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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.17.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Good afternoon. Let's get started.
PghFNinCali
1:59
Hi Ray. Bigger need for the Steelers..Secure up the defense so they can keep a 10pt lead late in the 4th or Build up the offense so they can score with the teams that can put up points?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Well, the good news is they have three picks in the top 49 and four in the top 80. I think it's time to replenish the defensive line with some younger talent and get a No. 1 CB. So I could see a scenario where two of those first three picks are used on defensive players. But it's so early. We have to see how all of these players and positions shake out in the pre-draft process.
Tom
2:01
I'm confused on why people are saying the offense improved in the second half? What improved? (Please don't say run game. Avg had similar stats)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
I'm not sure what stats you are referring to, but the Steelers were much better running the ball in the second half of the season. There was a big improvement from Najee Harris, who struggled with a foot injury early in the season. There was marked improvement by the offensive line, too. Those guys needed some time to come together, and when they did the running game took some nice strides.
Tom in Dallas
2:03
Any surprises so far in the playoffs?  Miami scoring 31 and could only score 9 against the Jets?  NY beating the Vikings?  Or how average Brady looked?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Miami scoring 31 with Skylar Thompson certainly was brow raising. I wasn't expecting that. It kind of makes me wonder about the Bills. Were the emotionally spent after everything that's taken place in the past few weeks? If so, can they regroup in time for the Bengals? Brady is washed up...The Vikings stumbled down the stretch so I wasn't terrible surprised they lost. The Giants are well-coached.
MrCJJr
2:05
Hi Ray. Thanks for the chats as usual. I saw an article where Byron Leftwich's name came up as a possible OC candidate. And, that supposedly was part of the reason why the Steelers haven't fired Canada (they're waiting to see if Byron comes available). Have you heard anything about this? If so, any truth to this possibility? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
That's people trying to connect the dots. There's a lot of speculating right now because Tomlin hasn't made a move. But it's just speculation at this point. Byron was here. He played for Tomlin. He's well-respected, but Matt Canada is still the OC as I sit and type this.
Choido
2:08
Jordan Addison and (insert name of 3rd best offensive tackle) is available on the board at pick 17.  Which is the best draft pick?  Can't be a lineman, could it?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
So Pete Skoronski, Parris Johnson or Broderick Jones is there along with Addison? I'd definitely take Skoronski over Addison and probably Jones, too. It's not that I don't like Addison, but I think it's time to address some other positions of need.
Epiballo
2:10
Some talk about the Harrison interception/TD play against the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. If you watch the play, Larry Fitzgerald was racing down the field out of bounds. He cut in too late to stop Harrison from scoring. Had he tackled Harrison and a penalty was called because of him traveling the field out of bounds, would that have given the Steelers a non-timed play, or would the half be over? I thought a half could not end on a defensive penalty, but the Card were on offense ...
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Well, the great things is no one has to worry about it because Harrison fell on Fitzgerald in the end zone and scored.
Daniel11
2:11
Hi Ray, Would ILB combo of  Edmunds/Spillane/Robinson better than Jack/Bush/Edmunds/Spillane?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
Well, I think Edmunds is better than Jack at this point in his career so I'll say the Edmunds/Spillane/Robinson combo.
Guest
2:12
Good afternoon Ray.  Steelers, Panthers, Cardinals, Bears, Raiders, Dolphins, and Redskins.  These are the only teams that haven't won a playoff game in the past 6 seasons.  That is a list of bad organizations in need of great change.  Why does the head coach get a free pass in Pittsburgh only?  All of the other teams try different coaches.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
I don't think Tomlin gets a free pass. I hear plenty of criticism. But you know, changing coaches isn't always the answer. I would counter: what has it done for those teams to change coaches so often?
Tom in Dallas
2:13
When you look at the Bengals/Bills this weekend, did we learn anything from a couple of weeks ago, or was there just not enough of that game to give you any indications as to how this weekend might play out?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
The Bengals went right down the field and scored so the Bengals offense will have some confidence I think. If I was a Bills fans I'd be concerned about the defense. They've had some injuries, and it appears those injuries are catching up to them. It might be up to Josh Allen to win a shootout.
