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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.17.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
OK, let's get started.
Guest
2:00
I hope they put M.Fitzpatrick at Safety and keep him there. Ur thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Fitzpatrick will start at free safety this week. Mike Tomlin said today he will only play free safety vs. the 49ers in an effort to keep things simple for him as he learns the defense. In time, the Steelers will use his talents in different parts of the secondary. He's strong in coverage in the slot, and he's a nice chess piece to have in today's NFL.
RJT
2:02
Why are people down on the Fitzpatrick trade?  He’s 22 years old, was the number 11 overall pick last year, the Steelers will have him for at least two more seasons, and Davis is gone after this year...
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Right. And Miami is on the hook for all his bonus money. All the Steelers pay is his salary going forward and his fifth-year option, which presumably they will.
Schenker
2:03
It seems recently that more players are speaking out about their discontentments and asking to be traded....do you think this a result of what AB did in speaking out and ultimately getting his way and setting an example for others?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
I think it's the NBA culture seeping into the NFL. Antonio Brown openly discussed this on an HBO show with LeBron James. However, Brown is a generational talent and could pull it off. Not sure how many others have the leverage to do that. I know Minkah Fitzpatrick asked for a trade and the Dolphins granted his request, but the Dolphins are in sell-off mode as they rebuild. That's kind of a different situation that doesn't happen all the time.
Nick in NL
2:05
With Jalen Ramsey asking for a trade and Jamal Adams maybe on the move that the Steelers could have gotten Fitzpatrick for cheaper if they had waited?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
Maybe, but the Steelers had to move quickly with Sean Davis going on IR today. They clearly did not believe they could play another game with Kam Kelly as their starting free safety. I don;t want to say they were desperate, but they were getting close.
Tampa Too
2:06
Ray.  As always thanks for the chat.   Cut Moncrief and resign Eli?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Tomlin didn't exactly give Moncrief a vote of confidence today at his news conference. When asked if Moncrief will be given the opportunity to work through his issues with the Steelers, Tomlin said: "We'll see." Sounds like he's already moved on. Not sure if they'll just cut him though. That would be admitting a huge mistake in free agency. And as we all know their record in signing outside free agents is an ongoing laugh line.
Victoria Lucas
2:08
Did the Steelers pay too high a price for Minkah Fitzpatrick? They needed someone at safety, but they just invested a lot on a single player, when I think their defensive problems are bigger than just one guy.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Maybe they feel different. I happen to think the front 7 is solid. I know they haven't played like it the first two games, but there are players to build around there with Watt, Tuitt and Bush. If Fitzpatrick can stabilize the secondary it might be worth it. I'm not saying he's going to fix all of their problems, but if he just does his part they might be in position to close some of these games out.
Victoria Lucas
2:10
Hi Ray, thanks for the chat! A question that I'm sure you'll get a lot of variations on today--have we just witnessed the end of the Ben Roethlisberger era?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I don't think so. Every indication is he'll come back next year if the rehab goes as planned.
Hunkfudge
2:11
Will Moncreif sit to let Washington and Johnson have a chance? Steelers need a spark... and the enthusiasm of youth to develop with Rudolph.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I'd like to see a heavy dose of Johnson and Washington this week to go along with JuJu. We'll see if Randy Fichtner is thinking the same way. Johnson can be a difference-maker for this team. It's just a matter of him being healthy and knowing the playbook.
BB
2:13
Ray - a ton of very high draft picks on the defensive roster now and they still underperform....bad talent selection, bad coaching or both?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
Maybe a bit of both. Watt is looking like a great pick. And it's too early to tell on Bush. Others haven't been as good as Watt and have struggled. In some ways, the acquisition of Fitzpatrick is an indictment of their ability to draft defensive backs. Look at their secondary. Three of the four starters did not get drafted by the Steelers. And the lone draftee, Terrell Edmunds, has struggled.
Hunkfudge
2:15
If Conner can’t go, will Samuels get most of the touches?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Yes I think Samuels would get the majority of touches, but Snell would be used in short-yardage situations as he was vs. Seattle.
Tomlin's Heros
2:16
I like the move for Fitzpatrick and am hoping he helps complement Edmunds, what is your take?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
I like it at this moment though I reserve the right to change my mind if the Steelers go 3-13 and gave away a top-5 pick for him.
MD
2:17
Where do you think we have to finish to justify this Fitzpatrick trade?  11th or better?   ESPN's FPI says there is a 62% chance that we would have had a top 10 pick.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Quite simply, the Steelers don;t think the way you do. They're not thinking about next year's draft right now. They're trying to make the playoffs. It's what they always do. When they started 0-4 in 2013 they didn't tank when they could have. They tried to make a run. And they did. If not for a short field goal miss on the final weekend of the season they would have made the playoffs at 8-8.
SOD NYC
2:19
Where is your over/under final record of the Steelers or draft pick # to still think that the Fitzpatrick trade was a good deal?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
8-8 and No. 12 overall or lower.
TXSTEELER
2:20
Had anyone bothered to ask MT why they weren’t spying Wilson, esp after he sowed a willingness to run earlier in the final drive?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Tomlin was not asked that question today, but I did ask Bud Dupree about the lack of a spy Sunday after the game. They said they had no plans to use a spy in the game. It was not a part of the game plan whatsoever. They depended on linemen and LBs to remain in their rush lanes. Obviously, that plan did not work out, and now we are second-guessing their game planning.
Curious Mind
2:21
Do you believe the Steelers are in a rebuilding or championship competition mode?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
The Steelers never really go into rebuilding mode.
Zach
2:22
Given what they gave up for him and the reports of him unhappy with usage in Miami, do you think the Steelers already discussed their planned role for Minkah and made sure he was on board before pulling the trigger on trade? I’m dreading drama coming from him 2 weeks from now.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
All indications are he's a high character guy who simply got caught up in a bad situation in Miami. Tomlin said there are no concerns about bringing him into the fold.
The Windber Rambler
2:23
Ray, do you get any sense that maybe Kevin Colbert might be contemplating retirement soon with the Fitzpatrick trade? Meaning, that's very "unsteeler-like", historically (the last 30 years) trading the #1 like that … Is he trying to be in "win now" for the short-term? Is there potential for an entire "house-cleaning" if this season totally goes down the tubes, you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Maybe but Art Rooney II still had to sign off on the move so Colbert obviously still has his trust. But I agree with you. On the surface, it seems like he's doing everything in his power to make sure things don't go sideways this season.
Plumbster
2:24
In your opinion, do you feel they have the talent on defense to be a solid unit and that the system is what the real issue is?  If so is it time to turn the defense over to someone else?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
The biggest issue is their ability to cover in man. They're not getting the job done in that regard. But they also struggled with the run vs. Seattle particularly the scrambles by Wilson late in the game.
TXSTEELER
2:25
Has their been any explanation as to why the starters on the D-line and at OLB weren’t in during a critical 4th quarter drive?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Presumably, their normal rotation. But I'm with you. The starters have to be in there in that situation. It was just after halftime. Watt and Dupree just had a long rest. Why let the backups play on that drive?
Jud
2:27
Will Paxton likely replace Hodges after he learns the offense?
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