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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 4.16.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
It's not so much they need depth is they're growing old together. Eventually, they're going to need to inject some youth into the starting five. All five are 28 or older. So I'd rather see them spend a high pick on a long-term answer at LG because Foster is done after this year. I've said this in the past. I would not be surprised if they take an interior OL in the first round if those four ILBs are gone.
Qnes
12:20
Ray do you think they would consider drafting a pass rush specialist DE? Especially since they play either nickel or dime over 50% of the time.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Maybe, but teams are having more success rushing QBs from the interior than the outside in recent years. That's why I'd like to see them address DL earlier than most people who cover this team. Jacksonville and Denver have had success in recent years when they've had studs up front. The Steelers have a few good players in Heyward and Tuitt, but noth the depth the Broncos did when they won the Super Bowl and certainly not the depth the Jaguars had last season.
JamesinNYC
12:21
Billy Price from Ohio St is maybe best center...could play guard thoughts if he is there and 4ILB are gone?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
He's also injured and I think his status for camp might be up in the air. Don't know if he'd go in the first round because of that. But if for some reason he falls to late second round I'd run the card to the podium. He'd be a great value pick there. I just don't think he'll be there.
jake
12:23
I'm not sure what Mel Kiper makes per year, but whatever it is he definitely isn't worth it. I went back and looked at his final mock draft before the 2017 draft, and compared it to the selections each team made. He got 6 out of 32 picks correct. You have one job
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
It's hard to do those mock drafts because trades screw things up sometimes. One trade can change the draft order for  a bunch of other teams.
Corey from Minnesota
12:23
As we get even closer to the draft how confident are you that one of the top ILB’s will still be on the board when the Steelers pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
On a scale of 1-10? A 6.
Guest
12:24
Is there any chance the Steelers are thinking that Shazier could return in 2019, and that they just have to get by without him for one season (with Bostic as a decent stopgap)? They have to assume Shazier is never going to play again, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Right. They have to operate like that even though they want the best for Ryan.
Robert
12:24
If a FS is 1st pick would he challenge Davis right away or would he spend the year as a Dime player?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
That's why I see safety as an unlikely pick in Round 1. You have Davis, who has two years left on his rookie contract, and you have Burnett, who just signed a three-year contract. Plus, they think Davis might be better at FS than SS. So don't you want to give him some time to figure it out?
Ryan from SC
12:26
Do you think Harrison who has been known as a Villain in the NFL has any regrets of how things went down and possibly tarnishing his status with the Pittsburgh fan base that held him in such high regard?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
Based on stories Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac wrote after his release it didn't seem like he had any regrets right after all that stuff happened. I think I remember one quote where he said maybe he wishes he handled a few things in a different manner, but he never apologized or anything like that. He felt like he was wronged by the coaches because he said he was promised playing time.
dpreble001
12:28
Ray , I  also like the two center prospects, could we take one with the idea of moving pounce to guard next year with foster being an aging free agent?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
They'd have to have a plan like that, yes. Or one or two of those guys like Price and Daniels might have the versatility to play guard until Pouncey retires.
Snake eyes
12:28
Why are so many Steelers fans so eager to get rid of MB10? We're all obsessed with beating the Patriots,hasn't anyone noticed big receivers have always given the Patriots problems.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
I don't have Bryant's stats against the Patriots in front of me, but I don't remember him doing anything real special in any of the games the Steelers played against the Patriots in recent years. I could be wrong though.
Joseph
12:30
Any particular sleepers your keeping any eye that would be a good fit for the Burgh?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
An interior OL in the first round.
Joseph
12:30
Do you think drafting a RB early like Guice would piss of Le’veon and cause friction to the locker room?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
I don't think that would be an ideal situation, but Bell has been a pro ever since he arrived in Pittsburgh. I don't think that would change. He knows it's a business more than anyone.
Colin
12:31
Why not OLB in rd 1?  We need depth and Dupree hasn't exactly panned out.  If Harold Landry from BC is there...we have to take him..or Lorenzo Carter.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
This isn't a strong group of edge rushers. No need to reach for one in a bad year. They can address OLB next year when the prospects might be better.
Rodney
12:32
Are the Steelers interested in going after an OLB in the draft to push or replace Dupree
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
I think they could add some depth there, but I don't think they're necessarily in the market for a starter with Dupree and Watt returning.
John
12:33
What’s your stance on Pittsburgh potentially taking a CB in the first round?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
If the top four ILBs are off the board I could see it because DBs are so important in today's NFL.
Brian
12:33
Ray, do you see a scenario where the Steelers take a first round o lineman like Price, or Daniels. They release Ramon Foster for cap reasons?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Yes, but cutting Foster wouldn't save a whole bunch of money. He'd be a pricier backup for sure if he lost his starting job, but they wouldn't have to cut him. They might, but he doesn't make enough money that they have to.
TSettles
12:35
What is the reason the NFL devalued running backs? When did it start happening?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
It's been happening, but there seems to be a running back renaissance over the past year or two. As we all know, Le'Veon Bell is trying to reset the RB market. If he does, that trend could go inthe other direction because Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott are next in line.
Brad Suwinski
12:37
Reports starting to surface that Vander Esch is flunking physicals with some teams, and Evans still has Groin issues.   Is it possible that neither is even on the Steelers board come draft day?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
Do you have a link for your Vander Esch stories? I'd like to read them.
John
12:38
Wouldn’t LeVeon taking the initial deal the Steelers offered reset the running back market?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
Yeah it'd be like $6 million more than the next RB.
Brad Suwinski
12:40
Vander Esch link   http://www.walterfootball.com/NFLHotPress
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Thanks just read it.
Bud
12:42
Any noticeable absences from the voluntary off season workouts that started today?
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