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Brian Batko’s Steelers chat: 06.16.25
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Brian Batko
10:00
Hey everyone we’re a little light on questions so far with the early chat time. I’m gonna give it another 10-15 minutes and then we’ll kick off some Steelers talk.
10:15
OK we've got ample air in the Steelers chat tires now for sure. Thanks y'all. Let's get to it.
J-town Johnnie
10:15
Brian, call me optimistic but I feel a 12 win season is on the horizon with a playoff win.  Your honest thoughts please.
Brian Batko
10:16
Hi, optimistic. I'm not predicting a Steelers playoff win until I see them get back over that hump with my own two eyes. The cycle of decent-to-good regular seasons followed by a postseason trouncing is too consistent for me to envision otherwise just yet.
Pittfan
10:17
Hi Brian. An older beat up Manning guided Denver to the Super Bowl, an older Brady did it with Tampa both Hall of Famers. Why not Rodgers and the Steelers?
Brian Batko
10:19
Those are two examples to the good. But for every Peyton Manning there's a Matt Ryan. For every Tom Brady there's a Philip Rivers. And, to be fair to those two success stories, they never had a 5-win season like the one Aaron Rodgers is coming off of with the Jets, nor were they ever as mobile as Rodgers was in his prime. I happen to think losing a step matters more for him and the way he plays than it does for Manning or Brady (though not as much as it did for Russell Wilson).
J D
10:20
Brian, there has to be excitement for the upcoming football season because the Steelers filled their deficiencies and now only wait to see if those players respond.  Don't you think everything hinges on the offensive line play where they can run and pass the ball and give the defense a rest?
Brian Batko
10:22
Well, hate to break it to you J D, but a lot of teams in the NFL believe they filled their deficiencies (on paper). But you're right, for all the talk of Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Kaleb Johnson, the lines need to be much stronger on both sides of the ball, not just offense.
DickieD
10:23
Do you think Russell Wilson got a bad rap for taking the blame for the loss of the last five games last season? Four of those five games were against three of the best teams in the NFL, and it would have been surprising to see the Steelers win regardless of how well Wilson played.  And, if I recall, both Pickens and Porter were injured or hobbled during several of those games
Brian Batko
10:25
I would say he became a convenient scapegoat for a Steelers team that continues to ride with the HC, OC and DC. But I didn't have high expectations for the Russell Wilson era from the outset, then I was pleasantly surprised by his play when he finally got healthy, and then at the end water found its level more-or-less. You're right that it wasn't just him. Nonetheless, his overall QB play wasn't good enough, and that was fairly clear in my view.
Martian
10:26
Hey Bats, now that QB1 is finally resolved, any indications on WR2 or any other additions to solidify the roster?
Brian Batko
10:27
Not sure but if they are going to make a WR move, I feel like it would make sense to do that before training camp so that guy can begin getting up to speed with Arthur Smith, Aaron Rodgers, etc. Another spot I wonder if they'll bring in veteran competition is slot corner. Beanie Bishop looked good to me in minicamp, though.
Biggie
10:29
Hey Brian, some recent moves within the Steelers front office, such as the drawn out Rodgers signing and the  trading of Pickens, suggest that there may be some conflict among the decision makers, or at least a lack of agreement over strategy over key player moves.  For example, waiting another year to draft a college QB who may not significantly contribute for another year or two, if at all, seems in conflict with their win now approach, planned signing of Watt (similar to Cam), and outdated one hat preference for preferred players.  What I see here is conflict of decision making that will result in continued mediocrity in the coming years.  Do you agree?
Brian Batko
10:31
Hey Biggie, I don't necessarily agree, although I can see why you connect those dots. But the timing of Rodgers was more a Rodgers thing than anything. And the George Pickens trade probably had to happen when it did to get that value in return. As for the overall vision, I suppose the Steelers are trying to have their cake and eat it too (weird phrase, by the way) with this short-term Rodgers solution while still accruing draft capital for next year. If they pull it off to any degree, I'll give them credit.
Bones
10:32
Good morning Bats. Any idea what the Steelers offer to TJ looked like?
Brian Batko
10:33
Good morning Bones. I'm gonna go with lucrative but not quite lucrative enough ... at least not yet.
JeffB
10:34
God Morning Brian!  I'd like to ask: what is your thoughts on Steelers adding a WR to be WR2? Any particular names you have heard as real possibility?
Brian Batko
10:36
Well we know Gabe Davis is a real possibility because he was here, in the flesh, visiting the facility during OTAs. Keenan Allen apparently was on some sort of TikTok saying he's not too interested in coming to Pittsburgh. That's about as far as I'll go down that rabbit hole.
Jim
10:37
Have you gotten a chance to see AR throw yet? Seem like we have an upgrade arm wise?
Brian Batko
10:37
I have, but not in live action, because he didn't take team reps last week. He said Mike Tomlin wanted him to just watch and learn during minicamp. But let's not forget that Russell Wilson still has a live arm. That wasn't his issue last season.
epiballo
10:38
Hi Brian, and thanks for the chats! Read an article wondering if Rodgers can pull a Manning-Broncos and lead the Steelers to a Super Bowl, or a Montana-Chiefs and make a deep playoff run. That would be great, but really?
Brian Batko
10:39
Wondering or dreaming? Bookmark this for late January if the Steelers are deep in the AFC playoffs!
