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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 06.13.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by my last Steelers chat before I'm on vacation for two weeks (then off for the Fourth). Fire away!
BTOWN Panther
2:01
With OTAs done and dusted, there are a lot of reports from the media elite that there simply isn't much to glean about the QB battle. But surely you're able to give us some breakdown about which QB looked best in shorts. Best calf muscle tone? Any unsightly blemishes? Who wears short shorts? Please feel free to be as superficial as possible.
Brian Batko
2:01
Tell ya what BTOWN, I couldn't help but notice one day while they were standing there doing individual drills: Kenny Pickett is slightly taller than Mitch Trubisky. And Mason Rudolph? Mason Rudolph is taller than both.
The Real Mason Rudolph
2:02
When do you think the Steelers will trade me to another team? I still think I should be given a shot to be the starter, but Mike doesn't like me.
Brian Batko
2:03
Sometime between now and September is my guess.
Jeff
2:03
Thanks for the chats B.  Rough criticism from Hoge on Bush.  I hate to admit it but part of me thinks he is right, healthy acl or not.  He played scared last year, or at least extremely tentative.  Why do we think that will change?
Brian Batko
2:04
Just more time to recover, I guess, but yeah Merril Hoge didn't leave much wiggle room for interpretation there. I tend to agree just based on what I observed myself last year, and I don't know nearly as much about football as Hoge.
Murph
2:04
Hi Brian, do you see a scenario where James Daniels might slide over to left guard and Dotson or Green starts at right guard?  I believe Dotson played on the right side in college and may be more comfortable there.
Brian Batko
2:05
No, I think he's pretty locked in at RG. I get what you're saying, but Kevin Dotson has been working the other side, so I imagine he's getting more comfortable there by this point.
Jim
2:05
So if the plan is for Trubisky to be #1 and Rudolph #2, why did we take Pickett in round 1? Why not take someone who will help the team now and try for a QB in a better QB class next year? Makes no sense, if you take him in rd 1, then start him and take your lumps.
Brian Batko
2:07
I don't think that's the long-term plan, Jim. The plan for OTAs and minicamp was for Rudolph to be No. 2, and he was. There have been plenty of QBs who started from Day 1 and "took their lumps" and it wasn't great for their overall trajectory, so I'm not convinced that's what the Steelers want to do with Kenny Pickett.
Kurt Rambis
2:07
So what do you personally think is the biggest mistake (of commission or omission) the Steelers have made so far this offseason?  (Aside from their failure to name you GM, of course.)
Brian Batko
2:08
The Chuks Okorafor contract still strikes me as odd, and I figured they would do more to address the tackle position rather than run back the 2021 duo.
Joe Momma
2:09
Is the third time a charm for Tuzar Skipper this year? What are his chances of making the 53 man roster this year?
Brian Batko
2:10
I'll go with 28%. Still not going to project him on the roster, but didn't hear much from Genard Avery in OTAs/minicamp, so I'm slightly less bullish on the OLB position than I was a month ago.
CanadianSteelersFan
2:11
I am excited to see what the Offense can look like with a mobile QB. Play Action, Bootlegs, QB Draws, Designed QB Runs, and of course the Scramble. How significant of an impact will having a QB with mobility actually be to this Offense? Both Mitch and Kenny can make throws on the move.
Brian Batko
2:13
That's gotta be this team's identity on offense. Built around Najee Harris, but lots of misdirection, pre-snap motion, etc. to keep defenses honest when it comes to scheming guys open in the passing game. I do think Ben Roethlisberger's lack of mobility really hurt them last year, so having someone who can move around a little back there should be significant, but it won't matter as much if they can't put some throws on the money.
Guest
2:13
Brian, The Steelers roster lists K Green as 6' 4" and 315 pounds. What do you think the true number are?
Brian Batko
2:13
He was 6-1 and 7/8 at the combine, 305 pounds. So the weight's probably close, but the height is inflated.
Chris M
2:14
Brian, thanks for the chats. How would you evaluate JuJu's Steelers career? Was he underrated? Overrated? Properly rated? How much do you think his biggest seasons were influenced by Antonio Brown's presence?
