You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.01.24
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, welcome to the chat. I guess we’ll have to start with a lot of questions on the breaking news that TJ Watt is stepping away from football indefinitely.
2:01
OK, it’s April 1 and I got that fooling out of my system. Fire away please…
Guest
2:01
You’re a jerk Bats. That way too far !!!
Mike from DC
2:02
Scared me Brian!!!
Matteo
2:02
If you had to narrow it down to three names, which players do you think have the highest chance of being the Steelers first round pick?
Brian Batko
2:02
It’s also officially draft month now, so I imagine we’ll be heavy on those topics between now and April 24. Let’s say … Amarius Mims, JC Latham, Jackson Powers-Johnson
Seferg
2:04
In your opinion, is there a free agent remaining a Steeler fan would hope the Steelers look at or is it time to wait until after the draft?
Brian Batko
2:05
Still think they need to get a center, but most of the more promising options are already gone.
574 Fan
2:06
Hey, BB, thanks for the chat. With 2 of the 4 top starter needs being Oline (C is obvious, but a RT to allow Jones to slide back to LT is also big) does it imply that the team would be comfortable with Herbig or even Anderson manning one of the those spots this season if both can’t be addressed in the draft.
Brian Batko
2:06
Ehh I don't think so. I'm sure they like Nate Herbig/Spencer Anderson and some of their abilities but more so as backups than long-term starters
Cam
2:08
BB, by bringing home The Man of The Year award, did I ensure that the brass would not have the cajones to reduce my salary to something reasonable for an elderly gentleman with groin issues?
Brian Batko
2:09
As great of an honor as that is for Cam Heyward and the Steelers, I can't imagine it changes the, um, elderly gentleman with groin issues equation, as you put it. The org would still have the utmost respect for Heyward had he not won. But you have to compartmentalize football/business decisions.
the real guest
2:09
Brian, A lot of folks think the Steelers will win more games in 2024 with RW than they won in 2023 with KP/MR. Looking at their schedule I think they will be lucky to win 9 let alone 11. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:10
I've said it countless times, I'm not projecting the Steelers to go under .500 until I see it with my own eyes. To be honest, I haven't done a deep dive on the schedule/opponents or made a win total projection yet. Will start thinking about that more around draft/schedule release time.
Arthur not Art
2:11
Brian, thank you for the time and the chat. They generally don't go into the draft without filling holes with starter capable players. Do they believe the WR signings and Herbig are starter capable WR2 and C, respectively or can we anticipate additional signings in the next few weeks. There aren't a lot of candidates left at either spot. Have they painted themselves into a corner to have to reach if the draft doesn't fall their way?
Brian Batko
2:13
Center is more of a stretch than WR for me if the season started tomorrow. Herbig is a reliable pro and I'm sure he'd work hard at the role if need be, but he's played 49 career snaps at center in the NFL. In five seasons. So, yes, there a bit vulnerable there, for sure. Perhaps they have a sleeper on their draft board beyond the big 3 of JPJ, Zach Frazier, Sedrick Van Pran. Two names who come to mind are Hunter Nourzad from Penn State and Beaux Limmer of Arkansas.
Mike from DC
2:14
if the Steelers make a trade down, do they require the team they are trading with to tell them what player they are taking?
Brian Batko
2:14
Not that I know of. That would make a GM rather difficult to negotiate with, wouldn't it? But they probably have a decent idea when they make those moves because they study the board so much and are plugged into what other teams have as roster needs.
Jay
2:16
Hello Brian, always appreciate your coverage.  Any April fools rumors you would like to spread?  I heard Pomp and Zeise talking about Ron Cook starting a radio show with Ben.  Can you confirm it?
Brian Batko
2:18
Thanks, Jay. My TJ Watt joke wasn't enough? But if you insist, I have heard that The PM Team of Andrew Fillipponi, Chris Mueller and Donny Football are looking to re-ignite the Kenny Pickett Show now that he's on the other side of the state. Tentatively titled "Across the Pickett Fence" sponsored by the PA Turnpike.
Scott
2:19
Brian thanks as always for the opportunity to interact.  Coming off a 10-7 season with a double digit playoff loss we have an owner who has publicly stated it’s time to get some wins and take those next steps in the postseason.  Since that time the consensus is that the roster has been made stronger, especially at key positions such as qb and ilb, the draft is still forthcoming,  and we’ll be playing a third place schedule.  Obviously the front office believes they are set up to be in a win now mode. So to take those next steps mentioned by Art Rooney, it would seem we should be expecting at least 11 wins and a playoff run?  If that doesn’t happen, do you think there will be actual accountability demanded or were those just empty words?
