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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 5.21.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:53
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get it started.
Brian
11:54
Which Steeler rookie logs the most snaps in 2018 season ? Who is your favorite add from draft or undrafted free agent signings ?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:55
Assuming he remains injury-free, I would have to say second-round pick James Washington. Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner came out and said they are expect him to assume the No. 3 WR spot that was vacated by Martavis Bryant being traded to the Raiders. I expect Terrell Edmunds to see duty as a sub-package DB but I don't expect him to start. The sub-package DB last year was Will Gay, and he only played 35-40 percent of the snaps I think.
Brian
11:56
Will the Steelers keep cap space open for a late ILB free agent signing from training camp or is the team set to move forward with what they have now on the roster ?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
I think they'll keep their eyes open for any players that might be able to help them. But I don't sense they feel completely uncomfortable with their roster as they start OTAs. Maybe they make a move before training camp or after final cut-downs, but they seem to like Tyler Matakevich as a top reserve. If he's healthy it might not be an issue, but he is coming off shoulder surgery and shoulders sometimes can be tricky.
Brian
11:57
Ray, what do you think the toughest back to back weeks are on the 2018 schedule ? I feel Carolina and Jacksonville will be much more physically demanding than Patriots, Saints - your thoughts ?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Well, Jacksonville battered the Steelers last season in both meetings so that certainly doesn't shape up as an easy game for the defense. However, I have a feeling the Patriots and Saints are better than the Panthers so I'll go with option 2. Plus, those two games are at the end of the season, and the stakes will be much higher.
International steeler
11:59
Do you think any of the  undrafted rookies would make the team
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Way too early to tell. Check back with me in mid-August.
KN
11:59
Hello. I would like to get your initial impression of ILB Matthew Thomas based on the rookie minicamp .  I understand that its early and without the pads but how was the minicamp for him ?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
He was fine, but as I just stated, you can't tell a whole heck of a lot from practices without pads. If these undrafted free agents make a name for themselves it will be in training camp and the preseason games.
Tallahassee-Jim
12:00
My thoughts on Terry Bradshaw's kind of distant relationship with the Pittsburgh region takes me back to when Cleveland's Joe "Turkey" Jones sacked Bradshaw, dropping him on his head, and Steeler fans cheered. Plausible???
Ray Fittipaldo
12:01
That game was inside Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Browns fans might have been cheering, which doesn't surprise me.
SteelerfanMike
12:01
Hi Ray, as great a player as he may be, I will be so glad when Bell's time has come and gone. I am so ready for a fresh start and getting our run game back in shape without having to deal with all of the "Deva" muck. Anyhow, what are your feelings as to whether or not Connor is going to mend and be the go to man, or if the rookie is going to step up to the plate and be a versatile option that big Ben can use in many different fashions. Personally though, I sure miss the "smash you in the mouth - Big bully" style running game.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
We'll see tomorrow if Conner is ready to go after his knee surgery. Tomorrow is the first day of OTAs. The backup RB is up for grabs right now. You have Conner, Ridley and Jaylen Samuels, the rookie fifth-round pick in contention along with veteran Fitz Toussaint. It might not matter if the Steelers simply play Bell every snap as they did last season. But if they have a new approach (and count me among those who think they need their backups to get more carries) the competition this spring and summer might be worth watching. I have to imagine they'll give Conner every opportunity to win that job, but his injury history has to concern them.
574Fan
12:05
Hi Ray - RE: The recent trend of our OLBs dropping into coverage - Is this a strategic shift in the defense that we will continue to see, or was it more of a necessity due to certain players in coverage behind them (mainly the safeties)?  Maybe the draft and addition of Burnette free up Bud and TJ to rush more if the latter is true, esp in nickel/dime packages?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
You make some good points. Having better athletes and better players in the back end of your defense will certain create more options for Keith Butler. The Steelers 3-4 defense has always been at its best when the OLBs are rushing, sacking and creating turnovers. We haven't seen enough of that in recent years, and the OLBs dropping into coverage more last season did not help. I'm interested to see how things unfold in training camp. I think we'll get a better idea then of what Butler is thinking in terms of how he deploys his players.
