Ray Fittipaldo: Welcome to my Steelers chat. Fire away with any questions...
DaquidoBazzini : Hello Ray - What are your thoughts on Jon Bostic after seeing him a bit more?
Ray Fittipaldo: As far as what he is as a player it's really difficult to draw too many conclusions from OTAs and minicamp. It's football in shorts. We'll know much more about him once camp starts in a few weeks and then of course the preseason games. It is noteworthy to point out he played with the second-team throughout the spring. Tyler Matakevich got the reps with the first-team defense. We'll see what happens in camp, but for now it seems it's Matakevich's job to lose.
seferg: assuming the steelers finish first, how do you see the rest of the division finishing?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think the Steelers will finish first, but I don't think it will be as easy as it was last season. They won a lot of close games and it was an uncharacteristically down year for the Ravens. I expect the Ravens to bounce back so my order of finish is as follows: 1. Steelers (10-6) 2. Ravens (9-7) 3. Bengals (7-9) and 4. Browns (4-12).
Jonny Quest: Ray - how does moving Dupree to the right side help things? Now he has to go against the left tackle who in most cases is bigger, stronger, etc.?? How does he get to the QB in that scenario? Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo: They're trying to help him in any way they can. The way Keith Butler and Joey Porter explained it, Dupree missed a number of sacks last season because the QB could see him coming from the left side. They hypothesized that by rushing from the blindside, Dupree will be able to get a few more sacks because the QB won't be able to see him coming. What you say about the left tackle is somewhat true. Most left tackles are better pass protectors than their counterparts on the right side, but the difference isn't as stark as it once was. You need two quality pass protectors at tackle to ward off opposing rushers nowadays.
DW: Ray, every year a team seems to fly under the radar going into the season and end up surpassing everyone's expectations. If you were to venture a guess this season, who do you think that will be?
Ray Fittipaldo: I feel like the Chargers are one of those teams every year, but I really think they might be the best team in the AFC West. They have pass rushers, a very good QB in Phillip Rivers and some weapons he can distribute the ball to in a diverse offense. That's a very competitive division, but I think the Chargers could be a tough out if they make the playoffs. In the NFC, I know the Giants had a bad year last year, but they'll have a healthy O'Dell Beckham and Saquon Barkley to team with Eli Manning on offense. I can see them morphing back into a playoff contender pretty quickly if all three of those guys stay healthy.
jake: our depth at WR is a bit scary to me they say Justin Hunter is looking good but they said the same thing last year. if JuJu or AB miss some time we are in trouble. any way take a look at Eric Decker?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think they'll wait to see if there are any major injuries. If Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington remain healthy there is no need to make a move. That's a very formidable top three. You have Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward-Bey and others vying for the fourth and fifth spots. The problem would come in if there was an injury to one of the top three. In that case, I could see them making a move. The most obvious move would be to sign Eli Rogers when he is cleared from his knee injury. He knows the offense and has been productive at times during his two previous seasons. I suppose Decker or another free agent could be in the mix too, but I think they would look to Rogers first.
Ohio Steel: I don't see Bell being a Steeler after this year due to finances. Your thoughts.
Ray Fittipaldo: As things stand now -- 14 days until the deadline -- I agree with you. It's a very tough negotiation. The Steelers are willing to pay Bell almost twice as much as the next highest-paid back in the NFL, and Bell hasn't been receptive to those types of offers in the past year. He wants to be paid like a No. 1 RB and a starting WR. I can see his side of it. He wants to reset the RB market and be paid according to his production. That's why it's been hard for both sides to come to an agreement. Maybe we'll be surprised, but I tend to think Bell will play on the tag again and then hit unrestricted free agency after the season ends.
rod baran: Hi Ray, I was just wondering who you think will be working along side Vince Williams on week 1. I've heard a lot of good things about Edmonds, and Matatavich.
Ray Fittipaldo: My guess right now is Matakevich will line up with him in the base defense. Once they go to extra defensive backs in the subpackages I think there is a good chance Edmunds gets on the field then. But there is an entire training camp and foour preseason games in the offing. Lots can and will happen between now and the start of the regular season.
