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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 07.19.21
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, welcome back to the Steelers chat. Bring your best and brightest questions.
Rhino Rienstra
2:01
Hello Brian -- if Ben performs badly, how long before he gets benched ?
Brian Batko
2:04
Hello Rhino. It's hard for me to envision the Steelers ever benching Ben Roethlisberger, even though I know the Broncos did it to Peyton Manning, the Giants did it to Eli Manning, and so forth. I think it's more a question of how bad he'd have to be, and even then, I don't really know. Probably worse than we've ever seen him.
Fhuds3
2:04
Would you rather see Rudolph or Haskins back up Big Ben.
Brian Batko
2:05
Doesn't matter to me. Dwayne Haskins winning the backup job is unlikely, and therefore would be more interesting to report on and cover throughout the year. Obviously, his story is a controversial one, even more so than Mason Rudolph's own trials and tribulations at this level.
Brian
2:06
Do you expect Malik Hooker to sign with the Steelers for Safety depth?
Brian Batko
2:08
It wouldn't shock me, but I'm not expecting it either given how quiet things have been on that front. I wouldn't be surprised if that ship has sailed, as the Steelers now seem to be more focused on adding a veteran pass-rusher, given their reported interest in Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Kerrigan.
Retire21
2:10
Saw a report that the Steelers had the fourth most amount of money under the cap in 2022. So even with a possible rocky year this year, they have the resources to rebound?
Brian Batko
2:12
Sure they do. For all he's meant to the organization, getting Ben's contract off the books and having the opportunity to build around a cheaper QB could be a chance to hit the reset button. However, keep in mind that all that expected cap space could/should be eaten up quickly by long-term extensions for TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Maybe even Chuks Okorafor if he plays well at LT.
Andrew
2:13
Do you think Highsmith is going to get enough pressure to hopefully be that one two punch that worked well with Dupree and Watt?
Brian Batko
2:14
I like Alex Highsmith and what he was able to do when called upon last year as a rookie, but I'm not sold, put it that way. Need to see more. It's asking a lot of a third-round pick to step in and pick up where Bud Dupree left off. That could be another reason you see the Steelers kicking the tires on accomplished edge-rushers.
Alex B
2:15
Seems like a lot of questions about the Steelers coming
Brian Batko
2:15
Agreed, Alex.
Canadian Bacon
2:15
Hi Brian, Is it confirmed that the team will enter Heinz Field this season to "Subdivisions" by Rush ?
Brian Batko
2:16
No, it is not confirmed. Not even speculated.
george porter
2:16
Ben bashing on the national level and in Pittsburgh too!
Brian Batko
2:17
Block out the noise, George.
Ken
2:18
This Haskins character is something else.  What is the story on Vanessa Chantal, the I.G. model?
Brian Batko
2:19
I have no idea and don't really want to know.
J-town Johnnie
2:19
Brian,  Will Ben go down as the greatest Steeler QB of all time?
Brian Batko
2:20
Depends who you ask, but I think most will still say Terry Bradshaw, by virtue of RINGS. My take is that Ben was very much on pace to eclipse him, but that if you're going to look at a player's career in totality, the end also matters and recent history hasn't been too kind to No. 7.
Ryan
2:21
Good afternoon Brian who’s the players to watch in preseason games I’m interested in watching Haskins  buggs Ulysses Gilbert wade harvin and everyone else go Steelers
Brian Batko
2:22
No disrespect, but I wouldn't have Isaiah Buggs or Ulysees Gilbert near the top of my list. Haskins for sure will be interesting to see, but so will Rudolph and if he's made much progress. Also Najee Harris, depending how much they use him, and really all the rookies. I'm quite curious to see how the O-line looks and whether James Pierre is a diamond in the rough at corner, too.
Watson
2:23
good Day Brian i enjoy your work on the PPG and the podcasts are the steelers missing out on important information by not having a better analytics department  old school is great when it works but with Technology developing so quickly around us how can Mike T and Kevin C ignore it ?