Brian Batko
2:21
Sure thing, Scott. I think the paradigm has shifted this offseason with the Steelers and their stated lack of patience. When Art Rooney II himself frames it that way, it's especially significant. And certainly they've made significant, even out-of-character moves this offseason. So, no, I don't think they're guilty of empty words when it comes to the on-field product.
Rick B
2:22
i enjoy your writing and fellow Shaler titan grad.  What happened last year with Desmond King?  Did the Steelers give up on him?  He played decent for Houston afterwards and we sure needed DB bodies late in the season.
Brian Batko
2:23
Thanks, Rick. I don't hide my Shaler allegiances. Thought about naming my son Shale but that might've been a bit much. Anyway, yeah, my read on the Desmond King thing is they brought him in as a veteran who could make the overall secondary stronger and be a decent insurance policy for Joey Porter Jr. Not sure if he just wasn't picking up their defensive scheme or what, but when he finally got a chance on the field, he was out of position and they allowed a TD. That was the end of that experiment.
Rocco "The Fist" cavalcante
2:24
It sounds like, if board breaks how they hope, Steelers will select a RT at 20. Do you think then that puts in play them moving up in 2nd Rd to select the best center still available?
Brian Batko
2:26
Yeah, as I have reminded before, it's not as simple as just projecting which names will be available at which draft slots the Steelers currently have at their disposal. Last year running his first draft, Omar Khan showed a propensity for moving up or down when necessary to target certain players/positions. He'll be able to watch the board like a hawk once they make each selection, see how it's falling and whether he needs to make a pick trade.
Alan from Indy
2:26
We’ve beat the Kenny Pickett story to death by now but if it came down to Kp  vs just Fields what’s your choice? My main disappointment with Kenny was pocket presence and mobility.
Brian Batko
2:28
Hey Alan. I think I had more belief left in Kenny Pickett than most around here, but I'd go Justin Fields. The traits are just way more intriguing and give him a higher ceiling. And I tend to agree with you that some of the most discouraging signs from Kenny were the "game" sort of aspects to playing the position that many of us thought wouldn't be an issue for him.
BPOS
2:28
Hey Bats... Feels like Center tops the "position of need" category for RD1 with no starter on the roster. Centers are viewed as a reach at 20, but the plug-n-play options will likely be gone by RD2 baring a trade up. But doesn't it seem a necessary reach to get their center in Rd 1 for the next decade? WR's, CB, OL can be had in later rounds.
Brian Batko
2:30
That might be true based on how the outside/media world views the position this year, but again, the Steelers could have a higher grade on someone who isn't necessarily a draft darling. Granted, that can backfire too, as we saw with Kendrick Green. I presume they have some non-buyer's remorse on NOT taking Creed Humphrey and Tyler Linderbaum in recent years, both of whom are good comparisons for Jackson Powers-Johnson this year.
Skip
2:30
Hasn't the lack of a credible alternative at C pretty much locked them in to drafting one in the first or second round?  Why not hold on to Cole until they have a replacement in place?  What did they gain by cutting him early?
Brian Batko
2:32
They didn't have to pay him his roster bonus. Can always circle back to him if it ends up being a good move for both sides.
Vegas Steeler
2:32
Hi, thanks for doing the chats. What do you think of the ban on the hip drop tackle regarding making the defense's job even harder. Another step to eventually strapping on the flags?
Brian Batko
2:34
Yeah, I'm not a fan of it. I can see both sides, and I respect the arguments that have been made in favor of it, particularly from offensive players. But couldn't it have been litigated more by fines than penalties?
PghFNinCali
2:35
On paper, from what the Steelers have done so far...Do you see the Steelers being better than the 2023 outcome? Do they get 2 more wins in the 2024 season? A playoff win?
Brian Batko
2:36
Not sure I'm buying all that. Russell Wilson is more of a good value addition than game-changer to me. And the AFC should still be really good.
Jeff M
2:37
Hi Brian, Two teams draft after the Steelers in the 1st round and before them in the 2nd (GB and ARZ). Do you think  swapping draft slots in the 1st and the 2nd and maybe adding a 5th would be worth considering?
Brian Batko
2:37
Sure, you could talk me into a little more quantity than quality in this draft, given the perception of it. More deep than top-heavy.
Troy's Hair
2:38
Brian - The Steelers have pretty much shown their cards with needing a center in this draft.  Seems like a situation begging for a trade down from #20 (if they can find a partner), pick up another pick, take a C somewhere around 25-30 and get OT, WR, CB later.  Thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:39
Might go ILB over CB
Connecting…