Ray Fittipaldo says Joey Porter Jr.'s development caused one Steelers coaching change
Joey Porter Jr. has had an up-and-down first two years in the NFL — and according to insider Ray Fittipaldo, ex-Steelers DB coach Grady Brown may be at fault.
On a recent episode of 93.7 The Fan, Fittipaldo connected Porter's development issues to Brown losing his job in Pittsburgh:
"[Steelers DB coach Gerald Alexander] said he thinks [Joey]'s elite at the line of scrimmage, in terms of disrupting, but it's everything that happens after that where Joey still struggles. Like, your transition to your coverage, then once you're close to your guy — don't put your hands on him, and then be more opportunistic when the ball's in the air. He's been kind of behind the eight ball in all three of those things.
"That's Gerald's job. That's why Grady Brown is no longer here. Joey Porter has not developed the way they hoped he thought he would as a No. 32 overall pick in that draft."
The Steelers hired Alexander in February to serve as the new defensive backs coach, while Brown was picked up by the Saints to serve as their new cornerbacks coach.
Porter could be in for a major breakout in 2025 alongside newly signed CB Darius Slay Jr., who's taken the third-year Steelers corner under his wing this offseason.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
Why Chris Hacopian chose Texas A&M - ‘I Want to Be the Best Baseball Player Possible'
Next season will be a make-or-break year for Texas A&M head baseball coach Michael Earley. Fans had mixed reactions when it was announced he would be retained, but expectations were high for several changes heading into the 2026 season. The first major move was the addition of Conference USA Assistant Coach of the Year, Cliff Pennington, who brings valuable experience to the staff, particularly on defense and the base paths. Another area of focus was the roster, as several players had already committed to staying under Earley. However, he still needed to address the loss of production and pitching depth. After a slow start in the transfer portal, Coach Earley received great news late Thursday night when one of the top players available, Chris Hacopian, committed to Texas A&M. The former Maryland infielder slashed .375/.502/.656 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs, adding instant offense to the lineup. In a recent interview, Hacopian was asked why he chose A&M. His response: 'I want to become the best baseball player possible … and I think A&M and those guys over there are going to accomplish that.' Below you can see his interview with Cape Cod reporter Anna Watson. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Former Steelers QB predicts one major condition that keeps T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh
Once a Steeler, always a Steeler — right? Former Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch had a different take on the matter in relation to T.J. Watt's future in the Steel City. On the Up & Adams show, Kay Adams asked Batch for his opinion on whether or not Watt will finish his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler — and he argued competing for a Super Bowl could decide it all: "That's tough to say, because I don't know how long he wants to play," Batch said. "Typically, you sign a four-year deal and then let's see what happens later on in his career. He needs to get closer to that Super Bowl, if not winning that Super Bowl, for him to be convinced that he wants to stay here. He wants to be a one-helmet guy — Cam Heyward showed him how that works. But, ultimately, the goal in Pittsburgh is not to win division titles — it's to win a Super Bowl. So, he's going to pay attention to how the roster is made up. … That's the business of football; when you look back, no matter how great you are, there's a strong chance the team that you start with, you're not going to finish with, right?" Year in and year out, as first-round playoff exits pile up, it's become more and more difficult to sell veteran players and free agent acquisitions on why they should take a pay cut to play for Pittsburgh — and Batch hit the nail on the head with Watt, who may be past the point of no return in regards to a hometown discount. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
A look at Nebraska's class of 2026 after the addition of top tight end Luke Sorensen
The Nebraska Cornhuskers' class of 2026 landed its sixth commitment on Friday evening. Tight end Luke Sorensen is the latest addition to the Husker football program. Sorensen is one of two four-star prospects in the 2026 class, along with offensive lineman Hayden Ainsworth of Biloxi, MS. The four remaining prospects are all ranked as three-star commits. The Huskers lost one of their four-star recruits earlier this week when Florida prep corner CJ Bronaugh decommitted. He would switch his commitment to the Florida Gators later in the week, in a move that was described as a desire to remain closer to home. The class has only one defensive commit with in-state linebacker Jace Reynolds. Offensively, the most notable name in the class is quarterback Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Nebraska starting quarterback Dylan Raiola. The class of 2026 still has a long way to go before it is finished. It currently ranks 71st in the nation and 18th in the Big Ten, according to the latest analysis from On3. Scroll below for a detailed look at the six commitments that make up the class of 2026. Luke Sorensen - Tight End High School: Servite High School City: Anaheim, CA Height/Weight: 6-4/245 Star: **** Find Cornhuskers Wire news on this player here Dveyoun Bonwell-Witte - Wide Receiver High School: Washington High School City: Sioux Falls, SD Height/Weight: 6-2/190 Star Rating: *** Find Cornhuskers Wire news on this player here Hayden Ainsworth - Offensive Tackle High School: Biloxi High School City: Biloxi, MS Height/Weight: 6-5/285 Star Rating: **** Find Cornhuskers Wire news on this player here Jase Reynolds - Linebacker High School: Elkhorn North City: Elkhorn, NE Height/Weight: 6-2/200 Star Rating: *** Find Cornhuskers Wire news on this player here Dayton Raiola - Quarterback High School: Buford High School City: Buford, GA Height/Weight: 6-1/225 Star Rating: *** Find Cornhuskers Wire news on this player here Rex Waterman - Offensive Tackle High School: Hamilton High School City: Chandler, AZ Height/Weight: 6-5/295 Star Rating: *** Find Cornhuskers Wire news on this player here Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
