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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 06.19.23
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Brian Batko
1:51
Hey everyone, I'm at my computer and ready to chat so let's go ahead and kick this thing off now. They'll be a little more sparse now that we're into full-blown offseason and summertime, but for now, we can discuss OTAs, minicamp, whatever's on your mind.
Scott via Lou. Ky
1:52
How often does a player or coach tell you the best story and then ask it not get printed?
Brian Batko
1:53
Every once in a while, but these days, guys are pretty savvy. And I'm not sure they're particularly trusting of reporters in general. If a high-profile athlete has a story to tell, they probably have their own podcast or go on one of their buddies' shows.
Mr Rooney.
1:54
Hey bats.  Love the chats.  Training camp just around the corner..what player or players will you be watching most closely?
Brian Batko
1:56
What a delight to chat with the team prez today. Unless this is a different Rooney. I'm most eager to see Darnell Washington out of the rookies. Just a fascinating player to me, even going back to the pre-draft process when we didn't know where he'd land. But elsewhere on offense of course I want to see Broderick Jones. Among the hold-overs, Calvin Austin is intriguing. Defensively I assume we'll all be drawn to seeing how the rookies look in Latrobe and trying to evaluate who can help right away.
Tom in Dallas
1:56
How is the Aaron Rodgers experiment going to work out in NY?  Are we going to look back two years from now and say he either should have stayed in GB/or retired, or this was a brilliant move by both him and the Jets?  it's the Jets, similar to the Browns, things usually don't work out very well...
Brian Batko
1:59
My first take on it was that it'll either be a huge success or a dumpster fire. But now that I've given it some more thought, I actually see it ending somewhere in the middle. The roster they have around him gives them a fairly high floor to avoid a total mess. That said, I'm not sure he has enough left in the tank to be that top-flight, Super Bowl-winning QB. Unless he was just sandbagging the Packers, which ...
TV
2:00
The receiver room is pretty crowded and with Gunner O. not providing much as a receiver and is (was) primarily used as a returner (until he fumbled the job away to Simms), with the implementation of the new fair catch rule on kickoffs, is Gunner pretty much a goner?
Brian Batko
2:02
The big question there is whether Mike Tomlin has any trust left in him as a return. Gut tells me no, but hey, he's still here. That might be just to use his veteran presence to help guide the younger players poised to take over that role. And Gunner Olszewski is a good locker room guy. If anything gets him on the 53, it'll be those intangibles combined with a willingness to do really anything on special teams from returning to coverage. It won't be his work as a receiver.
JP in Indy
2:02
Hey Bats! What are you most looking forward to at training camp?
Brian Batko
2:03
Obviously, the food spread from the fine folks in the Saint Vincent cafeteria!
The real guest
2:05
Brian, I don't see how Highsmith's contract gets done this year. He wants and probably deserves OLB1 money and there is no way the Steelers can  afford two OLB1's. Nobodys fault just a numbers game. Agree?
Brian Batko
2:08
No, I believe it will get done. Partly because I don't see it as a foregone conclusion that he'll want top-end pass rusher money. He knows who he plays alongside here in Pittsburgh and is well aware of TJ Watt's compensation. Which is why I feel like he and his agent will target an elite second-fiddle deal, such as Emmanuel Ogbah making $16.5 a year in Miami or Sam Hubbard at $10 million per in Cincy. Getting somewhere in the middle of those two is my projection for it.
AK
2:09
So, what wild rumor of a signing wouldn’t Steelers fans believe?
Brian Batko
2:09
Antonio Brown returning on a one-year, $5 million deal to be a leader for the young receiving corps.
Nate from Fort Wayne
2:09
If you were the opposing DC, would you worry more about Pickens or D. Johnson?
Brian Batko
2:10
Probably George Pickens. But no one on this offense would strike a ton of fear in me just yet. That's why a lot of these guys need to take the next step for me to really buy the Steelers being a playoff team.
Southwest Steeler Fan
2:12
Brian, Have you had the opportunity to evaluate Darnell Washington's route running skills? Is he quick off the snap, with good change of direction?I would think that, even during non-contact drills, good (or poor) ability to get open might be easy to see. Thanks
Brian Batko
2:14
Not sure I'd say that. At his size, he might never be that kind of tight end. But to me, he'll win as a contested catch guy. He can go up over smaller defensive backs, for sure. And when he does get open, he's a humongous target over the middle of the field, with YAC potential. Exciting prospect if he can fine-tune his skills and be consistent.
Backwards Johnson
2:15
If you had to predict one, which Steeler will have the most explosive plays out of Warren, Austin, Robinson and Pickens?
Brian Batko
2:16
George Pickens. But they need to make a more concerted effort to target him.
