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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.10.23
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Brian Batko
2:00
Ooook folks, only a couple more weeks now ... until it's NFL draft week. What's on your mind?
G Money
2:01
Brian!  What's the ideal draft order for the Steelers first four selections?  My personal opinion is OT, DT, MLB, CB (followed by WR).  And no trade ups, but certainly a trade down for an additional 2nd or early 3rd.
Brian Batko
2:02
Ray Fittipaldo and I just joined forces for a podcast/YouTube mock draft that you can check out now: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2023/04/10/nfl-mock-draft...

I'll tell you this much, we didn't stray too far from your order there.
TV
2:02
With the free agent offensive lineman brought in, who do you see as the starting five when the season starts?
Brian Batko
2:03
Rookie at LT (gasp!), Isaac Seumalo at LG, Mason Cole at C, James Daniels at RG, Chuks Okorafor at RT
Bedford
2:04
Is it unreasonable to think at least the first 3 Steelers Draft picks should (and better) be plug-and-play type selections?  Meaning, we should not be drafting players that need a year or two of development with those selections.
Brian Batko
2:05
Not unreasonable, because I like the depth of this draft, but the Steelers' FA signings have made it much harder for any draft picks to get on the field immediately. Best chances are probably at LT, ILB and CB.
NC Steeler Fan
2:07
I don’t feel like it’s necessary to try and move up in the draft this year, seems if no players are that intriguing at 17 when it’s our pick try and accumulate picks.  Is that how you see it?
Brian Batko
2:08
Eh, there are going to be intriguing players at 17, no doubt. And I think it's always worth remembering that just because you want to move down doesn't mean other teams want to give up resources to move up. Usually you see that for a QB at the top of the draft. Steelers aren't likely to have a bunch of teams calling for No. 17, assuming the top passers go much earlier.
Javi
2:09
Hello Bats. Has Tomlin done enough as of today to go down as 2nd best coach in Steeler history? In your opinion has he underachieved or overachieved in his tenure with Steelers?
Brian Batko
2:11
No. He has done enough to make a case, but not so much to make it a slam dunk over Bill Cowher. Can I say he has properly achieved? Always tough to knock a resume with a Super Bowl on it. Those are hard to win.
Jacque Strap
2:12
Your backwards hat...is this a) a necessity to keep your face clear when on video b) a Kenny Pickett inspiration c) both d) other???
Brian Batko
2:12
Trying to connect with the youths of YouTube.
Joseph
2:13
Hey, thanks for the chats! Who has been your favorite interviewee? Coach, player, team executive?
Brian Batko
2:15
When he's in a good mood, there aren't many players more engaging than Najee Harris. James Daniels was a nice addition last season as far as interviewees. Nick Sirianni was great last year from a coach perspective.
JDY1984
2:17
Hi Brian two questions 1 do you think Kenny Pickett has secured the job the starter or do you think Mitch Trubisky can make a splash in pre season and do you think we will be able to draft Jordan Addison?
Brian Batko
2:17
1. Yes. 2. Yes.
JPinIndy
2:19
Happy Monday Bats! We're inside of three weeks to the draft now. Would it surprise you to see one more free agent added before April 27? Will 48 be back in Black and Gold?
Brian Batko
2:19
Quincy Roche is already back!
Ken in the Intermountain West
2:20
As a fan who travels for games from 2 time zones away, this Thursday flex thing seems really fan-hating.  Would they really pull the trigger on this horrible idea?
Brian Batko
2:21
Probably, because it seems like kind of a vicious cycle at this point. NFL makes it harder/more expensive to attend games > fewer people attend games > NFL puts more emphasis on TV product > fewer people attend games > more and more emphasis on TV product ... if that makes sense
Jermandu
2:23
The Stillers are in need of a 3rd QB.  Given the lack of day three picks, that leaves the UFA pool, which should make the Stillers more attractive to prospects and other teams given only 2 on the roster.  Who are some names that are potential UFA QBs this year?
Brian Batko
2:25
Same as the names that are 7th-round prospects, I guess. Louisville's Malik Cunningham, TCU's Max Duggan, Georgia's Stetson Bennett, Penn State's Sean Clifford, Kansas State's Adrian Martinez.
AZ Steeler
2:25
Should I watch The Last of Us?
Brian Batko
2:27
Haven't seen it, but it's on my to-do list, which is getting pretty long given the rigors of two-kid life. But my wife and I just finished the first season of The Bear, which was really good.
Bill
2:27
What were the specific deficiencies in Chase Claypool’s game that made the Steelers to want to trade him? And what did Chicago like about him?
Brian Batko
2:29
I just don't think he took the strides they were looking for from him. He always had the physical attributes coming out of Notre Dame but there were concerns about his actual ability and finer points needed to play the position. The athleticism won out a lot in his rookie year and even his second season had some flashes, but it felt like there was a plateau of sorts there.
Les
2:31
Hi Brian, is anyone else but me getting burnt out with all the mock drafts? Enough already haha
Brian Batko
2:31
Let's just say I'm eagerly answering the non-draft questions today.
Texan Steeler
2:33
Hi Brian, Do you think the Steelers will move Chucks to LT and draft someone like Wright or Jones to play RT? I know the Steelers are saying Moore will continue to improve, but cannot have someone committed 10 penalties and gave up 7 sacks as your LT.
Brian Batko
2:35
No, I don't foresee that. Never say never, but it sure seems that the ship has sailed on Okorafor playing LT. He's comfortable at right and the Steelers obviously are comfortable with him at right when you look at the three-year $29 million deal they gave him.
The Joe
2:36
Have you had the chance to speak with any of the new coaches? If so, any impressions?
Brian Batko
2:37
Not yet. Perhaps we'll hear from Aaron Curry if they draft an inside linebacker.
The real guest
2:38
Brian, Is it fair to assume the Steelers made Bud an offer and he is not crazy about it? Given that Bud earned his paycheck only once in his career, I don't blame the Steelers.
Brian Batko
2:40
I would assume they eventually broached that subject after going through the medical portion of his visit. But yeah, generally speaking when an NFL free agent visit happens and a player doesn't leave with a deal, it's much less likely to happen.
STEEL72
2:42
Bats, looking back at the misses on Artie Burns and Justin Layne.... do you feel that the CB names in this year's draft are at a different level than those two-- in both talent level and probability of becoming NFL starters?
Brian Batko
2:45
Well, one of those guys was a first-rounder and the other was a third-rounder, so that's a fairly sizable gap in draft value between them. But, yes, for the most part I'd say this draft class has more cornerbacks who are ready to play rather than being balls of clay. Easy to say now, but I feel like Burns and Layne were more good athletes than good football players when the Steelers picked them. As I continue to study this year's group of corners, just about all of them seem to be good football players.
We Play Defense Here
2:46
Was Olsavsky out regardless of the Aaron Curry hire?  How high are you on Curry?  Seems like a good fit.
Brian Batko
2:48
That's the sense I get, yeah. I'm not gonna pretend to know how Aaron Curry is when it comes to shaping pro football players, but if nothing else, he's a younger guy who should be plenty hungry and bringing a lot of energy to his first NFL position coach job. This will be a big step for him to start climbing the ladder.
Hillbilly
2:48
Love the chats. Thanks. Last year we were very conservative with our offensive play calling. Was this directed by Tomlin since we had a rookie qb?  Do you think that with Pickett having a little bit more experience that Canada is willing/able to open things up this year?
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