You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.10.20
powered byJotCast
Brian Batko
11:58
Hey, y'all. Lots of questions in the queue already. I love to see it. Feel free to also include what you're having for lunch while you chat, and I will rate your lunch. Me, I'm having tuna from a can. A 2/10 at best. Let's get started.
Guest
12:00
when the steelers start out zero and 4  or 1 and 3 will the steelers go to mason? check ben's stats is his early season games with little or no play in  pre season games , he's always been a slow starter, this defense better be really good to over come his short comings !!!!!
Brian Batko
12:01
You sound pretty confident, Guest. Maybe take that to Vegas? But if I must, I don't think there are many, if any, scenarios where this team goes away from Ben Roethlisberger as long as he's healthy. And assuming they still start with the Giants, then Broncos, I don't think they'll be 0-2, let alone 0-4.
Entmd
12:01
Hey Brian!  Gerry’s article today suggests we will see some of Matt Canada’s design in the offense. It sounds from Dionte quote that he is already trying to learn the motions.  Do you think it will be a staple or have frequency of a gadget plays?
Brian Batko
12:03
Here's Gerry's story for anyone who hasn't read it yet: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2020/08/10/matt-canada-st...

I don't think you can run as much motion/misdirection at the NFL level as Canada could in the college game, but sure, they'll probably try to bust it out here and there. Mike Tomlin likes to say he doesn't care where ideas come from, and he's been saying that a lot this offseason.
James
12:03
Hey Brian...with the unfortunate injury to Evans, does that increase the odds of Hayes being brought up to the Pirates?   Thanks.
Brian Batko
12:04
Hey James. I think this is a better question for Ke'Bryan Batko.
Gene
12:05
Hi Brian if the college season is cancelled do you think the NFL would move some games to Saturday?
Brian Batko
12:06
Yeah, I saw some tweets this morning saying the NFL is paying close attention to the college football situation, in case there's a chance to seize some Saturday air time. And it wouldn't be much of an inconvenience to fans, considering there's no guarantee of fans in the stands this year anyway.
BB
12:07
Brian - If the Power Five football season gets cancelled or postponed until Spring, will that have any impact on the NFL season going ahead as currently planned?
Brian Batko
12:08
Not directly. Now, could it have an impact on offseason stuff like the draft and maybe start of free agency, etc.? That's what you'd have to consider if you're the NFL in the event that college football gets canceled or postponed this year. In basketball, the NBA moved back everything draft-wise, but of course the big difference there is the NBA's season also was delayed.
Jacque Strap
12:09
Shouldn't each writer get their own luxury suite to report from during the games?
Brian Batko
12:10
Yeah, I would think so, Jacque. Furnished with steak and lobster, champagne and a little bit of craft beer, as well. Might not be a bad idea for you, as a fan, to write Art Rooney II about this.
Sunner in the sunshine
12:11
Do you see the Steelers at least scrimmaging other teams since there are no preseason game to replicate live football?
Brian Batko
12:12
No, joint practices are prohibited this year, as well. That's really the closest thing to a "scrimmage" you'll see in the NFL. And the Steelers don't use the joint practice as much as other teams, anyway. Granted, I haven't been around that long, but not sure they've done one in the past few years.
Walt
12:14
I’m all for letting our young Buccos play the rest of the season and find who has a future with the Pirates.  What say you?
Brian Batko
12:14
I'm all for giving Duck Hodges a shot in the bullpen at this point. What do you have to lose?
Alan in Nashville
12:15
Hey Brian. Have you heard any rumors about an “uncapped” year next year as an exception? I recall having one a few years back that wasn’t the disaster that many had predicted.
Brian Batko
12:17
Yeah, the last time the NFL did that was 2010, ahead of the new CBA that took effect the following year. But I've not seen that concept floated this time around. Seems like the harsh reality is just gonna be a much lower cap floor than anticipated. Good luck to Kevin Colbert, Omar Khan and company.
Livinthedream
12:18
Brian,Less than a third of the way into the MLB season and the Pirates are toast. Four games into the NHL playoffs and the Pens are dead. I think God owes Pittsburgh fans a Super Bowl. What do you think?
Brian Batko
12:18
I think God's probably pointing animatedly at the six Lombardis (plural, with an 'S' on the end) already in the Steelers trophy case and asking "Is this not enough?!"
Guest
12:19
Hearing any good or bad news out of camp so far? Anyone turning heads w shorts are, particularly the skill guys?
