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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 10.30.17
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started.
John
2:27
Lots of breakdowns in zone coverage and large chunks yesterday for the Lions. What happened to more man coverage? Patriots had to be salivating watching that...
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
I thought the same thing immediately after the game. Stafford did a nice job of dropping some passes in between the CBs and safeties. There also were some blown coverages. I don't know the exact number of man and zone schemes, but it seemed like it was an awfully zone-heavy game plan vs. Stafford. They have six weeks to figure out how they want to play Brady. I'm sure they'll study that during the off week.
Brice
2:29
We need to not be prisoners of the moment with JuJu, the kid has all sorts of talent, but that doesn't mean we should now trade Martavis. JuJu played best out of the slot last night, which is huge, because if we can have AB, and Martavis outside we have a great shot at ending up where we want to be. Great game by JuJu, but let's settle down a bit.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Who said they're trading Bryant? National reporters who like to speculate and cater to agent agendas? Mike Tomlin said last week they were not trading him. It's not going to happen.
SteelBone
2:31
Hey Ray, did you happen to notice that the Steelers' best pass plays were when Ben pump faked or they did play action? I think they need more of that because defenses are starting to stack the line against Bell. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
I'll have to watch for that when I watch the game again. Haven't had time to do that yet. I've always been a big proponent of play-action passing. It holds linebackers and creates bigger voids in the defense. And, in turn, it helps the running game.
NW Steelers
2:32
Hi Ray, watching Ben trying to hit his receivers was painful. There is no doubt he is on his way out. Comparing him with Stafford’s sharp pin point accuracy was like looking at a college QB with a good O line but could not hit the barn. This game verified his statement a few weeks ago.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:34
What about that dime to JuJu though? That was a perfect pass. I thought the pass to Eli Rogers in the end zone was nearly perfect, too. Maybe a shade high, but that's a ball Rogers has to catch. Did he misfire badly to Heyward-Bey? Yeah he did. The same with that pass over the middle to Jesse James. But he made a few plays when he needed to. He hasn't been the Roethlisberger we're used to seeing, but I hesitate to say he's done.
JerseySteel
2:34
Hi Ray - Ben does not seem himself this year. His arm strength looks fine. He missed a wide open Heyward-Bey for an easy TD and wide open Jesse James without much pressure on either throw. Drops by Eli and Juju added to the woes. Any thoughts to why his accuracy seems off this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:36
I've noticed it, too. The NFL keeps numbers on deep-ball stats and his percentage is way off when compared to seasons past. As you mentioned, arm strength doesn't appear to be the issue. Maybe it's just a confidence and feel thing. I've heard others in the media talk about his legs being done and that's the reason, but I'm not sure I buy that argument just yet.
JerseySteel
2:36
Hi Ray - any thoughts to why the Steelers could not get much pressure on Stafford against a line not know as a top line? Any thoughts to why considering that fact that James Harrison did not get on the field?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:38
The much-maligned Lions offensive line played better, but you're right. The Steelers rushers didn't have a good day. T.J. Watt was undisciplined in his rush lanes and lost contain twice. I don't remember Bud Dupree getting much pressure, either. Those guys had been productive in previous weeks, but Sunday night was not their best night. If their goal is to get home with four the OLBs have to be better against elite QBs such as Stafford.
JerseySteel
2:38
Hi Ray - did JuJu's overall performance yesterday turn Martavis Bryant into Wally Pipp?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
I think the Steelers need Antonio Brown, JuJu and Martavis Bryant. No reason all three cannot coexist, as long as Bryant is a good teammate. He hasn't been a good teammate thus far, but the potential is there for that trio of receivers to be special if he can check his ego at the door and stop listening to his girlfriend and other hangers on.
JerseySteel
2:40
Hi Ray - little to no production from Eli Rogers this year. Time to move on from him and draft another receiver after the season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
It's looking like they'll have to draft a receiver no matter what happens with Rogers. I don't expect Bryant to be on the team next season, or Justin Hunter for that matter. You'll need a quality No. 3 after Brown and JuJu.
BishkekSteeler
2:41
3 big wins in a row and I'm loving it. They have all had their problems though. When and how are the Steelers going to start to look more polished?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:43
Off week will help with injuries. Marcus Gilbert hasn't been healthy all season. He's a big part of the running game. Stephon Tuitt can help with the pass rush. He hasn't been healthy for most of the season, either. Then it's just a matter of ironing out the finer details and making a few more plays each game. We're not talking about the offensive struggles if Rogers catches that ball in the end zone on the first drive or if Roethlisberger doesn't misfire on that deep ball to Heyward-Bey. They look fairly close to being a much more productive offense in my eyes.
