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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 5.17.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
OK here we go...
Guest
1:56
The Steeler organization is considered a high class operation.   Do you really think Mr. Rooney would allow A.B. to retire a Steeler with all of the things he has done over the years, not to mention thrashing some great Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
Lots of former Steelers ask to retire as Steelers. But ownership only does it for a select few. Given what transpired a few years ago, I cannot imagine a scenario where the Steelers would hold a presser and honor Brown in that way.
Ron
1:57
Do you think the running game or the run defense is likely to improve first?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Very good question, Ron. We don't know it Tuitt will be back. but if he is, along with Tyson Alualu and the addition of Myles Jack, I think the run defense can be much better. But Tuitt has to be in the fold. The Steelers got Najee Harris last year and this year they addressed the offensive line in free agency. If the running game still stinks this season it might be time to make some major changes on the coaching staff.
Ron
1:59
Will the Steelers regain their 2023 5th rounder through trading Mason towards the end of preseason and after a team suffers a QB injury? Any chance they get more value than that?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
I doubt they could get more than a fifth but you never know.
Ron
1:59
With the potential to trade Rudolph, the second QB draft pick makes sense. Does Heyward really make sense even if you rationalize it that it enables them to cut brother Watt and save money?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Heyward is an H-back, which means he can be used as a TE in some packages. So, the Steelers could keep Watt and Heyward if Heyward is good enough to supplant Kevin Rader as the No. 3 TE. But please understand, in any scenario, Heyward has to make this team because of his contributions on special teams. No. 3 TEs and fullbacks make rosters only because of special teams.
Where's My Clark Bar?
2:01
Ray, can you help settle a quarrel between my wife and I? I don't think Pickett's hand size will effect his throwing or cause an increase in turnover probability......she thinks size matters. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
The Steelers are convinced size does not matter so there you go.
J-town johnnie
2:02
Ray,  who has the best chance of udfa making the roster?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
One of the two RBs from Duke and Oklahoma State.
Miles McGuire
2:03
Hi Ray,

Thank you for the chats! I'm pretty luke warm on the Kenny P selection. With his age being 24, do you agree it would be somewhat of a disappointment if he cannot beat out Mitch T at the conclusion of camp? Not major, but an eyebrow raiser?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Not at all. they signed Trubisky for a reason. In the event they selected a QB high they didn't want to rush him in any way. As for Pickett being 24 that might matter with other positions, but it doesn't matter at all with QBs. QBs can play until their late 30s and early 40s, or in the case of Tom Brady when he's 100.
BPOS
2:04
It's hard to fathom Pickett flat out beating Mitch in a QB competition without any NFL playing experience, so the question is, how much better does Mitch have to be to start. I'd think that if it were close or Mitch is slightly better, they have to give the nod to Pickett right? Anything else would delay valuable playing experience.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
There is a fine line. You don't want to put too much pressure on a rookie by starting him right away. It would be hard to undo damage if he had to be benched. The smarter approach is to let him sit for a while until he proves he is better in actual games. Camp and preseason games are one thing, but Trubisky has NFL game experience. I'm not saying Pickett sits for long, but he'd have to blow their doors off to beat out Trubisky to start the season opener.
574Fan
2:06
Thanks as always for chatting, Ray. For as many question marks as we on the DL and to a lesser extent ILB and secondary, we at least have a number of bodies in each group so you hope one or two unproven guys step up in each. The one spot where we don’t have a lot of bodies is OLB. TJ needs breaks, he always has. Can/will the team address this before the season. Would sure be nice if we could’ve held on to Jones last year.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
I think that's why they signed Genard Avery. And Tuszka improved as the season went on. Sure they could upgrade, but those two guys might be OK as your 3 and 4.
Guest
2:07
I believe that especially on offense "it all starts up front". Have the Steelers done enough this off-season to improve the line?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
They spent a lot of money, that's for sure. We'll see how those guys fit in with Canada's offense.
DaquidoBazzini
2:07
How much input do you think Mike Tomlin will have on the GM decision? And… What do you think the percentage is that Rooney will go out of the organization for a new GM?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Hard to say. All we really know is he'll be sitting in on the second interviews. We don't know anything beyond that. As for Rooney hiring from the outside, it could happen. His dad did it in 2007 when he hired Tomlin over in-house candidates Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt.
Scott
2:09
Which NFL WR (past or present) would you compare George Pickens to?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
That's hard to say. Ask me in six months.
Guest
2:10
Two questions: What exactly is going on with Tuitt and what is the timeline for him either being on the roster or cut? Next the OL must get push so RB’s aren’t getting hit at LOS, not sure I see them being that physical do you?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
There is not a timeline, per se, although I think they'd like to know sooner rather than later. If Tuitt is designated with a post June 1 release the Steelers would save $9 million on their salary cap ($5 million dead cap hit)... One of the big problems was on the interior last season. They signed Mason Cole and James Daniels. The hope is they can be much more physical, or at the very least, not get pushed into the backfield as the center did last season on so many occasions.
Jim
2:13
I like the swagger and game of Pickett, reminds me of Burrow, am I being too optimistic?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
You can compare his swag to Burrow, that's fine. But let's hold off on any other comparisons to Burrow until Pickett plays in an NFL game. Burrow is a proven commodity.
Jim
2:14
Why would we sign two guys after the rookie camp that they had a chance to draft and/or sign as FA's after the draft? Didn't they scout these guys?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Sometimes you need a longer look. They saw these guys over three days. It's not like they're replacing anyone of consequence on the 90-man roster.
Jim
2:15
When do you think we will hear something on the new GM?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
I'd say sometime in the next month. I think they'd want to have it done before everyone goes on vacation after minicamp in mid-June.
Jim
2:16
Do you think Rudolph will be around come week 1? What do you think we can get, a 6th rounder? Less?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Depends if there are QB injuries in the preseason, but a fifth or sixth might be doable.
palman
2:17
Ray - Veteran corner around the corner? What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
Doubt it. Not unless there are injuries or players don't perform in camp.
Jim
2:17
Think Hayward has a real shot at TE or was he brought in as a cheaper FB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Tomlin described him as a "swiss army knife" so maybe he can do both at some point. But probably not as a rookie.
JP from quebec
2:18
Hi there Ray, do you think that if he does not appear to be 100% with his injured knee at training camp, the Steelers would let Devin Bush go and try to sign a free agent at ilb.
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