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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 01.13.25
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Brian Batko
10:37
Because there are only 32 of those gigs in the NFL, they can lead directly to one of the 32 head coaching jobs and Tomlin still has a sterling reputation among a lot of coaches in this league, particularly young ones trying to climb the ladder.
Mr Ed
10:37
Is it that difficult for most Steelers fans to hold two distinct thoughts in their mind about Mike Tomlin:(1) never having a losing season in 18 years is a tremendous accomplishment and (b) his playoff record the last 8 years is abysmal? Seems anger about his playoff record means you must also discredit his regular season accomplishments. I’ve never understood it.
Brian Batko
10:38
As I wrote last week in my mailbag, yes, many have seemingly lost the ability to appreciate any nuance within the Tomlin conversation.
DonL
10:38
Brian, Tomlin isnt going anywhere. The steelers sell out home games and that keeps the Rooneys happy. Syracuse has a QB that should last to the 3rd round who looks like a TB12 protege. I wouldnt mind seeing TB as our QB coach with a track to OC after one year. What say yee?
Brian Batko
10:38
DonL, Tom Brady is part of Raiders ownership so he will not be coming to Pittsburgh to be the QB coach.
Jim Bow Dean
10:38
Is it time to move on from Larry Ogunjobi? He had eleven games with one solo tackle or less and only 16 for the entire season with just 1.5 sacks.  He has a $10.5M cap hit next season.
Brian Batko
10:39
It was time 12 months ago, JBD.
34russellhof
10:39
Brian, If Rooney does not strip Tomlin of his absolute power over the defense and offense, this team will continue to fail. Do you think this is even possible?
Brian Batko
10:40
I'm not gonna pretend to know exactly how the power and interpersonal dynamics work there. Only those guys do. But it should be possible. That's how chain of command works.
Zamo
10:41
happy offseason BB!  Appreciate everything you do throughout the year bud.  My biggest takeaways from this season is the failure to get a legit #2 WR and the inability to stop the run.  I also believe tomlins conservative style limits “any” QB and hence all the poor starts.  You can have Tom Brady in his prime but if you tell the players over and over don’t turn the ball over, what kind of offense is that??  How can they change this w/o moving on from Tomlin which we all know won’t happen?
Brian Batko
10:43
You too, Zamo, thank you. If you're gonna tell Tomlin and even Smith they get to keep their jobs and run this back next year, make them bring in a pass game specialist, run game coordinator, something along those lines. A little bit of professional discomfort might be healthy.
Pittfan
10:44
Hi Brian. Mike Tomlin coaches men. The Steelers need a coach who coaches players. While admirable, coaching men how to deal with life is not going to win football games in the NFL. I couldn't have been happier when Mike was hired. I'm however a fan of the Steelers more. I was fortunate to grow up in the 70's. As the Emperor Chuck Noll used to say, maybe it's time to move on with his life's work. Thanks for indulging my time on the soapbox.
Brian Batko
10:44
I'm not really sure I agree entirely with you premise, but your comment is indeed indulged.
Cory
10:44
Hi Brian. Is there  strategy behind Tomlin hiring staff that are basically retreads? It seems our staff is always comprised of a bunch of has-beens, while other teams have innovative coordinators and assistants.
Brian Batko
10:45
Well I would hope it isn't strategy. It might be more of a personal preference or a cap on coaching salaries to some degree versus anything else. They also have one of the smallest coaching staffs, so clearly they don't invest as much in it as other teams (albeit their head coach is well-compensated, as he pointed out when turning to Russell Wilson).
Commissioner
10:46
I’m not wasting time on the fire Mike Tomlin train because it won’t happen. Since that’s the case, he needs to be stripped of all the power he has and told to hire a young innovative OC. Also a new DC that he doesn’t have complete control over and a new offensive line coach okayed by the new OC. Maybe when he’s stripped of all his power, he’ll want to leave.
Brian Batko
10:48
You can't strip a head coach of all his power. That would be nonsensical and also just a horrendous use of your own resources to pay that person. But I do get your overall point there, Commish. And if he does want to leave at some point, perhaps a trade would be the best off-ramp for both parties (although I can't imagine Tomlin would want to go to a team that just offloaded premium pick or picks just to acquire him because all that does is delay your rebuild).
Mongo
10:49
Do you think anyone would be bold enough to ask Tomlin at his presser why HE thinks he should keep his job after yet another meltdown? With yet another December/January failure, if he was the owner, would he keep him? And don't let him off the hook with"I don't deal in hypotheticals." Why would he think he and his staff have done enough to keep their jobs?
Brian Batko
10:50
Mongo, I understand the frustration from you and others and sometimes that trickles down to us as reporters. And that's fine. It's part of our job. But this exact exchange took place last year at his season-ending press conference:

Q: Seven straight years of not advancing in the dance. What gives you confidence you're still the right guy?

A: Fifty-one years of life. I mentioned that, I think, in this setting earlier. I'm not lacking confidence in my ability to do the job while at the same time there's frustration because I want that confetti for this group. And so, whatever we got to do to do it, whatever changes need to be made. I'm open to it.
