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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.22.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Welcome to my chat. Let's get started.
Jimbear
1:56
Do you think they should try Nietzsche at left tackle?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
I'm high on Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sarte. We'll see how they perform at the combine.
BB
1:57
Ray - Is it just me, or did it look to anyone else like the Steelers were playing like a team that can't wait for this season to be over?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Believe it or not, I get where you're coming from, and it's so weird to say that about an 11-3 team. I think they've lost their confidence. And sometimes, it's hard to get your confidence back. The defense is getting frustrated with the offense. Mike Tomlin and his staff have no idea how to fix it. So it's not that they're quitting. It's just that they don't have any answers and when that happens I think they come off as listless and powerless to change things.
ScandallRhino
1:59
Is Big Ben trying to be calm during the struggle or does he look uninterested to you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
I don't think he's uninterested. Did you see his reaction after the TD pass to Johnson? He's still very passionate about the game and his team. But he can't play at the level he once did. It's painfully obvious. So when you see him walk off the field with his tail between his legs that's the emotion -- the helpless feeling that I referenced in the previous question. When you don't have any answers it's hard to fake enthusiasm or leadership.
Sad man blue eyes
2:01
Its getting pretty evident that the line is over the hill, my question for you is do you actually see the Steelers cutting bait on Pouncey and maybe even Decastro?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
They would save quite a bit of money if they would pull the trigger on moves like that. Both Pouncey and DeCastro are $14 million cap hits in 2021. I mentioned this last week. I am hoping DeCastro is hurt because I don't want to believe he's deteriorated like this without a reason. Whether they make those moves or not they need a big rebuild of the line. Vilanueva won't be back. You need a left tackle. Maybe that should be their top priority in the draft. Build a better line around the QB, develop a running game and try a different offensive approach in 2021 to complement a defense that remains one of the elite units in the league.
Ryno
2:03
After the game last week, Tomlin emphatically stated the offensive problems could be fixed before their next game.  Think anyone will call him out on that?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
What's he going to say? "I can't fix it." It's obvious they can't. They need to win low-scoring games. It can be done in the NFL with a strong running game, an efficient passing game and a QB who protects the ball and doesn't turn it over. The Steelers can't do that because they can't run it well enough for defenses to respect them.
daveb
2:05
Since Ben is a 38-year-old coming off major arm surgery, appears to have issues with throwing the deep ball and has a very high cap number for next year, are the Steelers really in the market for a new QB, assuming it is not Mason Rudolph?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
A lot has change in the past few weeks. I would have said draft a QB in 2022 because Ben had been playing so well. But now? Maybe they do draft one. The problem is they also need to draft OL, RB and maybe a TE. On defense they might need to draft a DL and LB. Their list of needs is long, and I don;t know if they were counting on drafting a QB in a year they could fill so many other needs.
Ryno
2:08
Was it me, or did it look like the receivers weren't really getting open last night?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
James Washington was open on the first play of the game. Ben underthrew him by five yards and the ball should have been intercepted. But other than that there wasn't a lot of separation. The Bengals did what Washington, Baltimore and Buffalo did. They defended the short passing game, dared the Steelers to throw deep and did it knowing full well the running game wasn't good enough to make a difference.
John in Florida
2:09
With Ben looking more and more like Unitas with the Chargers or Willie Mays with the Mets, what should the plan be moving forward, both for the rest of this year and beyond? Go with Ben? Start Rudolph? Start Ben with a short leash?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
I don't know if Mason Rudolph is the answer. As far as this year goes, I know Mason has done nothing to lose the backup job, but I am of the opinion that Josh Dobbs could give defenses a different look and something different to prepare for if he was the backup. Put in a few packages for him. Make teams worry about the read option or the QB run. If Ryan Finely can rush for 47 yards and a touchdown then Josh Dobbs is capable of being a changeup for the Steelers. The Saints use Taysom Hill like that. At this point, what do the Steelers have to lose? Give defenses a different look and still use Ben for most of the snaps on offense.
