Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat transcript: 10.01.24

Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ray Fittipaldo: Welcome and let's get started.

Tom: Quarterbacks around the league are getting contacts around a quarter of a Billion dollars. Is it too much to ask that they "get comfortable" taking a snap under center?
Ray Fittipaldo: That would be nice. Justin Fields is in his fourth season. I asked him after the game if he is comfortable taking a snap from under center on fourth-and-1. He said he is comfortable. But obviously Mike Tomlin is not. He blamed the college game because QBs spend so much time in the shotgun. It's prevalent in high school football too. But that doesn't excuse the head coach, the OC or the QBs coach from not teaching him how to do it.

Billy Bob: In a comment on signing CJ Henderson, Tomlin stated that he wasn't concerned with how he played in the NFL, but rather they go back to how they evaluated a player coming out of college. That blows my mind! Is it because they think there are bad coaches on other teams, other schemes are too complicated for players, or something else? Sort of like saying I know that surgeons patients die on the table, but he got straight A's in school so he can do my heart transplant, right?
Ray Fittipaldo: It's nothing new for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers to take a look at failed first-round picks. They had Justin Gilbert in here for a while, Taco Charlton, so many others. Henderson is the latest. Rarely do they work out, but that doesn't seem to deter Tomlin or the Steelers from bringing them in.

Walter Q. Dubois III Esq: Fields showed what he has been for 3 years in Chicago...a good player who makes a few great plays but also enough blunders to lose the game. Obviously not all his fault, but is it right to think he is going to change and be our future? Will he only be successful if Steelers play ultra conservative Tomlin ball?
Ray Fittipaldo: Breaking it down to its simplest form: Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco didn't make any big mistakes and Justin Fields had a few. The 22-yard sack and fumble is inexcusable for a QB in his fourth NFL season. He has to know he throws the ball away in that situation. Or he takes a sack closer to the line of scrimmage. And the fumbled snaps cannot continue to happen. Fields said he has to be ready once he gives the leg kick. He took his eyes off Frazier for a moment to take a peek at the secondary. Those are mistakes that cost you games. There was a lot of good in his second-half performance, but there was some bad too.

Stairway to seventh seed: Ray: I thought the Colt defense did an excellent job pre-snap in timing their blitzes and run fits. It seemed like they often had DBs or LBs sprinting to the line of scrimmage to arrive right at the snap. The play where Fields fumbled was just one example. Is this a coaching issue that they didn't identify the need to change the cadence or snap count or an example of Fields not having a "feel for the game"?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think they needed to change their cadence or silent count. They went on silent for most of the game because it was in a dome, but you can still change it up. That's on the coaching staff too. They need to tell Fields to change it up to keep them from teeing off the way they did. That's where it's perfect to go under center and try to draw a penalty or two, but we all know why they don't do that by now.

Yogi in Yonkers: If Ben was 30 now and at the apex of his career, would the Steelers have paid him $60M/year or gone shopping for his replacement?
Ray Fittipaldo: They would have paid him.

Upstate NY Fan: The Steelers certainly shot themselves in the foot a few times on Sunday, and yes, there were some questionable calls that went against them, but wasn't this game truly lost in the trenches? It seemed like the Colts' OL & DL dominated for most of the game.
Ray Fittipaldo: Certainly in the first half, and the Colts offense had some answers in the second half when the Steelers kept scoring. The bottom line is the Steelers need to play better earlier in games. They can't continue to do that and hope to win consistently.

billscott22: Thanks for the chats Ray. I think the Steelers need to fire whoever is advising MT to chanllange a call. Someone upstairs must be in his ear? They need to hire the Penguins video replay guys- they're never wrong.
Ray Fittipaldo: Whatever they are doing Omar Khan and Art Rooney II should mandate a change. Tomlin's record on challenges is hideous.

Upstate NY Fan: Is Troy Fautanu lost for the season, or is there a chance that he can return?
Ray Fittipaldo: Small chance for the playoffs. But honestly it might depend on whether they need all 8 of their returns from IR. That could play a factor.