Brian Batko
12:21
Tell ya what, Guest, our only access to visuals from camp to this point have been from the in-house Steelers media team. And in all the videos they're posting, I haven't seen one drop or mistimed route or errant pass. But seriously, even the Zoom calls we've done, it seems like everyone (especially coaches) is being careful not to throw out a whole lot of hype.
Sunner in the sunshine
12:23
When will you be able to witness live footballs being thrown by Ben to give us some hope for Pittsburgh sports after the disasters of the Pens and the Bucs?
Brian Batko
12:24
Not until Aug. 17. That's the first day media will be allowed at Heinz Field, as it's when the Steelers and 29 other teams can begin the "contact integration period," which is basically full-contact football activities, 11-on-11 and all that good stuff.
Tina
12:25
I’ve enjoyed the commentary and analysis of the “Fort.”  Wondering if you agree with me.  Also, I haven’t seen Wehner lately.  Is he only on radio, or God forbid ill?   Thanks Brian!!
Brian Batko
12:26
Always loved The Fort McKenry as a player. He's not Andrew McCutchen or A.J. Burnett, but in a way, I see him as the most symbolic player of those Pirates teams that turned the tide of losing. Because he was just an undersized scrapper who probably had no business being there, and yet he came through in some huge moments.
Steeler in Virginia
12:27
Everyone is already worrying about the Steelers' salary cap issues for next year, but they aren't the only team tight up against the cap. If it looks like the quality of play is going to be diminished due to so many teams having to cut high-priced veterans, isn't it more likely that the owners adjust that projected cap again and spread costs out over multiple years when you're almost assured revenues go back to where they were expected to be?
Brian Batko
12:29
I mean, that would make sense, but it appears the $175m cap floor is what the NFL and NFLPA agreed on. But hey, things could still change in this fluid COVID environment.
Guest
12:31
When will season ticket holders know if and when they will get their tickets?
Brian Batko
12:32
Who knows? The Steelers are following the NFL's lead here, for the most part, as well as the state of Pennsylvania. Unlike some other teams, they haven't completely ruled out having fans at Heinz Field yet for 2020.
billybouncer
12:32
Yikes, Me wonders what Guest #1 has been smoking for lunch.    Now for a proper mundane question, who back up Canaday? Do they just pick someone up off the street should he go down.
Brian Batko
12:34
I live for this mundanity, billybouncer. What good is a Steelers chat on a Monday if no one asks about the backup long-snapper? But yeah, if he went down, they'd have to go find another one. If he went down in game, I actually have no idea who'd replace him. James Harrison did so in memorable but not very successful fashion back in the day.
Jeff
12:35
Thanks for the chats Brian.  Biggest concern for me is without significant upgrades to the OL why do we expect the group to get better with regards to run blocking?  They are all one year older, no Munchak, etc.  What have they done other than said "we need to improve in the run game"?  That seems obvious to anyone who watched last year
Brian Batko
12:37
You're welcome, Jeff. They brighten my day and week. I'm with you that it's very much a concern. Dave DeCastro was on Zoom with local media this morning, so keep an eye out for Gerry Dulac or Ray Fittipaldo writing off that call. Perhaps using more two-TE sets with Vance McDonald and Eric Ebron can help with that, too, not to mention the addition of Derek Watt. But those are all ancillary pieces. The offensive line itself needs to be a lot better in that regard, and do so with a new fifth man replacing Ramon Foster.
12:38
Actually, to go back to billybouncer's beautiful question, I just realized that Vance McDonald is probably this team's emergency LS. He did some snapping last year at Latrobe when Canaday got banged up.
Nitro
12:39
Hi Brian -  Which year one and two players have biggest impact on the season?  Which year one player has the potential to be the biggest sleeper - contribute more versus consensus expectations and why?
Brian Batko
12:41
Biggest impact? I'll go Chase Claypool for the rookies and Devin Bush for the Year 2 dudes. Pretty obvious choices, actually. As to your second question, I think the guy who would best fit the "sleeper" designation is Kevin Dotson. Not great for him that he didn't get a chance to truly get acclimated this offseason, but he's kind of what they need as a road-grader run-blocker at guard.
12:42
I don't think Dotson is going to be able to win a job out of camp, but could he get comfortable and get inserted during the season if the OL struggles at LG or RT? You never know.
Best Guest
12:43
No question, but I'm having chili dogs with homemade sauce for lunch.
Load More Messages
Connecting…