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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 12.24.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
9:55
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you! Let's get the chat started.
Henry
9:55
Ray if they can't win two home games to win the division they don't deserve it. I still think they are lucky to win 1 playoff game. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
9:58
I agree with you about the division. They've had everything in front of them for a few weeks now. They still do even though Baltimore has erased that two-game deficit. They don't deserve the AFC North if they can't beat KC and CIN. But I have a little bit of a different take on the playoffs. The Steelers have earned that with quality wins against the Broncos, Chargers, Ravens and Commanders. If they end up winning a playoff game it won't be lucky. It's going to be all about the matchup. I'd favor the Steelers at home versus the Broncos or the Chargers and I think they'd be favored on the road at a Texans team that is very thin on playmakers right now. I wouldn't feel so good about a wild-card game versus the Ravens or Bills.
Mike from Iz
9:59
Hi Ray, Is it wrong to think we weren't really outplayed in the past two matches? One or two key plays going out way instead of fumbles or intercept and it's a different story.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:01
I think it's a much different game if Russell Wilson scores instead of fumbles, and the Steelers go up 14-7 in the second quarter. I don't know if they win -- they gave up more than 400 yards and couldn't stop Derrick Henry -- but I think that changes the complexion of the game. Maybe they don't feed Henry as much if they're trailing. Maybe Lamar presses a bit. The momentum shift was huge there. I don't feel the same way about the Eagles game. They also had 400 yards and did pretty much whatever they wanted on the Steelers defense. The difference was the offense was downright bad in that game, from the players to the coaches and their plan.
HalTuna
10:02
Hi Ray - best Steelers chat out there! Despite the stats, the defence has been a problem at critical times in recent games and must improve. Injuries aside, in your opinion what can be done to turn this around - defensive game planning seems the same every week, relying on #90 and 56 to generate pressure without anything creative to disrupt the opposing offence.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:05
If you listen to the players and the coaches, if the communication issues are cleaned up, they'll be in a better spot. I buy that to an extent. The blown coverages have led to easy touchdowns for the opposition. They need to be harder to play against and their red-zone defense has to drastically improve. One other thing I've noticed: when they do bring five or six-man pressures they're not getting home. That's a bit concerning to me. They need to figure that out. If you're going to compromise the back end of your defense, your blitzers have to pressure or get sacks, and they're not doing that.
Tom from Mex
10:06
Hi, Ray, happy Holidays! I love your chats and insights thanks for that. What is going on with Cam Sutton? You don’t hear his name a lot despite all the injuries in the secondary.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:08
I was talking about just that with some of the other guys on the beat yesterday. The conversation started because the coaches haven't gone to Sutton much with Jackson and Porter injured. It appears they are comfortable using James Pierre and Cory Trice on the outside instead of Sutton. I don't have a huge problem with that because for the most part Pierre and Trice have been fine when they've had to play and Sutton's greatest asset is his versatility. However, we haven't heard his name called very much whether he's in the slot or dropped back at safety. And he was in on the blown coverage on the Mark Andrews TD. He and Damontae Kazee were the two closest defenders. I thought he would have made a bigger impact by now.
RAM
10:08
Merry Christmas Ray! Do you think our D-line and edge guys will bring it enough to disrupt Mahomes, stuff the run and possibly deliver us a Christmas miracle?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:12
I wouldn't call it a Christmas miracle if the Steelers win. I know the Chiefs are 14-1, but they've been in a lot of close games. The game is at home on a short week. The Chiefs have made some changes on their line. Thuney is now playing tackle because their previous starter stunk. He's shored up that spot a bit. It's a shame Watt isn't 100% healthy. If he was, I think he'd get great pressure in this matchup. I still think the Steelers can generate pressure, but the biggest task is keeping Mahomes in the pocket and not allowing him to step up and create time or run. In spite of his "ankle injury" he looked pretty darn effective as a runner versus the Texans on Saturday.
SC Steeler
10:12
Merry Christmas Ray.  Thanks for doing these chats.  My question: as an ex-offensive lineman what is your take on the epidemic of offensive holding being ignored by game officials in both the NFL and CFB?  Have the defenders (especially edge rushers) become so strong and quick that the officials are trying to give the OL a chance?  Or do things just happen so quickly that the officials can’t see everything that we see on TV?  Either way, should the holding rule be re-written to try to provide more consistent enforcement?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:15
I've heard the refrain since I was kid, and it hasn't changed: you can call holding on every play in the NFL. Playing offensive line is hard. Tackles have to deal with guys who run 4.5 40s. These guys are big too and are capable of beating you with bull rushes. You see how officials are giving tackles the benefit of the doubt on those early sets that look like illegal procedure penalties. Offensive line are allowed to hold as long as it is within the framework of the body. The fact that these guys are getting beat clean and have to commit penalties to keep the QB clean shows you how difficult the position is.
Rusty Bleier
10:16
Hi Ray! We know that Pickens is the most important player we’re hoping returns from injury tomorrow, but who is the second most important, Donte or Larry? Our secondary looked a little lost with our back ups, but we also got gouged by the run game. Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
10:17
Good question. They are extremely thin on the defensive line right now so I might lean Ogunjobi. But they're pretty banged up in the secondary too. Jackson is solid and has shown a knack for creating turnovers. They could use both!
J D
10:19
Ray,  are the Steelers afraid to bring the blitz anymore?  Why are they playing soft, rushing only 4 and still giving up wide open receptions?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:20
As I mentioned above, when they do blitz it hasn't been very effective. Perhaps because they don't do it much. Those ILBs aren't showing a good feel for it. Maybe they're waiting to bring it out for an important game, but whatever happened to the slot corner blitz. It was so effective when Mike Hilton was here. They can go back to that to generate some pressure.