Earnest Jackson
12:07
Ray, what are you most looking forward to in OTA's?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Lots of stuff... How Rudolph and Ben interact... What is the defensive alignment and personnel, especially in the secondary (base and sub-packages). Where will the safeties line up, etc... Will James Washington have some immediate chemistry with Ben???... Those are a few off the top of my head.
Earnest Jackson
12:09
Ray, I live in Charlotte and while it's a brutal game to attend for football, it's great for autographs. Do you think Tepper will keep the tradition of the Panthers and Steelers playing the last pre-season game every year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
I don't see any reason why not. Dan Rooney and Jerry Richardson, the previous owner, had a great relationship. I assume both teams will want to keep that going.
DJB
12:10
What happened with the relationship of Polamalu and the organization? Did Troy feel like he had something else left to give or what? It just seems like a weird situation for a person like Polamalu.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I don't know all the details, but I do believe there is a strained relationship. Those things tend to mend over time.
Steeler Joe
12:10
Do you think the new kickoff rules actually might make the play relevant again--and give the Steelers a reason to think hard about who they put back there to return kicks?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
I've read about the rules changes, but I want to see what it looks like before I make any judgments on the play. Honestly, at this point I'd rather them take the play out of the game if it's that dangerous. I, for one, would not miss the kickoff.
Steeler Joe
12:11
I was surprised the Steelers didn't take another WR in the draft. Going in, I assumed they would draft a No. 4...With Bryant gone, I would have expected a double-dip at the position. Do you think they think that favorably about who is already on the roster or in the mix?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
There certainly is not a lot of depth behind Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington. Right now you have Justin Hunter and Darrius Heyward- Bey as the next-best options though I think Eli Rogers could be added back to the mix once he heals from his knee surgery. A healthy Rogers wouldn't be a bad No. 4 receiver. He's not a No. 3, but I think he can be a viable No. 4 in this league.
ByeByeMrLeveonGuy
12:13
I think Washington will surpass Bryant's 2017 production. "A 4.5 player all day long" is what I've heard.  Sometimes that conditioning is awesome.  What's your take on Washington (I know we have to see game-action to really know)?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Well, they're counting on him so he better be good.
Bobby
12:13
Ray, Any trade value for one of our back-up QBs? I'm thinking Landry may be worth a 4th (he's proven) and possibly a 5 or 6 for Dobbs (well-rated coming out of draft). Given the Steelers situation at QB, wouldn't it also make sense for other teams to simply wait to see which one gets cut? That is, unless they really covet one of them and want to beat everyone else to the punch.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
Unless there is a desperate team out there with major depth issues at QB I don't see a ton of value for Jones or Dobbs to be honest. Maybe you could get a sixth or seventh-round pick for Jones. Maybe.
DaquidoBazzini
12:14
Hi, Ray - What  were the (supposed) weaknesses in Mason Rudolph’s game that knocked him down to the 3rd round?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
The knock on him is a lack of mobility. He didn't evade the rush very well as a college QB. Assuming the Steelers offensive line remains healthy that shouldn't be an issue if he has to play for the Steelers.
Andy
12:15
Which QB is gonna lost in the shuffle Dobbs or Jones?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Right now my money is on Dobbs, but it all depends on how well Rudolph does in camp and in the preseason. If he shows he can handle the backup duties then the Steelers will have a decision on their hands.
Taz
12:16
Hi Ray, I get why the Steelers haven't moved on FA ILBs, but why haven't OTHER teams moved on Bowman?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Bowman has had some injuries, so maybe teams are concerned about that.
Jersey Steel
12:16
Hi Ray - anyone below the radar in year 2 that may surprise or have an impact this year such as Keion Adams or Farrington Hueguenin?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Adams is someone to watch this spring and summer. They liked him enough to keep him on IR all year last year.
Matt Barbarino
12:17
Ray, with LeVeon Bell not showing up until @ least Week 1 this year, what do you think of Jaylen Samuels? Do you believe that if LeVeon Bell won't be here next season that he would be a good replacement or do you see someone like James Conner being a good replacement or look for someone in the draft?
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