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Ray Fittipaldo
11:00
Good morning from Cincinnati. We re two hours from kickoff. Post your questions, and Brian and I will try to answer as many as we can before the game starts
Mark In Cincy
11:01
Thanks for the chat!  I'm a bit anxious with the Steelers lack of production in the red zone, coupled with the pass rush non existent at times, another game like unfolded in Cleveland and this season takes a different direction, I have this uneasy feeling Burrow could go 300+ today, do you feel AS and the offense can convert red zone into TD's not FG's?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
Well, if they don't do it today I'm not sure when they would do it. The Bengals have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They're giving up 26.9 points and 355 yards per game. They've been in a lot of high-scoring games because Burrow and Chase and Co. can keep up so the Steelers offense better not rely on Chris Boswell today.
Mark In Cincy
11:05
One thing that drives me absolutely crazy, 4 and 1, how many times are we going to hand off the ball 5 yards deep and get stopped?  Is the QB sneak obsolete in Pittsburgh?  Maybe I'm just crazy.....
Brian Batko
11:06
Pat Freiermuth out on the field now and I think I see a twinkle in his eye from the press box. Last time he played here he went for 9 catches for 120 yards, both career highs at the time and still today. This season, that's about what he produces in a month. But maybe a breakout will be on the menu today.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
Well, you won't see Justin Fields doing a QB sneak because he's had some trouble with fumbles. That's the problem with QBs coming out of the college ranks today. They always play from the shotgun and almost never from under center before they enter the NFL. We saw it with Wilson, and he was stopped. I'd still do it, just make sure you get MyCole Pruitt or Pat Freiermuth behind him for a tush push.
Brian Batko
11:09
Hey, the Ravens sneaked it with Mark Andrews last week on 4th-and-1 from their own 16. Maybe Arthur Smith can hold TE tryouts. Darnell Washington, anyone?
Mark In Cincy
11:10
Just want to say thank you guys for the chat, welcome to Cincinnati...again, I live 10 minutes from the stadium and could not get tickets to save my life, hopefully one day I'm lucky enough to make the pilgrimage to Pittsburgh for a game!
Ray Fittipaldo
11:10
Probably more comfortable in front of your TV today. It's cold!
Mark In Cincy
11:14
Mike Williams needs to be an active participant in the offense game plan today, is he just not ready to play in the AS offense, has AS no confidence in him?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
Williams played 19 snaps against the Browns. I'm sure they're still trying to work him into the offense, and I'm sure Russell Wilson wants to develop a rapport with him. They had an extra practice after playing on Thursday night so maybe they can get on the same page today.
Mark In Cincy
11:18
Hate to hog up time but if there's not many questions I'll ask one that you probably get a lot so I apologize in advance, what's your guys feel of the probability that the Steelers sign an extended contract with RW?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
As we sit here today, I think it's a good possibility.
11:24
The inactives will be announced in about five minutes. I have not seen Alex Highsmith out here among the early players on the field. He's listed as doubtful.
Brian Batko
11:31
Broderick Jones is out here shirtless again for pregame warmups. Or I guess they're coldups in his case.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:32
Steelers inactives for the Bengals game: No. 4 QB Kyle Allen, WR Scotty Miller, RB Jonathan Ward, LB Alex Highsmith and OL Max Scharping.
Mark In Cincy
11:34
Regarding Broderick Jones,If it works for him and gets him ready to play a solid game today, GOD BLESS him!
Brian in VA
11:40
What do you think the chances are that the words Burrow and buzz saw will be in the postgame headlines?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:41
He's pretty much the only reason they are relevant. He and Chase are keeping them in games. It's going to be hard to keep them quiet. The Steelers might have to score 28 or 30 to win this game.
11:48
It's cold, but the wind is not much of an issue for Chris Boswell in warmups. He made one from 60 with room to spare.
11:49
Among the Bengals inactives are LB Logan Wilson and DL Sheldon Rankins. Wilson has always played well against the Steelers.
Guest
11:50
It makes no sense that cast-offs like Patterson and Pruitt are getting more touches than Friermuth and Williams. Not to mention the continued over-use of Little Heyward. Why does this continue to happen?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:51
The easy answer is Arthur Smith has a comfort level with Patterson and Pruitt. But I'm with you. They're not adding much value when they're in there other than Pruitt blocking in the run game.
Mark In Cincy
11:53
Boswell is becoming a premier kicker in the league, really glad he's playing well, on the flip side, hopefully we only need him for 5-6 PTAs today!
Jamain Pain
11:58
Lets go!!!!
IL Steel
11:58
Sorry, I was "Guest" on previous question (forgot to ID myself). Another problem I see on offense (obviously, from my warm chair) is what seems to be obvious play-calling on first down. I'd love to know the 1st-down percentage of Najee up the gut for 2 yards. Do you think that's Arthur Smith's equivalent of the Canada jet sweep?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
I know what it is in the red zone on first down. I looked it up last week. On 25 first-down snaps in the red zone they've run the ball 22 times. And far too many of them have been for no gain, 1 or 2 yards. Arthur Smith needs to break that tendency. It's great the Steelers have an identity. You definitely want to play to that when the offensive line is playing well. But when they're not you have to sense that and try something else.
12:01
We have one hour to kickoff. Plenty of Steelers fans among the early arrivers.
Barry Foster’s ghost
12:02
Will the pash rush get to Joe Burrow today?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
They better. It will be a long day if they don't.
IL Steel
12:03
Highsmith next week?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
I think that's a good possibility.
Mark In Cincy
12:05
Steeler fans always represented in Cincy, and among the local sports bars scattered around the city, Question, IMO Bettis was the last true pounding back the Steelers had, out of curiosity, Were the Steelers just not interested in D Henry?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
They didn't need a running back with Harris and Warren under contract.
Brian Batko
12:07
Orlando Brown Jr. is officially active and back at left tackle for the Bengals. For as much as a lot of people want to see TJ Watt switch sides more often, letting him line up against rookie RT Amarius Mims all day might not be a bad move. Mims was a year behind at Georgia with Broderick Jones, who told me Friday he might hit up his former teammate. "See what his gameplan is, see if he'll give it up. You know he's still a rookie, I might get something out of him."
Mark In Cincy
12:08
Thanks again Ray & Brian for the chat and taking my questions, heading off to a local establishment to root on our team, LET'S GO STEELERS!
IL Steel
12:09
Do you believe they will try to re-sign Harris? If so, what's their price, as opposed to his?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
Warren is an RFA so they'll spend some $ on him. I suspect the Steelers will let Harris test free agency and he'll receive an offer the Steelers are not willing to match.
IL Steel
12:11
Ditto "Mark In Cincy." Ray & Brian, we appreciate your time, knowledge and perspective.
J D
12:13
Gentlemen,  will the Steelers come out slinging the ball and exploit Cincy's DB's  or will they play run, run, pass, kick?
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