DennisSC
10:51
Given Tomlin will not be fired, is it not still possible for Rooney, after all his boss, to mandate he give up any direct control of at least the defense?  At that point Tomlin has two choices, obey or quit.  Should he quit the payment of $45 million on his contract becomes a moot point, does it not?
Brian Batko
10:52
I think that would be a logical path forward, sure, but do keep in mind that many of the key pieces of this defense have been brought in to be part of what they do. They fit that 3-4 base. Doesn't mean you can't go in a different direction but you better be sure about who you're hiring to install that if you do.
The Truth
10:53
To the untrained eye, I think the Steelers have some of the least creative coaching in the NFL. When I watch teams like Baltimore and Philadelphia, they have schemes, rhythms, and concepts that allow them to move the ball easier. The Steelers, on the other hand, just run plays. Same on defense. They don't get creative and move TJ or Alex around. They just hope that Watt is great and creates turnovers. If he doesn't, then the defense is obsolete. What are your thoughts on this?
Brian Batko
10:54
My thoughts are a lot of what you say rings true to me. Though I have said before that we don't know for sure that TJ Watt is even open to doing what you reference. His personal preference might be to stay on his side. It's not working lately, but he does have multiple sack titles and a DPOY award to his name, so it'd be fairly easy to trust that mode of operation.
E.
10:55
I’m with you, BB. Going all-in on Fields seems like the best of a bunch of bad options at QB. Are you leaning either way on whether he stays or goes? And while we’re on the subject of #2, why do you think they didn’t use him more once Wilson took over?
Brian Batko
10:56
I guess I'm leaning toward he stays but Tomlin's decision to go to Wilson certainly leaves me without much confidence in that prediction. More so I'm just banking on Tomlin's long-stated desire for quarterback mobility, what he's seen up-close in Lamar Jackson, etc. And please don't think I'm suggesting Fields can be Jackson. But I'm talking general style of play here.
Zack
10:57
For 2025 wr room do you think we draft and also sign a premium wr ( HIggins, Adams, Goodwin)?
Brian Batko
10:57
Probably, but the George Pickens domino is a big one to fall, one way or the other.
DC
10:58
Hey Brian...if not Russ or Fields, then who? Is there anybody out there who fits what Smith likes to do that would put this team over the top? Or, is there a major overhaul absolutely necessary on offense? Probably have to live with the defense largely as is. But it just doesn't seem like there are many "championship pieces" on the other side.
Brian Batko
11:00
That's the million dollar question at QB, DC. It's bleak out there on the free agent market. Personally, I think it'd be foolish to go the route of Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins or some other Wilson-like retread. I suppose there are some young QBs around the league who have shown promise in small sample sizes such as Malik Willis or Joe Milton, but you couldn't trade for those guys to be a starter. Would the Steelers take a huge swing on a Kyler Murray if he's unhappy in Arizona and vice versa? That's one of the only reasonably exciting ideas I could potentially talk myself into.
Well, it's 11 a.m., but let's go a little overtime. The questions are flowing in and the season's over so why not?
Colonel
11:01
Is there any reason at all to be optimistic about the Steelers in 2025?  Fans thought 2024 would be different and it ended up being the same old worn out story.
Brian Batko
11:01
Oh, Colonel. What a nice question. How about getting excited for a healthy Troy Fautanu and Roman Wilson? That ain't nothin'!
Peter H
11:02
Hi Brian Have to vent . 50 years a Steelers fan. That was the worst most disheartening game I've ever seen them play. When the national commentator is calling you out on air it's really bad. Where do we start the rebuild?
Brian Batko
11:03
Elandon Roberts was asked about that Kirk Herbstreit comment after the game. He said everyone has their own opinion. And while no players called out the effort, I do think guys were sniffing around that and came close. DeShon Elliott's comments were pretty damning. Cam Heyward said they needed to do a better job of getting hats to the ball. Well, how do you get more hats to the ball? That's called hustle. And no one does it more/better than the largest human they put on the field any given down.
KJ9
11:03
This year seems to have amplified the fact that Tomlin has a philosophy / approach problem. You don't want to give away games early in the season, but it seems to me any coach at any level measures success by the level of improvement throughout the season. Do you think there is any chance Tomlin acknowledges this?
Brian Batko
11:05
He may. Last year when he was asked about those kind of things - being too conservative, adjusting during losing skids, etc. - he just said he's always open to changes in effort to fix their issues. And that he'd review it all offseason. Running out of answers that way.
dlongley44
11:06
We have a lot of holes to fill on this team, and a weak QB draft.  I say, draft NT, and CB in first couple rounds and fill in WR through FA, and set up next year for QB draft.
Brian Batko
11:06
Yeah, I don't think the QB thing is gonna work out this year. But hey, maybe take a shot on one of the two guys in the national title championship in the mid-to-late rounds. They're gamers at least. You know that much about 'em.
Wild Bill
11:07
Why accept the opening kickoff and then proceed to run the same plays that didn't score a single 1st drive TD all year?
Brian Batko
11:07
Should've gone double reverse pass, Wild Bill.
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