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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.12.24
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, thanks for chatting again. Well, that's a wrap on the 23-24 NFL season. Everyone is back to 0-0. Onward and upward for the Steelers? Your questions now please...
Stairway to seventh seed
2:01
Brian:  I enjoyed your discussion last week of how well the Chiefs and 49ers have done in the late rounds of the draft.  Which do you think was more harmful in the later days of the Colbert era: that the Steelers misevaluated players like Oludakon (over Purdy), Loudermilk (used a 4th rounder in a trade to take him in the 5th), and Harvin  - OR - that the franchise that had the likes of Keisel, William Gay, and Antonio Brown would trade away a bevy of 3rd day picks for marginal late training camp backups with one year on their contracts like Nick Vannett (for a 5th) and Malik Reed (for a 6th)?
Brian Batko
2:03
Thanks. I'm glad at least one person listened past my thoughts on the TJ Watt/Myles Garrett brouhaha. Even if you think I was an idiot for that, perhaps I had some salient ideas later. I actually think your second point is one I should've mentioned in that discussion. Not only did the Steelers make some late-round picks that were head-scratchers in the moment, but they've also thrown away chances for the players you mentioned. I think Omar Khan understands the value of amassing draft capital. It's a bit more of an analytical approach but it is forward-thinking, too, and needs to be done in modern NFL.
Ryan
2:04
BB, would the average yinzer be more willing to give me a shot if I was eating Doritos on my couch a la Flacco?
Brian Batko
2:07
Mr. Tannehill, welcome to the chat. You're a hot topic these days, I suppose. It's easy to forget that you helped get the Steelers to the playoffs with your solid-to-decent level of play in Week 18 vs. the Jaguars. But I suspect the average yinzer would be more willing to give you a shot if you hadn't lost your job the last two years to rookies.
TJ
2:08
Hi Brian, i thought the SB was great - what about you?
Brian Batko
2:10
Yeah it was. I know many people wanted or at least expected more scoring, but I didn't. Those were two really good defenses matching up against Patrick Mahomes and Kyle Shanahan, respectively. Even the early Christian McCaffrey fumble was a great defensive play. It's not like the offensive struggles were due to unforced errors or anything. And then the strategy component that came into play with overtime was fascinating, as well. Good Super Bowl.
the real guest
2:10
Brian, Once again the SB shows us you must have a solid 4 man pass rush to get there and even then (especially when  the opposing QB wears a cape) it may not be enough.Agree? Excellent game.
Brian Batko
2:13
For sure. That's football fundamentals. And it's why you see teams paying those front four guys so much more than the next two levels of the defense. To make a Steelers-centric observation, I know many are down on the contract they gave Larry Ogunjobi last offseason, but it's sort of understandable when you consider the value of D-linemen/pass rushers. Problem is Ogunjobi just didn't have much pass rushing juice this season after getting that hefty deal.
Mr. Swift
2:14
Travis Kelce was embarrassing last night with his disrespect towards his coach and his postgame antics.  He acted like a WWF wrestler after this game and the championship game.  What is wrong with him?  Has he always been like this?
Brian Batko
2:16
To be honest, I was so tired that I went straight to bed and didn't stick around to see the postgame stuff. Been there, done that with the Chiefs. But obviously the blow-up with Andy Reid is a terrible look. I know, I know, those two have a relationship that probably transcends what we see from the outside, but come on. Didn't seem like he was particularly remorseful about it either.
Rich
2:18
If the Steelers are serious about making the playoffs next season then signing Cousins would make the most sense.  He could give you probably two good years.  Cut your losses with KP and move on.  If not we will be having the same discussions this time next year.  What say you Brian?   Thank you.
Brian Batko
2:19
On paper, you're probably right, Rich. But I just don't see them moving off Kenny Pickett this early. I know they've done some things out of their comfort zone in the last five years - trading first-rounder for Minkah Fitzpatrick, firing Matt Canada midseason, etc. - but I'm not sure they have the stomach for admitting defeat on the first-round QB this soon.
Tom
2:20
Did TJ Watt get Snubbed? I don't see how he didn't win the award. Led all categories by good margin. For those arguing pass rush win rate and double %. Pass rush win rate Watt was only behind Myles by 5% and the double team rate Watt was behind Myles 15%. Even if you give Myles a 20% hike in his stats which should theoretically make up the difference Tj's is statistically better. Not to mentioned Myles disappeared the last 5 or 6 games and his defense was trashed in the playoffs. I don't get it.
Brian Batko
2:23
Probably. I picked him as DPOY in the PFWA awards, for which I have a vote. But as I tried to get across in Friday's podcast with Carter, I'm not ready to say anyone who voted for Myles Garrett is an idiot. I think there's more to it than that. Case in point, saying he disappeared down the stretch, maybe from the traditional box score. They did go 4-2 in those final six games. Just a lot of context that goes beyond "look at the numbers!" Just my two cents.
Jack
2:24
Bringing in all the new offensive coaches will that help Kenny with being able to read defenses and go through progressions?   Didn’t the Steelers realize this was a big problem before drafting Kenny?
