You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Steelers-Commanders: Live chat, updates and analysis
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
Welcome to today's Steelers game day chat. It's a chilly morning here in Washington as the players are warming up on the field.
10:59
Post your questions and comments
11:02
In case you missed it yesterday, the Steelers activated WR Ben Skowronek and LB Tyler Matakevich from IR to the 53-man roster. To make room, they released RB Jonathan Ward and DB Terrell Edmunds. Skowronek and Matakevich are good special-teams players so Danny Smith's units should get a big lift today.
Steelers Nation Jersey Chapter
11:07
How much of an impact do you think that Cam Sutton will have in the defense?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
It should be a big boost in terms of how they deploy their personnel. Sutton can line up all over the secondary so that will keep teams guessing. It can free up Fitzpatrick for a role closer to the line of scrimmage. He can also line up in the slot, which is where I think he'll play the most. And if there are injuries to either Porter or Jackson he's probably your best backup outside corner.
Nails
11:11
Ray is Arthur Smith falling in love with Darnell Washington and is starting to favor him over Friermuth?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
No, that's not the case. Washington only has 12 targets on the season. That's not cutting into Freiermuth's targets much. Smith uses all of his eligibles. Eventually, I think Freiermuth will get more involved. They can certainly use him in the red zone. They were 0 for 4 in the red zone against the Giants.
Steelers Nation Jersey Chapter
11:17
If Watt is double teamed again, do you expect Highsmith and Watt to switch sides occasionally?  What affect will that have on the rookie qb?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:18
That was a point of emphasis for the Steelers against the Giants, but they only did it on a handful of snaps. I'm sure they
will do it again. Watt is always double-teamed.
Joe
11:20
Any chance we see a Fields package in the red zone?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:21
Sure there is a chance, but with Wilson playing as well as he has been for the past two games I'm sure the Steelers won't try to force it.
Nails
11:22
Pitt-24. Wash- 23. Boswell kicks the game winning fg as time expires. Doesn’t Wilson look good in a Steelers uniform? I think so. The D line has me a bit worried though. Do you think JPJ will follow Mclauren? Hopefully he doesn’t go all Jamar Chase on us.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:23
Can't believe the Bengals lost a game when Chase went for 264. I thought he was going to break Flipper Anderson's record, if he still has. He went for something like 336 about 20 or 30 years ago... Porter always wants that assignment, but Tomlin doesn't always give it to him. We'll see later on how they approach it. McLaurin is really good.
11:29
We'll have today's inactives in a couple of minutes. Mike Williams and Preston Smith are expected to be active, and I think Ben Skowronek and Tyler Matakevich will be too.
The Dude
11:30
Amazing to see such composure from a rookie quarterback, especially running the no huddle as much as they do. Will the Steelers be able to match up effectively or will they be often caught with the wrong personnel on the field?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:31
Commanders have a good running game so I'm sure the Steelers will have their base defense out there on occasion. If the Commanders want to go no-huddle there they could, but it's not like Elandon Roberts is terrible in coverage, I think the Steelers would be OK if they wanted to do that.
11:33
Steelers inactives: No. 4 QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
No. 13 WR Scott Miller
No. 21 CB C.J. Henderson
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig
No. 64 OG Max Scharping
Brian Batko
11:36
Do you all call him Scott or Scotty Miller? I'm a Scotty guy myself.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:39
Steelers are in their white jerseys and yellow pants. The Commanders are in their all burgundy unis.
The Dude
11:42
Props:
More passing yards - Daniels or Wilson? More rushing yards - Steelers or Commanders? More receiving yards - Pickens or McLauren?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:42
I'll go with Daniels with more passing yards. Steelers with more rushing yards. McLaurin with more receiving yards.
The Dude
11:45
Snaps and yards for Williams?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:45
10-15 snaps I'm guessing. They'll work him in slowly.
Stash
12:09
Gents, this would be a fine game for a Minkah sighting, perhaps even a PQ splash play.  Your thoughts, if any?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
It's going to happen eventually, and a rookie QB could be the remedy.
IL Steel
12:10
I don't understand why Friermuth isn't getting more targets. Is he not getting open, or is the chemistry with Wilson just not there yet?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
I'm sure chemistry is part of it, but Wilson is doing a nice job of distributing the ball to everyone in his first two starts. It will happen organically and now that Mike Williams is part of the offense it might happen soon.
Brian Batko
12:11
Remember Trent Scott? Yeah, maybe not. But he played for the Steelers a couple years ago and he's starting at RT for the Commanders today because of a shoulder injury for Andrew Wylie. That's the word here in Washington ... er, Landover.
12:13
Najee Harris just led some Steelers players out of the tunnel and he's fired up. Fourth consecutive 100-yard game on the way?
C Patt
12:14
Gents, any chance you see me hit the hole as I did before the untimely injury?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Sure, but as Arthur Smith noted on Thursday Najee Harris will remain a big part of the game plan. I expect Patterson to get a few carries.
Brian Batko
12:17
Any injury is untimely, but the Steelers are getting Cordarrelle Patterson back right in time for the thick part of the schedule. Big boy football, cold weather, AFC North, things of that nature.
N Harris
12:17
Gents, if this Najee revealed himself three years ago, I would already be a legend in this two-incline town, no?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
You mean when JC Hassenauer, Kendrick Green Trai Turner and who knows else were on the O-line? He's playing a lot better, but the line is much better. Harris always had this in him. He's not getting hit as much behind the line of scrimmage. That certainly helps.
Brian Batko
12:24
Trent Scott
The Optimist
12:24
Does Minkah get his first Pic today on aWas Edmunds that bad to be released? rookie QB.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
They released Edmunds because Cam Sutton came back onto the 53-man roster this week. I would expect they try to sign him back to the practice squad.
12:51
OK folks, I'm going to hand it off to Paul Zeise, who will take you through the rest of the game.
Connecting…