You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.05.21
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Brian Batko
1:59
A candidate for the nicest day of the year so far in Pittsburgh. But perhaps where you're joining from it's cold and frigid. The Steelers chat train rarely stops. All aboard!
NC Steel
2:00
Hi Brian, Seems to me the Steelers FO made a miscalculation in thinking that this team with Ben next season can make a run at the SB. They simply cannot keep up with the elite 4 or 5 teams, especially after their losses in free agency. They should have cut Ben and spent the savings on acquiring more pieces for the offense and defense. And go with either MR or possibly another QB they could have acquired in a trade, such as Sam Darnold. Then next year if Darnold doesn't look like a franchise guy, draft a QB. Do you think this plan I've outlined makes more sense than the path the team has gone down? Thank you!
Brian Batko
2:02
Yes, that's essentially what I thought they should've done. But there are a lot of dynamics at play with a sea change like that. Does the organization feel it owes it to Ben Roethlisberger to let him go out on his own terms? Does he deserve that? Do his teammates want one more year, and do the fans want one more year of 7? It's going to be a seismic shift when it does happen, and clearly multiple parties weren't ready for it yet.
Eric in TN
2:03
Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, Teven Jenkins, and Z. Collins are on the board at 24. Who do you pick?
Brian Batko
2:04
I expect we'll have a lot of questions like this between now and April 29. And I'll simply take them as they come. For me, I'm going Travis Etienne because I think he's the best player. We've gotten to a point where just about every position can be argued against. Running backs aren't worth first-round picks? OK, but the same can be said of interior linemen. OT? If this is as strong a class of tackles as the experts say, then you can wait and still get a good one.
2:05
Oh, and I also think Robert Spillane was good enough last year that you don't need to jump at an inside linebacker, at least not in Round 1.
Jeff
2:06
Thanks for the chats B.  Are we relying pretty heavily on the draft to fill some big holes?  I get one hole but 3-4?  4th rounders rarely start unless WR.  Hoping another Haden deal falls on our lap before this is all over.
Brian Batko
2:08
No, I don't think the roster is in that bad of shape. Much like last year, you can point to a name at just about every position who's "next in line" if a draft pick doesn't come there. The Steelers do a nice job of finding insurance policies for their weak spots, such as Stefen Wisniewski last year/BJ Finney this year. Beyond center, most of the holes you speak of are depth-related. Not to say that's not important, but for the most part, the only starting jobs clearly open are running back, center and, I'd argue, slot corner is effectively a starting role.
2:09
And even then, Benny Snell and BJ Finney/JC Hassenauer do have starting experience in the NFL.
Sunner in Orlando
2:09
What are the chances off the Steelers first 2 picks looking like the ESPN mock from Mcshay?
Brian Batko
2:11
Todd McShay's latest mock draft is probably the best I've seen for the Steelers on the national level. He has them going Najee Harris in the first, Landon Dickerson in the second. Roll Tide, right?

I agree with McShay that the Steelers are going to try to address clear, immediate needs to help out Ben as much as possible. Here's his full two-round mock if you have ESPN Insider and want to check it out: https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/insider/story/_/id/31165378/nfl-moc...
Sunner in Orlando
2:12
Do you think Harris will last to the 24th pick for the Steelers? If not who else needs a running back in front of them?
Brian Batko
2:14
The New York Football Jets do, Sunner. Just to go back and refer to McShay's mock again, he has NYJ taking Clemson's Travis Etienne one pick before the Steelers. I think Etienne and Harris are good enough all-around players that plenty of teams could talk themselves into adding them on offense, whether or not they have a gaping need at RB, and I don't think any team's RB situation is as weak as the Steelers. Even the Jets just signed Tevin Coleman.
2:16
So while teams like the Dolphins and Cardinals could also use a ball-carrier, I do think they'll have other needs as well, and that Harris or Etienne will be there at 24.
Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin
2:16
Bills might jump to take a RB
Brian Batko
2:17
Yeah, you never know with trades, but I'd be surprised if a team gives up resources to move up and pick a running back. Especially Buffalo. Adding a top RB to a depth chart with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss would be more of a luxury than anything.
Bil
2:17
Did we do enough with Free Agency to select best player available in draft?
Brian Batko
2:19
I think that's definitely part of the strategy for the Steelers, not just this offseason but every year in free agency. Although the signings of the past few weeks aren't exactly gonna move the meter much or make you move off of your pre-draft priorities. Joe Haeg? Kalen Ballage? Rashaad Coward? Nice veterans to have around, but I wouldn't let any of them stop me from drafting an OL or RB I think can be a 10-year stater for me.
And no, Bil, I wouldn't be able to justify taking an edge-rusher or DL or S or WR in the first round. Even if it's the "best player available" you're pretty set at those positions.
ALB
2:20
Why is it that so many people think that Colbert and Tomlin suddenly don’t know what they’re doing in personnel moves?
Brian Batko
2:21
That's not what anyone's saying. It's just that this whole "building an NFL roster" and "drafting college prospects" thing is an inexact science. We know that. If it were easy, no one would ever whiff on draft picks or sign Donte Moncrief. So, with that said, yeah, you and I and other fans and other reporters are more than welcome to disagree with the moves the Steelers are making. Or agree. That's the beauty of it.
