You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.26.24
powered byJotCast
Brian Batko
10:00
Hi everyone, some Steelers cuts coinciding with the start of the chat...
10:01
RB Daijun Edwards, OLs Tyler Beach and Devery Hamilton, WRs Jacob Copeland and TJ Luther, DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Kyahva Tezino and DB Kiondre Thomas will not be on the 53. No surprises there. On to your questions...
Stairway to seventh seed
10:01
Brian: I can't help but think that Khan majorly mishandled the WR position this past offseason.  I don't know if you have given an expected record prediction yet, but how would that prediction change if the Steelers would have drafted a 1st round WR OR just kept Diontae and signed Donte Jackson after his eventual release from the Panthers?  +1 win in first scenario and +2 in second?
Brian Batko
10:03
As I mentioned back in February and have explained a few times since then, I really just think the Diontae Johnson relationship became untenable for many reasons. I suspect the draft maybe didn't break their way, but I don't blame them for moving on from Johnson, getting younger and more affordable, putting the spotlight on George Pickens and seeing what else might fall into their laps.
Lou
10:04
Hi Brian. Is Michael Thomas signed somewhere? Any chance he could come in as WR2?  I bet he would have a low price tag too. Maybe he’s not even WR2 but a combo 2/3/4
Brian Batko
10:06
He's a free agent. I guess it'd be a low-risk move but then again, if he had much left in the tank and was ready/willing to sign a cheap deal, wouldn't he have been scooped up by now? I've talked and written quite a bit about how impressed I was by the Steelers receivers in camp/preseason.
ReceiverPlease
10:06
Hey Bats - If we don’t get Aiyuk (it seems less and less likely), can you name any other real possibilities for adding a #1 or #2 receiver to this group? Any names come to mind we could pick up via trade or otherwise?
Brian Batko
10:08
Not really. I'm sure Omar Khan will keep his ear to the ground though on vets who could become disgruntled or part of a firesale in certain places. Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, Courtland Sutton come to mind just off the top of my head.
DarthStiller
10:08
Has the recent success of the "Kahn Artist" resulted in the hesitation of teams doing trades with the Steelers out of concern for being burned? Understanding that teams aren't just going to give away their best players, it still seems like it's taking too long to get a #2 WR while there may have been other options than Aiyuk.
Brian Batko
10:10
No, I would say it has nothing to do with reputation and everything to do with the way he operates in general. The Khan Artist moniker has been apropos because of the value he's gotten on these deals, and I'd imagine he continues to draw a hard line on compensation for trades, which is why you aren't seeing this deal get made with a team very much in win-now mode in the 49ers.
RAM
10:11
How long do you think Omar Khan keeps the deal on the table for Aiuk? I kind of hate him already for not making a decision one way or the other. Let’s move on already!
Brian Batko
10:12
Not sure, RAM. I understand the fatigue, but sometimes to get the best of a negotiation, you have to have the utmost patience. Of course, in this case, it's also about striking the right balance between waiting and cutting your losses. Though it will be interesting to see if Washington gets back involved, as has been rumored since they traded Jahan Dotson to the Eagles.
DCSteelers
10:13
I’m happy with a lot of what the Steelers did in the offseason (minus how they treated Mason Rudolph, who saved last season, and Tomlin getting an extension he frankly did not earn).  I think Khan is doing a great job for the most part, but I am scratching my head about the lack of urgency to address the WR position.  I don’t think you necessarily need Aiyuk, and Roman Wilson was a nice pick, but it just seems like that position group still needs something more.  When Russell Wilson, TJ Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick aren’t getting any younger, why not give this team every tool it needs now to shoot its shot?
Brian Batko
10:14
Is it crazy to just see how things play out in the early going with Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, potentially a healthy Roman Wilson at some point and then whatever combination of Scotty Miller/Quez Watkins/Dez Fitzpatrick makes the team? You're gonna be throwing the ball to Pickens and Pat Freiermuth a ton regardless, or at least you should be. Not to mention the occasional targets for Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward and the running backs. Even someone like MyCole Pruitt showed Saturday he can still get downfield and make a play or two, assuming he makes the team.
