Ray Fittipaldo: Good afternoon. Let's get started.
John from Toronto: Hi Ray. With the recent improvement in the play of the offensive line, do you think there is a chance the Steelers don't take an O-lineman with one of their first three picks in the draft? There could be an argument that ILB, DL and CB are all bigger needs right now.
Ray Fittipaldo: I think the improvement with the offensive line is encouraging, but I think they can still use a high pick on an offensive lineman. But you are correct. They also need DL, CB and potentially ILB.
Daniel11: Hi Ray, Can you please tell Danny Smith to just kick the damn ball to the endzone? The Steelers season could have been over at that very moment.
Ray Fittipaldo: I think they'd like to kick to the end zone every time, but Boswell hasn't been able to accomplish that either due to the weather or his injury.
Bernard: In your opinion, is Danny Smith an average to above average NFL specials teams coach?
Ray Fittipaldo: His units are not having a good season, but the players are making mistakes. Ultimately, that falls on him, but sometimes the players are to blame.
The GOAT: It seems that the team has finally adopted a 2 back approach. Jaylen Warren is an awesome complement and a really good player already. Do you think they will stick with this?
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes I do. Tomlin was asked about it today, and he gave every indication Jaylen Warren will continue to be involved in the rotation.
Bill: Who are the Steeler’s receivers next year and do they need another playmaker? Is Calvin Austin a legit slot receiver? Does Anthony Miller come back?
Ray Fittipaldo: Miller is on IR and should be on the offseason roster. Same with Austin. Shame it's become a wasted year for Austin, but the hope is he can contribute next year. They can't count on that, but they used a fourth-round pick on him for a reason. They liked him.
The GOAT: Where are all the Malik Willis lovers now? Season on the line, and he can't beat out Josh Dobbs! Pickett clearly was the right choice at QB.
Ray Fittipaldo: He was a third-round pick. Maybe he's just not ready yet. All QBs come along at different paces.
The GOAT: Would you rather have Terrell Edmunds or Damonte Kazee back next year if you had to choose only one?
Ray Fittipaldo: Well, I know about Edmunds. I've only seen a little of Kazee. So I'd say Edmunds.
The GOAT: Will they bring in competition for Boswell in the offseason do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo: They probably will. He bounced back after his bad 2018. Maybe he can bounce back again. But maybe he needs to be pushed too.
The GOAT: Even though the OL has gotten much better, I still believe their first pick of the draft should be the best LT available. Make Moore the backup swing tackle, as he as shown he is capable. If the best LT available is a reach, I'd say inside linebacker or ...God forbid.... cornerback. Do you agree?
Ray Fittipaldo: I maintain OL, DL and CB are the priorities. Obviously, ILB could have some holes. I don't expect Bush to be back. Jack has a high cap hit. But they do like Spillane and Robinson.
The GOAT: Do you think Pickett was calling the plays on the last drive?
Ray Fittipaldo: No.
LarryG from Punxy: We appeared to improve steadily on offense and defense as the season progressed. Was this due to better play, or lack of quality opponents?
Ray Fittipaldo: Both I'd imagine. And this is a young team. I think it's natural for young teams to improve over the course of the season. Mike Tomlin today said early-season NFL games are like checkers and late-season games are like chess. He said this is the time of the year coaches like him earn their paychecks.
STEEL72: Hi, Ray. A tough day to be discussing upcoming games and playoffs in general. Healing vibes for Damar. Does last night's shocking event have asterix potential for the rest of the season?
Ray Fittipaldo: The NFL sent something out a little while ago that said the game won't be resumed this week and that there are no changes to the Week 18 schedule. But I don't know how they're going to approach the suspended game between the Bills and Bengals.
LarryG from Punxy: Have you seen enough of Pickett to feel comfortable with him as our starting QB moving into next season?
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes. Obviously, he's not a finished product, but there is plenty to build on.
Hendershot210: With the recent success Kenny Pickett is having has there been any discussion of him getting consideration for ROY?
Ray Fittipaldo: He'll be the Steelers' ROY. Probably too little too late to earn consideration for all rookies in the NFL.
TexStill: So, 8-9 or 9-8 in a rebuilding year with a QB change and rookie QB, basically a new OL and TJ missing a number of games. Seems like a pretty decent result, no?
Ray Fittipaldo: Sure, if you want to look at it that way.
