You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 7.2.18
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
11:52
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Fire away with any questions...
DaquidoBazzini
11:54
Hello Ray - What are your thoughts on Jon Bostic after seeing him a bit more?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:56
As far as what he is as a player it's really difficult to draw too many conclusions from OTAs and minicamp. It's football in shorts. We'll know much more about him once camp starts in a few weeks and then of course the preseason games. It is noteworthy to point out he played with the second-team throughout the spring. Tyler Matakevich got the reps with the first-team defense. We'll see what happens in camp, but for now it seems it's Matakevich's job to lose.
seferg
11:56
assuming the steelers finish first, how do you see the rest of the division finishing?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
I think the Steelers will finish first, but I don't think it will be as easy as it was last season. They won a lot of close games and it was an uncharacteristically down year for the Ravens. I expect the Ravens to bounce back so my order of finish is as follows: 1. Steelers (10-6) 2. Ravens (9-7) 3. Bengals (7-9) and 4. Browns (4-12).
Jonny Quest
11:58
Ray - how does moving Dupree to the right side help things?  Now he has to go against the left tackle who in most cases is bigger, stronger, etc.??  How does he get to the QB in that scenario?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:01
They're trying to help him in any way they can. The way Keith Butler and Joey Porter explained it, Dupree missed a number of sacks last season because the QB could see him coming from the left side. They hypothesized that by rushing from the blindside, Dupree will be able to get a few more sacks because the QB won't be able to see him coming. What you say about the left tackle is somewhat true. Most left tackles are better pass protectors than their counterparts on the right side, but the difference isn't as stark as it once was. You need two quality pass protectors at tackle to ward off opposing rushers nowadays.
DW
12:02
Ray, every year a team seems to fly under the radar going into the season and end up surpassing everyone's expectations.  If you were to venture a guess this season, who do you think that will be?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
I feel like the Chargers are one of those teams every year, but I really think they might be the best team in the AFC West. They have pass rushers, a very good QB in Phillip Rivers and some weapons he can distribute the ball to in a diverse offense. That's a very competitive division, but I think the Chargers could be a tough out if they make the playoffs. In the NFC, I know the Giants had a bad year last year, but they'll have a healthy O'Dell Beckham and Saquon Barkley to team with Eli Manning on offense. I can see them morphing back into a playoff contender pretty quickly if all three of those guys stay healthy.
jake
12:05
our depth at WR is a bit scary to me  they say Justin Hunter is looking good but they said the same thing last year. if JuJu or AB miss some time we are in trouble. any way take a look at Eric Decker?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
I think they'll wait to see if there are any major injuries. If Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington remain healthy there is no need to make a move. That's a very formidable top three. You have Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward-Bey and others vying for the fourth and fifth spots. The problem would come in if there was an injury to one of the top three. In that case, I could see them making a move. The most obvious move would be to sign Eli Rogers when he is cleared from his knee injury. He knows the offense and has been productive at times during his two previous seasons. I suppose Decker or another free agent could be in the mix too, but I think they would look to Rogers first.
Ohio Steel
12:08
I don't see Bell being a Steeler after this year due to finances.  Your thoughts.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
As things stand now -- 14 days until the deadline -- I agree with you. It's a very tough negotiation. The Steelers are willing to pay Bell almost twice as much as the next highest-paid back in the NFL, and Bell hasn't been receptive to those types of offers in the past year. He wants to be paid like a No. 1 RB and a starting WR. I can see his side of it. He wants to reset the RB market and be paid according to his production. That's why it's been hard for both sides to come to an agreement. Maybe we'll be surprised, but I tend to think Bell will play on the tag again and then hit unrestricted free agency after the season ends.
rod baran
12:11
Hi Ray, I was just wondering who you think will be working along side Vince Williams on week 1. I've heard a lot of good things about Edmonds, and Matatavich.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
My guess right now is Matakevich will line up with him in the base defense. Once they go to extra defensive backs in the subpackages I think there is a good chance Edmunds gets on the field then. But there is an entire training camp and foour preseason games in the offing. Lots can and will happen between now and the start of the regular season.
Iowa Steel
12:13
Ray, usually you build a side of the football based off of strength(s), or talents and go from there.  There also needs to be a team leader on both sides of the ball, Ben being one, whose the unit leader on D?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
That's easy. Cam Heyward.
