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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.27.20
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Brian Batko
12:00
Happy Monday, folks. The NFL draft is over, which is one fewer thing to look forward to but now one more thing to talk about. How do you think the Steelers made out?
12:01
Official Steelers draft rating from Brian Batko's chatters
10/10 (2.4% | 3 votes)
 
9 (0% | 0 votes)
 
8 (18.4% | 23 votes)
 
7 (36.8% | 46 votes)
 
6 (22.4% | 28 votes)
 
5 (12.8% | 16 votes)
 
4 (3.2% | 4 votes)
 
3 (3.2% | 4 votes)
 
2 (0% | 0 votes)
 
1 (0.8% | 1 vote)
 
Total Votes: 125
12:02
And yes, I intentionally avoided having you all "grade" the draft. What's wrong with a good ol' rating every once in a while??
pdxJaxon
12:02
Good morning BB. We passed on Cam Akers in the 2nd and Grabbed McFarland in the 4th.  He seems like a change of pace guy similar to what we already have.....any thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:03
Didn't love the pick. I could've understood using No. 49 on someone like Jonathan Taylor, but failing that, I would've been just fine steering clear of using any draft capital on a new RB. Not saying Anthony McFarland and Kerrith Whyte are the same player, but to me, they're fairly similar. Similar enough to do what I think the Steelers will want to use McFarland for, anyway.
Gene
12:03
How many RB will be on the 2020 team?
Brian Batko
12:05
Good question, Gene! This is now such a crowded position. Last year they carried anywhere from 4-6. Only three halfbacks made it out of camp (James Conner, Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels) and one fullback. But then throughout the year due to injuries, you saw the likes of Trey Edmunds and Kerrith Whyte on the 53. At this point, I'll say 4, plus fullback Derek Watt. And with a fourth-round pick used on McFarland, hard to see a roster spot for Whyte or Edmunds.
AK
12:06
Was Reagor the Steelers first choice for WRs?
Brian Batko
12:07
We'll probably never know. But based on the type of receiver they drafted, a bigger-bodied guy in Claypool, I'm guessing no. Otherwise, they could've reached for someone like Devin Duvernay or Lynn Bowden at 49, or tried to trade back.
seferg
12:08
I look at this draft as a "we'll see how they produce" draft.  Was very surprised they passed on Dobbins.  Given how the draft broke down, what changes would you have made had you been drafting? (looking at who was available at the time)
Brian Batko
12:10
Aren't they all, seferg? At the top, I might've gone Denzel Mims over Claypool, but pretty much a coin flip. In the third, I probably would've addressed ILB over edge, but I like Alex Highsmith just fine and that's gonna become a theme in my answer here. Because at 124, I definitely take an inside linebacker over a running back. Basically, I just think they should've done more to shore up that position than just taking a potential hybrid safety type.
JerseySteel
12:11
Hi Brian - what ILB's are on the roster besides Vince Williams, Devin Bush, and Ulysees Gilbert?
Brian Batko
12:13
Robert Spillane, a special teams demon. And, uh, that's it, JerseySteel. They didn't even sign one from the XFL. But they did add John Houston from USC and Leo Lewis from Mississippi State as  undrafted free agents, both of whom were productive backers in college.
I Ride
12:14
Hey, great chats,you're far from a homer! Will Our Beloved Steelers bring in a FA Safety and ILB, seems to me they are still positions of need.
Brian Batko
12:15
Thanks, friend. Yeah, those are the two biggest needs I see, as well. You might see quite a few more free-agent moves around the league now because after 4 pm today, any signings won't hurt teams in the compensatory draft pick formula. I do think the Steelers could use another experienced option at linebacker. What happens if Vince Williams gets hurt, let alone Devin Bush?
Titan in Charlotte
12:16
Brian (and Ray) great coverage on draft day(s), do you know of any reasons why the Steelers didn’t pick up undrafted FA Thaddeus Moss?
Brian Batko
12:18
Appreciate that, my Shaler brethren. But probably the same reason as he didn't get drafted, just not a lot of teams in love with his skill set at that size. Plus they're fairly well stocked at TE, with Vance McDonald, Eric Ebron and then Zach Gentry competing with practice squadders Kevin Rader/Christian Scotland-Williamson for the No. 3 spot. And even that might become more expendable if Derek Watt and/or Chase Claypool can do some TE things.
JerManDu
12:18
What do you think the plan is for the middle of the DL.  Lots of Ends, no NG of any note.  My prediction is Tuitt moves to the middle.  Ever meet him in person?  He is gigantic, and moving to the middle might preserve his health and help the Stillers.
Brian Batko
12:20
I have met Stephon Tuitt in-person, in interviews on the South Side while working my beat, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even saw him at First Watch once while having breakfast. He's a large man. I didn't think nose tackle was a huge need going into this draft, and the Steelers seemingly agreed with me by waiting until the 7th round to take a DL. They aren't gonna play much base defense anyway, and when they do, sure, you could put him in the middle and Chris Wormley at end if those are your three best. But don't forget about Tyson Alualu either.
