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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.25.25
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Brian Batko
10:00
Good morning everyone, thanks for stopping in to chat some Steelers. Great timing with roster cuts tomorrow.
JPinPDX
10:01
Good morning Bats. Thanks for your work and humor in these rooms! Any surprise cuts or keeps ahead of this 53 man roster for you?
Brian Batko
10:03
I can't envision any surprise cuts a la Ryan Switzer or Eli Rogers once upon a time. But surprise keeps? Maybe someone in that receiver room, a Ke'Shawn Williams or Max Hurleman.
FirstTimeLongTime
10:03
Hey Brian.  With the CBs on the roster this season could we see a return to Blitzburgh? It's obvious that we've relied far too much on rushing 4.  Maybe not the zone blitz of old (although don't these things make a resurface after time) but it would be nice to see that splash and attitude brought back.
Brian Batko
10:04
Yeah I think that's part of the plan. Match up man to man and give yourself a lot more flexibility with pass rush, blitz packages, etc.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:05
Hi Brian! Thanks for the chats! Who goes on short term IR and who might move to the full season IR on Tuesday?
Brian Batko
10:07
No problem. There aren't any Steelers who should need to go on full season IR. Will Howard, Cory Trice and Donte Kent seem like logical candidates for the designated to return distinction, of which you can have two on cut-down day. Last year it was Dylan Cook and Jeremiah Moon.
Ty Hink
10:08
Morning Brian, not sure how Loudermilk is going to make it on the team this year, but with 99 now likely unavailable week 1 he probably stays. Guy just never seems to do much every year but somehow sticks around. What say you?
Brian Batko
10:09
He serves a purpose. Usually sets a solid edge against the run, doesn't give you much against the pass other than maybe batting a ball here and there. Good on special teams, good locker room guy, that sort of thing. He's kind of become the new Big Dan McCullers.
Uncle Larry
10:09
Will the Steelers trade one of their 4 QB’s?
Brian Batko
10:12
Can't rule it out, but to me, Skylar Thompson would be the only one they move. And now we have a little bit of a market shaping up, given that Sam Howell went from the Vikings to the Eagles for effectively a sixth-round pick. Howell has more draft pedigree than Thompson, is 4 years younger than Thompson and more NFL experience, so adjust your expectations there accordingly.
Keith from Atlanta
10:12
WIll the Steelers regret passing on Jaxson Dart?  Could have sat behind Aaron Rodgers for a year.  If they finish at 9-8 or 10-7 as many predict that's bottom half of 2026 draft.
Brian Batko
10:14
Anything's possible, Keith. But I wasn't a huge believer in Jaxson Dart in the draft. Obviously, he had a strong preseason, so maybe I was wrong. I'll still say no though. And the last part of your prompt, that's exactly why the Steelers have tried to amass extra picks, so that they do have the ability to package them and move up for a QB.
The Camster
10:15
BB, am I taking a hard look at my agent's performance and/or possibly abstaining from familial contract advice henceforth? Or did The Khan Man's referral of some established realtors in the Greater Cleveland vicinity get my head on fairly straight?
Brian Batko
10:16
Cam Heyward may not be too thrilled with his agent, or at least how that deal went down, but I find it extremely far-fetched to believe Omar Khan threatened to trade him anywhere, let alone Cleveland. While this might not be a comfortable situation for anyone at the moment, it's not worth throwing away a decade-plus of good relations over it.
Bill in Charleston
10:17
Good Monday Morning to you!  With the focus to cut down to 53, you will likely get a lot of these questions but, what the heck … taking injuries into account, how do you see the D Line playing out?
Brian Batko
10:19
That's what I'm here for, Bill. Only question I have about the DL is whether the fifth and final spot goes to Logan Lee, Isaiahh Loudermilk or perhaps they manage to keep both by cutting at another position. If I had to guess, I'll say Loudermilk makes it and Lee is the odd man, but could see it going either way.
Mass Fan
10:20
Thanks for the chats. Here we go Steelers!! It seems that the WR's who thrive with AR are ones who he trusts, run great routes, have predictable behavior after the play breaks down etc. Scotty Miller has proven to be that guy. Any sign of this with the other receivers,TE's?
Brian Batko
10:22
Yeah, Ben Skowronek is probably as tight with him as anyone off the field, which can always translate. He seems to have a great rapport with Darnell Washington in-close. The ones to watch are DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson, all for different reasons. Metcalf because a second-nature connection there has the biggest payoff. Austin because he's been missing time. And Wilson because he has so little NFL experience.
Shar Pourdanesh
10:23
Will Rodgers have the latitude to change plays at the line as he sees fit? I would think his resume and NFL tenure would make audible calls a definite advantage. MT and Arthur Smith  should let him do his thing.