2:22
Well, I guess I shouldn't say that NO ONE is saying stupid things like that. But I don't put a lot of stock into it if you think Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert "don't know what they're doing," because, come on.
Guest
2:23
If Steelers add a QB in this draft I think Jaime Newman would be the 1. He has definite upside. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:25
I suppose if you factor in likelihood of actually adding a QB, then yeah, that basically disqualifies any of the Big Five. However, I don't usually see Newman being listed in that next tier of passers. Texas A&M's Kellen Mond and Stanford's Davis Mills come up more often, although their stock might be improving enough that they get pushed into the middle rounds, and I can't see the Steelers doing that either. Newman is interesting, though, I'll give you that.
GM
2:26
Hi BB, based off what was going on early in FA I thought there was a fire in Pitt by the amount of people leaving.  Have you gotten a sense that this team's culture or identity's changed now?  Are we no longer a premiere destination?
Brian Batko
2:27
No, I don't get the sense that has anything to do with it. Bud Dupree left because he's getting paid like a No. 1 pass-rusher, and in Pittsburgh, he wouldn't be the No. 1 pass-rusher. Mike Hilton and Matt Feiler also left for more than the Steelers wanted to pay them, clearly. If anything, we've heard of a couple players who turned down more or equal to stay, in JuJu and Tyson Alualu. It was also the team's choice to jettison Steve Nelson and Vince Williams, right or wrong, due to a combination of salary cap and performance.
jay
2:28
Hello Bats.  I think strategic wise it's better to trade out of round 1 and get multiple 2nd and 3rd round picks to address more needs.  RB at round 1 is just bad business, and lack of excellent option at center at 24.  I think many great choices in round 2 and 3 or even 4 to get help
Brian Batko
2:31
And the "Bats" calls have begun. Now that, Jay, is worth considering, in my opinion: A trade down. If you can get, say, a late first and an additional pick for 24? Or even two seconds for it? That'd be interesting to me. Now, if you're in love with Najee Harris and/or Travis Etienne, then all bets are off. Just take him. But if you're the Steelers and you're getting intel that both might fall a bit, then I say look into it.
lamberto55
2:32
why is it so hard to find a true nose tackle and plug him in on obvious running downs,
Brian Batko
2:33
For one, colleges aren't producing those guys as much anymore. When more offenses are going spread, more defenses need more speed and less of your Casey Hampton types. But you can still find them, and the Steelers had one for six years in Dan McCullers. It's just that there aren't too many obvious running downs these days. Hence, why the Steelers loved Javon Hargrave: he could play the run, and he could get upfield and rush the passer from that spot.
Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin
2:35
Hi Brian, Good Afternoon... Read your 5th Year Option Piece...The only logical reason I can surmise that the Steelers took Edmunds, a projected 3rd Rd. or later player, in the 2018 draft's 1st rd. is that they wanted the 5th year option affored teams on 1st round players, knowing he needed time. To date, e has never shown 1st round talent, imo.
Brian Batko
2:36
Good afternoon, PDN2bB. I don't think I see your logic on that one. Not saying I agreed with the Edmunds pick at the time, or even that I do now, but it's not as if only safeties carry the fifth-year option for first-rounders. And he wasn't a project or anything. He came in and started right away, whether they wanted him to or not.
Carl in Carrick
2:39
Hey Brian, any news on Jesse James or Vince Williams?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:41
Nope. Although I did see in the paper Sunday that Jesse James bought a house in the Pittsburgh suburbs somewhat recently. Hmmm...
Livin' in Merry Land
2:41
It appeared JC Hassenauer actually may have been more effective at times last year than Maurkice Pouncey, is it there a remote possibility he could start over BJ Finney if a starter isn't drafted or free agent acquired?
Brian Batko
2:42
Oh yeah, I think if the Steelers go into the season with Finney/Hassenauer as the top two options at C, then it's a legitimate position battle in camp. Wouldn't feel great about it, but hey, maybe the Steelers like one or both of those guys more than the rest of the world.
Denver Pirate
2:43
Brian, when pitchers recover for Tommy John surgery they are usually stronger the second season after, any word that Ben’s surgery could be similar?
Brian Batko
2:45
Yes, I think both Kevin Colbert and Ben's surgeon have said that at some point. Even Ben talked last year about how his arm started feeling more like its old self as the season progressed. Although I wouldn't say HE got better from Week 1 to Week 18. Maybe the opposite, actually.
Erk the jerk
2:45
They gotta have some kind of hidden agenda or something to have finally build up a top 5 if not higher defense only to let almost half defect or cut. Makes no sense. They could of kept some if they wanted to. Which leads me to believe. They have a plan
Brian Batko
2:47
We've already learned they did indeed have a plan at outside corner, where they cut Steve Nelson and will now start Cam Sutton (rather than retaining him to man the slot position). As for the rest of the departures on defense, I think most can be chalked up to finances. That, and a commitment to keeping the core intact even if it comes at the expense of solid complementary pieces. Perhaps the Steelers brass believes that as long as Watt, Heyward, Tuitt, Bush, Fitzpatrick and Haden are in the fold, they can find the ancillary guys. We'll see if that's true.
Connecting…