Gene Takovic: Do you think Mark Robinson did enough to earn another start?
Ray Fittipaldo: Tomlin said today his skillset suited the matchup with the Ravens. Not sure it will be the same personnel groupings versus the Browns, who also have a good running game. But they like him.
Rocky: I thought the DE Leal played well.
Ray Fittipaldo: He did, and Tomlin talked about his play as well today. He's another rookie they feel more comfortable playing now than before because they've had some exposure to him.
Javi: Hello Ray. If Steelers sneak in playoffs where would you rank this season on Tomlins tenure? I've never really seen them this awful at midseason and turn it around like this.
Ray Fittipaldo: It would be very impressive. I think what he did in 2019 without Ben Roethlisberger was a bit more impressive. I know they didn't make the playoffs, but they went 8-8 with Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph at quarterback. There are similarities between 2019 and this season.
JerseySteel: Hi Ray - from where the Steelers O Line was in the preseason and early in the season to now - does Pat Meyer deserve a lot of credit?
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes he does. He's got those guys playing well. The running game was impressive against the Ravens.
JerseySteel: Hi Ray - in his first NFL NFL start and extended action, what was your assessment of Mark Robinson's performance?
Ray Fittipaldo: He played about half the game. I thought he played to his skill set. He came downhill and played the run well. That's where they used him most.
Guest: What is your gut prediction....Steelers miss the playoffs or they get blown out in the first round again? I don't see any other possibilities.
Ray Fittipaldo: I don't think they'll get the help they need.
LarryG from Punxy: Roquan Smith was in coverage on Harris's TD from Pickett for what proved to be the winning score. Was this a great play with a designed mismatch, or did Smith get caught out of position?
Ray Fittipaldo: It was a scramble play. Harris saw Pickett had to escape pressure. He broke for the end zone. Smith was a step behind him. Good play by Harris and Pickett.
Guest: Ray, 8:00 PM Sunday night Buffalo and Cinn will flip a coin to determine the winner of postponed game. Can't see any other way to resolve a game that can't be played and must have an outcome. A tie would be a loss for both teams. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo: I don't think that's important now. Hamlin's health is first and foremost on my mind. They can figure that out later once they know how Hamlin is progressing.
Johnny D: Hi Ray, 93 was playing like his hair was on fire. Why did it take so long for him to make it to the lineup?
Ray Fittipaldo: He's a rookie who is still learning. Remember, he played running back for most of his college career. He's really only in his second season as a linebacker.
Mercury: Will the Steelers use the same defensive lineup to try to stop the Browns’ run game that they used against the Ravens?
Ray Fittipaldo: Maybe parts of that game plan, but there is a big difference between Deshaun Watson and Tyler Huntley. The Steelers will have to respect the Browns passing game more than they respected the Ravens passing game
Miles McGuire: Ray,
Fav WR group. Hines, Plax, Randel El, The Young Money Crew, or, AB, JuJu M. Bryant, and why?
Ray Fittipaldo: Good question. The Young Money Crew was the most talented. Hines, Plax and Randle El was good, but they didn't win a Super Bowl until Plax left. I'd probably say Young Money Crew.
JerseySteel: Hi Ray - Minkah looked peeved at Cam Heyward after the bad personal foul call. Assume they smoothed that over quickly. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo: Good assumption. Cam said afterward Minkah didn't know Cam was pulled down by the Ravens offensive lineman.
John from Toronto: Will Derek Watt be back next year? I'd like to see him get more snaps on offense. But I could see him becoming a cap casualty.
Ray Fittipaldo: His contract is up so he won't be a cap casualty. I could see him coming back for the league minimum if he wants to return for that kind of money.
Tom in Dallas: I know folks are very cautious and reframed from discussing, but what are the possible options for the NFL going forward with completing the Bills/Bengals game?
Ray Fittipaldo: All we know now is the game won't be resumed this week. I'm sure we'll know more in the coming days, but the focus now should be on Hamlin and his health.
Paul: Not a question, just really impressed on how Warren has played, shows veteran football toughness and smarts.
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes, he's been very impressive from the outset of training camp.
Marc: Hey Ray, wasn't there another penalty against the Steelers for someone coming off the bench to celebrate the go-ahead score? How does that happen two weeks in a row?
