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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 8.13.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Post your questions and we will get started.
jack
1:57
do you think ola makes the team? i hope so
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Well, they have three definite OLBs on the 53-man roster -- Watt, Dupree and Chickillo. I think Ola is in contention for the fourth spot with Keion Adams and Farrington Huguenin. I like Ola. He's been impressive. But he's only 20 years old. I think ideally you develop him on the practice squad. However, if they're convinced he's the fourth-best OLB then maybe they just go with him on the 53. I still think that's a position they could upgrade after other teams make their cuts.
Shawn
1:59
Has AB been a full participant since he returned?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Brown was close to a full participant Sunday. He did pretty much everything.
Moose
2:00
Patterson looks like he is making an argument to make the roster.  Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Patterson has been really good in practice and everyone saw what he did in the Eagles game. If he keeps playing the way he is now they won't be able to cut him. I just wrote a story that will be published soon on post-gazette.com about Eli Rogers and his rehab from knee surgery. If Rogers is not ready for the regular season it will make the decision easy for the Steelers. Patterson should make the team in that sceanrio as long as he continues to play well.
jack
2:02
are u concerned that watt has missed this much time?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
It's a hamstring injury. Soft tissue injuries can be nagging so it's smart to keep him out now. You want him ready for the real games. I suppose I'll start being concerned if he's not out there in another two weeks. But right now doesn't matter for him.
Michael
2:03
Ray, what’s your take on the overall status of Vance MsDonald?  Is he overly fragile or unlucky?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
As a player, your best ability is your availability. And McDonald has been injured every season during his five years in the NFL. I don't want to label him as injury-prone, but his history speaks for itself. That being said. I see him walking around campus without a limp. I think he might be close. We just haven;t had an update from Mike Tomlin on him. He was asked Sunday after practice about McDonald and did not wish to give an update.
Rick
2:05
Ray,  Only one preseason game but they still cannot tackle on a consistent basis.  I think this will be Butler's last Latrobe camp.  Can't keep blaming the players. What say you.?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Keith Butler can't go out there and tackle for his players. He very well might be the scapegoat if the defense has another bad year, but what is he supposed to do about the tackling problems. They work on it in camp. They probably tackle more than any other team in camp. It's his job to put the right players on the field and in positions to succeed. I think that's why there has been so much about the package with seven defensive backs this summer. They're trying to get their best athletes on the field when teams are passing and have smaller personnel in there.
rob
2:07
please tell me this is the year, one young WR with promise (damone patterson), makes the team over dhb?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Check out my story after the chat on Eli Rogers. If he starts on PUP and they keep six WRs again then I think Patterson will make the team. Before camp, I thought it might be Marcus Tucker, but Patterson has been so good that I think he's bypassed him.
Moose
2:08
92 looked quick and explosive for a rookie.  I know he is young, but any chance he makes the team since OLB depth is lacking?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
On his strip sack, he beat Jordan Mailata, the rugby player from Australia who is playing football for the first time in his life. I'm not trying to minimize what Ola has been doing. He's obviously been having a very good camp, but I do feel the need to pump the breaks a bit with him. He's only 20 years old.
Dan
2:10
What have been your thoughts of Morgan Burnett now that he is back? A lock to start if he remains healthy?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
That's why they brought him here. He's a sure tackler and they need a presence like him on the defense.
Shawn
2:10
Didnt catch the game vs the eagles.  Did the new helmet rule come into play at all and if so was b it called right?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
The Steelers were not called for the new helmet rule, but the Eagles had at least one violation. I believe it was on Sidney Jones, one of their defensive backs for a hit on a Steelers WR.
Kevin
2:11
Good afternoon Ray, why the objection to bringing in a ILB free agent like Bowman or Timmons? Their asking price has to be low at this point. We just don't have quality depth at that position right now.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Timmons has slowed down and I'm not sure he can run well enough to keep up in today's NFL. I'm a little surprised Bowman remains unsigned, but maybe there is a reason for that. I think the Steelers might upgrade that position after teams make their final cuts. I'm just not convinced it will be Timmons or Bowman. If the Steelers wanted either of them they'd have signed them by now.
Dan
2:13
How has edmunds looked recently? Haven't heard much about him after his athletic interception on Ben covering Vance. Good preseason showing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
He got a chance to show what he could do with the first-team defense when Burnett was out early in camp. He was very impressive, and the coaches and front office took notice. He's been with the second-team defense since Burnett has returned, but he has seen some action in sub-packages.
The infantile Grisnile
2:15
Ray, realistically, how many of the pre-camp unknowns have a shot at the 53? Patterson, Morris, Odeniyi, Thomas appear to be the frontrunners, but at least two are more likely for the practice squad, no?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
My two right now would be Patterson and maybe Ola.
Sam
2:15
How comfortable are you in Washington as the #3 wr? What kind of receiving numbers can we expect?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I wrote Sunday that they're bringing Washington along slowly. He's just starting to get more reps with Roethlisberger in recent practices. They need him to be ready and to produce. Are they really going to rely on Justin Hunter to be their third receiver? He had something like four catches last season and wasn't active for a lot of games. My gut tells me they'll work Washington in more in the next few weeks with the expectation that he's the No. 3 WR for the regular-season opener. But they are taking their time with him.
GPT
2:17
Odds the Steelers are scanning the waiver wire for their starting ILB increased after the Eagles game?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
You meant to write "Odds the Steelers will be scanning the waiver wire after final cutdowns..." All NFL-quality players are in camps now. There won't be any competent players available until after teams make their cuts. I wasn;t very impressed with Jon Bostic or Tyler Matakevich against the Eagles, but I'll give Bostic a pass because it was his first game in a Steelers uniform. If he doesn't improve, though, it's not going to be pretty for the interior of that defense. He was too easily blocked Thursday night.
Sam
2:19
Can Conner develop into a starting rb? Heard he has made great progress in pass pro/catching
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
Conner is having a good camp. He missed another block in pass protection Thursday night though. He can't continue to do that. That's a weakness that he must improve.
HueJackson
2:20
Practice canceled today due to weather ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Not yet, but it's raining hard. They might have to go indoors. Those are closed to fans. Stay tuned for tweets about practice
The infantile Grisnile
2:21
Toussaint last Thursday ran like a man determined to keep his roster spot. Think he has a shot?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
I think that third spot comes down to Toussaint, Ridley or Samuels, the rookie third-round pick. Right now, I'm leaning toward one of the veterans, but it's always hard to cut fifth-round draft picks.
Shawn
2:22
Brown, juju and washington are sure bets to make the roster.  Is it fair to say the other 3 spots could go to any combination of the reamining receivers currently on the roster?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I think Hunter has a good shot to make it. I don't know why they keep Heyward-Bey every year, but they always do for special teams purposes. That's five. If they keep six, Patterson is the likely candidate if Rogers starts the season on PUP.
Stiller
2:23
Have you seen a noticeable difference in play between Bostic and Matakavich? Can he be a serviceable stop gap until the draft next year?
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