MT
2:43
Why are the Steelers obsessed with dropping their first round draft pick outside LBs into coverage? Most LBs can't cover receivers down the field. We see this happen every week.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
That's part of their scheme. Watt almost had an INT Sunday night and knows where to be in the zone. He plays well in pass coverage. He did have that INT against the Browns in the opener.
Guest
2:44
What happened to the no huddle offense? Ben has been very effective throughout his career using the no huddle offense, however, they very seldom use it this year.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
It's much harder to run the no huddle on the road especially inside a dome where it's louder.
SB or Bust
2:45
Hi, Ray, A win is a win but... Ben continues to be an "average QB", pass rush disappeared last night and the OL forgot how to run block.  Plenty of room to improve for a team that, as of right now, will get into the playoffs but won't stay there long, agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
Won't stay there long? If they go 12-4 I think that's good enough for a bye in the first round and a home playoff game against a wild card or lower seeded division champ. I still like the Patriots to win the AFC, but the Steelers are right there next in line. They have the Chiefs number and who else is there?
Matt
2:47
Hi Ray,  in your opinion, what is the Steelers' plan with Harrison?  Is this his role for the rest of the season?  Are they saving his legs for the second half of the season?  It sure seems that he was NEEDED out there last night.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
I thought maybe he'd be a good play vs. Bran Mihalik, the third-string left tackle who got his first NFL start Sunday night. But the Steelers never went to him. When Watt and Dupree needed a blow it was Anthony Chickillo and Arthur Moats who got to play a few snaps. I tend to agree with you about Harrison. I think he could help, but they seem to favor him in certain situations and in certain matchups they deem favorable.
Sergio From Mexico
2:49
Hi Ray. As usual, dramatic win, but a win is a win¡¡¡ I was thinking that this year our 2 free agent pick ups have really made us better (Alualu and Haden). It´s been a while since that´s happened specially with the latest free agents (L. Green, and others..) thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:50
Agreed. Haden and Alualu have been really good. Haden seems to be a calming presence in that secondary and Alualu has played as much if not more than Stephon Tuitt this season. And he's been good. He has sacks in consecutive games.
Chify
2:51
Do you think JuJu's big game will be a positive or negative in getting Bryant's head back in the game??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
Who knows with Bryant? I don't think the Steelers know. Bryant probably doesn't even know himself.
Chify
2:51
Last night during the broadcast they said Mike Mitchell runs a 4.4.  Is that really true?  He looks slow on the field to me.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:52
He ran well at the combine before he was drafted in 2009. Teams don't usually time players after they have them on their team so it's hard to say. I do know Mitchell seemed to get there a little late on occasion against Stafford.
TheStandard
2:52
if Defenses win championships are we on our way?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:53
Not if they surrender nearly 500 yards. Not a winning recipe. They won Sunday night because their red-zone defense was excellent and because JuJu Smith-Schuster made a big play.
ValyrianSteelers
2:54
Hey Ray, so to me the offensive play calling (and to some extent the D with heavy zone yesterday) seem fairly vanilla. I know if they execute a little better with hitting passes it might not seem so, but I'm hoping we have quite a few new wrinkles that will be rolled out after the bye and against Pats specifically. Wishful thinking?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:55
You're not the only person wondering that today. We all know the formula for beating Brady and the Pats is man coverage and getting home with four rushers. The Steelers do very well with their four-man rush Sunday night and I didn't see a whole lot of man coverage. Still have six weeks to put in a wrinkle or two for the Patriots.
Stink-Pot
2:55
Trade Bryant, Move on from him by next season or draft someone else.  Why does this make sense?  The guy has boatloads of talent and quite frankly he has more upside than JuJu.  There is no receiver they can draft that has a higher ceiling. Isn't the wise choice figuring out how to include this ultra-talented guy to thrive in the woefully underperforming offense??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:56
For what? A sixth- or seventh-round pick. A talented but mercurial player who is one strike away from a lifetime ban isn't going to fetch very much on the trade market.
TheStandard
2:56
6-2 halfway....right where you thought they would be?
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