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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 07.26.21
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Brian Batko
1:55
OK everyone, we'll get started a little early today. Welcome to the first chat of camp. Fire away.
LivinTheDream
1:56
Batman, Does Mark Gilbert look healthy? ie do the wheels work?
Brian Batko
1:57
Wow, first question coming in on a UDFA. Yinz are in mid-camp form. Gilbert is a nice story given his injury history and local ties, but hasn't stood out to me thus far.
By the way, just something to keep in mind for the duration of the chat: it's EARLY. These guys have had four practices. They don't play a real game until Sept. 12. We're watching, but there's a lot we don't know and even more we can't learn until then.
Turk in MD
1:58
Hi Brian. Hope you and yours are well. With Brooks taking reps at slot CB, it sounds like the team may need even more depth at S.  Thoughts?
Brian Batko
1:59
Yeah they're a little thin there, and now the Malik Hooker ship has sailed off to Dallas. But Miles Killebrew is an NFL veteran and Tre Norwood they liked enough to draft in the seventh round. Not sure if Brooks is still an option there, but Mike Tomlin confirmed the other day they aren't trying to overload guys with different roles/playbooks at this point.
Scuba Steve
2:00
Better bang for the buck on a one year deal? Ingram or Nelson?
Brian Batko
2:00
Looks like Steven Nelson technically signed a cheaper deal with Philly, before incentives, but I think I'll go with Melvin Ingram on this one. Nelson looked kind of washed by the end of last year.
Ryan
2:01
Good afternoon Brian how has Lamonte wade looked so far in camp can’t wait to watch first preseason game next week
Brian Batko
2:02
You mean Lamont Wade, not to be confused with the Giants outfielder. Easy mistake coming off the Pirates series at San Fran. But, like the other UDFA I was asked about in Mark Gilbert, no rave reviews for Wade from me just yet. But he's a guy whose style lends itself to putting the pads on and popping some people, so we'll see.
Tony TD
2:03
Let's say opposing teams commit to stopping the Steelers run game. Do you think Ben and the weapons around him are enough to win games without a robust ground game?
Brian Batko
2:04
Sure, if Ben Roethlisberger throws the ball well enough and those guys catch it. I still think Ben can do it at a high level, but it might just come down to consistency with him. That's part of what plagued him last year, right? Some eye-popping passes here and there, but then some head-scratchers mixed in, and far too many of them by the end of the season.
Alan
2:04
Any indication of how Green has looked at center? Do you think he’ll be the starter week 1?
Brian Batko
2:06
Kendrick Green really does move well for his size, as evidenced by his 4.88 40 time at his pro day. Between him, Kevin Dotson (4.80 reportedly) and Trai Turner (4.93 back at the 2014 combine) the Steelers will have a lot of pure athleticism on the interior if Green starts. And I've been predicting for a while now that he will. Certainly not going to back off that now that he's been working with the first team in practice and JC Hassenauer is banged up.
NurembergCode1947
2:08
Hi Brian, I know you don't usually have the pics from the PG up in your chat screen but if you can look or know... What kind of football is Freiermuth catching in the pic on the piece on him? It's smooth & glossy with a white cap that appears to have vents or markings?
Brian Batko
2:08
Yeah I don't know about that one. All I know is Pat Freiermuth is catching everything right now - smooth and glossy, prickly and dull, white cap, brown cap, no cap, doesn't matter.
Butter
2:09
Do you think Vince Williams retired because of the Ingram signing?
Brian Batko
2:09
Eh, that might have had something to do with it but I doubt that's the only reason. Or even the biggest reason.
Jud
2:10
How's it feel to be there and really getting the season underway...
Brian Batko
2:11
Feels great. Watching football practice isn't the most exciting thing, especially the individual drills, but it's a nice harbinger of the games being right around the corner. And it's a small thing, but getting to actually converse with these guys in-person (social distanced) again is a welcome return to normalcy.
Casey B.
2:12
Is the whole yellow wristband thing for unvaxed players overblown or is it something to be concerned about?
