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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 05.01.23
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, fun weekend as always tracking the draft. I think the Steelers made a lot of moves that we at the P-G had fans/readers/listeners/viewers prepared for, so that's good. Let's get to the chatter, shall we?
Javi
2:01
Hello Bats. I was a little surprised they did not address safety position in draft. Do you think there was even a discussion between Porter Jr or Branch? Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:02
Not really. It was pretty clear from the Steelers' pre-draft activity (visits, pro days, etc.) that they weren't all that interested in most of the safeties in this class, including Brian Branch. Plus, re-signing Damontae Kazee and adding Keanu Neal gave me the vibe that they were fairly set at that spot unless they got great value on someone in the third or fourth round, perhaps even the seventh.
Bill in SF
2:03
Hi, Brian.  Thought the Steelers had a sold draft - only question I have is what they were thinking with the last pick - wouldn't taking a flyer on the best remaining slot corner, ILB, or even receiver at that spot would made more sense?
Brian Batko
2:05
Yes. To your point, when we're nit-picking a seventh-round pick, especially a 7b pick, that probably means the Steelers had a really good weekend. But hey, I'm not above analyzing or critiquing those selections, because draft resources are finite and you only get so many chances to build your team in that way. Not only is Spencer Anderson a prospect who received very little pre-draft buzz, but I don't understand adding yet another O-lineman who projects best to guard and guard-only.
Nate from Fort Wayne
2:07
Brian!!! 360 days till the draft, who are we taking? LOL.
Besides us killing it in the draft. What other AFC North team do you think definitely made their team better?
Brian Batko
2:08
A safety to pair with Minkah Fitzpatrick long-term! I liked what all three AFC North teams did, especially the Browns given their limited resources (no picks until Round 3).
Rocky
2:10
Hello Bats,  how do you think the new TE # 0 will be used now?  The Steelers don't traditionally use two TEs.  Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:12
I think Darnell Washington will make those personnel groupings much more of an option for the 2023 Steelers, provided he shows out well in camp and stays healthy. Zach Gentry is a solid player, but mostly "just a guy" by NFL standards. Washington has the upside to be a lot more than that. Not sure he'll be permitted to wear 0 though. The Steelers have played things conservative with their number availability, for whatever reason.
KC
2:13
BB, how personally should I take it that the pundit class, both of the national and local variety, is falling all over themselves to praise The Khan Man?
Brian Batko
2:15
Well, Kevin, I think Omar Khan did a fantastic job but you should just remind people that you also were aggressive and had some hits in your final years as the Steelers GM. Trading up for Devin Bush (almost universally praised at the time). Trading a first-rounder for Minkah Fitzpatrick, then getting a first-round type of talent in Chase Claypool with your top pick in that draft. And, odds are, none of the 2023 draft choices will turn out better than your 2017 first-rounder, all the way down at No. 30 overall. Or you can just say you taught The Khan Artist everything he knows.
Paul
2:17
Can Benton play DE or will he be mainly a NT for Steelers?
Brian Batko
2:18
I see Keeanu Benton being able to do that, yes, which makes me think his best trait might be his versatility up front. Just given the way the Steelers have been built, I think he'll be most helpful to them as a traditional NT when they go to the 3-4, but if free-agent signing Breiden Fehoko proves to be more ready for that role, Benton can still help elsewhere as a rotational guy.
Scuba Steve
2:19
Change my mind. Kevin Colbert would have done nothing and would have picked Porter Jr. at 17.
Brian Batko
2:22
Again, Colbert didn't "do nothing" in 2019 when everyone knew the Steelers needed to address ILB. He didn't draft Carnell Lake's son (sixth-round pick) last year, nor did he use a seventh on Troy Polamalu's nephew, despite having two of them. As much as we all poke fun at the Steelers' proclivity for keeping things in the family, myself included, it's not always their MO.
Tina
2:23
Hi Brian.  Do you think H-back Derek Watt will be replaced by Connor Heyward since Darnell Washington was drafted in the third round?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:23
I do. And hi.
Stairway to 7th seed
2:23
Do you agree with the selection of Herbig over KJ Henry in the 4th round?  Herbig was very productive, but lacks the physical traits of Henry as an edge OLB.  Obviously the alarms go off when they go for another "story" or bloodlines pick and Herbig is both.
Brian Batko
2:25
Yeah, I'm cool with it. I really enjoyed watching Nick Herbig for the draft, even if I only looked took a closer look at him because of his last name. But what I saw was impressive. Unlike Henry out of Clemson, Herbig has potential to be more of a "fastball" No. 3 outside linebacker behind the two mainstays for the Steelers. And likely has a lot more special teams potential. If he can't hold up on the edge in the NFL, he strikes me as a grinder who wouldn't hesitate to try to change his game and move to off-ball linebacker. Definitely like the pick.
