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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.12.24
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, it’s your last chat of training camp with me, so let’s talk Steelers. I just finished watching practice about an hour ago.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:01
Brian: after the draft amidst all the credit Khan was getting, I asked you whether or not you thought the Steelers should have filled a gaping whole at WR with Brian Thomas.  Well here we are in mid August with the Steelers about to give away a proverbial farm of future draft picks and cap space for Aiyuk and Fautanu just put on maybe the worst preseason debut for a first round pick that we have ever seen.  Do you now think maybe drafting Thomas would have been the better move?
Brian Batko
2:02
Still way too early to say. We don’t even know that they’re going to give up “the farm” for Brandon Aiyuk. I’d guess that they won’t, actually. Troy Fautanu is behind the 8-ball now for sure but let’s not go writing him off just yet.
KRUT
2:02
BB- Thanks for taking the question.  The decision on when and when not to throw the challenge flag has been an issue for the entire tenure of MT (we saw an obvious situation to throw the flag get missed in the game).  Do you have any knowledge of anyone in the organization that sees this as an issue as well and would like to step in to help? Like maybe get another set of eyes in the booth to help MT out!  Rooney needs to step in on this one.
Brian Batko
2:03
Last year there was that Diontae Johnson incompletion in the back of the end zone in Cincy that they probably could’ve challenged and won. Mike Tomlin assured everyone they have someone in the booth responsible for helping him on close calls like that. But he seemingly had no interest in pulling back the curtain on that process.
Josh
2:04
I know you're going to be flooded with Aiyuk questions, but isn't there some sort of timeline both sides have to just call it quits with one another? We're 24 days away from opening night, someone eventually has to just cut off communication and move on right?
Brian Batko
2:06
The trade deadline, right? But certainly you’d expect the regular season to be a deadline of sorts, too, given that the Steelers don’t negotiate extensions in-season. And obviously each team is trying to plan their offense at this stage, so it behooves them to know who they have at their disposal and who won’t be there.
Jana
2:07
I know an OL needs to develop together and that takes time…so why do the Steelers spend valuable time moving everyone in and out of positions when they probably know right now where they will end up?? And with left guard and right guard being veterans let them anchor the line til the rookies and Jones are more solid and learn from their mistakes each week???
Brian Batko
2:08
They’re trying to balance identifying the best five and that unit having time to jell. In that sense, Fautanu’s injury could settle things earlier than expected. And I still think it’s only a matter of time before Zach Frazier is the starting center.
AC
2:08
Thanks for the chats Brian! What percentage would you give the Steelers on landing Aiyuk? Thx
Brian Batko
2:10
Hmmm let’s go with 50.6%
Brandon Aiyuk
2:10
hi Brian it seems like the most likely outcome at this point is that the Niners strike a deal with Aiyuk. Ian Rapporort seemed to suggest that we juiced our offer up. Any insight on that?
Brian Batko
2:11
I assume there’s a decent amount of wiggle room between the deal the 49ers want and what the Steelers have offered thus far. So could they have “juiced it up”? Sure. But I just don’t see Omar Khan being willing to overpay, now or later.
Same Results
2:12
Hey Brian.  I understand it is only one preseason game, but I saw a lot of the same.  I saw sloppy play, a slow start, players dancing, undisciplined penalties, and a general sense of not being on the same page.  I feel this has been the standard for at least a decade.  We change players in and out with the same results on the field.  Is this now a larger coaching and philosophy issue than just excusing it as new players the first preseason game?
Brian Batko
2:12
It was the first preseason game. If we aren’t putting too much stock in what happened last year that was good, I’m not gonna talk myself into putting too much stock into what’s been bad so far this year.
Joe Mama
2:13
Does the injury to Fuatanu mean Jones will miss more time at LT? Why wouldn't Tomlin simply put Jones where he belongs and let Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson fill in at RT for a couple weeks? What is his infatuation with Dan Moore?
Brian Batko
2:14
Well, our Gerry Dulac just scooped and reported that the Steelers were going to promote Fautanu to first-team right tackle for the next preseason game until the injury. Check it out here https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/08/12/broderick-jone...
Our Milk is louder than yours
2:15
Should/will we sign JuJu?
