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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.09.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:26
Good morning and welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started a few minutes early.
Josh
10:26
Hey Ray thanks for the chats. Schefter reported a few days ago about the Mike Tomlin contract option for 2027. Prior to that report was that known by anyone else? And if not, who do you think leaked it and why do you think it was leaked at that time?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:31
The current deal was announced as a three-year deal, but we do know at least one previous Tomlin deal did include an option. He's been extended so many times I'm willing to bet there have been options on several of his deals. As far as the leak t the national reporters that came from Tomlin's camp. We can speculate why. Tomlin was coming off the Bills game when there were calls for his job by fans during the game. Agents are always trying to cushion things for their clients and get them in position for the next job if tings go awry. That's my two cents at least. The Steelers would never leak something like that because it does them no good.
Sam
10:31
Hi Ray.  Curious about some personnel combos.  In the red zone the other day the Steelers had Warren and Gainwell on the field at the same time.  That seems to be fairly uncommon, so I'm wondering how often they actually do that, and if they should do it more.  They're both productive, they can both catch out of the backfield, and instead of taking snaps away from each other, it doesn't seem like a huge deal to mix a little backfield unpredictability in there at the expense of a few snaps for a completely unproductive set of depth receivers and or Jonnu Smith.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:33
They've done that in the past. They did it with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren here and there. And they don't do it with Gainwell and Warren all that often. Maybe once or twice a game. It's a different look and it makes defensive coordinators think twice about the personnel on the field and how they should defend it.
Captain Jack
10:34
Holcomb being back after almost forgotten due to illness could be a strength going forward. Underrated player IMO. Ray, what say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:34
They have good depth at ILB. Queen and Malik Harrison were banged up in the Ravens game. Harrison did not return and Queen came back into the game. But it's nice to have someone like Holcomb, who has been a starter, coming off the bench in those situations.
Jim Bow Dean
10:35
Needing to make a ‘football move’ after catching the ball and getting two feet down is just stupid. Why has the NFL made something that should be so simple, so complicated? Given how rule changes usually favor the offense why not simplify what is a catch? A catch, one foot or body part down and it’s a catch regardless of what happens next.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:39
I 100% agree with you. This whole idea of surviving the ground or taking two steps and then making a "football move" is absurd. But under NFL rules, it does appear the replay review official made the right call. We can argue it's a dumb rule, but the Ravens weren't cheated. The official simply ruled by the letter of the law. This has been going on for so long I don't know that we'll ever have resolution to it. I think you just hope your team doesn't get screwed over the way the Steelers did in 2017 or the way the Ravens did on Sunday. The Jesse James catch is the play that got the ball rolling on the rule being tweaked. Maybe the Likely catch (or no catch) will do the same. In any event, I don't think this ever gets fully resolved.
TheStandardisStability
10:39
Was Rodgers’ quip about professionalism a veiled swipe at Roman Wilson? For a fairly high pick not to be active is  pretty damning evidence the guy is approaching bust status.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:41
I wouldn't say it was veiled lol. He immediately realized how it sounded and wanted to protect Wilson to a degree. However, it's not a good look for Wilson when Adam Thielen is signed on a Tuesday and starts on a Sunday and executes the offense better than Wilson does. Or least in the mid of the quarterback.
Noah Kravitz
10:41
Hey Ray:  If it was your choice, who would you rather face in the playoffs at home Bills Texans or Chargers?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:43
I don't think the Bills are a good matchup for the Steelers so it's either the Chargers or the Texans. Despite what took place in Los Angeles a little more than a month ago, I think I'd pick the Chargers. The Texans have the best defense in the NFL. The Steelers offense isn't very consistent and a game against the Texans could make for a long day for Aaron Rodgers. I don't necessarily think the Steelers would beat the Chargers in a rematch, but I do think it's their most favorable matchup among the three potential opponents you mentioned.
Noah Kravitz
10:43
Thielen caught one pass, MVS got one target, but do you think their involvement was more than that?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:44
It was much more than that according to Rodgers, who mentioned how their "professionalism" helped the offense in the Ravens game. Reading between the lines I think it means Thielen and MVS were on their details, knew their assignments, carried out their assignments and helped DK Metcalf get open more often.
Steeler1974
10:45
A lot of fuss over the lack of rushing yards against the Ravens. Isn’t that the goal. Make them over defend one aspect to open up the other then take advantage ? Seems to me based on the outcome we did what we were supposed to do.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:48
To a certain extent, for sure. The Ravens were daring the Steelers to take deep shots with 1-on-1 coverage. The Steelers hit on many of those opportunities and got some big plays that helped them win the game. But there's also something to be said for being able to run the ball when there is 2:22 left on the clock and you're coming out of your own end zone needing one first down to ice the game. The Steelers gained three yards on two runs and were forced to punt after an incomplete pass on third down. Good offenses can scheme it up and find a way to get a first down in that situation. I'm not saying all three plays have to be runs, but the running game has to be part of the equation there because you want to keep the clock running.