Brian Batko
2:27
It should. That's what coaching is for. But I don't think the draft gurus viewed that as a weakness of Kenny coming into the NFL.
LSU Nate
2:28
Brian, if the 49ers or Ravens have taught me anything this season, its that ILB is vastly underrated in the league. If you have a great ILB, that minimizes the middle of the field or TEs out of the game. ILB free agents, Patrick Queen, Devin White, Josey Jewell look to be available, should we take a swing since we haven't had a stud there since Shazier?
Brian Batko
2:30
Possibly, if they're affordable. I was pounding the table for spending up on Tremaine Edmunds last offseason, but I'm not sure they could've afforded him given his four-year, $72 million deal. Credit to the Steelers for the moves they made on Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexander. They all were playing well until the injuries hit, so it's a shame where they're at now with that position. Just bad luck all around.
CJ
2:30
Did you know the overtime rules were different for playoffs , article I read said 49ers players were unaware
Brian Batko
2:31
Yes. It's always mind-blowing to me when players say that sort of thing.
Steeltree
2:33
The SB had 2t teams that are different in that KC has a great QB with a great TE a very good D and a bunch of role players. SF has pro bowlers at multiple positions on. Both sides of the ball and a good but not spectacular QB    I think the Steelers are trying to emulate SF and hope that Pickett can prove to be at least as compass Purdue or the get lucky in the middle rounds of the draft and find a good to better than good QB there.  My question. - if you had the GM position would you spend whatever draft capital was necessary to move up to grab that franchise  QB  or use the draft and free agency to build that team that a Purdy type QB could take to the SB.
Brian Batko
2:35
This sort of goes back to Rich's question, which was about signing a top-tier FA QB, but same idea here. Personally, I'm not quite ready to write off Pickett. I'm close, but not there just yet. Which is why it's so fascinating to write about, talk about, speculate on how the QB room will shape up around him. Because that could ultimately be the answer to what this team's ceiling is in 2024. Of course, finding a hidden QB gem in the draft is a cheat code for any team, but easier said than done.
Lefty
2:36
How many more years without a playoff win will Mr. Rooney endure before he does the right thing and makes a change at HC?
Brian Batko
2:37
I'd be shocked if Mike Tomlin is ever "fired" as Steelers head coach. Could he be nudged in the direction of "parting ways"? Maybe. But the scenario you suggest just does not seem realistic at all to me.
California Carl
2:38
Bats, The Chiefs won the SB without an A-list WR. Would the Steelers be better off trading Diontae Johnson for a second or third rounder, adding a younger and cheaper WR in the draft, and using the savings for a premium free agent DL or CB? Cutting Peterson, Chuks, etc. will save the cap room to sign free agents.
Brian Batko
2:40
Had that thought myself, actually, about how the Chiefs - and even to a lesser extent the Niners - are devaluing the WR position. Or at least should be. Not saying playmakers aren't important in today's NFL, but to me they're a distant third behind QB play and coaching when it comes to the pass game. Oh, and would I trade Diontae Johnson for a second or third round pick? Absolutely.
Jeff M
2:41
Who is the CB2 next season, 1. Free Agent 2. Draft Pick 3. Pat Pete?
Brian Batko
2:41
Don't forget about 4. Darius Rush or Cory Trice...
Ryan
2:42
I realize this is a loaded question, but in generalities, Wouldn’t it make the most sense to trade down in the first round this year?  So many holes and it’s a deep draft plus it’s not like we’re “one player away” from the promised land or anything like that.
Brian Batko
2:44
Trading down is one of those things that almost always "makes the most sense." But you need someone willing to move up and give you the kind of value to make your trade-back worth it. That's the rub. I see your point this year, though. It's early in the pre-draft process. Will continue to shape my opinion on trading down, or up, or standing pat as we see the combine, pro days and whatnot play out.
STEEL72
2:45
Will the Chiefs be the first three-peat?
Brian Batko
2:47
Hmmmm I think I'm gonna say yes on that one.
Mark
2:47
Does a QB room of Pickett, a soon to be 36 Ryan Tannehill and a rookie to be named later sound like an urgency to win? Hate to say it but Pickett's ceiling is probably Kyle Boller and Tannehill had 4 TDs and 7 picks last year.
Brian Batko
2:49
Not really, no. But I'd caution you not to confuse urgency with desperation. Art Rooney II said they're getting impatient, not desperate. Kyle Boller, now there's a name I hadn't heard in a long time.
Scott via Kentucky
2:50
Are Taylor Swift and Kelce still an item by training camp next year?
Brian Batko
2:50
I'll say yes.
Two commas
2:51
Brian. What do the Steelers do at inside linebacker next year
Brian Batko
2:52
Gut tells me sign a low-level free agent and draft one in rounds 2 through 5, depending how your board plays out. Elandon Roberts, the rookie and whatever Cole Holcomb (health) and Mark Robinson (inexperience) can provide on top of that.
Nate from Iowa
2:53
Hi Brian, CBS Sports has a post Super Bowl mock draft.  They have the Steelers taking Michael Penix, Jr. at 20.  Your thoughts?  Thanks!
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