Brian Batko
2:15
No but I do like your chat name
Bern
2:17
Herbig or Fields more to blame for botched snaps?
Brian Batko
2:18
Hard to say but unless I see an obviously ball hiked to the groin area from the center, I tend to put it more on the QB.
J-town Johnnie
2:19
Brian,  I personally feel trading for Aiyuk is a big mistake.  I think it will cause problems with Pickens eventually, losing draft capital, possible a current starter & the salary cap situation will hurst us eventually.  Your thoughts please.
Brian Batko
2:22
Those are concerns for sure. It all depends whether they think Aiyuk is the caliber of player to take those risks. Everyone has a price but I don’t get the sense that the 49ers are gonna budge easily to the point that it matches the Steelers’ value. They might budge but clearly it hasn’t been easy.
FastFred
2:22
Hello Brian, All this talk about Aiyuc. I am fairly comfortable with our recieving Corps. If Jefferson and Austin emerge... do we need him in your opinion? He will not come cheap.
Brian Batko
2:23
And that’s the other thing. I actually don’t mind the Steelers’ skill position guys, at least to the point that you need pass-catchers in what figures to be a run-first offense. Van Jefferson made a big play or two again today. He’s getting the job done.
STEEL72
2:24
Hey, Bats. Seems as if everyone is in overreaction mode per usual. Despite the sloppy start, I'd be more concerned if this was pre-season game 3. Where do you stand on the WR room? Quez doesn't seem to be an answer. Van Jefferson looked pretty good, but hard to tell with this sample size? Can we forego a trade and ride with this room?
Brian Batko
2:25
Quez Watkins is stacking some good days in practice, actually. You have to separate his blunders as a punt returner from his abilities as a WR. Not sure he’s gonna make the team but he’s done a good job bouncing back from a bad drop last week.
chuck mac from Houston
2:26
Fields looks good - most of the time.  Then the fumbles and holding the ball too long and you get the same results as Chicago.  Are we redefining the definition of insanity?
Brian Batko
2:26
Let’s see what he can do with a fresh start. Open mind. Those are the intangible things. I’m also not gonna discount new QB coach Tom Arth’s work with his mechanics.
Brian in NC
2:28
Thanks for doing these Brian.  It seemed like when Bettis was here the defense benefited from not facing as many possessions while the Steelers controlled the ball for extended drives.  Last year, the reverse seemed true (bad O made it harder for D).  IF they can get back to controlling the ball on O, how impactful (if at all) do you think that will be for their defense?
Brian Batko
2:29
Most of the best defenses are boosted up by good offenses, that’s for sure. And I certainly think that’s the complementary style of football Mike Tomlin envisions. The man seems to really hate turnovers, particularly in this post-Ben Roethlisberger era.
James Ryan
2:30
Hey Brian. Thanks for the chats. Any chance the Steelers could look to pursue CeeDee Lamb as a WR possibility? It feels like that could be a plausibility with the Aiyuk situation dragging on.
Brian Batko
2:30
Never say never, but …
Jeff M
2:31
Did Chandon Sullivan do such a bad job last year that they wouldn't bring him in  to compete for the nickel job? Feels like the biggest hole right now.
Brian Batko
2:33
I didn’t think he was bad but I also sense they want to get younger at that spot, maybe hungrier, and cheaper usually goes with those two attributes. Not that Chandon Sullivan would break the bank by any means but you save a bit paying an undrafted rookie rather than an established veteran.
Mats
2:34
Hi BB, thanks for the chats, reports and hard work, question, if we ad Ayuk, would we have on paper a Super Bowl capable winning team?
Brian Batko
2:35
Not gonna go that far, no. Of course it helps to add a two-time 1,000-yard receiver to any squad but I’m not convinced this one will have the right combination of QB and OL play.
Jeff
2:36
Your thoughts on when Zack Frazier gets the nod at center. I'd think after the game versus Texans he should  be looked at extensively and with the ones.
Brian Batko
2:37
My thoughts are if you keep spelling it Zack you're gonna confuse me before he even gets a chance to start.
Andy
2:37
Brian would you say that the footwork that caused the 2 sacks Friday night resulted from lack of experience playing right tackle rather than left?
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