TVC15
10:40
Hi Brian,  I read a story comparing DK Metcalf to George Pickems regarding their interactions with JPJ. The takeaway being when Pickens got a completion or interference penalty against JPJ he would only taunt him and showboat but DK would show JPJ what he did wrong and what would be a better way to make the play.  Sorry for the long windup but the question is this. Why weren't the coaches doing this? Telling Pickens to scale down his taunting and JPJ how to make a better play?
Brian Batko
10:42
Well the coaches are coaching, so don't worry about that aspect with Joey Porter Jr. and whatever interactions he might have with a teammate as a bonus. As for George Pickens, he was never mature enough for even the most basic methods of accountability, let alone something like that which would be next-level leadership.
Cal from nh
10:42
did your Najee scouting report look like it should have been? How come his 4.66 fourty wasn’t brought up more? Seems like kind of his problem
Brian Batko
10:44
That 4.66 40 time was from his ESPN recruiting profile. Najee Harris didn't run the 40 pre-draft. I don't put much stock into high school athletic testing numbers. DK Metcalf's was 4.72 on his ESPN profile. He ran a 4.33 at the combine. I'm not saying Najee Harris was or wasn't faster than that coming out of Alabama, but it's just not a particularly relevant data points.
Gettysburg Don
10:45
Dear Mr. Batko, Some years ago I believe you did a story on a lost painting of General Hayes (a Yinzer). I was hoping you might have any updates. Now, the sporty part of my submission. In the background of said painting may have been men of the 11th Penna. Inf. led by Col. Richard Coulter. His son, Richard was team captain of the team accorded by the Pro Football HOF (still missing #23 Wagner) to have the first Professional Football Player on the roster. Any Update?   Gettysburg Don
Brian Batko
10:47
Hello, Don. I don't think I did this story of which you speak. Perhaps you're confusing me with Pittsburgh historian and author Brian Butko? Happens more than you think! Gettysburg is a cool place, though.
RAM
10:48
Hey Batts, considering the Browns QB situation with Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, the hold outs in Cinci,  the Steelers signing Rodgers and the TJ hold out, do you think HBO is kicking themselves for not doing Hard Knocks AFC North this vs. last?
Brian Batko
10:50
Definitely would've been a good year for it, RAM. But they still just do one team for the training camp edition, which is the Bills this year. And the NFC East in-season one should be interesting with the Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart triangle, plus George Pickens and the Cowboys.
GeorgiaSteelDog
10:51
We often blast Steeler leadership for doing the same thing.  Yet look how different this management team is doing.  Lots of free agents, building offense and defense lines, and waiting for the right draft.  Will all this make a difference?
Brian Batko
10:54
Kind of depends on your perspective. You could argue they're going the retread QB route for the second year in a row, from Wilson to Rodgers. But from a front office perspective, sure, they're investing their draft capital a little differently than the previous regime. As for whether it will make a difference, who knows, but I do believe Omar Khan is great at his job and has just as good a chance of elevating this team as pretty much any other GM would. Also, can we just acknowledge how cool of a name GeorgiaSteelDog is? Not even entirely sure what it means but the imagery is great.
Jay_In_Indy
10:55
Hello Brian.  From the Steelers recent '25 draft picks who are the top three rookies that will be most successful in '25 and also (overall) in your opinion?
Brian Batko
10:56
I thought they had another excellent draft, Jay. But to answer your question, I'll go with Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson and Yahya Black.
Bud
10:57
Brian, I was reading the Baltimore should have interest in Jaire Alexander. Why would the Steelers not want to bring him in?
Brian Batko
10:59
He's hurt a lot, kind of a diva cornerback and, most significant to me, an outside cornerback. The Steelers have Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay Manning those two spots. But the Ravens should be interested for a couple reasons. They have a weakness at outside corner, and he and Lamar Jackson are longtime friends who were in the same recruiting class at Louisville. There's something to be said for that synergy.
Mark
11:00
Hi Brian, What's your analysis of the OL this year?  Broderick Jones has moved positions and other key positions on the line are very young.  Do you think the line can protect Rodgers, who may not have the mobility he once did?
Brian Batko
11:01
Too early to tell but they'll be under the microscope in the preseason no doubt. They'll need those reps to jell. But initial impressions are that Broderick Jones looks to be in much better shape and locked in on being better this season.
Zamo
11:01
Hope you had a great Father’s Day BB!  Oakmont was awesome and hope you enjoyed the coverage.  Loved you and Filiponi on showdown last night.  I still don’t see how Smith, Tomlin and Rodgers can/will be successful.  I’m all in on AR being here but the way we handle QB’s lately, makes me question the game plan/philosophy.  I hope it works out but I have a good feeling this will not end well and history lately proves it likely won’t.  It’s why I question if this is the best leadership moving forward - for both Howard or a rookie QB in 26.   Don’t feel good about it.
Brian Batko
11:04
Thanks man, I did. Well, it was more about a great Father's Day weekend out in eastern PA and yesterday was mostly driving home, but we made a lot of memories. I don't quibble with your skepticism whatsoever. As avid chat and mailbag readers know, I've never been a "fire Tomlin" guy, but we're sort of exhausting other variables to change in the equation. If this season goes poorly - or even just mediocre - then the Steelers will again be talking themselves into Tomlin and his staff developing a young QB again.
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