ScandallRhino
2:12
It might be last nights BBQ, but I have a feeling in my stomach that the Steelers are going to beat Indy. Is that ludicrous to think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I just picked them to lose, 38-10, on the North Shore podcast. It'll be up later so give us a listen. We tackle all the issue this team is facing. And obviously, I feel a bit different than you do. I just don't see them turning it around. It's the NFL. Anything can happen, but there is zero evidence that they have what it takes to right the ship.
Rich
2:14
Hi Ray Thanks for your chats. Tomlin has lost in December the past three years. He is a good coach but sometimes the message gets stale. Plus teh entire coaching staff seems stubborn about making changes. Additionally the JuJu issue and Tomlin's refusal to acknowledge that this is an issue or that he even knew about it!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Tomlin is a good coach. Another team would snatch him up in a minute if the Steelers let him go. But that doesn't mean you're wrong about your point. All coaches have shelf lives. Messages get stale, players get set in their ways, complacency sets in. He's done a remarkable job for most of his tenure, but these late-season swoons are a trend Art Rooney II surely does not like.
Tom 88
2:17
Hi Ray, Happy Holidays! Do you think (as I do) the Steelers are trying to cover up issues with Ben (arm strength)? Granted the O Line is a terrible.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
It's obvious he does not have the arm strength to complete deep balls any longer. When you have a QB that is incapable of pushing the ball down the field it's a big-time advantage for the defense. They can bring safeties down to smash the run and defend the short routes.
Javi
2:19
Hello Ray. Have you ever seen a pro team in any sports just totally collapse like this? We're awful. And what is your thoughts on Ben? He looks like deer in headlights.smh..
Lenny from NY
2:20
Good afternoon Ray. People can blame Ben, OL, Wr or RB’s for there problems. But to me it all falls on Tomlin and other Coaches. Seems to me that players aren’t buying his philosophy. After talking all week about being physical, the Steelers got manhandled. If Tomlin is agreeing with the offensive play calling then he needs to go as well as Fitchner. What do you think?  Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Ben admitted last night he's not 100%. He usually never uses injury as an excuse.
2:22
Now for Lenny's question... I agree with you about the physicality. How many times can you question your team's toughness and use it as a motivational tool? He did that. They're still not physical enough. Maybe they just can't do it. Maybe it's a talent issue. Whatever the case, the problem is not going away.
Bil
2:22
Hi Ray, Seems that Ben's been floating passes lately. Is it just me or has his arm come undone?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
Something is wrong. He can't throw the ball down the field with any accuracy or length.
Nate
2:23
How do we approach next year with Ben wanting to come back? This is bringing back shades of Peyton in Denver. The greatness just isn’t there anymore.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Try to keep the defense intact and draft OL and RBs that can help transform the Steelers from a finesse passing offense to a strong, physical team capable of playing a different style. I'm not even sure Ben has enough left to run that type of offense, but I know for sure he doesn't have enough left to run the offense they're running now.
Bil
2:24
Could it be time for some new o-linemen and new o-line coach?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
They definitely need an infusion of young talent on the line.
Bil
2:26
Was Coach T going to bench Ben to start 2nd half?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
I never got the idea though I wouldn't have blamed Tomlin for having the thought. Everyone can be benched. It happened to Peyton Manning in 2015, and he's one of the greatest QBs in NFL history.
Bil
2:27
If we end 11-5 would we play AFC North team in round one?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
Or the Colts or Titans, whichever doesn't win the AFC South. Right now, the Titans are atop the division.
Bil
2:28
Love the guy but, is Big Al ready to be replaced?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Big Al's contract is up at the end of the year, and they'll need a new left tackle. All will turn 33 during next season. You don't sign descending players.
Jps717
2:29
This offense is facing a major rebuild in 21.  4 UFA starters (Big Al, Feiler, Juju, Conner) 4 uderperformers who are overpaid (Ben, Vance. Pouncey and DeCastro).  Do you think Chuks, Dotson and Banner can be anchors of a revamped O line?  They won't be able to afford FA O linemen.  Should they draft G and  C in early rounds?
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