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Steelers-Colts: Live chat, updates and analysis
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Ray Fittipaldo
10:57
Welcome to the Steelers-Colts live game chat. Post your questions and Brian and I will begin to answer them soon. The Steelers are honoring the Super Bowl XL team on the 20-year anniversary of the franchise's fifth Super Bowl championship team.
11:12
No Pitt home game yesterday so the field looks a little better than last week especially between the numbers.
Brian Batko
11:16
Good morning. Guess I've gotta get on record with my inactive predictions. I'll go with Logan Lee, Scotty Miller, DeMarvin Leal, Cole Holcomb, Chuck Clark, Jabrill Peppers. I think Andrus Peat might get a hat with Isaac Seumalo working through the pec.
Generational Talent
11:17
There's been some fair and interesting commentary that the Steelers are living in the past, in particular with their addition of players who are past their prime. And then I see their interest in Valdes-Scantling, and I do a double take. Do you think that older players are more amenable to the Steelers "simple" defense/game plan? Are they more appealing to older coaches like Tomlin and an older owner like Rooney?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:19
As far as MVS goes, he might sign soon, but he'll onboard via the practice squad. They just won't hand over a spot on the 53-man roster to a WR who hasn't been here. As for the defensive game plan, I think everyone associated with that unit just wants to find a winning formula. A simpler approach sounds good given the circumstances, but we'll see what happens.
11:22
It's another great weather day for the Steelers Sun peeking through and temperatures in the mid-50s by kickoff.
Brian Batko
11:23
I'm at the point now where I think it'd make more sense to give Scotty Miller's roster spot to MVS (or someone like that). Miller played great in training camp to earn his spot, so it's nothing against him, but you only need so many small, shifty receivers. He was a good bridge to Roman Wilson, and Wilson seems to have arrived.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
Today's inactives: WR Scotty Miller, , DBs Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers, ILB Cole Holcomb, OL Andrus Peat and DL Logan Lee.
11:38
All but Peat and Lee were ruled out Friday due to their illnesses and injuries. Can't recall another time multiple Steelers missed game due to an illness since the COVID year.
Yates
11:45
Brian and Ray-  Should the Steelers change green dot from 6 to someone else given persistent communication issues?  Who would be next up?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:46
They like to have an ILB do it. Queen never comes off the field. Watt did it for a while a few years back. Someone on the front four can do it, but I think I recall Watt telling me it's easier fo an ILB because they're closer to the DBs.
CDub
11:46
Why is Leal still around?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:47
He's versatile, but he hasn't seen the field much in recent weeks.
Yates
11:48
What players will be in the heavy package today if Isaac has issues today?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:50
If he does have issues I think you'll see Ryan McCollum get into the game. Spencer Anderson would play left guard and then McCollum would come in for the jumbo sets. But the fact they made Peat inactive today tells me they feel pretty confident Seumalo will be OK.
Yates
11:51
Will Sermon or Nichols get any meaningful offensive snaps today or only be used on ST?  Both had their moments in pre-season with Sermon doing nice things in screen game and Nichols exhibiting some burst?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:52
When I saw both were elevated yesterday it made me wonder, but I think it's just for special teams. If Warren or Gainwell had an injury they were dealing with the Steelers would have had to have disclosed that in their injury report.
Yates
11:56
I wonder if Pierre is a better but not great option to replace Slay?  He can run and is a solid tackler and just missed on two picks despite limited PT?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
Don't forget about Echols. He replaced Slay late in the Packers game. I wouldn't be surprised if Echols gets a little more run today.
Matt from Davidson NC
12:04
With the situation at safeties & how pathetically defense has played recently don’t you think Coach Components historical defense gets shredded today?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
It's not looking promising today, Matt. I think this is a game where the Steelers have to outscore the Colts if they're going to win. Either that, or control the ball with the running game and try to limit their possessions. I'm just not confident the Steelers defense will fare well against this high-powered Colts offense.
OneAndDone
12:12
How many points do the Steelers need today?  I say 38.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Well, my pick was Colts 41, Steelers 30. But it would be quite the story if the Steelers offense put up 42 today. I'm rooting for a high-scoring game. I think this game has a chance to be entertaining if the Steelers offense is on today.
rman
12:17
There is a narrative that the play of the older members of the defense has declined significantly.  I find it hard to believe that this has happened to ALL of them at the same time.  Also there is concern that the loss of Elliot will greatly hinder the defense.  I think he's a good player but how much worse can it get?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
I think there is some truth in what you say. There is more at hand than every veteran falling off a cliff at the same time. I think it's a lot of little things such as communication, undisciplined gap integrity in the running game, etc.
OneAndDone
12:19
I could really see a situation where the Steelers put up 40 points and still lose.  I have no hope for the defense today unless the Colts do a brain fart and turn it over 6 times.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Or as I said earlier, the Steelers try to control the ball. They haven't really done that all year, but I could see the game plan getting tweaked for this specific opponent.
OneAndDone
12:21
It can and has happened to the entire team before.  They pretty much collapsed after their 4th Super Bowl win.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
That's a fair point, OneandDone. That defense did start showing its age in '80 and '81. The offense remained pretty good when healthy, but yes the defense was never the same after the '79 season.
OneAndDone
12:22
If the Steelers do manage to control the ball, they better get TDs and not FGs.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
I agree on that. And maybe this is the game where Tomlin throws caution to the wind and goes for it on fourth down more often. The Steelers have only gone for it on fourth down four times all season. That's the fewest number of fourth-down attempts in the NFL.
OneAndDone
12:25
Not going to be able to live in their fears today.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Nope
OneAndDone
12:27
I think it should be 4 down territory once inside the red zone today.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
Will depend on the down and distance. You don't want to bypass points on fourth-and-5 or longer, but if it's fourth-and-2 or 3 I'm with you.
rman
12:29
CBS pre game guys wondering if Rodgers hurt his hand in warm ups.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
I saw it happen. I think he's OK. He and Frazier had a bad exchange, but he shook it off.
Yancey Mills
12:30
CBS pregame is showing Rodgers “shaking out” his right hand and apparently he just hurt it?  even had Romo on talking about it
Brian Batko
12:30
Steelers defense out there for warmups and it is indeed Jalen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger as the first-team safeties. Who saw that one coming at the start of the week?
12:33
Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay are the corners in the "base defense" fwiw but I can't imagine Slay has a ton of rope with the way he's played and Brandin Echols coming on. But with Ramsey elsewhere, Echols might be needed in the slot, so James Pierre is really the only option to replace Slay outside if they want to do that.
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