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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 01.24.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everybody it's  2 p.m. so that means another chat with your favorite Steelers beat writer who chats on Mondays. Have at it!
Scott
2:01
How many more seasons can Mike Tomlin survive without winning a playoff game?
Brian Batko
2:03
It really depends on what they do going forward here. For instance, if they draft a QB, then let him sit for a year behind Mason Rudolph, how quickly do you expect Mike Tomlin to turn things around? I don't know, but if I had to take into account everything going on, I would say ... three.
Ken
2:04
What do you think about Tom Brady?  Coming back or retiring?
Brian Batko
2:04
My guess is he comes back. Hopefully he'll give me a call or text to let me know when he decides.
Nick
2:05
Hi Brian.  Watching the divisional round this weekend highlighted some serious deficiencies that the Steelers need to address.  Speed, scheme (throwing down the middle of the field), mobile qb, etc. What do you think are the most glaring deficiencies the Steelers need to address in the off season and how would you go about it?  Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:08
Can't fix 'em all at once, Nick. But they'll try to do as much as they can by wringing every ounce of value out of free agency and the draft. I think the QB play of this weekend reinforced how crucial it is to have a dude at that position. Now, hey, I guess the Niners could go and win the whole thing and render that moot, to an extent, but it's obvious that having guys who can move around like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes is a cheat code.
Bill in SF
2:08
The playoff games the last two weekends illustrate how far the Steelers are from being a real contender.  What is the likelihood that ARII will make Tomlin relinquish control of the defense, and/or fire Canada, and in either case hire from outside the organization?
Brian Batko
2:09
I don't necessarily agree with that, Bill. I mean, I get it, on its face. They don't have QBs like Allen, Mahomes or Burrow. But those three teams were pretty far away, too ... and then they drafted those guys and became "real contenders" within a couple years. As for your question, I don't see a major shake-up for the coaching staff in that way.
The Dude
2:10
Why would anyone give up multiple picks for Aaron Rodgers? Pretty obvious the future is with younger guys - MahopoBurrow,
Brian Batko
2:12
Perhaps no one would. He didn't exactly play his best ball when it mattered. But he is probably going to win the MVP award again, and rightfully so. I voted for him. He's not those guys when it comes to mobility, but he can still move around a little bit. I'll be curious to see if the way that it ended for him gives potential bidders pause. If I were the Steelers, for example, I don't think I'd mortgage the future to that degree for him. Now, if Russell Wilson were to become available...
artie bridge
2:13
Brian, All the talk about Steeler in-house qb candidates for next year has centered on Rudolph and Haskins.  Is Josh Dobbs off the radar screen completely?  And, if so, where / what is his future?
Brian Batko
2:15
Yeah, I think his ceiling is reliable, affordable backup at this point. He's a great team chemistry guy, great for the locker room, great on the sideline. But we've seen him playing the position somewhat regularly and there's just not a ton of upside with his arm talent. The Steelers have told you they believe that, basically, by cutting him and trading him over the years.
Rungame0
2:16
Did the GB loss at home remind you of Steeler home playoff failures, keeping it too close, special teams errors, disinterested play?
Brian Batko
2:17
Eh, not really. The most recent Steelers home playoff failures have been blowouts, basically.
Jarvis Ragdoll Jones
2:18
Are the distances on punts measured from the LOS or the spot where the ball actually kicked?
Brian Batko
2:18
Never relaly thought about it, Jarvis.
Just me
2:18
After watching the playoff games this weekend, Steelers are in quite a bind- they are just not fast or talented enough to complete on a championship level - is there any way to be talked off the ledge?
Brian Batko
2:20
Sure. They can use free agency and the draft this year to get faster. When it comes to talent, they're one of seven teams who have multiple All-NFL guys in TJ Watt and Cam Heyward. Do they need more talent? Yes. But so did the Bengals, then they drafted Burrow and he made a bunch of the talent around him look a lot better.
Nate
2:21
Hi Brian, enjoy the chats!  Ray just published an article about who he thinks will/should be back next year.  I know you don't have time to comment on every single player, but do you agree with his overall assessment of the roster?  Are there any surprise resigns (ex. Haden or JuJu) or any surprise releases (ex. Bush) that you think might happen?  Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:22
Hey Nate, stay tuned for our offseason preview episode of the podcast this week. I'll go through Ray's roster evaluation with a fine-tooth comb and give my thoughts then. Even without doing that though, I'm sure I agree with Ray's overall assessment, because Ray's a smart guy!