Rusty Bleier
10:21
Hi Ray! I thought our offense looked good (particularly our run game) on Saturday, minus a couple big mistakes. Do you think we can run on KC and keep MaHomie on the sidelines? Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
10:22
KC has a really good defense so it's not going to be easy. Maybe Chris Jones is banged up and isn't his normal self. That would help. We'll see what his status is later in the day. I suspect he'll play though. I think they're going to have to possess the ball and play defense much better than they have recently to win this game.
John from Toronto
10:23
Hi Ray. Do you see a changing of the guard in the RB room this week? Will Warren be RB1 for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs? He seems to run harder, hit holes faster and offer more in the passing game. Or will Tomlin stick with Harris as the primary back?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:24
The coaches kind of brushed off Harris' lack of snaps and touches against the Ravens due to game circumstances. The Steelers were behind and throwing a bunch late in the game so Warren was in there more. I get that, but Warren appears to have fresher legs at this stage of the season. He hits the hole quicker, has more home-run hitting ability and always has been the better pass blocker and receiver out of the backfield. I'm not surprised he's playing more and I think that should continue into the postseason.
Martian
10:25
GM Ray. Appreciate the holiday chat! I don’t understand the hate toward Omar Khan. In one off season he’s made us competitive again. Yes we need a WR, but it takes time to build a Super Bowl contender. Feel we as fans should focus our disgust on the fact that we cant call WR open for now. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:27
It's never enough. And I agree with you it is still very early in Khan's tenure as GM. But this is the NFL. He had a mandate from ownership to win a playoff game this season. He's tried to put together a roster that can do that. Can he be criticized for the WR position? Absolutely. Maybe he should have been more aggressive in the summer to fill Diontae Johnson's shoes. But I don't argue with how he's trying to build a contender. He's doing it from the inside-out. Most great teams solidify the trenches first and that's what Khan is trying to do.
Alan in Alabama
10:28
Good morning! I’ve been ranting for several years that the individual talent on this defense is much better than the actual production. Yes. They rank highly most of the time. That doesn’t always account for situational football. I know it will NEVER happen but this organization is wasting some incredible careers because of terrible schemes and coaching on the defensive side and they NEED to address this. The next time I have to hear about people not knowing their jobs or a lack of communication, I’m going to freak out! Haha. How about they maybe just decide to cover all the Pro Bowlers on the other team? Perhaps that’ll be a great place to start?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:29
Good post, Alan. Not sure there is a question in there for me to answer, but I'm sure other Steelers fans share your point of view. I wrote about much of what you said earlier in the week. Even Mike Tomlin said it's unacceptable  that guys are being left wide open. Things have to change and they have to change quickly.
Greg
10:29
My best to everyone at P-G for a great holiday and thanks for all of your hard work. Can I get your thoughts on the new college football playoff system? Not really watchable games so far. Did the blowouts last weekend make you rethink the layout?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:31
The best teams didn't get rewarded. Boise State and Arizona State got byes but they're not one of the top four teams in the country. I think we can all agree on that. How about Oregon being the No. 1 seed and having to play Ohio State in a quarterfinal game? The Ducks beat the Buckeyes at home early in the season, but it was a struggle. Then you see how Penn State gets SMU at home and then Boise in the quarters. Hey, maybe Boise will step up and prove me wrong, but the seeding seems out of whack to me.
brian
10:32
Happy Christmas Eve Ray, Are you surprised at teams that continue to pick up malcontent players thinking it won't be the same when they play with them?  Johnson is on his third team in a year.  Doesn't anyone remember Antonio Brown and his trail of carnage?  Yet teams bring these players into their locker rooms.  Are they desperate and just roll the dice?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:32
Well, the Texans are. They just lost Tank Dell and they lost Stephon Diggs earlier in the season. They need bodies.
Jim Bow Dean
10:32
I know they were hit hard by injuries, and are starting two rookies, but the OL seems to be regressing. Is it time to move on from Meyer?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:33
I wouldn't go that far, but the line has t play much better than it has been if they want to win a playoff game.
Jim Bow Dean
10:33
Lots of talk about communication issues on defense. Isn’t that a poor reflection on the coaching staff?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:34
Anytime that happens yes it is. Teryl Austin shouldered some of the blame yesterday. He said he has to make sure his players not only are giving information but those are receiving have to let people know they got the call too.
Bill
10:35
Steeler get tough Chiefs matchup on short rest but Ravens get one with Texans too. Should we be more worried about next week? Bengals could have outside chance for WC while Browns are toast.
Ray Fittipaldo
10:35
The Texans are not as good as they were last year and now they have almost no WRs left after Dell got hurt.
Pitt58steel
10:35
Hello Ray thanks for the chat and Merry Christmas! Why are we not involving our TE's more in the passing game. It seems like they are open most of the time. They all have good hands so what seems to be the problem?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:36
Wilson is 5-10. You saw how the Eagles batted down some passes. It's hard to throw over the middle when you can't see the full picture from the pocket.
Rugrat
10:36
Ray, you commented that on the long ball to Austin he could have cone back to break it, but isn’t it also Wilson threw that ball late, due to pressure or whatever. Still it’s not the first ball I’ve seen him throw late. Isn’t some of it on him?
Ray Fittipaldo
10:37
I agree. Wilson could have given him a better ball. But when the ball is floating out there, the WR has to adjust. I just think if he comes back for the ball and Hamilton hits him before the ball gets there he might have drawn a flag. But when you don't come back for the ball it becomes Hamilton's ball just as much as Austin's.
Guest
10:37
Am I missing something on the taunting rule ?
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