Bern: What was your reaction to the distribution of carries between Patterson and Najee? Is it Patterson's familiarity with Smith's offense that made him look so much better than Najee?
Ray Fittipaldo: Perhaps, but it's noticeable that Patterson hits the hole harder and with more decisiveness.

Tina: Good afternoon Ray. Do you think it’s safe to say that James Daniels has probably played his last game with the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes although I will point out this will drive down his value some in the free agent market. An Achilles injury is a 9-12 month recovery so he might not be a guy who signs in March. But yes, he's a starter when healthy and the Steelers want to go with Seumalo and McCormick next season if they both stay healthy.

Mike from NY: Hi Ray. Do you know the extent of Patterson's injury? He was looking good out there. Also how is Warren doing injury wise?
Ray Fittipaldo: Patterson was in a walking boot this morning. Warren didn't do much last week so we'll see what he does in practice this week. I'd say he's 50-50 to play versus the Cowboys.

DC: I was in the camp that we didn't need to acquire a WR2. I see Art Smith is calling a few deep shots per game and most times Fields checks it down if Pickens isn't open. Are our other recievers simply not getting open? Or is Fields simply not throwing them the ball?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think Pickens is oftentimes his first read and I don't know that he's always getting to his third or fourth reads. A lot of times it's check Pickens and then look to the check-down or scramble. Nothing against those other receivers -- I actually think Austin can be a quality No. 4 -- but none of them are legit No. 2s. That's the issue. They're all miscast.

Bern: Terrible coaching Sunday. Would you focus on Tomlin not using his last timeout? Is there any legit excuse not to take the TO there and get the offense settled, the proper play call, and everyone on the same page?
Ray Fittipaldo: Not in my mind, but Tomlin said after the game he wanted to play with pace and not allow the Colts defense to reset. I'm always taking a timeout there because I want to get my team is the best possible situation for what could be the final opportunity of the game. If you call a timeout and get a first down you can clock it on first down and still have 25 or 30 seconds on the clock. There was plenty of time to do that. I don't want to dwell on it because I ripped him after the game, but it was quite possibly one of Tomlin's five worst coaching performances of his career.

Farmtastic: What are your thoughts on Najee Harris? I've always thought he was misunderstood and a bit under rated. However after the past couple weeks of watching Cordarrell Patterson's decisive style, I've wondered if the Steelers didn't make the right choice in not extending NJ. Add in the video of him flipping colts fans off and his petulant attitude towards reporters, the guy getting harder to like. Just my irrelevant. 02
Ray Fittipaldo: Harris plays hard, and he's durable, which is is important. But there are some major questions about his ability to see the field and hitting the hole with authority. I think he's good, but Patterson's performance does make one think that the Steelers saw something when they made that decision on declining his fifth-year option.

Preston: Hi Ray, can you help us make sense of Najee's lack of production? A 35 year old returner out rushes him and he never seems to hit a hole, always 2 yards and a cloud of dust. I realize he goes over 1000 yards, but that's like 58 yards a game now, which isn't super impressive. I realize that the o-line has been in flux, but its sure seems that others (Patterson, Warren) have been able to succeed with that line.
Ray Fittipaldo: Warren the past two years, but not this year although he's been banged up. But yes Patterson has been more effective in smaller sample sizes. A lot goes into it, but Patterson has been a pleasant surprise. He's much better as a runner than I expected.

Jay David: I remember Joe Greene punching a couple of Denver Broncos when their holding became egregious. Is this something TJ should consider? What he faced at Lucas Oil Stadium was brutal and continual.
Ray Fittipaldo: Mike Tomlin talked to NFL officials about the personal foul on Minkah Fitzpatrick, and I'm sure the holding calls on TJ Watt came up too. It happens every week. Sometimes it just comes down to the crew and whether they throw a lot of flags for holding or whether they let players play a bit more.

AK: What are the Cowboys’ weaknesses that the Steelers can exploit?
Ray Fittipaldo: All the injuries. But they're saying the same thing about the Steelers.

AK: What do you think is behind the Steelers’ slow starts every werk?
Ray Fittipaldo: Conservative game plans on offense. That's part of it. At some point Tomlin has to take the handcuffs off Arthur Smith and let him break some tendencies. How many more weeks are we going to see defensive backs run blitz early in games and the Steelers run into eight- and nine-man fronts? It's the perfect time to call some play-action passes early or simply to call passing plays to get defenses back on their heels a bit. Right now they're full steam ahead because they have a bead on how the Steelers want to play.