Brian Batko
10:24
I believe so, yes. Although I did find it mildly interesting that Delanie Walker of all people, former Titans tight end who was tight with Arthur Smith as his position coach in Nashville, chimed in on a podcast last week  that he sees the Rodgers-Smith relationship going sour eventually.
Spjack
10:26
Chris Carter wrote a nice piece on Yahya Black today. Love to know what Black and Zack Frazier feel about each other. Any input on that Brian?
Brian Batko
10:27
Can't say I've explored that relationship at all, given that they're on opposite sides of the ball and don't have any sort of history together as far as I know.
Black &Gold in SC
10:28
Good morning Brian. Saw an article this morning that LV may be talking to us about a QB trade. This makes all kind of sense unless Howard gets stashed on IR for the whole season. Don’t see how a broken finger justifies that, especially if he isn’t allowed to practice with the team. Waste of an entire year. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
10:31
Yeah, Geno Smith's backup Aidan O'Connell has a broken wrist, so he's out of commission for a while. Raiders only have one other QB on the roster, rookie Cam Miller, so likely will be in search of another one.
BP
10:31
Hi Brian, how do you see the RB duties playing out in the early part of the season.  Will Warren be the work horse or will there be a 3 headed monster type of thing going?
Brian Batko
10:32
My gut feeling is they lean on Jaylen Warren early and if he falters, Kaleb Johnson's usage increases. Or, if Kaleb Johnson gets an opportunity here and there and maximizes it, he works his way into more touches. With Kenny Gainwell being used frequently as a pass catchers.
George Thorogood
10:33
So, in the not-too-distant past, Cam was going to play. Then Cam was “holding in.” Most recently, he’s back to “going to play.” With Harmon potentially out for Week 1, and with Benton apparently having an upper body injury that could threaten his Week 1 status, what are the odds that “Capitalizing Cam” switches to some form of holdout status before the season begins?
Brian Batko
10:36
Ha, I gotta admit that I can't quite put a finger on how Cam Heyward is operating this summer. I'll just say this: I don't think he's entirely done with his leverage tactics but I certainly think he's bluffing with the whole missing games possibility.
TVC15
10:36
Hi Brian, The Steelers are a 3 point favorite on the road against the Jets.   Is this already a trap game for Tomlin or bet the farm on the Steelers?
Brian Batko
10:37
Uhhh...neither? The Jets could be good. We don't know. And you're talking to a can't-quit-Justin Fields guy here, TVC15.
JR
10:38
Always love the little quips that happen with players. The term “black and white” is often used to describe a clean cut situation. #78 means the same now: Yahya and Dwight. 😄
Brian Batko
10:38
And Yahya Black almost looks like he was transported here from a 1970s defense via time machine. Something about him.
Ben
10:39
Hey brian, would you trade a 5th  and Skylar for Richardson? How about a 4th? Steelers look on course to have their usual record, making me wonder whether they’ll be willing/able to trade up 10-15 spots to get a QB. At what point would you hedge bets and add the clearly unready for the NFL  Richardson to the mix to see if you could work with him?
Brian Batko
10:41
I'd probably just wait til this offseason to see what becomes of Anthony Richardson and his value. They might even cut him, who knows? Then you could get him for nothing.
Mtsteel
10:41
Hi Brian, thanks for chats. As we approach the start of season. We still have injuries and some uncertainty at #2 WR spot. Do you anticipate the Steelers to sign a FA. Gave Davis seems like he's out, but why only court one guy who has injury issues? Whats the plan? They brought someone in so apparently the need is there. Thanks
Brian Batko
10:42
Because I just don't think they view themselves as desperate for WR help as you or others outside the organization do. Whether that's belief in the depth they have there, the tight ends assembled, Arthur Smith's offensive philosophy or a combination of all those factors, that's my take. And they "brought someone in" to check on his recovery from injury and get a feel for when he might be ready to play. That could just amount to a contingency plan sort of thing.
Boston Benny
10:43
Hey Brian,  as the Steelers approach final cut down day, how many running backs and wide receivers do you see them keeping?  It seems there are some pretty good players who may get cut from these positions.
Brian Batko
10:44
Agreed but those are two positions where just about every team has good players who will be cut. The NFL is relatively deep at RB and WR. I say they keep six WRs and maybe even four RBs. If they can afford to lose a body somewhere else, Trey Sermon is a steady, dependable back who also plays special teams.
Butcher
10:44
Bats, always appreciate your chats.  With the season approaching and some minor injuries (hopefully minor for Harmon), I don't think the team will make any major moves. Don't think Gabe Davis will be signed after 2 medical checks , at least not immediately. I think they will roll with what they have, keep some cap space in case there is an injury. The eagles are moving around and trading for young players with late round picks/swaps  What are your thoughts or insights about signing additional pieces now? Youth or vets if they do it
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