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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.06.23
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hi everyone, it’s super bowl week. Let’s talk steelers, NFL, whatever is on your mind.
Ken
2:01
Do you think that AB was just joking in what he said about James Harrison?
Brian Batko
2:02
No idea how anyone can interpret anything Antonio Brown says anymore. It’s sad, in a sense, but I just wouldn’t take anything he says seriously.
Jake
2:03
The more film I watch on the CB Gonzalez from Oregon, I think I’d take him over Porter, Ringo, and Witherspoon. We know they all won’t be, but say they’re all there when the Steelers pick. Who you got??
Brian Batko
2:05
That’d be an interesting scenario. Would the Steelers feel compelled to keep it in the family and trust the football character/bloodlines with Joey Porter Jr? My gut says yes. But they’d surely love the physical profile and ball production of Gonzalez. The pure talent of Ringo (from the same program that produced George Pickens). And then the tackling/ferocity of Devon Witherspoon. I still lean Porter.
Johnny U
2:07
What did the Steelers accomplish keeping Rudolph?  Was his trade value zero?  Seems like an adequate backup?  Think the 49’s would have liked to have him.  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:08
My sense is his trade value was basically zero. He gave the Steelers peace of mind as the No. 3 QB, at least. And yes, I imagine his next stop will be a place where he can have a better shot to compete for a backup role. Or, at the very least, if he's a No. 3 it'll be somewhere without a first-round pick entrenched as the starter.
epiballo
2:08
Mock drafts are fun to pass the time. But the players 'mocked' to the Steelers have 'potential' for things and some shortcomings to overcome. Why risk that? Shouldn't they draft blue chip players who can have an immediate impact? We don't need any more 10th overall pick busts.
Brian Batko
2:10
Sure. If you can tell me exactly who those players are, I'll throw your name out there as a candidate for NFL GM jobs. It's not that easy. What is interesting is that with the Chase Claypool pick, 32nd overall, they have an extra chance to either fill a roster hole or swing for the fences on a big-time talent.
The Man Mulcahey
2:11
Jason, who would you go with if you had to choose between Mackey's Phish, Zeise's Earth Wind & Fire, Starkey's Dylan, or Cook's Sinatra? Gracias.
Brian Batko
2:13
Not Jason, but this is a solid question, so I'll bite. Give me that Earth, Wind and Fire, with Dylan a close second.
Alan in Hoover, Alabama
2:14
Hey there. I’m not sure why this narrative that the Steelers are so stuck in the past and resistant to change when I’ve seen more change over the past 4-5 years than in my lifetime. Just going outside and revamping the front office and scouting departments. Khan being a different kind of GM. Fitzpatrick and the Bush trade (whoops) and changing the structure of contracts to resign Watt. Even when fans insist that they only promote from within, they forget that Austin AND Canada were brought in from other organizations. Same with Weidl, White, etc. Actually, so was Khan a long time ago. It just seems like some spoiled fans are just so disgruntled, they can do ANYTHING and fans and some media will find something wrong with it. What do you think?
Brian Batko
2:15
You make a lot of good points. "Same old Steelers" is a lazy phrase to throw out there, though I still believe their organizational philosophies/principles remain mostly the same. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Claypool trade wasn't exactly a conventional move, either.
Ed in Carrick
2:16
Is there a chance the team double dips on either OL or DL in first two rounds?  If so, which line is more likely?  The OL looked respectable, if not great, by the end of the year and the DL is old with a lot of pending FA.
Brian Batko
2:18
I think so, but only on the OL. Not sure two D-linemen are needed in this draft, let alone in the first two rounds. But a tackle and a guard? Or two guys who can play both? That'd be tempting. I'm with you that the DL needs some new blood, but guys like DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk should still have a lot of good ball ahead of them, especially Leal.
The Eman
2:19
What did you think of yesterday’s Pro Bowl? I thought it was better than recent Pro Bowl farces, although admittedly that’s an extremely low bar. I really enjoyed seeing the big guys highlighted in the wall moving!
Brian Batko
2:20
Didn't see a ton but caught a little bit. It's fine. Certainly gimmicky, though like you said, what exactly has it been for the last however many years? Unwatchable. Dodgeball had its moments. Flag football had its moments. The "best catch" thing is good in theory but ended up being everything that's hard to watch about the NBA dunk contest.
TSH
2:21
Hi Brian, thank you for your time today!  I have a question about Dan Moore Jr.  I thought his run blocking looked good!  What does Dan need to work on in the offseason to become a solid pass blocker? Have we hit Dan's ceiling, or could his 3rd season show he is a legit LT who run blocks and pass blocks?  Thanks Much!
Brian Batko
2:23
This is more of a Ray Fittipaldo question. I'm not OL expert. But the notion of Moore being at his ceiling is worth exploring. That's very possible, and probably one of the main reasons he was only a fourth-round pick (and projected by most draft gurus to go lower). It's encouraging that he wasn't a liability this season. Gives you a good "floor" to work with as you build this team and OL.