Ray Fittipaldo: One of these days it will cost them. But not in that case. The game was over. All they had to do was kneel. Perhaps Tomlin should remind his players not to do that this week.
Silly in Philly: I feel like Heyward is criminally underrated(nationally and at times locally). The dude gives 100 every play and never gives up. Often times all the talk is about TJ(and to a point rightfully so) but if no Cam- the D, especially the ILB’s would look even worse! Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo: Underrated nationally maybe but not locally. He's been playing at an All-Pro level for a long time. He's building a HOF resume.
Ule: Do you see the Steelers bringing Devin Bush back for one year on cheap terms to be a backup and perhaps grow up a bit?
Ray Fittipaldo: I doubt it.
Tom: another win scoring under 20 points. at some point, we have to score. I still say Canada needs to go, but I'm fearing the second half turn around in record will save his job. what are your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo: I'm sure they'll look at the entire season -- and last season too.
Adam: How long do you see Flores being a part of the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think they'd like to have him as long as he's not hired as a head coach elsewhere.
MT Supporter: Man, what a classic end to finish the drive. Pickett avoids a sack by Patrick Queen and throws a TD to Najee who was covered by Roquan Smith. That was something special.
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes it was. The next step is doing that more often so they don't need last-minute drives to pull out these wins.
Nate: Hi Ray, since the Steelers are so bad at drafting DB's (Burns) should they look at using free agency/cuts (Haden) or trade (Minkah) instead? Granted, some of their past trades for DB's have been questionable. Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo: New regime in place. Have to trust the new evaluators that will be making the call.
Karen: Does Sims have a future on the team?
Ray Fittipaldo: He's been OK. I'd certainly bring him back to compete for a role next season.
Stayoutofcincy: Is that field haunted? How many tragic injuries before we burn it to the ground?
Ray Fittipaldo: All in night games too.
Ryan: Good afternoon Ray what do you think about the play of Robinson and Spillane vs the ravens both looked good
Ray Fittipaldo: I thought Spillane was excellent. He wasn't fooled once when Huntley kept the ball on red-option plays. He was very disciplined. And like I said before, Robinson was good in his snaps too.
Jeff Lebowski: Can we reasonably expect to see more of Mark Robinson moving forward? I noticed Edmunds lining him up a few plays, and while his sample size is small and he lacks experience, he was noticeable on the field.
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes I think Robinson could be a nice player, but I caution because Tomlin said his skill set was perfect for the Ravens. I'm not sure he's ready to play a role against every team just yet. We'll see what happens versus the browns.
Ule: What is the Steelers top 2 biggest barriers to becoming a top NFL offense that scores 30+ points per game?
Ray Fittipaldo: QB development and play-calling/design, etc. in my opinion.
Fill: Thought the defense game plan was excellent but why was andrews constantly allowed to get off the line of scrimmage free
Ray Fittipaldo: Had to be willing to give up something when selling out to stop the run.
Polamalu: Flores is a defensive oriented coach, but could he be next OC?
Ray Fittipaldo: No
Guest: Pickett doesn’t have great stats. He just has a couple last minute wins. What does this say about him?
Ray Fittipaldo: It says he has great poise under pressure, but he must still develop his overall game.
Joey Chestnut: Will the Steelers take a WR to replace Claypool with that beautiful pick they got for him?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think they have bigger needs.
Fill: What are the chances we sign Highsmith in the off-season
Ray Fittipaldo: He has one year left on his contract so he'll be back no matter what. But he definitely will be one of their top offseason priorities.
Greg: Worth it for this team to squeak into the playoffs? We beat bad teams, not good teams.
Ray Fittipaldo: That experience would be great for Pickett and the rest of the young guys.
Silly in Philly: I still don’t understand the wisdom in not activating Calvin A3. Pickett is learning on the job, so too shouldn’t CA3?
Ray Fittipaldo: He suffered a setback with his foot injury. He had surgery.
rman: Any chance Joe Flacco starts and helps the Steelers make the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo: I don't know but that would be quite a story line if he helped the Steelers get to the playoffs.
Tjcst38: Any chance the Steelers trade 18 and look for someone like Addison in the draft?
Ray Fittipaldo: Addison is a likely first-round pick, and I contend they have many other priorities before a WR.
Ray Fittipaldo: Ok thanks for the great questions this week. We'll do it again next week.
First Published: January 3, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
