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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.14.23
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by the chat. Three more days of camp for the Steelers, so let’s get to it.
Ken
2:01
Any injuries to be concerned about now?
Brian Batko
2:02
Doesn’t seem like it right now, but we should knock on wood. Preseason games always bring about a bit more bumps and bruises than the controlled environment of practice.
Stash
2:02
BB, by giving prospective chat participants such a generous advance notice, are you anticipating a better quality average inquiry? Or are expecting the same ole’ drivel from the same cast of questionable characters? Gracias.
Brian Batko
2:03
Always expecting the same ole drivel from you, Stashy.
TV
2:03
Kendrick Green looked terrible at center against Tampa.  Is the experiment at fullback is just a temporary thing to fill time during camp and Green is likely gone once cut-downs occur?
Brian Batko
2:04
I still could see it going either way, but like I said last week, O-line is his first job. If Mike Tomlin and company are too discouraged by his work there, the versatility factor goes out the window for him.
Bernard
2:06
You could select one retired Steelers for the HoF not currently enshrined.  How would it be and why?
Brian Batko
2:09
Dan Kreider. Fullbacks need more love and he was super useful on Madden for me once upon a time.
Andrew in ATL
2:10
When Broderick Jones eventually takes over LT, who gets the spot at RT Chuks or Dan Moore based on what you have seen or heard?
Brian Batko
2:12
I’d be surprised if Chuks Okorafor loses that spot. Dan Moore is only slowly working on playing more RT, so I doubt they’d throw him into that spot over a guy who’s been holding it down since 2020. Maybe next offseason that could be more of a discussion if Jones proves himself and settles in at LT.
Yates
2:12
Hi Brian -  should we be more concerned about CB depth than slot corner?  Riley seems like a find.
Brian Batko
2:14
Yeah I’d say that’s one thing that has changed since camp began, the outlook/strength/depth at those spots. Elijah Riley and Chandon Sullivan both have had nice moments so far, whereas the Cory Trice injury eliminated a likely member of the 53-man roster.
Gunner need a bigger boat
2:16
Braden Mann handled the kick-off duties at Texas A&M before becoming the starting punter his Jr. year.  All things considered equal, wouldn't Mann have an edge over Harvin based on the fact that he could kick in a pinch.
Brian Batko
2:18
Not sure that’ll really play into the decision-making at punter. It’ll come down to which guy Tomlin likes better for that responsibility and for holding.
Andy
2:19
What positions will we try to upgrade depth-wise when cutdowns start?
Brian Batko
2:20
I’d look at outside corner perhaps. Maybe a center-capable interior lineman. Overall though I don’t think there will be as many cut-down picks up as last year when they traded for Malik Reed and Jesse Davis. This 90-man roster seems to be stocked up more with depth and experience than in past years.
Texas Steel
2:20
Bats, is the Kendrick Green experience finally over?
Brian Batko
2:22
No because camp will continue and there are two more preseason games, but it’s getting late early for him. That experience was a leap of faith from the beginning. Undersized, lack of length, only four college starts at the position they drafted him to play. There always were reasons to be dubious about him.
Nate
2:23
Hi, Brian.  Do you have any predictions for surprise cuts in the  final cuts?
Brian Batko
2:25
Nothing that you’d probably find too surprising. Maybe Tre Norwood or Miles Killebrew get squeezed out at safety because of the play of Kenny Robinson but we’ll see.
Infantryman
2:27
Why can't the coaches see that  Rudolph always out performs Trubisky every time given the opportunity? He made some.great plays on Friday, especially on the TD pass to Austin. He got hit as soon as he made that throw.
Brian Batko
2:28
Mason Rudolph has had fine preseason performances many times. And maybe he does continue to improve as he goes into Year 6. But I think the Steelers have seen enough of his oberall
2:29
his overall body of work. And it’s not just the Steelers. The rest of the league wasn’t too into Rudolph either, as his market this offseason showed us.
Jason
2:31
Hi Brian! Can you explain the thought process for special teams in preseason. Why when kicking off would you have the kicked kick the ball 10 yards past the end line. Shouldn’t the coaches want to see the coverage team? See who’s doing the right thing in coverage? I just don’t understand what anyone is thinking. How do the coaches do an evaluation of the special teams players when they just kick the ball out of the end zone?
Brian Batko
2:32
That’s a logical point. I assume part of that consideration is that you’re still trying to simulate how you’ll approach those situations in real games, and it does remain a relatively dangerous play. Eliminating that rep is eliminating the chance of anyone getting injured on that kickoff.
GM
2:33
I know it's preseason and these games don't matter but to you how was the game called by OC and DC?  MC catches a lot of flak for the calls/designs, but I'm only hearing about the stretch that Kenny was in.  What's your take, did the play calls change throughout?
Brian Batko
2:34
It was a good first drive for the first team offense and beyond that I’m not sure it’s really worth analyzing play calling in a preseason game. It’s inherently vanilla and you aren’t gonna tip your hand much if at all to your regular season opponents.
Ed in Carrick
2:35
Dan Moore seems to be balling out. However, the team will install Jones before long. I predict week 4. Your thought.
Brian Batko
2:37
I’d be stunned if they traded up in round 1 to draft a left tackle they’re gonna sit for an entire season. They knew Moore was here when they did it and they know what they have in him. But I suppose you sort of set yourself up for a win-win at that position if you let Moore start the season. If he’s good, he’s good. Obvious benefit there. If he’s mediocre to bad, in comes your first rounder.
Jay
2:39
Hello Brian.  Is Kendrick Green the new Austin Hedges?  We shall just move on already with him.  Hes like that one crazy chick we made out once but been haunting us everywhere.  We see her at Giant Eagle, we see her at church.  Please just go away
Brian Batko
2:39
You should check out Trader Joe’s
Ding
2:40
The Steelers have been quietly rebuilding over the last 2 years and nobody noticed.  Did you?
Brian Batko
2:40
I think so
Fletch
2:41
Hi Bats, thanks for the great work, time and chats.  It was nice to see the middle of the field attacked some.  Who's holding this offense back the most - Tomlin, Canada or Pickett's inexperience/inability to make correct reads at this stage in his career?
Brian Batko
2:44
Everyone has some blame for last year’s offensive inefficiency, from Tomlin’s conservative philosophy to Canada’s play-calling to Pickett’s rookie learning curve. And let’s not let the OL, WRs and RBs off the hook.
Jud
2:47
How much will Kenny play in the 2nd and 3rd games?
Brian Batko
2:49
Might depend on his performance: if he’s impressive again this week at home I could see sitting him out the final game. Tomlin has said multiple times now he’s still trying to figure out what he wants his approach to be to the 3-game preseason and how he needs to tailor it to each year’s team - and, obviously, what individual players might need.
Zach
2:51
B. Jones and K. Benton must start day one - if not, what were they drafted so high for? D. Moore is average at best, I hope Tomlin starts the process now in camp to insert Jones in the starting lineup
Brian Batko
2:54
I hear you, and I tend to agree with you on Jones, but let's not pretend the sole purpose of the NFL draft is to make your team better the following year. Obviously, draft picks - including high ones - are sometimes made for what those players can be in the future and how they can help you down the road. For a guy like Benton, who's been inserted into a position group with some studs already, you can afford to bring him along slowly.
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