. But there is no doubt in my mind his running skills are replaceable. Not so sure his skills as a receiver can be replaced. And they know that.
Unsullied Earholes
12:39
Belicheat benching/relegating Butler to STs at game time and his replacement not informed till then too... The genius has a crack in his manifesto? Butler is a free agent, how can other teams find out the truth of the why(s)?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
I agree. The genius outsmarted himself with that decision. He thinks he can win with any player off the street. Rowe will never be better than Butler, but Belichick convinced himself he could win without him.
Dr. Jay
12:41
Do the Steelers need to place heavier emphasis on 'durability' rather then 'speed' when drafting their inside linebackers?  The last two IML both have had major injuries  Spence/Shazier .
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Injuries are part of the game, but I'm not sure you can forecast which players will be injury-prone in the NFL. I think they try to do that, but it's hard to predict.
James in NE
12:41
So I suppose some business decisions don’t work out in the end, is this the end of the road for 92
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
Apparently, he told reporters in Boston that he'd like to continue playing. I think there are teams that might sign him.
NCDAN
12:42
Time to let Bell go, he's a cancer on this team. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
I don't necessarily think he's a cancer, but it might be time to move on because of the dollar he commands.
Heather
12:43
I thought Harrison played well last night - looked more disruptive thank Dupree.  I think we missed badly on that one. What are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
No one on the Patriots defense played well enough. Harrison collapses the pocket much better than Dupree, but Dupree is more athletic and they used him in coverage. The Steelers have a decision to make on Dupree. They can pick up or decline his fifth year option in May.
Unsullied Earholes
12:44
If the Eagles just jam Gronk at the line and shadow him/tackle in bounds on one or two of the plays before the HM... Brady runs out of time and has no shot at the endzone... It worked out but why do coaches clench and go full prevent like that, all the time?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Eagles played the percentages and won. The chances of that Hail Mary being caught are like 100-1.
Luckybob
12:45
I feel differently than most about the job the defensive staff did this year. I think you judge coaches by how much they get out of the players they have to work with. Do you think that they can let Haley go because he took one of the most talented groups in the league and led them to 8th in scoring while Butler took a younger and comparatively less talented group to 7th in points against?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
You might have a point, but that doesn't explain the wide open receivers in the playoff game against the Jags. It doesn't explain the communication errors the players admitted were a problem all season. It doesn't explain the mental errors.
Ike Steelheart
12:46
Ray, what is your oponion regarding the 2018 Steelers opponents? I really think is one of the hardest schedules of 2018? Don't you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
Won't be easy, but injuries play a big part in how these things play out.
Ryno
12:47
Was it just me, or were the officials calling the game last night the way officials should have been calling all the games this season? Just seemed like there was a different quality of officiating last night from what we are used to seeing.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
On the field and in the replay booth. I agree. I just have a hard time defending the lack of consistency when it comes to replay reviews. The standard used during the regular season was different from the postseason. That's not right. Really, the Steelers should have been the No. 1 seed and the Patriots No.2. Maybe the Jaguars beat the Patriots in the division round and the Steelers beat the Titans. Then who knows what happens in the AFC title game against the Jags? You see where I'm coming from. They totally messed with the playoff seeding with that call on James.
Zach B.
12:50
Hi Ray - I think we should try and sign one of the top safeties in FA, either Eric Reid, Tre Bost or Vaccaro after cutting Mitchell then draft two stud ILB’s 1-3. In the draft. Shazier cannot be replaced but if you have two young stud ILB with early round pedigree we could be scary on D, what do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
Not a bad idea. But you never know what you're getting in free agency.
Steeler in Charlotte
12:50
Do you think Bryant gets traded before the draft, or is he back on solid footing with the team?
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