Babe Parelli
12:21
Will the Steelers coaches finally use the FB position? Idk who was more over looked Nix or McCullers.  What do you have to loose?
Brian Batko
12:23
Oh yeah, paying Derek Watt more than $3 million a year tells me they're definitely going to use him more than Rosie Nix. Sure, part of that salary is for Watt's special team ability too, but they'll get him involved as a blocker. I think he might even be a better one than Nix, but we'll see.
steelmann58
12:24
hey Brian do you think the steelers can look at veteran safety now that they don't apply to the compensation formula
Brian Batko
12:25
Sure. If I were them, I'd be a little worried about bringing in another safety who can cover. Jordan Dangerfield, Marcus Allen and now Antoine Brooks are solid backups for playing strong safety, and even the XFL guy they brought in is thought to be more of a banger. If Minkah Fitzpatrick goes down, not sure who you're putting deep. Kam Kelly ain't walking through that door.
Guest
12:26
Hi Brian. What player drafted are you most excited a about? I know the popular choice will be Claypool but to me it's Dotson- really needed that infusion of old school nasty run blocking.
Brian Batko
12:27
Certainly have to go with Chase Claypool as the most "exciting," the one who will be most fun to watch develop, but I do love the Kevin Dotson pick. Seems like a very high-floor player at a position where the Steelers have either neglected or just not been very good at drafting in the middle rounds recently.
JohnnyD
12:27
Any chance they bring Barron back?
Brian Batko
12:28
Doesn't sound like it, but you never say never. He'd still be an upgrade in terms of experience at that spot.
TX Steeler
12:29
Maybe it's because we didn't have that big name, exciting first rounder to gush over, but why am I most excited about drafting a guard in the 4th? Rest of the draft.... meh!
Brian Batko
12:30
Because he's the man! Kevin Dotson was by far the most engaging prospect we spoke with on Day 4, a guy the diehard Steelers fans will really like. Small school rep makes him easy to root for to begin with, and then he happens to be a fun quote, too. It's not hard at all to see why Kevin Colbert was completely comfortable with drafting him just off of game tape, a homemade workout video and FaceTime interviews.
Scott
12:31
Solid move to draft Claypool. Big, fast athletic vertical threat, just what the receiving corps needed. Glad he was available there. Plus all the good RB's were taken and Dobbins doesn't really give you much more than what we already have at RB. Your thoughts on the value of the Claypool pick compared to other options at 49?
Brian Batko
12:32
Yeah I thought it was great value. Was a bit surprised that WRs started flying off the board the way they did. Thought more teams would figure the class was so deep that they could get a bargain on a wideout later, but then I think the Bengals and Colts opening Round 2 with back-to-back WR picks probably changed the flow.
Paul
12:33
Brian I thought you asked Mr Tomlin & Colbert a great question at the post draft conference call regarding Chuks. Mike responded with a resounding "yes"
Brian Batko
12:34
Check is in the mail, Paul. I should've phrased it better to not give Tomlin an alley for the one-word answer, but Colbert swooped in and saved the day a bit. Gotta be better now that I'm no longer a rookie.
This Guy
12:34
Good draft but I was hoping they would find a long snapper who could also start at quarterback eventually in the 7th.  But you don't always get what you want.  Who did you want that the Steelers didn't pull the trigger on?
Brian Batko
12:36
Great point, they missed the mark there. I think there were a few candidates. As far as WHO I thought they should've taken, I'll say Akeem Davis-Gaither, linebacker from Appalachian State. Was just surprised to see him still around when the Steelers made their comp pick, and would've been good value (based on projections) at a position of need.
Alan F
12:37
Please clear up rumor mill making the rounds yesterday: did Pittsburgh offer (higher incentive) contract to Winston before he selected New Orleans?
Brian Batko
12:38
I did see that on Twitter. Don't know if it's accurate or not, but keep in mind, like the JuJu-49ers rumor from last week that somehow caught fire, this didn't come from an Adam Schefter type or even established NFL beat reporter. I'm taking it with a very large grain of salt, put it that way.
Jakester
12:39
Thanks for all of you draft coverage Brian.  Appreciate all of the hard work.  Looks like the Steelers are going to roll w Conner - how do you project the RB depth chart, and what happens if he gets injured (again)?
Brian Batko
12:41
No problem, Jakester. They are going to roll with Conner, yes, but clearly putting at least a little bit of pressure on him with the McFarland pick. For what it's worth, Benny Snell was drafted exactly two spots ahead of McFarland the year before, so almost identical draft resources spent on each guy. At this point, I think Snell is the backup and would be the guy if Conner gets hurt, but I do think McFarland will get plenty of chances to prove his worth.
JohnnyD
12:42
Where does Cam Newton end up?
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