Brian Batko
2:26
Hello, my dear Watson. Thanks for those kind words. I do get the sense that the Steelers aren't very analytically inclined. If they are, they certainly don't do much publicly to make that known. Meanwhile, you always hear that come up when analysts discuss the Ravens and Browns, and the big picture with what they're doing right. We all know the Steelers are a traditional franchise, right? I also feel like Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert pride themselves on being old-school football guys, for better or worse. Tomlin likes to talk about being ahead of trends in the NFL whenever possible, and how he doesn't care where good ideas come from, but I think this team operates more on gut and feel than most.
Darnell
2:28
Hey Brian, who do you see as the Steelers projected punt and kickoff returners?  Any chance from last season?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:28
No, I still think it'll be Ray-Ray McCloud. He was exciting in that role last year, more than any Steeler I can recall since Antonio Brown was doing it full-time.
EV in Melbourne
2:28
Hi Brian,... Who was or is your favorite athlete or coach to interview and why?
Brian Batko
2:31
Good question. I'll have to think about that one for a second. Former Pitt basketball player Steven Adams is way up there because he was so genuine, and you never knew what he would say. I learned about the New Zealand-Australia rivalry from him. With the Steelers, I think I've most enjoyed chatting with Zach Banner because he's such a great personality. Same goes for Najee Harris, at least so far.
Ralph LA
2:31
When you attend training camp are you able figure out how the different players are doing in the position battles?
Brian Batko
2:33
Hopefully we will be, yes. That's the plan. Often times you can make your own evaluations as a reporter, but the proof is in who's lining up with which unit and how often. It seems as though we'll be allowed to freely report on that given how many practices will be open to fans.
Alan
2:33
I know training camp hasn’t started yet but what chance do you give Green to win the starting job at Center? Would be huge if he brings some physicality to the line.
Brian Batko
2:35
That center job is probably the best camp battle we have this year. Important position, one veteran in the mix, one rookie and one guy in between. I'm sure the Steelers hope Kendrick Green runs away and hides with it, but I suspect it won't be that easy. I'll give him an 81% chance of beating out BJ Finney and JC Hassenauer. Just think he's a far superior athlete and that this coaching staff believes in him.
John
2:36
Hey Brian. Thanks for the chat. Do you have high expectations for Devin Bush this season? To date not sure he’s lived up to his draft hype, does he make that leap this year?
Brian Batko
2:38
Sure thing, John. I think you have to for a top-10 pick, right? Now, of course the injury complicates matters, but that was early last season and should give him plenty of time to recuperate. I'll set the bar pretty high for a guy who never left the field last season before he got hurt, while also acknowledging that someone who plays the way he does - sideline to sideline, flying to the ball, lots of covering tight ends - might take some time to come all the way back from an ACL tear.
Jakester
2:39
How hard is it for a rookie to come in and start at center?  Seems to me like it’s a big ask - particularly for a guy who didn’t play much center in college.
Brian Batko
2:41
It's not easy at all. I actually wrote about this after doing some research back in May. On average since the Steelers landed Maurkice Pouncey in 2010, there have been fewer than two full-time rookie starting centers each season in the NFL. So, no, not a lot of them step in right away, and if they do, they have a lot of prior experience at the position. Check out more here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/05/07/rookie-startin...
WestCoast
2:42
Is there a greater Paradox? The team says Lombardi or Bust. But, with no OL.
Brian Batko
2:43
Google tells me the greatest paradox is actually Russell's Paradox, which arises within naïve set theory by considering the set of all sets that are not members of themselves. Such a set appears to be a member of itself if and only if it is not a member of itself. So, you can see how that's pretty tricky. I'll see if I can find out more about Russell's thoughts on offensive line philosophy.
Canadian Bacon
2:44
Subdivisions- Rush •
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