Iowa Steel: Ray, usually you build a side of the football based off of strength(s), or talents and go from there. There also needs to be a team leader on both sides of the ball, Ben being one, whose the unit leader on D?
Ray Fittipaldo: That's easy. Cam Heyward.
Ryno: Do you feel like the Steelers came up with a good backup plan in the event that they would be unsuccessful in getting a quality inside linebacker in the draft?
Ray Fittipaldo: Their backup plan was to draft a safety who is capable of playing near the line of scrimmage as a run-stopper. It's a plan. We have no idea how that plan will work. We all have been hearing for weeks how this defense is going to change, but we saw no signs of change in the spring. We all think we will see it in camp, but who knows what will happen. We'll have to wait and find out.
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Jim: How will never crackdown on training camp tackle practices impact Steeler preparation. It seems that the NFL sees that preseason training camp concussions were a big problem... and the Steelers have been targeted as a team that engages in very ohysical practices
Ray Fittipaldo: It's true the Steelers have more physical practices in camp than most teams. This new study was just unveiled last week so I imagine the Steelers will be discussing it in the coming weeks and perhaps adjust their plan for more hitting after the first or second week of practice. The Steelers have been pretty good about adjusting to new rules and recommendations when it comes to head injuries.
Lloyd's 3-Count: How do you envision Vance's role evolving now that he's in year two with the team?
Ray Fittipaldo: McDonald told the Post-Gazette during minicamp that he expects a breakthrough year. He was acquired just before the start of last season so there was a definite transition period for him learning the offense. Then he had a few injuries that held him back as well. If he's healthy he can have a big year. His problem over the years has been injuries though so we'll have to wait and see if he can put it all together in 2018.
Lloyd's 3-Count: Did you see any difference in how Bradley worked with the defensive backs compared against Lake?
Ray Fittipaldo: The spring was a big acclimation period for the defensive backs. They tried to straighten out new terminology and a new way of doing things under Bradley. I talked to several DBs and they all thought any issues would be worked out before camp started. So what I saw in OTAs and minicamp was a lot of on-field teaching and instructing.
Kool-Aid: Hi Ray, Between Bradley and Dunbar which coach do you feel will have more of an impact on their players?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think it has to be Bradley. Dunbar inherits a very talented group. I'm sure he'll tweak a few things and add some new ideas, but Heyward is an All-Pro and Tuitt isn't far behind. I don't know how much he'll want to change anything with his group. With Bradley, they're trying to make a bad to mediocre unit into a good one. That takes time it takes a good coach to try to accomplish that.
Ryno: What are the odds of the Steelers are looking to pick up an outside linebacker that might be cut from another team at some point? They have little proven depth there at this point.
Ray Fittipaldo: I think you might be right. All depends upon how Keion Adams develops in camp. If he looks good they might feel like he's good enough to be a fourth OLB. I think they are happy with Chickillo as their top backup. I think he'll be fine in a short-term injury situation, not so much if Watt or Dupree is injured for a longer period.
Chubba: How can anyone be confident with TM at MLB after watching him in coverage last year? The second Shazir went out Cinci found ways to get him into coverage situations and exposed him.... the man cant cover.... thought??
Ray Fittipaldo: Matakevich only played a few series against the Bengals before he too was injured. He suffered a shoulder injury and did not play defense the rest of the year. He played on special teams and that was it. I'm not saying he'll be good in coverage. His measurables suggest he'll struggle. But to base your point off a few plays in one game is a bit harsh. Let's see how he does in the preseason games.
Lloyd's 3-Count: Which training camp battles will you take particular interest?
Ray Fittipaldo: 1. Matakevich vs. Bostic 2. The strong safety situation. Not so much who starts but how Edmunds is worked into things. 3. All CBs. Will Cam Sutton make a push to get on the field? 4. Is Vance McDonald going to earn the starting job over Jesse James. 5. Will Chuks Okorafor win the swing tackle job?