Billybob
2:25
Thanks for the chats, Bat's! Is Kenny's deep ball concerning to you? I'm hoping they are miscommunications, but.....
Brian Batko
2:27
Not particularly. I don't know that he has the pure arm strength to hit on some of the deep shots that Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and maybe a few others can. But I thought his play in the second half of the season put to rest some of the concerns about his arm talent.
Miles McGuire
2:28
Good morning Bats,
LA Based Steeler fan, with East Pitt native father. Im not a PITT fan per se, however, it seems like the NFL has a good amount of PITT players in the league, and more are on the way. Is PITT turning into a college football, dare I say, powerhouse? Or, are they becoming a solid program to attend if you want to turn pro. I think their success with turning students into pros, is an under the radar conversation.
Brian Batko
2:31
It might be under the radar in LA, but I think it's been covered pretty well here. Pat Narduzzi has had the program on a good trajectory, both on the field with team success and in terms of pro prospects. Kenny Pickett was a huge win in that regard last year. This year they should have more depth in their draft class. Guys like Calijah Kancey, Izzy Abanikanda, SirVocea Dennis, Haba Baldonado, Carter Warren and even Brandon Hill/Jared Wayne should have a chance to be picked.
Amy Shadyside
2:31
Hey Brian, any chance I can blame Matt Canada for my bad performance reviews on Mondays due to watching the Steelers?  I mean if Antonio Brown can complain…..
Brian Batko
2:31
Blame Matt Canada for anything and everything in this town.
Thomas
2:32
That Ivan Pace kid looked great at senior bowl, but at just under 6' tall, would steelers consider another "short" iLB after the Bush experiment?
Brian Batko
2:34
At the right value, sure. But if I were them, I wouldn't be itching to use a first-round pick on an inside linebacker again anytime soon. That may even be a "global" NFL issue, as Mike Tomlin likes to say. It's a difficult position to play and project, which might be even more true in the Steelers' system. Whether it's Pace or someone else, it would make sense to throw another pick at that position, Round 3 or later for me, and see how it shakes out.
Vinegar Bend
2:35
Yo Bats: Give me your opinion of the Steeler players in "development" that you see will have the great impact on the 2023 upcoming season.
Brian Batko
2:36
Let's do 3: Connor Heyward, DeMarvin Leal and Mark Robinson.
DanW
2:37
Hey Brian, thanks for the chat. Any chance the Steelers give up an early pick in exchange for Jalen Ramsey?
Brian Batko
2:38
That would surprise me. The Steelers are spending so much on defense already with TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Heyward and possibly Alex Highsmith soon. They're going to have to get by with less-expensive corners, be it affordable but reliable vets such as Cam Sutton/Levi Wallace or young guys on rookie deals.
MQ
2:40
What do you hear about CAIII’s progress?  Thinking he could be a nice add to the mix if healthy.
Brian Batko
2:41
Saw a video on social media the other day of him running at the facility. Not surprising at all that he's committed to the process of working his way back, and doing so here in Pittsburgh. He's certainly a wild card of sorts. I still might want to draft a WR this year, but you have to hope Calvin Austin can come back and be the exciting player he was in college.
Tampa Too
2:42
Brian. Outside of the offensive line do you see this draft as being predominantly defense oriented?
Brian Batko
2:43
Yes, I do. Time to replenish the depth on that side of the ball and maybe even find a starter or three. They could use more talent at basically every position.
Pickett2Pickens
2:44
Watching the Senior Bowl practices and the game on Saturday I see a very deep OL class. IMO since the OL improved so much over the last half of the season that we should look at the best defensive player at #17 and wait to pick an OL at #32 or #49. Do you concur?
Brian Batko
2:45
That's how I'd lean, yeah. But it seems that there's also decent depth this year at DL, edge, corner and safety, too.
Nate from Fort Wayne
2:46
Brian, what WR type do you see the Steelers going for? a small fast Tyreek Hill type or a bigger type like Chase Claypool? or even a tweener like like Pickens? I know Calvin Austin is coming back, but I know they'll probably add another guy to the mix through draft or FA
Brian Batko
2:49
The nice thing about their current WR corps is you could go a number of ways with that. Austin probably fills the small/twitchy role, though it doesn't hurt to have more than one of those. A taller guy who can play on the outside opposite George Pickens and make contested catches would be a nightmare for DCs to deal with. And then a reliable slot/possession kind of receiver is always good, too. My preference would be for another big body, and this draft has some good ones.
schnail
2:50
Have the Steelers' troubles with drafting top-notch CBs been due more to being subpar at developing talent at that position, or more to just picking the wrong guys?  (I hope it's the latter, because maybe then Andy Weidl can help us improve in this area.)
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