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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 05.03.21
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Brian Batko
12:00
Hi everyone, we've got seven rounds of the draft to discuss and also much more. Steelers declined Terrell Edmunds' fifth-year option today, which means he's entering the last year of his deal. So, what's on your mind?
Daniel11
12:01
To me, the Steelers' draft looked drastically different than many experts' board. Why trade away next year's 4th round pick to draft that Wis DE whereas the Steelers could have gotten him in the 6th round. Same goes for the 6th round S as they could have gotten him in the 7th round. It wasn't even funny when they said this guy is a second coming of Heyward. I thought this was KC's worst draft in recent years. Any thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:02
12:03
To be fair, we never know which players might have had big fans around the league but not in the media. Diontae Johnson seemed like a reach at the top of Round 3 a couple years ago, but then the Steelers said they had intel that he was about to get picked by a couple other teams. Perhaps the same goes for Isaiahh Loudermilk.
Tampa Too
12:04
With the Drafting of a tight end in the second round does that mean Jesse James probably won’t be signed?
Brian Batko
12:06
I'd say it decreases the odds, but that it's still in play. Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader are no sure things to even be contributors as the No. 3 tight ends. And if James doesn't have other interest, then hey, veteran minimum deal to come back to the city you're from and live in and original team that drafted you? Plus he could hang out with fellow Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth.
ErnieHartnerMiami
12:07
I grade draft classes three years AFTER the draft, HOWEVER the TE selection troubles me. Hey Steelers nation, just because  Freiermuth looks like HEEEAATH, does NOT mean they play the game the same way. Freiermuth is NOT a skilled blocker. He has, essentially, the same skill set as Eric Ebron. Can you explain the logic of this pick?
Brian Batko
12:09
They really like Pat Freiermuth as a player - and think he's a better blocker than you do, obviously - but on top of that, clearly aren't comfortable with their TE depth chart. And they shouldn't be. They've basically neglected the position for a few years now, from the starting role to the backups. Two seasons ago that led to trading for Nick Vannett, who didn't impact winning and cost them a fifth-round pick in the equation. Last year they signed Eric Ebron, but then Vance McDonald retired. I understand the logic.
Carl in Carrick
12:12
Hi Brian.  I’ve heard a lot of criticism about David DeCastro.  It’s my understanding that he played hurt last season. I guess his detractors are apparently not aware of his injuries.  Am I wrong about this?  If DeCastro played hurt, I don’t think he should be critizied.
Brian Batko
12:14
We don't really know. Either way, if he played hurt, I don't think that makes him immune to criticism. Kevin Dotson was a starter-capable rookie and Matt Feiler was around too, so it's not as if they didn't have other options if DeCastro had to miss more than a few games. They could've cut him and saved some money to retain Feiler, so he'll have to be better in 2021.
Mike
12:14
What was the explanation for trading up for loudermilk. I don't think they had to give up next years 4th rounder.
Brian Batko
12:17
Part of it was that they really think highly of him, that he's got size you can't teach and will get a chance to learn from Cam Heyward how to play that position. But another part was that Kevin Colbert said the Steelers anticipate getting a fourth-round comp pick next year to make up for it. That, to me, doesn't make a ton of sense as an explanation. Picks are picks, and getting an extra one can help no matter what.
Jud
12:17
Do you think we have 4 starters out of this draft or only 3?
Brian Batko
12:19
Worst case is they only have 1, Najee Harris. If you want to be super optimistic, you could argue they'll have six, if Freiermuth eclipses Ebron, Kendrick Green grabs the center job, Dan Moore wins a tackle spot, Buddy Johnson is better than Vince Williams/Robert Spillane and Quincy Roche supplants Alex Highsmith. My guess? Two.
12:21
And by that, I mean starters this upcoming season.
David
12:21
Hi Brian, Friermuth / Green vs Humphrey / Long. Which pick would be your choice?
Brian Batko
12:22
You're referring to had the Steelers gone Center-Tight End in Rounds 2-3 rather than Tight End-Center. That's a tough one. Really close call, based on my research on those guys pre-draft. I'll go Freiermuth-Green but it's practically a coin flip. And important to note that the Steelers couldn't see the future, meaning that Creed Humphrey would be gone and Hunter Long would not.
Ryan
12:23
good afternoon Brian  liked all the  draft picks and the signing of wade does Jesse James come back even though we drafted Pat go Steelers
Brian Batko
12:24
Hi Ryan. The UDFA class does have some intriguing names, Lamont Wade of Penn State like you mentioned, but also Shakur Brown CB from Michigan State, Mark Gilbert CB from Duke and even Jamar Watson LB from Kentucky. The secondary is unsettled enough that these guys have a chance to make a name for themselves. James Pierre certainly wasn't on my radar when he signed after the draft last year, and look at him, he played meaningful snaps in the playoffs (and is still here).