Ryno
12:14
Do you feel like the Steelers came up with a good backup plan in the event that they would be unsuccessful in getting a quality inside linebacker in the draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Their backup plan was to draft a safety who is capable of playing near the line of scrimmage as a run-stopper. It's a plan. We have no idea how that plan will work. We all have been hearing for weeks how this defense is going to change, but we saw no signs of change in the spring. We all think we will see it in camp, but who knows what will happen. We'll have to wait and find out.
Jim
12:17
How will never crackdown on training camp tackle practices impact Steeler preparation. It seems that the NFL sees that preseason training camp concussions were a big problem... and the Steelers have been targeted as a team that engages in very ohysical practices
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
It's true the Steelers have more physical practices in camp than most teams. This new study was just unveiled last week so I imagine the Steelers will be discussing it in the coming weeks and perhaps adjust their plan for more hitting after the first or second week of practice. The Steelers have been pretty good about adjusting to new rules and recommendations when it comes to head injuries.
Lloyd's 3-Count
12:19
How do you envision Vance's role evolving now that he's in year two with the team?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
McDonald told the Post-Gazette during minicamp that he expects a breakthrough year. He was acquired just before the start of last season so there was a definite transition period for him learning the offense. Then he had a few injuries that held him back as well. If he's healthy he can have a big year. His problem over the years has been injuries though so we'll have to wait and see if he can put it all together in 2018.
Lloyd's 3-Count
12:21
Did you see any difference in how Bradley worked with the defensive backs compared against Lake?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
The spring was a big acclimation period for the defensive backs. They tried to straighten out new terminology and a new way of doing things under Bradley. I talked to several DBs and they all thought any issues would be worked out before camp started. So what I saw in OTAs and minicamp was a lot of on-field teaching and instructing.
Kool-Aid
12:23
Hi Ray, Between Bradley and Dunbar which coach do you feel will have more of an impact on their players?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
I think it has to be Bradley. Dunbar inherits a very talented group. I'm sure he'll tweak a few things and add some new ideas, but Heyward is an All-Pro and Tuitt isn't far behind. I don't know how much he'll want to change anything with his group. With Bradley, they're trying to make a bad to mediocre unit into a good one. That takes time it takes a good coach to try to accomplish that.
Ryno
12:25
What are the odds of the Steelers are looking to pick up an outside linebacker that might be cut from another team at some point?  They have little proven depth there at this point.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
I think you might be right. All depends upon how Keion Adams develops in camp. If he looks good they might feel like he's good enough to be a fourth OLB. I think they are happy with Chickillo as their top backup. I think he'll be fine in a short-term injury situation, not so much if Watt or Dupree is injured for a longer period.
Chubba
12:26
How can anyone be confident with TM at MLB after watching him in coverage last year?  The second Shazir went out Cinci found ways to get him into coverage situations and exposed him.... the man cant cover.... thought??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
Matakevich only played a few series against the Bengals before he too was injured. He suffered a shoulder injury and did not play defense the rest of the year. He played on special teams and that was it. I'm not saying he'll be good in coverage. His measurables suggest he'll struggle. But to base your point off a few plays in one game is a bit harsh. Let's see how he does in the preseason games.
Lloyd's 3-Count
12:28
Which training camp battles will you take particular interest?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
1. Matakevich vs. Bostic 2. The strong safety situation. Not so much who starts but how Edmunds is worked into things. 3. All CBs. Will Cam Sutton make a push to get on the field? 4. Is Vance McDonald going to earn the starting job over Jesse James. 5. Will Chuks Okorafor win the swing tackle job?
Ryno
12:30
Are you feeling good, apprehensive, nervous, neutral , or no clue what to expect about the change in offensive coordinators as it pertains to strategy and game planning?  The personality cohesion is a no-brainer, but I'm wondering about the X's and O's of it all.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Choosing from your choices I'll go with "feeling good" for no other reason than Randy Ficthner has been on staff since 2007 and has a good relationship with Ben Roehtlisberger. I think they'll work well together when it comes to devising game plans. The one thing to watch is in-game calling and adjustments. It's all on Fichtner now to make those quick decisions. He's never been in this position before so I don't know how he'll react, but the Steelers don't seem too concerned about it.
Ohio Steel
12:32
I think the Number 2 QB battle will be the most interesting.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
I forgot about that one. That's an obvious battle to watch.
Ryno
12:32
Odds they bring Moats back at some point, or has that ship sailed?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
Not entirely out of the question I suppose. I think he's staying in shape.
Lloyd's 3-Count
12:34
Who is the one former Steeler you look back and still can't figure out why they never became a star?
Connecting…