Beal
10:50
Lotta scuttlebutt about the officiating on Sunday. My take is it’s pretty clear overturning the td was the right call. He never made a football move and didn’t get the third foot down. Very clear cut call and that’s why it was done with expedited review. However, I think they got the Rodgers fumble/int wrong. That was a thrown pass and, for it to be a catch and considered down, Rodgers would need to complete the process of going to ground, which he didn’t. Ball came out and never touched the ground, so it should’ve been an “Int”. Do you see it differently?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:53
The explanation I recall from the crew was that Rodgers' knee hit the ground when he had possession so the play is basically dead. It was a weird play. You don't see receivers on their knees catching passes very often, but I'm sure there have been plays over the years when a receivers goes to a knee to catch a ball and is tagged down by the defender. The play is over. So basically, that's what happened, albeit in a much more awkward way, against the Ravens. He caught the ball and his knee went to the ground with all that traffic around him, and he was touched down.
Colonel
10:55
If the Steelers don't play well against the Dolphins, do you foresee a situation where "Renegade" isn't played?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:56
They shouldn't have played it versus the Bills, but I think they're committed to playing it every game. Don't ask me why. People have speculated people come in from out of two and expect to see and hear it. I get that. But there should be exceptions on nights like the Bills game.
Noah Kravitz
10:56
dolphins trap game?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:56
Can there be a trap game when the opponent has won four in a row and five of six?
Yitzer
10:56
Ray, I enjoy all your work.  I found it odd and a little concerning that they would use DK as a gunner on their last punt. What’s up with that?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:57
DK said after the game he went onto the field himself without any direction from the coaching staff. He saw Ben Skowronek was hurting and told him he was going to take his rep for him.
JB
10:57
Ray, do you think Thielen/Scantling will make any type of real contribution this week or will this be just like Mike Williams last year minus his one critical catch in the Washington game?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:58
According to Rodgers their contributions were big regardless because they did their jobs and helped the offense by being on their details.
Greenwood
10:58
It was nice to see the bigger bodied wideouts on the field. I saw MVS is still listed on the practice squad, at least on the Steelers website. Do you know of plans to put him on the roster?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:59
MVS was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the Ravens game. He reverted back to the practice squad after the game. The Steelers can elevate him twice more before making a decision on whether they want to sign him to the 53-man roster.
Takoma Tom
10:59
The Steelers gave up over 200 rushing yards to Baltimore and needed two debatable calls in order to win.  Can this team win or compete in a playoff game?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:00
Sure they can. They beat the Patriots on the road. They beat the Colts when they were the No. 1 seed. I know they're out of the playoffs now, but that was when they were healthier and not as injured as they are now. It's all about matchups in the playoffs. If the Steelers get a favorable matchup anything can happen.
WiscoKen
11:01
Hi Ray, in your opinion, what is the really really on the Roman Wilson healthy scratch situation?  It’s a bit odd when you look at what was being said in training camp regarding his progress and potential, to where we are now?  Is this just a wake up call, a one time shuffling and nothing more (and we will see him back shortly) or has a bigger decision been made (are they moving on)?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:03
He's a young player playing with a veteran QB. And Rodgers is a QB who wants his teammates to be very detailed. I think you've seen his reactions this season when they're not. So maybe Thielen and MVS aren't what they once were, but they are veterans who know what they're doing, and they know how to carry themselves in a professional environment.
John from Toronto
11:06
Hi Ray. Do you see a path back into the lineup for Roman Wilson this season, barring injury? He still seems like a talented player with a future on the team, in spite of this setback.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:06
Not if the passing game continues to click with Thielen and MVS in the lineup.
Seven
11:06
Hi Ray. Which Pennsylvania NFL team is struggling more right now? Amazingly, it may not be the Steelers.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:08
Yeah the Eagles haven't been right all season. They just managed to win a bunch of games in ugly fashion early on. That's not happening right now. I guess the Rams are the favorites in the NFC right now. Maybe the Seahawks are a dark horse, but Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford could be gunning for another Super Bowl.
Tennessee Tuxedo
11:08
Ray. Thanks for your excellent game analysis. I wonder how much of the blame for our shaky OL play sits with the players how much with the OL coach?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:09
It's hard to say. They've been very good in protection since a shaky start to the season. Rodgers doesn't even get hit in some games. But the run blocking is very inconsistent. I guess we can blame it on their youth.
obxandy
11:10
Any word on status of injured players, Harmon, Washington, Bugger, Harrison? Thanks for your chats.
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