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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.12.24
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Brian Batko
2:38
Andy, I will direct you to the film study Chris Carter wrote on that very topic! https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/08/12/nfl-preseason-...
Ortho Surgeon
2:39
BB, if PW continues to excel, will lucrative, proactive ACL removals become a thing?
Brian Batko
2:39
Payton Wilson is probably a physical and spiritual anomaly to the point that I would not recommend extensive ACL surgeries to mere mortals.
Pittfan
2:40
Hi Brian. Do you think we'll see George Picken's talent (true #1) on display with this new group of qbs? He will probably be due an extension next year and without the numbers how will he be slotted? I liken his situation to a thoroughbred horse running without a jockey.
Brian Batko
2:41
Yes I do, provided he can keep his head in the game. Talent, talent, talent is all over him. Maturity, maturity, maturity is what I still question. If he shows improvement in the latter, the former will get him paid by the Steelers to stay here long-term.
Jim_Bow_Dean
2:41
What is the logic behind having the QB4 returning kicks? He has no chance of making the roster and you are taking aways reps from someone who might.
Brian Batko
2:43
John Rhys Plumlee is a good athlete who ran a 4.54 40 and played slot receiver for a season in the SEC. Is he gonna make the 53? I wouldn't bet on it, but why not see what he can do is the logic. Plus, it tells me they're pretty set on Cordarrelle Patterson handling those duties when it counts. No sense in throwing him or Calvin Austin III back there more than they have to in order to get a feel for the new kickoff rule. Gotta keep 'em healthy, too. Plumlee is part-intrigue, part-Slick and Spin from that old movie.
WVSteeler
2:44
Hey Brian, thanks for the chats!  On the Aiyuk trade front, do we know what the Steelers offer has been in terms of draft picks?   I thought I read that SF is asking for next year’s 2nd and 3rd round picks, but Steelers were hesitant to give up both day 2 picks.
Brian Batko
2:45
They aren't gonna give up a first, which makes it tough for SF's perspective because they're in win-now mode and what do those future assets really help? At least with an additional first you could maybe flip that to another team for an Aiyuk replacement at WR. I'm not surprised they're in a holding pattern here.
Jon in Oregon
2:45
At this admittedly early point, do you think Cory Trice will make the 53 and get a reasonably significant number of snaps?
Brian Batko
2:46
I do. Not sure about a significant numbers of snaps unless there's an injury, but they probably would've turned to him last season when Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson were struggling, had they been able to. Instead, his torn ACL early in camp derailed his rookie year. But it's a good sign for him that he worked with the starters again today while Donte Jackson manages a minor in jury.
Pony Boy
2:47
Bats. When you go to stadium to cover Steelers, do you wear Steelers gear or Civilian clothes?
Brian Batko
2:49
No, I do not wear Steelers gear to the stadium. Or to practice. Or to press conferences. Or to the mall. Or to the beach. I usually don't even wear anything Pittsburgh-related. Don't need people asking me about the Steelers. You have to be on these chats to do a thing like that.
BCStiller
2:49
Hi Brian and thanks for your time.  Can you point me toward a list of Steelers preseason TV affiliates?  I understand Friday's game being on NFL network limited broadcast coverage to Pittsburgh and Houston, but I don't see Saturday's game in the listings for Harrisburg-York here.  Do they not have an affiliate here this year?
Brian Batko
2:49
From the Steelers.com list it appears to be WHP-TV in your neck of Penn's Woods https://www.steelers.com/game-day/preseason-tv-affiliates
TV
2:50
There was some good and some bad in the first preseason game, but overall the team didn't "make routine plays routinely" as Mike Tomlin likes to say.  Based on what you are seeing at camp, is the performance in the game a cause for concern or nothing to worry about?
Brian Batko
2:51
It was sloppier than camp, but that's probably to be expected. Some jitters under the lights, some natural nerves in front of the TV cameras, excitement with the crowd, unfamiliar faces on the other side, etc. Tomlin was heated postgame, though. It's a first test, of sorts, and the Steelers forgot some of the answers they studied.
Terry
2:51
Hi Brian, I know it's only been ne preseason game and a short sample size otherwise but certainly looks like Frazier should be the starting center.  I know he's got things to learn but at some point, doesn't he just have to play?
Brian Batko
2:52
Yes and I don't think he'll be on the sideline come Week 1. They're being fair to Nate Herbig, who's well-liked, steady, professional. But at some point the ceiling with Frazier is going to win out over Herbig's floor. And he'll be a solid backup at all three interior spots.
Zach S.
2:53
Hey Brian - what kind of role do you see for CA17 this year.  Seems like the right kind of worker but not a lot of splash and didn't win the #2 job.  Is his ceiling holding down the slot until Wilson is ready?
Brian Batko
2:55
He's gotten better. It's never good when your team drafts another guy at your position, especially one who's similar to you in size, athleticism, whatnot. But Austin was a fourth-round pick. Starter status was never necessarily the expectation for him. If he can be a big-play receiver sprinkled in from time to time, he'll help. He's a team guy, a return threat still too in the punt game.
Ryan
2:55
Good afternoon Brian does Jonathan Ward Make it on The Practice Squad Go Steelers
Brian Batko
2:56
If not the active roster, then yes, definitely he's P-squad caliber. As long as someone doesn't see his juice in preseason action and scoop him up. I really didn't give him enough credit coming into camp.
Rock Daddeo
2:56
Do preseason opposing coaches chat at all before the game? Stuff like how long your 1s are in? We want to work on our coverages, so can you pass deep? We'll blitz less if you run more?
Brian Batko
2:58
That's a good question, Rock. Have you thought about being a reporter? I suppose it depends on the relationship they have with the opposing coach, what they're looking to get out of it, things of that nature. Perhaps when the Ravens were reeling off that 24-game preseason win streak John Harbaugh was telling the other guy what he would do, then did the opposite.
JV
2:58
Why is it that all these players want to play for Tomlin. I thought these guys were the Most competitive people on the planet yet Tomlin hasn’t won anything. Makes no sense unless they want to play JV ball
Brian Batko
2:58
OK thanks
The Ape
2:58
The quarterback situation is shaky at best. Can we please take a shot with a high talent but untested Plumlee instead of a predictable C- performer like Kyle Allen in reserve?
Brian Batko
3:00
The reps he gets in practice seem to be moving pretty fast for him. There's a reason he went undrafted. But I'm with you, I'd like to see John Rhys Plumlee get some live action in the preseason too. Or even more Justin Fields. Kyle Allen is fine. We know this. The benefit to having him in there is probably knowing he'll run the offense properly and you can evaluate the young guys around him who aren't vets.
Paul CLT
3:01
Thanks for the chats.  If the Steelers walk-a-way from Aiyuk - is there a different WR that you could see landing in Pittsburgh?
Brian Batko
3:01
Well, Martavis Bryant had a workout with the Commanders...
OK folks, I've got to wrap it up. Sorry for all the questions I could not get to, but Gerry Dulac will be chatting Wednesday and Ray Fittipaldo in the saddle Thursday. Pepper them up. Have a nice week.
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