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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.01.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:46
Good morning. Let's chat.
Thomas
10:47
So its looking like no trades, and so far, no coaching changes.   What are they afraid of?   Where is the owner?   Does he still attend the games?  What a mess!
Ray Fittipaldo
10:48
Last time I checked you need a dancing partner. It does not appear other teams want players on the Steelers roster. Still five hours left before the deadline though.
Yancey
10:48
Do you think Tomlin is in denial about how bad this team is, or is he still the right guy to take on the significant changes that will have to be made in the offseason? Can he be trusted to hire the right OC?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:51
Mike Tomlin has a tremendous track record as a head coach in the NFL. I still think he has what it takes to lead a winning program. He's in the midst of a rebuild. He's playing a rookie QB. He has major holes in his offensive line and secondary. It's going to take some time for this to be rebuilt. As for hiring the next offensive coordinator, I believe Tomlin needs some oversight from ownership and the front office. He has not attracted top quality offensive assistants in his time here and the Canada hire has been predictably bad. He never worked in the NFL before coming to work for the Steelers in 2020.
Uncle Louis
10:51
Hypothetical question: What would you do to fix this incredible mess, and where would you start first?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:53
Invest best draft capital in the offensive line, defensive line and cornerbacks. Spend in free agency to fill other holes. But you have to start up front. The Steelers offensive line has been bad since 2018 and they've done next to nothing in the draft to address the position.
Guest
10:54
I don’t understand fan consternation about having a losing season.  It happens to every good team.  However, I have concerns Mike Tomlin is the person to build this team back up.  He took Najee, who is trending to a bust, when our O-line and D-line desperately need help.  He took Claypool who is all measurables and little actual output.  Traded away significant draft capital to whiff on D. Bush.  Likely should not have reached for QB in first round with many other pressing needs and strong QB class this year.  Do you think he can actually construct the team of the future or does the steady decline under Tomlin continue?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:54
I think this is why Andy Weidl was hired.
Guest
10:54
If the Steelers were to get a top 3 pick and one of the qbs is still there, could you envision them taking one?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:55
Never say never, but they just spent a first-round pick on a QB and have major holes to fill on the OL, DL and secondary. I think you see what you have in Pickett in the next few years and try to build a better team around him.
Guest
10:55
Ray- I am really looking forward to Andy Weidl putting his stamp on this team. Will he have final say on draft picks or will Tomlin have a chance to overrule him?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:56
Like Tomlin and former GM Kevin Colbert they will work together. I interviewed Tom Donahoe for a story I wrote on Weidl last week. Tom has a tremendous amount of respect for Tomlin when it comes to his involvement in the scouting process. He believes Tomlin and Weidl will make a great team.
pauljr13
10:57
Hi Ray, I know they can't install a whole new offense in two weeks and that's a reason they wouldn't switch the OC, but wouldn't just the difference of when Sullivan called certain plays and which plays he called be an improvement even if they're Canada's plays?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
Perhaps. There is something to be said for a coordinator dialing up plays at the right time, the sequencing of plays, etc. It's an art form. But I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make. They still would have the same personnel that's been struggling under Canada.
fvicchy@yahoo.com
11:02
Hi Mr. Fittipaldo, Thank you for all you contribute to our Steelers picture.  Most of what I read about our problems are with our offense and its coordinator but my question deals with our defense. Do you feel that the Steelers should be blitsing more to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks? Pressure sure appears to cause many more problems for our offense. Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:02
They tried to blitz early in the Eagles game and didn't get home. They can keep trying, but they need better execution.
C
11:06
Im a true believer that if Watt wouldnt have gotten hurt we would be at least a .500 team.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
At the very least 3-5. But yes, I'd lean 4-4 too.
DanW
11:07
Did Tomlin ever say why he didn’t challenge the Pickens catch? Announcers and Steratore were pretty adamant it was a legal catch. Hard to understand how one of the coaches upstairs didn’t alert him
Ray Fittipaldo
11:07
Tomlin was not asked that question after the game. He does not do his normal Tuesday presser on off weeks.
Skeeter
11:08
How many years do you think Steelers fans will have to wait to see another playoff victory?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:08
Things can turn around pretty quick in the NFL, but I'm fairly confident you won't be seeing one in January.
elcid97
11:09
When the players are saying things like accountability, dysfunction, lack of studying... that's got to be an indictment of the coaches, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
Lack of studying and accountability is an indictment of players. The dysfunction is on the coach.
Bill
11:09
With Steven Sims clearly having surpassed Gunner as the punt and kick returner, do they release Gunner or just let him hang around all year as an extra special teamer?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:10
Who would they elevate in his place? It's not like there is a WR on the practice squad that is forcing his way into the lineup.
ev
11:10
Ray, I believe much of the Steelers' woes are a result from poor personnel decisions over the past few seasons and now they are coming home to a boil:  Keeping Tuitt over Hargreaves, Haden over Hilton, DiCastro over Feiler, and overreaching with early round picks (Edmunds, Burns, Bush).  Mr. Khan has a lot of work ahead of him.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:11
I agree with almost everything you wrote. The Hargrave/Tuitt decision will haunt them for years.
And yes, I know Tuitt was signed to his big deal before Hargrave became a UFA. It was the idea of giving big money to Tuitt, who never cone made a Pro Bowl.
Bill
11:11
Do you think Mike Tomlin should make Najee sit for a game and watch Jaylen Warren and even Anthony McFarland hit holes and run forward?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:12
I think Warren should get more carries at the very least.
Jim Bow Dean
11:12
The Steelers have pretty much ignored the trenches in the draft for a decade. Is that their biggest issue and does it finally change next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:12
I agree and according to those who know Andy Weidl best he won't ignore the trenches this year. He believes that's the best way to build your roster -- from the inside out.
jake from state farm
11:13
If the draft were tomorrow, what positions would you draft in the first 3 rounds? OL, DL, CB/ILB?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:13
OL, DL and CB. And the order will depend on where they draft. Take the best player available at any of those three positions.
Scoops MCCann
11:14
Ray, why not go big?  Bring in Jon Gruden as Offensive consultant (pun not intended) for rest of season.  He obviously said wrong and bad things that have no place in pro sports, but also the team/players want to win.  Tomlin and the Rooney’s have the cache to vouch for him with the league.  And let the players decide if they could work with someone like that - a flawed genius in search of redemption.  He wants back into the game he loves and can be had on the cheap.  Perfect guy for Kenny - which allows us to invest in all of our other many needs moving forward.  What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
Would he work as a coordinator? With his personality I think he'd want to be a head coach again. Would be interesting to see how many coaches they can have on their staff suing the NFL though.
RyanW
11:15
If they don't fire Canada now, do you think at the very least they give his play calling duties to someone else like Sullivan?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:15
That could happen, but then what would Canada do? Wouldn't it makes sense for Sullivan to draw up the game plan too?
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