Troy
2:14
I have read that Chargers O/L Matt Feiler could be a salary cap casualty. Would Steelers be interested in bringing him back?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Well, Feiler will be 31 in July so he's not young. I would be Ok bringing him back as a reserve. He was making an average of $7 million a year with the Chargers. Depending on what type of season he had he might have some opportunities to remain a starter somewhere else.
Bill
2:16
I enjoyed your "Let him walk" article on Steelers free agents, great stuff! Do the Steelers let Derek Watt leave, and do they replace him with Conner Heyward or someone else for a full time fullback?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Let's get the notion that Derek Watt and Connor Heyward play the same position out of our heads, OK? Watt is a fullback. Heyward is a tight end with H-back/fullback versatility. At this point, with Heyward being much younger, he's more valuable for a number of reasons. Did you see the catch he made against the Browns? Fullbacks don't make that catch.
Guest
2:19
A few teams have requested an interview with Flores after he had a very poor season in terms of inside linebacker stats.  Do you think these teams actually are interested in him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Yes he'll continue to get interest. He's a good coach. You mention the ILB stats, and they're not good. But it's not like he hand-picked those guys. He was asked to work with them and did the best he could. The Steelers did go from 32nd in the NFL to 9th in run defense. You can say whatever you want about the ILBs, but they played a role in that improvement.
Tom in Dallas
2:20
Who do you expect to make the Superbowl this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
I'll say Chiefs-Eagles, but I think we'll see some pretty good football this weekend.
Tampa Too
2:21
Ray, who would you like to be your quarterback for the next 5 to 8 years going forward? Kenny Pickett or Lamar Jackson?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
That's a difficult question to answer. Jackson is a former NFL MVP. He's a terrific athlete and has a very good record in the regular season. His problems are injuries. He missed a lot of games the past two seasons, and the Ravens missed the playoffs last year and were one-and-done this year. He also hasn't had a lot of success when he's reached the playoffs... Pickett had a nice rookie year and showed some promise. He's a better passer than Jackson, I think, but obviously not a better runner. If you told me Jackson would remain healthy for 17 games I'd take Jackson, but that's a big if given the style he plays.
Tom in Dallas
2:24
Does the Dolphins' competitive performance against the Bills quiet the critics of adding a 7th seed?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
I'm not sure when it will happen, but we'll see a 7 seed beat a 2 seed soon.
Guest
2:26
It seems like the Steelers don't get the top free agents, but instead get the 2nd or 3rd tier players.  Do you think Tomlin's habit of lying to players about playing time (Blount, Ingram, Harrison, Rudolph, Trubisky, etc.) have made free agents shy away from signing here?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Money usually talks loudest, but word does get around about how coaches sell free agents and maybe some promises that can't be kept.
Rob S.
2:27
Ray:  Cleveland has hired a defensive coordinator and I believe I saw that Arizona is hiring a new GM while still needing to fill head coach; is there any circumstance in which Brian Flores returns to Steelers staff either in same capacity/title or even under revamped job duties, or will he get/take a different job with another team.  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Sure there's a chance, but Flores is a good coach so he's going to have some opportunities. The Browns, by the way, won't hire Flores. They hired JIm Schwartz instead.
BroadPaintBrusher
2:28
Can Leal make the transition to full time edge rusher or do they view him as a down lineman?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
He's a tweener. Tomlin talked about him in-depth late in the season. He moves very well for a big man. So he can play on the edge, but he has versatility to play 5, 3 or inside too.
pdxJaxon
2:29
Hey Ray,
We all know what our biggest needs are currently OL, DL, CB, ILB but given that we really need to put up some points, you see any chance of us going WR in the first two rounds?
Imagine a true #1 on the other side of Pickens....
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
And imagine Pickett being on the ground not being able to get the ball to them because the offensive line wasn't upgraded.
Ed in Carrick
2:31
Do you see the team drafting or going the FA route on a WR?  The room looks awfully thin after Pickens and DJ.
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