Chris Parker
10:16
Hey Brian - love the chats. How comfortable are you with the Steelers offense going into the first game with Atlanta now that the preseason is over?
Brian Batko
10:17
I'm not particularly comfortable that they'll be a well-oiled machine Week 1. Not with the relatively small sample size we've seen of Russell Wilson, especially the small sample size of success. The O-line is still in flux to some degree, dealing with injuries and it's already a unit relying heavily on youth.
the real guest
10:17
Brian, I think some of the guys who make the final 53 on Tuesday should hold off celebrating. Omar and Andy are going to hit the waiver wire harder this year than ever before. Not 1 or 2 but more like 4 or 5. What say you?
Brian Batko
10:19
Ehh I'm not sure about that one. Cornerback is certainly a concern between the slot starter, outside backup if Cory Trice's groin is a problem, etc. Otherwise, I like the depth at a lot of other positions. OL could be an area to keep an eye on because of all the guys banged up.
putinbatch
10:19
do you know how is Highsmith? has he even played yet? i'm worried about him although no one's acting like it's a problem. thanks
Brian Batko
10:20
He seems like he's fine, just managing something minor to make sure it doesn't linger into the season.
Retire21
10:20
Over or under of 3 players taken off other cuts or FAs still out there?
Brian Batko
10:21
Under. Or push. Always use a half-point in your betting lines, folks.
GPT
10:21
No offense to Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller but something has to give on the #2 WR front, right?
Brian Batko
10:22
Both guys were standouts in Latrobe and had solid moments in preseason games. They're vets. They're reliable. Every team wants more big-time playmakers but you can't have 'em everywhere across the lineup.
Jud
10:23
Are the Steelers ready for their closeup Mr. DeMille (Batko)?
Brian Batko
10:25
Again, I'm not convinced. Not to be too pessimistic but I'm just being skeptical. This is one of the side-effects of having one fewer preseason game. You've got less time to evaluate, less live reps to work with, and then couple that with the delayed launch for the starting quarterback, untimely injuries, jury's still out.
Rocco
10:25
Whats plan B when Aiyuk signs back with San Fran? Omar put himself in a bad spot you think?
Brian Batko
10:25
Fold the franchise
Ryan
10:25
Good afternoon Brian what do you think about the play of Nick Herbig on Saturday he looked Good
Brian Batko
10:26
He's looking good, Ryan. He's looking reeeealllll goooood.
Her Big Nick
10:26
BB, quick check on the accuracy of the bathroom scales and NFL stats.  If I'm truly 240, I would say you are tipping the scales at 310 svelte (for a journalist) pounds. Your thoughts, if any?
Brian Batko
10:27
Nick Herbig is not a large man by NFL edge rusher standards, but I look much more like Nick Kroll. I wouldn't compare our physiques in any way, shape or form.
Joe Mama
10:28
Tomlin has already screwed up 3 challenge situations and the regular season hasn't even started yet.  Why won't Art2 force him to delegate this responsibility to somebody with access to the network feed?
Brian Batko
10:29
For all I know, that's already part of the equation, but Mike Tomlin has been deliberately vague about their challenge process for whatever reason.
Teddy Jackson
10:29
Do you think we see the Steelers do any extensions before the regular season? Thanks Brian
Brian Batko
10:29
I still think Pat Freiermuth gets done, Ted
Low Standard
10:30
So far the new quarterbacks are as advertised.  An occasional good play here and there but a lot of inconsistency.  Neither sees the field well.  Did our dumpster diving actually make the QB room worse?
Brian Batko
10:31
Now, I might be the skeptic, but I'm not gonna go this far. If the Steelers could win 10 games and make the playoffs with the Kenny Pickett/Mitch Trubisky/Mason Rudolph triumvirate, I think they can do at least that with Wilson and Fields.
OK everyone, sorry for the half-chat but I have to head down to the facility for practice. Thanks for the questions and if I couldn't get to yours, you might see it in my mailbag this week.
Connecting…