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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 01.20.26
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Brian Batko
11:36
No, the Steelers are playing this close to the vest, as they should. Every team should, really. It doesn't do you any good to leak who your finalists are. Even once these decisions are made, either by the coaches who have options or the teams who are hand-picking their target, contracts need to be negotiated and leverage comes into play there. Plus, there's the human nature angle of you don't want it to seem like a coach chose another team over you. And a coach doesn't want it to look like they lost out on a job.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:37
Brian: my biggest concern about the coaching search is that ownership remains committed to "Steeler football" which to them means a 1974 approach of focusing on the run.  In my 50 years of watching this sport, nothing could be more obvious to me than that probably 95% of the championship caliber offenses I have seen have dangerous passing attacks.  Even the Steeler Nation seems filled with people who want more runs.  Where do you stand on this approach and do you think they are open to hiring a coach that has turned the calendar to at least 1977?
Brian Batko
11:38
I hear you. And the offense certainly has been tough to watch far too regularly post-Ben Roethlisberger. But I also believe in there being a certain identity for a cold-weather team, particularly in this division, where - at least for now - there are no domes and no respite from the potential snow game with your season on the line. The Bengals have been the finesse team of the AFC North, in my mind, and are the most recent to make it to the Super Bowl. But that's also a byproduct of falling into Joe Burrow. When you have Joe Burrow, you paint the barn Joe Burrow.
Farmtastic
11:39
Good morning Brian, this question falls under the "my Aunts anatomy" category but do  think MT would've returned if they beat the Texans and or the 26 qb class was what we thought it mightve been? I just get the feeling he was as tired of the same old dance as the fans were.
Brian Batko
11:40
Good morning. Hadn't thought about it through the QB prism, but that's a valid point. If this group in the draft had 4 or 5 big names, as we did indeed anticipate - and they did too, most likely - there'd be more hope on the horizon. And if they'd have beaten the Texans and got that playoff drought off their backs, then yeah, I do envision a scenario where that's a weight lifted for Tomlin and new life, new energy in the franchise. So ... maybe?
The Ham
11:41
Do you think Tomlin would have interest in Bills HC opening?  I know the indications are that he wants to take a year off, but the chance to become HC of a team with a top 3 NFL QB has to be enticing to him.
Brian Batko
11:44
I just can't see him there, Ham. Yes, the Josh Allen Factor is real and it is tangible. But I've always felt like Tomlin would be picky with his next job (if there is a next job) and that he'd be in position to factor in lifestyle, franchise history, etc. And who's to say he even wants a turnkey operation like that? He might want to build up something. And just getting to know him and be around him for the past seven years, I see him putting stock into a place that's special to him personally, a la Tampa, maybe D.C. since he's from Virginia, something along those lines.
Epiballo
11:44
Hi Brian - thanks for the chats. Going back to the Houston game, did Rodgers ignore Metcalf after his early drop or wasn’t he getting open?
Brian Batko
11:45
No, I'd say the Texans were just smothering from all angles. If anything, he was probably hoping DK would pop open at some point for a big play. Not just to move the ball, but to loosen up that secondary a little bit. They were just all over everything from the jump.
Joe Willy
11:45
Was drafting Kenny Pickett the most costly mistake of the Mike Tomlin era? I think it derailed any chance the Steelers had of being considered Super Bowl contenders and dug them a hole they are still trying to escape.
Brian Batko
11:47
You can probably make that case, yeah. If there were ever a year to tank ... but even then, the 2023 class isn't exactly lighting it up either. Bryce Young is coming around, while CJ Stroud is losing his luster fast. The 2024 group, with Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, even Bo Nix? It's easy to say now in hindsight, but that was the year to strike in the franchise QB realm. Well, actually, it's even easier in retrospect to say the Steelers should've nabbed Jalen Hurts or Lamar Jackson when they had the chances.
JB
11:47
Brian, Ray F. said that the QB class looks much better in 2027.  That's interesting because in 2025 they said the QB class looks much better in 2026.
Brian Batko
11:48
Right. I hear you, JB. And I agree with Ray, simply when you try to project out to this time next year, but you're right that we said the same thing last year. The whole thing makes me a bit fearful of the future of QB play and development at the college level transitioning to the pros.
Yates
11:49
Hi Brian-  Focusing in on former coaches who are available and ignoring interview announcements rank order the top 3 available from your perspective.  I waffle a bit between Brian F and Sean M.
Brian Batko
11:52
Former head coaches, I assume you mean? I'd go Brian Flores 1, Sean McDermott 2, and then I'd have to consider folks like Mike McDaniel, Jim Schwartz and then a guy who doesn't have much buzz because he's older, but I'll say Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs DC. But again, my preference would be for a new face who can put his own stamp on things and grow with this franchise.
OK all, I'm gonna call it a chat here. Thanks for stopping by and lots of great coaching questions. Surely we'll cover that even more in this week's mailbag Thursday, so be on the lookout.
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