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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.23.20
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pdxJaxon
12:37
Hey BB,
Not sure about you, but I was very pleased with the signing of Wormley and Ebron.
We are so much better prepared for the Draft and are now able to truly choose BPA instead of force filling Needs.
Thoughts on these additions?
Brian Batko
12:38
Ebron makes me think of Hebron Fangupo, which makes me think of this Joe Starkey decade-in-review project that just earned the silver medal in a national sports writing contest https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/sports-decade-2010-19/
jake
12:39
ESPN is all for the Steelers signing Winston, do they not look at our cap situation??
Brian Batko
12:40
Yeah, that's another thing. What gives people the idea Jameis would be willing to sign for what the Steelers would (realistically) be able to give him? I think his best landing spot would be Jacksonville, where the Gardner Minshew Experiment is fun but doesn't seem sustainable to me from the outside. Of course, Jags fans love him.
574Fan
12:41
Thanks again for chatting, Brian.  With OL, DL depth, and TE addressed via trade or FA late last week, is there now a decent chance that their pick at #49 will truly be best player available, even if it's a defensive player?  I understand people want a workhorse RB and another receiver wouldn't hurt, but there's no need to reach at either, right?
Brian Batko
12:42
The additions of Ebron, Wisniewski and Wormley SHOULD mean that you don't have to reach for anything. Kind of like the way they set themselves up last year with Steve Nelson, Mark Barron and Donte Moncrief. Of course, they ended up moving up for Devin Bush despite the presence of Barron, then drafted Diontae Johnson with their next pick, but even that all makes sense in the long run.
fLORIDA STEELERS
12:43
Brian, greatly appreciate the chats.  I'm not jumping for joy yet with the recent FA signings especially the deal with Ebron. I was hoping they would get some help in FA with the linebacker group that is very thin.  Your thoughts on the recent FA signings?
Brian Batko
12:45
Yeah, the linebacker situation is still less than thrilling. At this point, your backups are looking like Ola Adeniyi and Tuzar Skipper on the edge, then Robert Spillane and Ulysees Gilbert on the inside. That's three UDFAs and a sixth-round pick. Have to imagine the Steelers will want to fortify that position rather than hope two or three of those take great leaps forward.
SOMD Panther
12:47
In a fit of nostalgia, I re-watched that ESPN 30-for-30 on the Big East. Re-felt the disappointment of Pitt's early exit to Cuse in the final 2013 Big East Tournament. What do you miss most about the old Big East?
Brian Batko
12:47
The familiarity that bred hatred. Also didn't hurt that Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun were helming two of the best programs in that league when I was a whippersnapper.
Jerry
12:48
What do you think they will do to replace Barron? Vince Williams isn’t the answer!!
Brian Batko
12:50
Could go several directions. More Vince in the base defense seems ... iffy at best. There's still time to find a rookie or free agent who can do what Barron did. The other options would be getting more creative with your defensive packages. More nickel, more dime, three safeties, etc. Let's get crazy and run three pass-rushers out there with Bud playing the "inside" position every once in a while, hey?
Scott
12:51
How long will Brady last playing for the Quarterback  Crippler? I say 3-4 games.
Brian Batko
12:52
Oh please, Bruce Arians isn't going to expect (or want) 42-year-old Tom Brady to play the same brand of football as 30-year-old Ben Roethlisberger. I actually think Brady is going to light it up in Tampa. Very nice supporting cast down there.
Jim From Shaler
12:53
Now that the Steelers have addressed some of their needs via free agent signings, I’m thinking it makes sense to choose a running back at number 49 in the draft.  Any thought on who would be available at that spot and whether they would be worth drafting at 49?
Brian Batko
12:53
Jim, you could've just driven to my house and knocked on my door to ask this question. It's tough to project where RBs are gonna go. You could see anywhere from none to three of them gone in the first, depending on how much teams like this group.
CJ from his living room
12:54
Your thoughts on going through with the nfl draft? I welcome the diversion!
Brian Batko
12:56
I welcome the chance to have the draft to write about. There'd be quite the void in the NFL if they postponed it, and to be honest, I'm fine that they aren't doing that. Does it help both prospects and teams to make in-person visits and have pro days? Absolutely. But can you still get this thing done by watching film from the season, making good use of the combine and conducting interviews by phone? Most definitely.
DaquidoBazzini
12:57
I'm sure no one knows (and hopes not)....But I wonder what would happen to next years draft if there was no 2020 NFL season. Any thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:57
Yeah, I have no idea. But if there's no NFL season, that would mean there was no college football season, so conceivably, all those players would have the option of taking a COVID-induced redshirt year. OK, that's enough speculation on that.
Barb
12:58
What grade do you give for the Steelers free agent signings and trade?  Thank you.
Brian Batko
12:59
I don't love grading free-agent signings just because there's so much involved once you factor in money, years on the deal, cap hit, a lot of stuff we don't actually know for sure until much later. It's different than grading a draft, where you're basically just going on player/fit/who else was available. As for the trade, I give it a solid B. Basically moved down two rounds in next year's draft for a guy who could become a starter.
Krugerrand
12:59
Which WR is mostly likely to be cut by the Steelers?  And, what can we expect the Raiders to give up for him?  3rd, 4th, or 5th round pick?
Brian Batko
1:00
Ha, I see what you did there. There are a whole bunch of wideouts on the practice squad right now, but outside of them (and Amara Darboh) I'd say Ryan Switzer is more likely to stick around than Deon Cain.
Bored teacher
1:00
Brian, it is a shame exactly what the Steelers need smoked his way out of the NFL. (Martavis) If the speedster from Penn State is not there do you see the Steelers possibly using one of their fourth picks on someone like Bryant who is not a complete package but who is also not a candidate for “High Times Man of the Year?”
Brian Batko
1:02
Gotta give some love to the teachers out there as we finish up the chat. Drugs are bad, kids, stay in school!

OK, we've got a ton of people in here and a bunch more questions, but unfortunately I can't chat all day. Have some other work things to tend to, but also while I'm home I might as well help my wife. Which reminds me, I have a diaper genie to empty. I might file away some of the better leftover stuff from you all for a mailbag, so keep an eye out for that. And our aforementioned North Shore Drive podcast is live now, so go listen! https://t.co/BmQpeW56IF
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