Ryno: Are you feeling good, apprehensive, nervous, neutral , or no clue what to expect about the change in offensive coordinators as it pertains to strategy and game planning? The personality cohesion is a no-brainer, but I'm wondering about the X's and O's of it all.
Ray Fittipaldo: Choosing from your choices I'll go with "feeling good" for no other reason than Randy Ficthner has been on staff since 2007 and has a good relationship with Ben Roehtlisberger. I think they'll work well together when it comes to devising game plans. The one thing to watch is in-game calling and adjustments. It's all on Fichtner now to make those quick decisions. He's never been in this position before so I don't know how he'll react, but the Steelers don't seem too concerned about it.
Ohio Steel: I think the Number 2 QB battle will be the most interesting.
Ray Fittipaldo: I forgot about that one. That's an obvious battle to watch.
Ryno: Odds they bring Moats back at some point, or has that ship sailed?
Ray Fittipaldo: Not entirely out of the question I suppose. I think he's staying in shape.
Lloyd's 3-Count: Who is the one former Steeler you look back and still can't figure out why they never became a star?
Ray Fittipaldo: That's a tough question. Limas Sweed is an obvious example of a guy with talent who never made it int he NFL. But honestly, there a lot of guys with talent who don't make it.
Lloyd's 3-Count: How would you rank our all-time centers: Mansfield, Webster, Dawson, Pouncey, Okkobi.
Ray Fittipaldo: Webster, Dawson, Pouncey, Mansfield and Okkobi.
If: Ray, if Cam Heyward is the leader and disappeared during the Jax playoff game, as he did, what does it say about the D, overall? Tuitt disappeared too.
Ray Fittipaldo: Not a good game for anyone on the defense. Heyward is a very good defensive end and leader. I have no concerns about that. Do they need everyone on that unit to be better against the run? Absolutely. But when it comes to weaknesses on the defense, Heyward and Tuitt are far down the list.
seferg: I keep seeing that the Steelers are ok with how Landry Jones has played. I respect the effort he has put into his job but I haven't seen much on the field that makes me think he can win a game with his arm. Have I forgotten something? Other than the fact that he knows the system well what has he got?
Ray Fittipaldo: Right, he knows the system and can make a few plays to help them win games. He's done that a time or two in short-term situations. I'm not saying he'd be the answer if Roethlisberger had a longer term injury. In fact, I think you go with Rudolph if that situation unfolded.
Ryno: Are there any players you will be watching this season to see if age is catching up to them? And are you concerned about age being a factor yet for Ben?
Ray Fittipaldo: I suppose that's always a concern with aging players. But the way these guys condition year-round it's becoming less of an issue.
Bill: Do you believe the defense will be better, worse, or the same as last year?
Ray Fittipaldo: The $100,000 question. It had better be better.
Chubba: Do you think we will see a decrease in after the whistle personal fouls this year now that Mitchell is gone?
Ray Fittipaldo: I just think they're hoping for a decrease in missed tackles and blown coverages.
Lloyd's 3-Count: Did the coaches emphasize the new helmet rule much or do you think that'll be a training camp item?
Ray Fittipaldo: Definitely something that will be stressed in camp. I just interviewed former NFL referee Gene Steratore on Friday. My story on him moving from the NFL to CBS will be published this afternoon. I asked him about the helmet rule, and he said it will be a much-discussed topic for all teams in camp. He said the preseason will be especially important for everyone because that's when the players make adjustments. Look for the story in a little while at post-gazette.com.
Bill: Any response to David Carr’s top ten qb list?
Ray Fittipaldo: First of all, why would the NFL Network put him in that position? He has a brother who plays QB in the NFL. David Carr put his brother Derek at No. 4. To be honest, I kind of tuned out after that. Plus, Carson Wentz didn't make his list either. The guy would have been the NFL MVP if he didn't injured. In the end, who is David Carr to come up with a list anyway? He never did anything in the NFL.
Ray Fittipaldo: OK thanks for all the questions today. No chat next week. My next chat will be Monday July 16 (deadline day for the Steelers and Le'Veon Bell).
First Published: July 2, 2018, 2:55 p.m.
Updated: July 2, 2018, 4:45 p.m.