Brian Batko
2:16
Hello, Chris M. I'd lean toward properly rated. Those who think he's underrated tend to forget how he didn't really rise to the occasion as a No. 1 receiver. Those who think he's overrated tend to forget all the huge plays he made his first two years and how he made Vontaze Burfict touch earth. Those first two seasons certainly were boosted by AB drawing so much coverage and a better Ben, but the guy played his tail off when he was out there and was (mostly) a good guy off the field.
Guest
2:16
Hey Brian.  In regards to Bush, I couldn't agree more with Hoge.  It's time to cut bait.  He isn't close to being a NFL player.  Why can't the organization see this?  Are they just too proud to admit they made a mistake?  I keep hearing the knee injury excuse.  Most players recover in 9-12 months.  He's young....should we believe he is still not recovered 20 months later?
Brian Batko
2:17
The organization does see this, to some extent, considering they declined his fifth-year option. They're going to continue saying nice things about him publicly, because that's what coaches and teammates do, but the actual division of labor come training camp and regular season will tell the true tale.
Bedford
2:17
What happens if Trubisky balls out, and literally is one of the top QB's this season?  I know that is a good problem to have, but what do the Steelers do in this situation?  Say they keep him around next season, and he matches that production again--do you shop him, keep him, or turnover the reigns to Pickett no matter what?
Brian Batko
2:18
Hard to say, Bedford. If you're talking about a guy who puts forth a top-five QB level of play for two seasons in a row, you don't bail on that. You probably have to trade Pickett. And if Trubisky is really playing that well, you wouldn't even care, right? This is a weird universe to imagine.
Jud
2:19
Realizing football in shorts makes everyone giddy, how do you temper your predictions so that naysayers don't call you out mid-season...
Brian Batko
2:20
My expectations didn't change over the last few weeks. I'm sticking to my 8-8-1 prediction. And I don't care about people calling me out, midseason or at any point. This job lends itself to making so many predictions and evaluations that I can live with being right or wrong. No big deal.
Boiler G Dog
2:21
Brian: Do the Steelers get any pressure from the NFL to put field turf in Heinz Field? There’s a possibility of 20 games there between Pitt and the Steelers. That’s a lot of wear and tear, not to mention big rain storms on game day. Love your chats! Thank you.
Brian Batko
2:22
Not that I know of. But they do re-sod occasionally during the season if they're worried it took too much of a beating.
epiballo
2:22
Explain to me how a successful punter in college struggles in the NFL? The process is the same: the ball is hiked and he kicks it. What am I missing?
Brian Batko
2:24
There's more to assess than you think when looking at punters. Factors like hang time, how much they roll out to punt in their college systems, things of that nature. Danny Smith can explain it better than I can, that's for sure, but just know that it's not QUITE as simple as you would think.
Tom
2:25
Have $10 to burn (was $100 but put 2 gallons of gas in the car this am). Are the Steelers a good bet to win the Super Bowl or what?
Brian Batko
2:26
Sure. Last time I checked, their odds were pretty long. I don't think they're going to win the Super Bowl or even make the playoffs but there's some upside there in the Trubisky/Pickett/elite defense potential.
Jerry
2:26
I really think the Steelers will win the North! Am I crazy?
Brian Batko
2:28
No, you're just optimistic. I wouldn't make that bet, but the Browns could be a disaster if all this Deshuan Watson stuff comes crashing down. The Bengals were really good last year, but it was one year. And the Ravens seem to have a bit of internal strife with Lamar Jackson contract negotiations, offensive identity, etc.
TXSteeler
2:30
Why do you and others keep insisting (recent article) that Tomlin was the primary defensive play caller last year? He never speaks into his headset and never carried a play card EXCEPT the one game Butler was out. It would be impossible, therefore, to be calling plays on a regular basis.
Brian Batko
2:31
Keith Butler himself said in an interview with our Gerry Dulac and in a radio interview that he would've liked to call the plays himself, but Mike Tomlin is the head coach, so he can do what he sees fit.
Benson DuBois
2:31
Would you be surprised if Pickett does not play a regular season down in '22?
Brian Batko
2:32
Yes, because even if he doesn't start a game and the Steelers operate with the utmost patience, I think he'll be active and thus have a chance to come in for mop-up duty or in case of injury, what have you.
OK friends, I've got to run. Sorry to cut the chat short but I need to go play pickleball with TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Have a good one.
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