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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 9.17.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:56
Let's get the chat started.
DaquidoBazzini
11:59
What’s happened to AB as a person?
Seemed to always be a nice, happy guy.
Too much money and fame?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
Did you see the latest? Apparently, he wants to be traded. He responded to Ryan Scarpino, a former Steelers PR guy on Twitter by saying "Trade me let's find out." It was in reference to Ben Roehtlisberger making him and getting him paid.
Jabroni
12:00
Dumpster fire an appropriate description for the team right now?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
Double dumpster fire.
RI Steeler
12:00
Hi Ray, what is your take on Coach Tomlin?  Should he be in the hot seat or not?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
This would have to veer off course big-time for the Steelers to make a change after the season. And he's certainly not getting fired during the season. Sure, he deserves blame for what's happening -- both on and off the field. Management deserves criticism too. They allowed some of this stuff that's going on to fester for years. It's hard for them to control it now because they never seriously addressed many of these issues previously.
DaquidoBazzini
12:02
Hi Ray - I’m seeing more quotes from this horrendous Steeler defense like “not on the same page” and “communication.”
How can (in particular) Keith Butler be keeping his job?
How about letting him go and bringing Dick LeBeau in for the rest of the year?
It can’t be any worse.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
It's not a good situation and I would never defend a defensive coordinator after a performance like that. There are many issues. But to your point about the lack of communication, etc. We re getting to the point where it's only fair to assume the players are not smart enough to execute what is being asked of them or the coaches have to adjust and make it simpler for them. You can't have receivers running free through the secondary and defensive backs gesturing that they should have had help and so on and so forth. You either know what you're doing or you don't. And right now the Steelers look like they have no idea what they're doing.
Stillers4Life
12:04
Everyone is calling for heads to roll this morning, but in all honesty, shouldn’t Butler be shown the door? I felt he should have been let go after last season. It’s clear he’s in way over his head and is in no way capable of running a defense. He’s simply clueless. Or is it a case of having bad players?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
He does not have great players. That's quite obvious. Butler most assuredly deserves blame. So does Tomlin, who has been much more involved in the defense in recent years. Plenty of blame to go around.
Andrew
12:05
AB posted recently about wanting a trade. Just frustration boiling over or more?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
You don't say that or tweet that without meaning it on some level.
Blayne
12:06
Any chance we see Tomlin or at least butler see the hot seat?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
I think they're both on the hot seat right now.
mtsteel
12:07
Ray, thank you. What can we say, that was brutal. Nothing worse than scoring a TD and know your defense is 99.9% going to get scored on the next serious. That being said, why is TJ Watt and Williams covering receivers like corner backs?? How long can communication issues be the response? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
That's a great question. After Watt was in coverage deep down the field on a receiver he gestured like he didn't know what was going on. He had the coverage, but it looked like he was upset that he was alone in that situation. I didn't see Williams cover down the field, but others have mentioned it. If they just played a simple defense where the rushers rushed and defensive backs covered, could it get any worse?
Geo Net
12:08
Hi Ray. Too many negatives to list but Steelers had 1st and goal at 6 with 3:26 left, then didn't score till 1:59 left in game.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
I noted that in a tweet during the game. They needed to score faster there. The offense scored 37 points, but let's not pretend whatever they were doing was working against the Chiefs. Plenty of that was Ben improvising and making something out of nothing. It's what happened in the playoff game against the Jaguars too. They need to execute better and be more efficient.
JoeB
12:10
How many seasons in a row have we heard the "miscommunication" excuse coming from the Steelers D? Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Either Tomlin or Butler or both should go after the season if things don't drastically improve.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I tend to agree with you there. If the players are not capable of carrying out assignments or don't know their assignments then you either have to change the personnel or make it easier for the personnel that is playing to know what they're doing.
jim
12:11
is ownership taking a hard look at tomlin today?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
The Steelers aren't doing anything with Mike Tomlin after a 0-1-1 start. But he rightly deserves criticism.
Angry Rich
12:11
Why does Mike Tomlin continually get a pass for unprepared and uninspired performances?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Did you happen to read the Post-Gazette today? In some form or fashion every columnist and reporter took him to task for that debacle.
Marlin
12:12
Do you think this is an actual trade request from AB? Or just a sarcastic response to a tweet he shouldn’t have responded to in the first place? Thanks Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
As I stated earlier you don't tweet that without thinking on some level that you don't want to be here.
Where to start
12:12
Why does Colbert always get a pass - it’s his defense as much as anyone’s with all the high draft picks.  And find a punter!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
I agree. He deserves as much criticism as Tomlin and the players. Art Rooney Ii deserves blame for letting some of his players get away with things that should be punished.
Greg
12:13
That was eerily like Jacksonville round 2. How can I be confident about how this team is going to get to the post-season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
I wouldn't be confident about that. This season is about to spin out of control if they lose in Tampa Monday night.
Joe
12:14
"Fire Tomlin" bandwagon gaining any credibility? I've hopped ship.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
The ship is picking up passengers by the minute.
Angry Rich
12:14
Is Tomlin on the hot seat?  It appears the national media is finally starting to pile on.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
He was taken to task by the local media as well Sunday night and Monday morning.
EmmanuelBravo
12:15
After seeing our D getting worse and worse in a consistent way, do you thing we should make a change in the Defensive coordinator?, what do you think of our Head coach, I think this starts with him?... Thank you
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
I think it starts with the head coach too, especially when it comes to the defense. He is involved more under Butler than he ever was under LeBeau. The Steelers most certainly were getting predictable under LeBeau, but I don't think it was this bad.
Angry Rich
12:17
If this continues, what is the likelihood Ben sails off into the sunset after the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
He said after last season he wants to play another three to five years. Not saying he won't change his mind. This drama has to weight heavily on him. But I'd be surprised.
Steeltown
12:20
Do you think Butler should be fired?
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