Retire21
2:22
what’s The most overrated and misleading stet? Ben and MT at 18 and 15 without a losing season or the Steelers leading the league in stats the last 5 years in a row?
Brian Batko
2:23
Leading the league in what 5 years in a row?
Tom in Dallas
2:23
Bats - some criticisms I have of Mason Rudolph is his pocket awareness and ball velocity, especially on the out routes. Defenses are going to feast. Shouldn't the Steelers be looking at some affordable talent like Marcus Mariotta to take the reins during rebuild? At least he is mobile and versatile.
Brian Batko
2:25
They have to decide what they want to be next season, right? If they want to maximize their chances of winning games in 2022, then sure, take a shot on Marcus Mariota or someone like that (he has the same agent as Ben Roethlisberger, for what it's worth). But if they want to get it right at quarterback, for now and for the years ahead, then there is some logic in letting this be the Rudolph/Haskins show, possibly with a rookie QB in that mix too.
Turk in MD
2:27
Hi Brian. Thanks for the chats.  Is there any QB in this upcoming draft worth a 1st round pick?  If not, are there any free agents (or soon to be) the team would be interest in over Mason?  Kirk Cousins?
Brian Batko
2:29
I haven't pored over the film yet to espouse my own opinions, but even when I do, I'll largely lean on guys like Chris Simms, Dan Orlovsky and other QB-centric analysts. Kirk Cousins is unlikely to be a free agent. You could argue that a lot of the FA QBs this year would be the best on the Steelers roster, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be good values.
Guest
2:30
Hey Brian, Thanks for the chats. Is this finally the year that Mr. Rooney insist that Mike Tomlin allow his defensive coordinator to call the plays on game day. We have seen what the defense has looked like the last couple years.
Brian Batko
2:31
To me, those decisions are best left up to the head coach. If you're disagreeing with a lot of your head coach's decisions, as an owner, then you've got some bigger issues to deal with.
D from Chi-Town
2:33
Hi Brian, with the possibility of Brady and Rodgers also considering retirement, could you see Ben, Brady, and Rodgers in the same hall of fame class?
Brian Batko
2:33
That'd be great for the folks in Canton. Although I guess it'd be even better to get one of each of those guys in three successive classes. And I think that's possible. Brady plays one more year, Rodgers plays two? That might even be the best odds.
Jps717
2:34
There isn’t a can’t miss Qb in this draft.  Why not build an OL of road graders and make Najee the focus a la Derrick Henry?  Same on the D…build the DL and ILB group.  Top draft and FA needs : OL,DL, ILB and CB.  Make MR a game mgr.  you agree?
Brian Batko
2:36
Yeah, I think that's where I'm at. Then you can drop in a QB with a lot of infrastructure around him and, ideally, watch him thrive. But the whole notion of "can't miss" isn't one I subscribe to. No one is "can't miss" and then you have outliers like Tom Brady, Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott on whom everybody missed. Just gotta do the best you can to evaluate the QBs in this class, turn over every stone, and decide if you're all-in on one or more being a franchise type guy.
Rick
2:37
Hey Brian we have so many glaring problems, can you tell us how your best case scenario would go for the steelers this off season in free agency and drafting.I think inside linebacker, and both l
Brian Batko
2:39
Question got cut off but I get the gist. To me, the best-case scenario would be replenishing your offense with some blue-chippers on the OL, getting good value somewhere at QB/WR, then filling in the defense with better depth pieces than you have now. Basically, hitting on some talent at DL and DB and maybe even LB in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, similar to what you did last year with Tre Norwood.
Jarvis Ragdoll Jones
2:41
They have led the league in sacks the past five years.
Brian Batko
2:42
Ahh circling back to that one. I got ya now. Well, I'd say that's more meaningless than going 18/15 years without a losing season.
Jim
2:42
Do you think the GM coming in will have any influence in the draft? I am assuming he/she is an internal hire.
Brian Batko
2:42
Yes
UK Zinzer
2:43
Hi Brian,  Wow, what a great weekend of football.  If we had one of these young guns at QB and a decent O-Line would our RBs, WRs and TEs  be flying around like these other teams
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