You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 9.25.17
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
I don't know, but if he wasn't playing in that game I don't know when he's going to play. They were getting gashed in the first half, too. It's not like they didn't have time to adjust and make the change if they wanted to go to Harrison.
Scott in Dallas
12:23
After 3 games and enough time to get the rust knocked off what do you think the issue is with L. Bell?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
It's never easy to figure out the woes of a run game when it's struggling. I'm sure it's Bell and I'm sure the line is to blame.
juan san felipe
12:26
Do you think there will be more available tickets for sale now, due to all what's happened? I'm ready to buy in bulk!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
People talk a big game when it comes to that, but you are right. Plenty of fans will buy the tickets others forfeit.
Scott in Dallas
12:27
Looking like another year with A. Brown being the only reliable part on the Steelers offense...
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
So far, that's accurate.
Krugerrand
12:27
Mark Cuban predicted in March 2014 that the NFL would implode in 10 years.  Would you agree that this prediction seems more likely now than it did then?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
No.
John from Florida
12:28
Good morning. Very disappointing game. Expected much better from this team. My question concerns the wildly weird ending to the first half. I understand the initial delayed ruling giving da’ Bears the ball on the half yard line for one play. However I thought the false start penalty should have ended the half since a half can end on an offensive penalty. Why did the Bears get a second chance?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
Another good question I don't have an answer to. Listening to Tomlin's postgame news conference I'm not sure he was clear on how it went down.
Dwayne Hawley Griffin
12:29
Is Ben's passing arm showing signs of  age, in your opinion? Personally, I'm nervous.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
His completion percentage is 62.7 percent. He's averaging 247 yards per game. If this keeps up it'll be his lowest completion percentage since 2010 and his lowest yards per game average since 2008. Maybe there is reason for you to be nervous.
Justin - FL
12:30
Hi Ray, I am sure you will get a lot of questions about why the Steelers keep losing these games. I am just as puzzled, but also realize its just one game, no reason to panic. However, there is one issue to me that has me a bit worried and it is Big Ben. Is there reason to believe that we are seeing the start of his decline? I love Ben and there are plenty of reasons for a slow start this year, but we are now 3 games in and he does not look very good...Mostly his decision making and his accuracy. What are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Or maybe the offensive coordinator should commit more to the running game early in these games and put the QB in situations that are more favorable. I'm not absolving Roethlisberger of blame. Clearly, he hasn't been good. But if you have a running game that's effective it makes the passing game much easier to execute.
George W. Bush
12:32
Ray, good times for me, I'm lookin' better than ever! Biggest key upon beatin' the Ravens, this Sunday?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
Get the run game going. And thanks George.
Sheff
12:33
What's your theory on why the Steelers keep losing to inferior teams on the road year after year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
Tomlin has to shoulder the blame for this. He has to put his team in better situations. If that means overseeing the offensive game plan then so be it.
Funk on
12:34
Steelers have 0 leadership a coach who let's his players under achieve a quarterback that should have retired 2 years ago and a fast linebacker who is a whiff in tackling. Overrated
Sheff
12:34
Can you help me understand why the Steelers has no answer to the stretch run game?  They had no other offense and were one dimensional, but even with 8 guys in the box they beat us time after time.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Undisciplined players not being in their gaps. It happens year after year. Plus when they were there they take bad angles and miss tackles.
JP
12:35
I that the lack of preseason play for the starters has hurt the Steelers offense, they look slow, where the defense played more and they look fast.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Until the offense turns around I think a lot of people will share your opinion.
Sheff
12:35
For the first time in awhile, I felt that the play calling was generally pretty good but bad execution by the players.  Did you like the game called by Haley overall?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
I think they have to go back to what was successful at the end of last season -- establish the run and put the QB in better situations. At this point, he hasn't played well enough to put the entire game on his shoulders.
face_reality
12:37
can we all just stop trying to figure out "what's wrong" with this supposed high power offense and maybe just acknowledge they just aren't that good?  Offensive Line, Coordinatior, QB, RB...basically everyone except AB may just be the most massively over-rated group in the league
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
Until they turn it around this will be a popular opinion.
Race Bannon
12:37
Ray - Once again, the same play gashes the Steelers defense over and over....they make no adjustments.  Can we now say the players and coaches are not capable of making any in game adjustments?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
Yes that's fair when it comes to stopping the outside zone.
Evgeni Malkin
12:38
Ray, suggestion on what gift to present to Mr. Trump, on visit?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
Ha ha. I'll leave this one alone.
Sheff
12:38
I asked this question last week, but why do the Steelers keep going deep on 3rd and short?  When you need two yards and are looking to sustain drives, why doesn't Ben know not to force tough throws?  I get that a big play can change the game but a check down to Bell for 3 yards still nets a first down.  The situational decision making is baffling to me.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Third-and-2 I think you give the ball to Bell twice. But they're not doing that. Maybe they've lost confidence in him or the offensive line.
Tom McNally
12:40
How much damage do you think the players did to their fan base with their protest.  I will not be watching them again this season and stopped watching all other NFL games except for the Steelers last season.    There are a lot of other fans that fell this way as well.  I guess college football will have to give me my fill until the league straightens this up.  Still watching the penguins unless they do something similar.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
None. TV Ratings were way up for the Sunday games.
Sheff
12:40
As a writer it is your job to analyze the team's performance based on facts.  How do you explain why we keep losing in Chicago or to sub 500 teams every year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Again, I have to place the bulk of the blame on Tomlin because he's been the coach for all these games. The players change, but he's the common denominator.
Sheff
12:42
Did the NFL actually make the correct call on that FG block?  I thought it was the equivalent of an offensive player fumbling through the back of the end zone.  It would be a touchback for the Steelers but the penalty would be assessed from there.  Did the batting the ball out of bounds make the difference?  I'm still very confused.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
Yes, batting the ball out of play is a penalty. It happened a few years ago as well although I think that was a field goal block.
Connecting…