Greg
12:26
Can't help but wonder why Josh Myers or Creed Humphrey wouldn't have been more "win-now" picks in round 2. Would Coach Batko have chosen Freiermuth?
Brian Batko
12:28
Coach Batko would've flipped a coin. That's why I'm not a coach, I guess. But in all seriousness, for all we know, the Steelers actually liked Green more than those two centers. He's smaller, but I've seen him referred to as a "leverage monster" by draftniks. Are you reading this, Gene Collier?
CoalportKid
12:29
Other than a few years of Willie Parker, has the Steeler's running game ever been good without a first or second round back?
Brian Batko
12:32
No, not really. But you could probably say that about a lot of teams given that the league used to invest a lot more in that position.
Dave
12:34
Brian,  Thanks for all the draft info you have provided us these many months.
Brian Batko
12:34
You're welcome, Dave.
Dave
12:35
Hi Brian,   Thank you for the draft chats and info you have given us these past many months.  I didn’t watch much of the draft because I can’t stand how they drag it out and some of these so-called “experts” are clueless.   When I watched I started with ABC but quickly got tired of at least three guys talking over each other.  EsPN was not much better.  Both networks kept wondering when the Steelers were going to draft a QB.  Thanks again.
Brian Batko
12:35
I wasn't paying too much attention to the talking heads either, to be honest.
fredward
12:36
Overall, I think it's a good sign when ESPN says the Steelers drafted badly. How do you think they addressed their needs?
Brian Batko
12:37
Not too shabby, other than the secondary. Maybe Tre Norwood will be a seventh-round steal, but I thought they should've gone corner or safety early on Day 3. That was curious, and makes me wonder if they have something up their sleeve as far as free agents go.
jay
12:39
Hello Batsy.  Harris,  Green, and Moore picks seem to signal a change in blocking and running scheme.  Are we seeing more I formation or single back? Perhaps more play action?  I can't envision Ben fully on board.
Brian Batko
12:41
I don't know if I'd say that. They certainly need to do something different. But James Conner and Benny Snell likely would've produced better in those schemes too, and that didn't make the Steelers change. Green is considered more of a fit for a zone-blocking scheme, for sure.
Nathan
12:42
Hey Brian, why did they decline Edmunds’ 5th year option?  I personally think they kept him too long but, just like Tomlin’s extension, this seems like very bad timing.  Thought?
Brian Batko
12:44
Bit of a surprise to me. I was stumped by his selection at the time, but thought he did improve last season. Maybe the Steelers themselves are thinking they reached for him in the first round and are ready to cut their losses, so to speak. Here's what I don't really understand, though. They had to know they were going to decline his option. And yet they still didn't feel the need to draft a true safety Saturday?
Bill in SF
12:45
We never know what the Steelers intelligence is telling them as the draft proceeds.  For example, I couldn't believe they took a punter in the 7th when Shakur Brown was still available, but they ended up signing Brown as an UFA right after the draft ended.  Anyways do you agree that the fact that they went the way they did in the first 3 rounds mean they have confidence that Chuks is already an upgrade from Al at LT?
Brian Batko
12:47
Yeah, pretty much. And that's what I expected, that they're at least reasonably comfortable with Okorafor. Kind of splitting the difference between spending a ton of draft capital at tackle and not addressing it at all with a pick like Dan Moore, who isn't much of a project and could feasibly challenge Okorafor in Year 1. I thought there were some higher-upside tackles on the board at that time, but Moore could be a safer pick.
epiballo
12:49
It seems to me that the jury should still be out on Dwayne Haskins. He was drafted in the first round, so he had to show something in college. What is his upside, and will the Steelers be able to give him the opportunity to show it?
Brian Batko
12:52
Kinda seems like the verdict is in for most of the league, given that he cleared waivers and didn't seem to have a ton of suitors when the Steelers signed him. What's his upside now? I really don't know. You'd like to believe he can still develop into an NFL starter with his size and arm talent.
The Eman
12:54
The national media loves the sixth round selection of Quincy Roche. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:55
I love it too. Yeah, he was a DE in college, but it's not a total conversion for him to the Steelers system. Miami used him as a stand-up rusher fairly often. At 6-3, 245, he's basically the same dimensions as Alex Highsmith, with whom he'll be competing for snaps on the edge. Really like his traits and his story, with a ton of production at Temple before transferring to a bigger stage. Also thought that was a pretty good range for the Steelers to look for edge help, and a nice prospect fell to them there.
gosteelers38
12:56
I think we have 4 potential starters out of this draft if you count the punter. What is your opinion ?
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