Southside Jimmy: Hey Ray. I thought Mt. Washington played his best game to date against the Colts. Do you see him getting more minutes and opportunities against the Cryboys and future opponents?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think he should. That was an athletic play he made hurdling that guy and then staying on his feet for extra yardage. I didn't think he had that in him.

Guest: I simply cannot understand and have grown tired of the slow (seemingly unprepared) beginnings of each game. And this week’s excuse was the worst “the beginning of the game really don’t matter and do not determine the final score “
Ray Fittipaldo: I'm with you on that. But Mike has said that plenty of times over the years. That doesn't make it any less ridiculous, but I've heard that song before.

LarryG from Punxy: At the beginning of the season, if someone said we'd be 3-1 at this point with our loss being to the Colts, would you be excited for that? I would. Yet here we are, and... So what's your opinion of the (almost) first quarter of the season?
Ray Fittipaldo: Big picture it's a good start. But that's a game the Steelers should have won. If you want to know why the Steelers are always the No. 7 seed or not in the playoffs it's because of games like that. I'll be surprised if the Colts are a factor in the AFC. The really good teams don't lose games like that. They go 13-4 or 14-3 and get the No. 1 seed.

Realist: the Steelers know Flacco…and surely know if they pressure him he can and will make mistakes. Sit back and don’t pressure and he can and will pick them apart. The latter happened. Is what resulted due to scheme or that our front 7 just couldn’t get to him?
Ray Fittipaldo: Scheme in the sense that Tomlin said he did not want to blitz Flacco. He wanted to play coverage and see if four pass rushers could get home. Tomlin mentioned his experience from Flacco being in Baltimore all those years as to why he didn't blitz. I get it. Flacco is a veteran and knows how to read blitzes and get the ball out. But man, it seemed to be a few more blitzes might have thrown off his timing some and who knows might have created a big play. Instead, they just died a slow death.

Joe Friday: Hi Ray - Players with elite salaries should make elite, game-changing plays - regularly. Minkah has only made news the past two years due to negative plays. Do you agree he has not been an elite player for a whule? Do you sense it's more on him or the way the coaches are using him?
Ray Fittipaldo: Offenses mostly stay away from him. He's still a very good player, but those splash plays that were so prevalent early in his career have gone by the wayside. It seems to me someone else has to step up and make plays. Porter dropped an INT. The entire defense failed to get on a fumble against the Colts. If Fitzpatrick is being minimized by opposing coaches the players who are being targeted have to step up and make a bigger impact.

Raymund: Ray,, why not the League has dedicated expert profesional referees in games? Must be a reason why ... multi billion dollar industry and we have to keep seeing BS calls ( Minkah as example) owners are no fools .. so why in your view? Thanks..
Ray Fittipaldo: The excuse always is there is only one game a week so there is not a need for officials to be full-time, but they have to do something. Either correct more of their mistakes via replay or train them better over the offseason.

Stan: During the North Shore podcast you mentioned Elliot (if I recall) commented that they need to practice better. This is not the first time I heard this comment from a Steelers player. Could this explain why they seem so listless and unprepared in a number games over the past several seasons often resulting in the seemingly obligatory annual “letdown”? If so, is there a culture problem under Tomlin? I think back to Claypool feeling comfortable suggesting publicly that there should be music played during practice to make it more fun.
Ray Fittipaldo: I think it's interesting that a new player in his first season with the team feels like he can say that. I mean, that's good because he's coming from the outside and puts players who have been here on notice. It is discouraging though. They have to get that fixed. On many of those plays over the middle it looked like the Steelers did not practice at all.

62 Stack Monster: Hi Ray, I thought, watching the game, that the loss was attributed to falling behind early much like most of last year's losses. Like last year, the chosen grind it out, run offense just can't overcome deficits. I know that Art Smith had success as a coordinator in Tennessee playing that with a younger Derrick Henry, but the approach is archaic. A second WR will not solve this problem, unless they start to throw deep and over the middle.
Ray Fittipaldo: I think a lot of this is on Mike Tomlin being restrictive in what he'll allow Smith to do too. Don't lose sight of that.