Nick
2:26
What are Steelers doing about acquiring 2 more QBs
Brian Batko
2:28
They've already signed Tanner Morgan (Minnesota) as an undrafted free agent, so that's one. They'll acquire another somehow. Maybe a guy who gets invited to rookie camp Mother's Day Weekend (Duck Hodges was a tryout guy back in '19) although the only name I've seen so far is Hunter Johnson, who lost the starting job at Northwestern in '21 and was third-string last year at Clemson. I'll throw one more name out there, a guy who had a lot of success this season in the XFL: Ben DiNucci. Remember, it's the No. 4 QB for the offseason roster we're talking about here, but possibly QB3 depending on how things shake out.
Paper Lion
2:28
Both the draft and after-the-draft look to have some very able players coming to the Steelers... who do you look at definitely not returning? Any further additions?
Brian Batko
2:31
I'd be surprised if Derek Watt, Mason Rudolph, Chris Wormley or William Jackson return. Tyson Alualu probably just retires. I guess you can never completely close the door on Marcus Allen/Benny Snell because they're special teams specialists. And Myles Jack? Maybe there's a chance, simply because they haven't done much more to address ILB since their two free-agent signings.
The Real Guest
2:32
Brian, Omar comes away with 3 maybe 4 first rd picks and three of them are in positions of need. On top of that Herbig and Trice are not to shabby and he adds a slot corner during the intermission. That is what I call getting the job done right. Go Omar.
Brian Batko
2:34
Agreed. I'd give the draft an A, best I can remember since I joined the beat in 2019, as it should be when you have the No. 32 overall pick as a bonus. But credit the Steelers for maximizing all that capital.
Jay
2:34
Hello Brian.  Not counting how these prospects will turn out, but purely on how they were drafted, when drafted, Khan/Tomlin were pretty much flawless.  They traded up when they needed to, traded down when value was there, didn't reach for need but got great value for each player at the draft position, filled all their glaring needs.
Brian Batko
2:36
They certainly squeezed value out of this draft, or at least what we on the outside perceive as value, in part because of players who fell because of injury concerns. But weighing the risk/reward of those situations is what makes the draft interesting and is why these execs make the big bucks. Need-wise, they didn't have enough picks to truly hit on everything. In the 7th round I might've taken a lottery ticket at ILB/WR but again, really picking nits on that one.
Hillbilly
2:37
Thanks for the chats and predraft coverage Much appreciated. Wow!! I haven’t been this excited about the draft class since we got big Ben. The pressure to win is now on Pickett and Canada. Agree?
Brian Batko
2:39
Much more so on Matt Canada. If he doesn't preside over a unit that takes a great leap forward, I highly doubt he'll be back. But Kenny Pickett is still only in Year 2, and the way this roster has been constructed, it seems tailor-made to NOT put too much pressure on the cube. With a nasty run-blocker in Broderick Jones, a sixth OL in Darnell Washington and a significant draft investment being made in the defense, they're building a nice little cocoon for game-management.
Batdance
2:40
Hey Brian.  Tomlin has struggled to draft for the better part of 7-8 years.  This year's draft looks very promising.  Do you think he actually relinquished a little power to let the new guys bail him out this time around?
Brian Batko
2:42
Ah I don't know. For the most part, it still feels like a lot of previous Steelers drafts. Focus on power five prospects, especially Big Ten guys, and much attention paid to size/athleticism traits on top of that.
Kenny in SD
2:43
A lot of "A" grades out there for the Steelers' draft! Which players or positions groups do you think is feeling the most pressure to perform going into the 2023-24 season? I think there will be even higher expectations from the running backs this year, but I hope the added pressure doesn't consume them.
Brian Batko
2:44
To me, the wide receivers need to take a big step from last year to this year.
Rubin
2:45
Do you see Matt Canada fired midway through the season if the offense ranks in the bottom 20? I can’t see how the Steelers can retain him throughout the year.
Brian Batko
2:46
Geez, Rubin, thanks for the shot of negativity amid all this draft praise. I'll say this much, I'm not sure there's an obvious assistant for a mid-season play-calling replacement, much like last year.
Jeff Lebowski
2:48
1974 aside what other draft class stacks up to this one? I realize it’s early and “football in shorts” season, but it looks like a home run
Brian Batko
2:50
As my guy Gene Collier wrote over the weekend, the Steelers should strive for more touchdowns than home runs https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/gene-collier/2023/04/30/nfl-draft-...
BrooklynAdam
2:50
What do you think caused JPJ to fall to the second round?  Do you think teams saw JPJ as clearly in the second tier of CBS after Witherspoon and Gonzalez, and teams just preferred Banks and Forbes ahead of JPJ in that second tier?
Brian Batko
2:52
Yeah, I think that's fair to say, and that you pretty much answered your own question. One thing about all four is that they have more straight-line speed and more ball production on their resume than Joey Porter Jr.
KS Steeler
2:52
Hi Bats - way to early look for 2024; what positions do you project they target?  My guess, ILB, WR, OL (guard/center), Safety
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