PFC15108
2:16
I understand the "run the ball first" philosophy, but is Matt Canada's playbook extensive enough to unleash the much-needed splash plays?
Brian Batko
2:17
Sure, he's got the plays in there to do it, but it's probably more so about knowing when to call them and his players executing them. I've been saying about Matt Canada for a while now that it's not like the guy suddenly forgot how to scheme or what works. But play-calling at the NFL level against NFL defensive coordinators? That's been a challenge.
Virgil
2:18
Brian - I disagree with the people who think the Steelers do not have enough offensive weapons. I think Robinson is a solid pickup and will help keep the chains moving. Both backs can catch and run out of the backfield. Two tight ends who can make plays. Maybe Austin will help stretch the field? What do you think?
Brian Batko
2:20
They have enough weapons, but are they good enough? To me, they're in a spot where you just need to bet on the guys you've drafted and acquired and hope they're ready to get the job done week in and week out. I think in their ideal world George Pickens blossoms into a true No. 1 wideout  who's open even when he's covered, Diontae Johnson is a great No. 2, Pat Freiermuth is an elite TE and the other role players can hurt you when they're open. If, if, if...
BenB
2:20
Hey Brian. Given the Steelers have a good cap situation now without Big Ben’s contract, why not go and get another superstar on the DLine or Linebacker. Seems like Kenny can keep them in games, just need to shut the others down.
Brian Batko
2:22
How much more do you want them to do? Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi are paid pretty damn well. TJ Watt is paid really damn well, and Alex Highsmith could be soon to join him. I thought there was a chance the Steelers might spend up to get Tremaine Edmunds this offseason at ILB but the Bears went and gave him one of the three sweetest deals at his position in the entire league.
KK
2:23
Do you think the Steelers must win the first 2 home games of the year for everyone to buy the hope or do you think 1-1 will be just fine?
Brian Batko
2:24
Oh I think beating the Niners or Browns in the first two weeks will have people feeling good. Don't get me wrong, the sky always is falling and everyone should be fired anytime the Steelers lose, but they don't have to go unbeaten to keep the hype train rolling. At least for those who are on the hype train at this point.
Javi
2:25
Hello Bats. How dissapointed should we be if Steelers dont make playoffs? What would be sentiment as a whole in Pittsburgh?
Brian Batko
2:28
Not sure how to answer that. You can be as disappointed as you want, I suppose. Will missing the playoffs mean this team doesn't have a promising young nucleus in place? Not necessarily.  I certainly can see a situation where they go 9-8, maybe lose some close ones, but Kenny Pickett has a better season overall in Year 2. Then again, there wouldn't be much nuance to "two straight years out of the playoffs and seven straight years without a postseason win." There'd likely be some sort of big change made with the coaching staff, at least a coordinator or two.
Ty Hink
2:28
Thanks for the chat BB, is Leal not going to play a lot this year barring no injuries idk where he really fits at this point. Maybe rotational as a DE?
Brian Batko
2:30
Yeah probably a rotational piece at best. He's not gonna play nose tackle in 3-4 fronts. But if he can carve out a role for himself in sub-packages and/or as the top backup to Larry Ogunjobi and Cam Heyward, he'll have his chances to contribute. He's competing with Isaiahh Loudermilk and Keeanu Benton in that regard, but I could see those two being used more on run downs and Leal seeing more time on expected passing downs.
Ryan
2:30
Good afternoon Brian with a long snapper being signed today which one wins the job and who returns kickoffs and punts for us my guess is Austin
Brian Batko
2:33
Christian Kuntz hasn't done anything to lose his grip on the snapper job, but it can't hurt to have another body in camp/preseason action. I was surprised they didn't have a second last year. As for the return man, yeah, I've got Calvin Austin on both. Definitely punts, and it's not like Anthony McFarland has shown much on kicks over the years.
Lis franc
2:33
BB, is this the most mellifluous of your major injuries?
Brian Batko
2:34
I'm partial to "meniscus" myself, if you count that as major.
New Kensington Oldtimer
2:34
Thanks for the chats. I'm anxious to see a lot of the new guys but the one I'm most looking forward to seeing his impact the most is Washington. He's huge and we know he can block and I gotta think with his size he's gonna be a terror around the goal line. And if he can catch a lick he could be the steal of the draft. Your thoughts.
Brian Batko
2:35
My thoughts exactly, NKO. Although I'm not anxious. I'm eager. But not too eager. Vacation comes first.
Steeler Mayn
2:35
For years the Steelers have been susceptible to giving up easy completions over the middle. It again looks like ILB that can cover and even SS are weak spots of the D. Can having bigger, physical press CBs like JPJ and Tice playing closer to the line is scrimmage and with less cushion be a reasonable approach to develop to slow down this trend from years past?
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