Commissioner: Mike Tomlin’s statement that the beginning of the game was insignificant as to the final outcome is an attempt by him to hide the fact that he didn’t have his team ready to play. Every coach in any sport knows when you’re on the road you better be ready for the home team filled with adrenaline and emotion to come at you with everything they’ve got. His statements about the beginning of the game were complete hogwash!
Ray Fittipaldo: You said it perfectly.

Jagged Chiklets: Ray, do you believe the OL coach will be there next year? I hope not. I am tired of seeing them switching players out of position, the unorthodox style, and confusion it causes. Plus, why is Tomlin so hard headed about not naming Fields the starter... he still want tweaked calves to take over because he named him the starter before the season?
Ray Fittipaldo: Meyer signed a new contract over the offseason. That doesn't mean he'll definitely be back, but they didn't get rid of him when the other coaches were pushed out the door after last season... As for Tomlin, why name Fields the starter now? There remains no need to make that proclamation.

Christian: Sorry, here’s the question. Can you ever recall a QB that so consistently had issues with the snap from Center? I cannot. Clearly it’s not an athletic issue, Fields is an amazing athlete. This issue was going to cost a game at some point
Ray Fittipaldo: You can argue it did against the Colts.

mrbig: I feel if Tomlin can't win a playoff game this season, his time here may be over... does he get a "free pass" with all of the crippling o-line injuries?
Ray Fittipaldo: Rooney just signed him to a new contract over the offseason. He's not going anywhere unless he chooses to walk away. And no, he doesn't get a free pass because of the injuries. As Tomlin himself pointed out today they've invested great resources in the past two drafts to acquire good young offensive linemen. Now they have to step up to the challenge.

NY Steel: Are the slow offensive starts, which seem to have been happening for 4-5 years, driven by Tomlin’s conservatism?
Ray Fittipaldo: That's a big part of it in my opinion.

epiballo: With mounting injuries, what is your prognosis on the O-Line going forward?
Ray Fittipaldo: My prognosis is it's time for the young kids to grow up quick.

Guest: Ray, have you heard any scuttlebutt of the Steelers moving Russell Wilson to the Miami Dolphins for either draft capital or an OL? Would you be in favor of it?
Ray Fittipaldo: NO! an NO!

Bill in SC: Has the injury bug already sabotaged the Steelers hopes for “a special” season? Last week, there was talk among PG sportswriters that only Buffalo & KC were beyond reach in the AFC. Now a decimated O-Line, thin OLB room and two-of-three RB banged up can be added to suspect WR as reasons for concern.
Ray Fittipaldo: The Cowboys are banged up too. It's life in the NFL. The teams with depth overcome.

Monica: Hi Ray, at his weekly press conference, did Tomlin say anything about not taking a time out at the end of the game or take the blame for that ill/advised challenge?
Ray Fittipaldo: I asked him about the timeout after the game and wrote a story on it. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/09/29/justin-fields-...

Bill in SF: Perhaps Tomlin should go back and look at the tape of the Steelers last 4 playoff games and then see if he still things the beginning of the game doesn't matter to the final score?
Ray Fittipaldo: Good point. It amazes me he continues to say that as much as he does year after year.

Tom: Is Najee Harris a quality RB1? Is Pickens a quality WR1?
Ray Fittipaldo: Pickens is looking like he can be a good No. 1. The Steelers don't view Harris in that light. That's why they divvy up the RB playing time the way they do.

mhendershot: Thanks for the great coverage Ray! Got to say it's hard to watch some of these games with all these flags being thrown. There just isn't consistency between games. George Pickens gets called 2 games ago for a nudge against the defender and O interference was called. He did the same nudge this past game on a catch and it did not get called. Minkah's flag was an absolute terrible call!
Ray Fittipaldo: I'm with you, but I don't have any answers for how the officiating improves. We talk about it year after year, and the NFL does little to correct the problem.
Ray Fittipaldo: OK thanks for all the great questions this week. We'll do it again next Tuesday.