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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 8.20.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
The one thing they have going for them is they're quality special teams players. The coaches don't know sure how their competition is when it comes to their work on special teams.
Bud is Weiser
12:21
Good afternoon Ray, Dobbs has looked better at this point than Rudolph but having said that, I still think they keep Rudolph and Dobbs will be gone or practice squad. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Dobbs will be cut or placed on IR.
JoeB
12:21
Jordan Berry has been terrible in the first two preseason games. Any chance the Steelers start looking elsewhere?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
They do have another punter in camp. Maybe we'll see him punt Saturday at Heinz Field.
Schenker
12:22
The Steelers led the NFL last season with 56 sacks and also set the team record. So with a healthy Tuitt, Watt and Hilton now having a year experience under their belt and a motivated Dupree, is there any reason they shouldn't be able to do it again and actually be MORE productive??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
There is a reason it was a record. It's hard to get that many sacks in a season. So no, I'm not banking on another season like that.
Livinthedream
12:24
Other than no pass rush, no run stopping and no coverage the defense looked pretty good. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
I'm reminded of the John McKay quote from years ago when he was asked about his team's execution: "I'm all for it," he said.
Zach B
12:24
Hi Ray, Are you like me an believe a 6’7, 352 pound monster is better suited to help us stop the run at NT than an undersized NT who is better suited as the first reserve at DE to rush the passer?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
I have to admit that was my first reaction when I saw McCullers start vs. the Packers. He's been with the first-team defense in practice some too. But then again, Tomlin said Saturday not to read too much into who is starting preseason games. He wants to give guys opportunities.
Geo Net
12:26
Hi Ray. Do you think Marcus Allen will play this week and if so, a decent chance of making the 53?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
"You can't make the club from the tub."  Allen has missed a lot of practice time so I'm not confident right now that he's on the 53.
Zach B
12:27
Hi Ray - Tuitt cannot continue to miss sacks when they are there to be had, has he earned his massive contract in your mind?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
You're right. He has to start finishing those plays. Pressures are nice, but he's getting paid to get sacks.
dm from.Indiana
12:27
Hey Ray, thanks for your time.  From watching both Steeler preseason games the defense and secondary seems a big concern and of course a season problem.  Scoring 34 pts was great, but defense gave up 51 !  Secondly, what's your thoughts on these new helmet rules ?  With people already getting tired of the NFL these new rules are going to decide alot of games outcome.  And the rule of having a player standing over the center really had me confused >>> what's with that rule ?  Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Art Rooney II warned us at the beginning of camp that officials might throw more flags for the helmet rule in the preseason and early in the regular season in hopes of teaching the players and warning them. But I don't like what I see of the new rule. They're getting just as many wrong as they are right. I'd rather them fine players after the fact that mess with the integrity of the game. The officials just aren't getting enough of those calls correct, and that's a big problem for me. You don't want to see a game decided when an official makes a bad judgment call on the helmet rule.
Paul
12:30
Can you explain the strange fascination that the Steeler coaches have with Fitz Toussant? I get that he shows an occasional flash in practice but after 3 plus years, I think it’s obvious that he is a subpar NFL player at best. In his biggest moment he fumbled away a huge game anyway. Why must we continue to see him put in time after time even in preseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
Toussaint has played well. I think they are comfortable with him. But I don't think he is the favorite to be the final RB on the 53. Heck, they cut him last year and put him on the practice squad for half the season. They won't be afraid to cut him again.
rob
12:31
am i crazy to think, we should just throw thomas in as the starting LB next to williams? i mean, he's alteast got a lot of speed. on that long td they had, he came out of nowhere to atleast catch up to the receiver. nice to see he didn't quit on the play. bostic is slow
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
But does he know what he's doing on every snap? He's an undrafted free agent. That's an awful big leap for a coacihng staff to make.
K Dot
12:31
Is Dupree starting job on the line?  He seemed to play down on 2nd/3rd stringers
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
He's a first-round pick. They have to start him. I am writing about Dupree today. I'll have a story up early this afternoon. I liked what I saw from him in coverage against the Packers and I'm intrigued by him playing ILB in some packages and rushing from there. But he has to be productive as an outside pass rusher in order for the Steelers to excel and in order for him to warrant a second contract. Green Bay left tackle David Bakhtiari shut him down. He's a good player, really good. But Dupree has to start playing well against those types of players. I'm willing to give him a pass for Thursday night. He missed the previous week with a concussion and only had a few practices to get ready for that game.
GjC
12:34
Can you tell we what the coaches likes about out # 1 pick?  I thought he looked slow and was beaten badly by very average receivers and tight ends in GB.  He doesn’t look like he hits all that hard either
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Well, he's not slow. I can tell you that. He's quite athletic and he is versatile. I think he'll be a good player in time. His performance in coverage against the Packers, however, did nothing to ease my concerns about this secondary being able to cover well.
Brad B. Iowa
12:35
How high of a draft pick could the Steelers get for Dobbs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Why would an opposing team give up a draft pick for Dobbs when they could get him for nothing if he is released?
rob
12:36
what's your prediction on the OLB's they keep
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Dupree, Watt and Chickillo. Ola is making a push. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the fourth even if he's only 20 years old.
EM
12:37
I really don’t think Darius Heyward Bey should make the team. Why not  keep Patterson??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
They might do that. We'll have to wait and see.
Linebacker Lounge - 3Rivers, MI
12:37
No major injuries yet, thankfully.. but to many minor injuries.. to many guys missing to many practices... Should we be concerned? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
A little bit. It's not ideal that guys like Watt, McDonald and others have been out for so long. But the only thing that matters is their availability for the regular season games. No one will remember that they missed so much of camp if they play well against Cleveland in a few weeks.
TXSTEELER
12:38
Why are your in-game tweets always so nagatuve, even on positive plays (ie Dupree’s sack)? 13-3 last year and basically only time you tweeted in game was when things went wrong, even if team was winning
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
I focused in on Dupree vs. Bakhtiari and saw Bakhtiari handle him, oftentimes with ease. I merely pointed out that the sack came against a backup.
AugustWest
12:40
Do Ola Adeniyi (sp?) and/or Michael Thomas make the 53-man roster? Who are the "surprise" cuts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
It's Matthew Thomas and I don't know if there will be any surprise cuts. I mean, would you be surprised if Keion Adams is cut? He's never played an NFL game.
Ken
12:41
Can we give it a rest with the defense!! Last year defense was No. 5 overall and No. 7 in least points per game. Take away 7's two pick 6s against Jacksonville early on and defense would be at least 5 in least points allowed per game. 7 had 5 interceptions in Jax game early in season and 2 turnovers leading to TDs in Jax playoff game. I'm not here to bash 7 BUT the defense is much better according to the facts. You might say it was bad in run game but it was No. 10 in rushing yards per game. Defense had most sacks in history!!! Get rid of 7's turnovers in first Jax game and Steelers might be 14-2; get call correct in NE game and Steelers might be 5-1; and eliminate turnovers in Jax playoff game and Steelers win. So I am optimistic about the D in 2018. Rebuttal welcomed.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
Wow. A defense for the Steelers defense. Listen, I know the stats, but the players and coaches admitted the defense was lacking late in the season and especially in the playoff game. If you'd like to whistle past the graveyard then go ahead. I'll continue to do what I'm doing.
Ryno
12:43
Your evaluation on Chickillo?  Does he show improvement from year to year, or has he peaked?
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