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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.05.24
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Brian Batko
12:40
Pat P is cooked, I fear. Was a fun addition last year, had some OK moments and helped mentor Joey Porter Jr. But I think the ship has sailed on his NFL career. I know he's confident he has a lot left in the tank but not a great sign when it's Aug. 5 and you're still out there.
wallace82@comcast.net
12:40
Hello Brian. How much effort would you guess established defensive stars apply against rookies in camp?
Brian Batko
12:41
As much as they would anyone else in camp. They want these guys to be good. I can recall Cam Heyward getting into his share of scraps with Kendrick Green and Dan Moore Jr. their rookie years.
Ryan
12:41
Good afternoon Brian what do you think about Beanie bishop jr so far during training camp when i went Thursday he looked good go Steelers
Brian Batko
12:43
He's rising to the occasion. Building on his first-team reps at the tail end of minicamp in the spring. And beyond the plays he's making between the lines, I really like his mentality. Studying Mike Hilton tape, staying in the back pocket of this team's veteran DBs, even picking the brain of a guy like Calvin Austin III who plays in the slot and is really quick. Bishop seems to get what it takes to succeed in the NFL.
Tom in Dallas
12:43
Has anything occurred around the league that could impact the Steelers projected wins this season?  Say a new rule change or a major injury to a key player on a team we will play?
Brian Batko
12:44
Not significantly, no. Knock on wood, the NFL has steered clear of any major injuries so far in training camps. Hopefully it stays that way through the first full week of preseason action.
Mikey
12:45
Hello Brian, and thanks for your great work with the PPG. I have a question that is the inverse of a question you usually get asked multiple times per chat: If the Steelers make a serious playoff run, going to the AFC championship or even the Super Bowl, do you think ARII will finally get rid of  some of these whiny “fans” who seem to think that winning games in the NFL is easy and are so naïve as to think that ARII and Tomlin actually meet each offseason in a room with a white board and, under the heading “Goals," write “win 9 games” and “lose in first round of playoffs?”
Brian Batko
12:47
Thank you, Mikey. That's pretty clever but I assume Art Rooney II will take as many fans as he can get, even those who are sometimes negative, nasty and ridiculous. But of course they love the passion.
NY Steel
12:49
When will Russel Wilson be good to go fully?  Why in the world did the coaching staff have a 35-year old starting QB pushing a sled?
Brian Batko
12:50
Don't know, but he continues to ramp up little by little. It was the strength and conditioning staff who pretty massively overhauled the conditioning test to kick off camp this year. I don't know. Maybe it was more about weight/duration than the exercise itself. I wonder what 35-year-old Ben Roethlisberger would've said if someone told him to push a sled.
Big Head Ed
12:51
It seemed to me a lot of the offense talk prior had been about the new philosophy of the coordinator.  Do you see that happening? (i.e, more usage of tight ends and the running game) or is it too earlyt in camp?
Brian Batko
12:53
It's early, but you do see it, particularly the tight end usage with two or three on the field and lined up in different ways. A ton of 12 personnel and even 13 personnel packages. Or 12.5 as I like to call it when Connor Heyward is one of the three.
Commissioner
12:53
Do you expect the Steelers to sign a free agent or trade for a wr or cb prior to the regular season opener?
Brian Batko
12:54
I don't expect it but I wouldn't be surprised.
James Ryan
12:54
Thanks for the chats, BB. What % would you put that Aiyuk is a Steeler by Week 1?
Brian Batko
12:54
Hmm let's go with 7.5%
Gene
12:54
Do you think Jack Colleto makes the team or even the practice squad!
Brian Batko
12:55
If he doesn't make the team, he's a lock for the practice squad. His fullback ability sets him apart from the pack of roster hopefuls to be the 53rd guy, I'll say that.
Pittfan
12:56
Hi Brian. Why the major concern about not having a #2 WR? Playoff teams win without a clear #2. Tight ends are very much in vogue these days and the Steelers have a pretty good one if he can stay healthy.
Brian Batko
12:57
Yeah, I'm with you. It's important to have good receivers but QB play takes the cake, a strong running game is paramount and TEs can make a lot of plays through the air too. Did I mention the OL is important?
Bert
12:57
nickel is base, so Steelers are looking at three new starters in the secondary. Jackson at CB, Elliott at SS, Bishop (or someone else?) at NB. How has the secondary looked in camp? will that unit be a strength in 24?
Brian Batko
12:58
It's had its moments of good and moments of bad. Donte Jackson came on really strong in the first week sans pads. Haven't seen much from Elliott but still really like his demeanor, versatility, etc. to be a piece of the puzzle.
62 Stack Monster
12:58
Why has Grayland Arnold surprised you?
Brian Batko
12:59
Just didn't have him on my radar whatsoever. But he plays hard, isn't afraid to stick his nose in there and he's even picked off a couple passes from the slot. Not just arm punts, either. He's a scrapper.
Leroy
12:59
I think the discussion over who will be the QB is overblown.  I think they are going to run the ball so much that Bill Hillgrove - even in retirement - could be the QB without them missing a beat.  That said, do you think Tomlin will put the best QB on the field - by demonstration rather than by 'on paper'?  He clearly did not last season until the choice he should have made bailed him out.
Brian Batko
1:01
Well I don't know about Billy, but his successor Rob King was a college quarterback, so that might be an even better way to make your point. Let me put it this way, Tomlin will put the player he deems to be the best QB on the field. He might've been wrong about that re: Kenny Pickett/Mason Rudolph. But being stubborn isn't the same as being deliberate, or even just flat-out incorrect. So we will see.
1:02
OK folks, that's all the time we have today, but hopefully we got you through a day without any camp updates from Latrobe. Let's do this again next Monday to reflect on the exhibition that was. Talk to you then.
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