Brian Batko
2:14
I'm still in wait-and-see mode on that. I wouldn't say it's overblown, but there's still a lot we don't know in terms of why and when certain guys are wearing those. In general, I think it's fair for a fan to be concerned about players not being vaccinated, considering the league's health and safety protocols for said players. But as long as no one on the Steelers goes full-Cole Beasley, I don't see it becoming a locker room issue.
Latrobe is Home
2:14
A while back, I asked about "clean-up" that may happen on the field when players throw-up on the field.  This was a reference to Lawrence Timmons doing so a few years ago.  Well, I'm happy to report that my brother in Phoenix may have the answer.  At an AZ Rattlers game this weekend, a player vomited on the field.  He said a ref managed to step in "it" the very next play.  As soon as the play was over, a clean-up crew came on immediately after the play was over to address the issue.  I think it's safe to assume this is what happened after Lawrence Timmons's incident.
Brian Batko
2:14
Who are the AZ Rattlers?
Tampa Too
2:15
Other than Big Ben and TJ what Other Steeler in your opinion Could the team least afford to lose due to injury. Thanks
Brian Batko
2:16
Hmmm maybe Minkah Fitzpatrick? Devin Bush, if he's healthy? Or either of the Cam Heyward/Stephon Tuitt one-two punch up front.
WAIT. Joe Haden is probably the answer. Followed by Cam Sutton. I'm dumb and forgot about cornerbacks.
AK
2:17
A lot of questions about how guys look before they even put on the pads. Patience, guys.  No decisions are made based on football in shorts.
Brian Batko
2:17
Thanks, AK. I get the excitement. You want to start forming your opinions on this year's team, and of course I do too. But there's a long, long way to go.
Bob's your uncle
2:18
BB: Obviously, QB performance is the single most correlative indication of a successful season. In your (humble) opinion, should we expect Ben to be better (one year removed from arm surgery, chip on his shoulder) or to regress (one year removed from arm surgery, introductions to Father Time)? With our defense, I really need something to look forward to! Thank you!
Brian Batko
2:19
Could go either way. That's the $15 million question for this team, right? It's in the eye of the beholder. Ben says he feels better now than he did this time a year ago, which is natural, being further removed from surgery. But he's also a year older, another season of wear and tear, and Father Time is undefeated*

*pending the results of this knock-down, drag-out fight with Tom Brady
Guest
2:20
do you think brady's daughter makes flash cards for him?
Brian Batko
2:21
Yeah, I could see that. And she churns his avocado ice cream, things of that nature.
Jay
2:21
Hola senor.  Tomlin seems pretty stubborn in his ways.  How much of his early success with the steelers played into it?  Why cant he seem to attract good offensive coordinators??
Brian Batko
2:24
Hola. Any coach worth his salt has some stubbornness to him. Not sure Tomlin is any more so than others. In fact, he always notes that he doesn't care where good ideas come from, which tells me he's a guy who's open to changing his ways when warranted. But I do think he's someone who keeps a hard-core plan while being light on his feet, as he's fond of saying. As for his OCs, I thought Todd Haley was OK. Randy Fichtner might have been a mistake. Let's give Matt Canada chance. It's not like Tomlin is the only person in the world who thinks Canada is a bright football mind. Rams coach Sean McVay is a fan of his schemes, too.
Steve
2:24
Would the Steelers consider picking up Twyman since he was cut by MN?
Brian Batko
2:25
It'll be interesting to see what happens with former Pitt star Jaylen Twyman. I've seen the Vikings releasing him described as a "procedural" move, but that's still contingent on him clearing waivers. As a 6th-round pick, maybe he will, but he was viewed as someone who might've been a steal that late. As for the Steelers, they're pretty loaded on the DL and an odd front might not be the best fit for Twyman anyway.
Y-town Steeler
2:27
Do you think the Steelers missed an opportunity in signing Nelson back for $4,000,000 / year?
Brian Batko
2:27
Not really. Check back with me if their secondary falls apart, but I think Nelson made himself expendable with his play late last year.
FLStiller
2:28
Afternoon.  Does Mason Rudolph look and better so far (ie confident; comfortable in pocket; more on target?)  I really hope he has it figured out.  We need him this year.  Thx.
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