JotCast | Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.16.19

Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.16.19

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Brian Batko

12:31

Not to my knowledge. I assume he'll be a target of reporters at 1:15 when the locker room opens.

Shannon

12:32

Sean Davis seems to always be hurt. Will he and Hargrave be back?

Brian Batko

12:34

Yeah he's been fragile in 2019, for sure. Shoulder, ankle, shoulder again. I don't think Davis will be back. Leaning no on Hargrave too just because they didn't get a deal done before Week 1 and he's still not playing even half the snaps.

Eric Carr

12:35

Can you picture them just going with Rudolph and Hodges? Have to look at available vets, right?

Brian Batko

12:36

Wouldn't shock me. Clearly, they liked Devlin Hodges from the time they saw him in his rookie minicamp tryout, to keeping him around for OTAs, and enough to trade away Josh Dobbs for a fifth-round pick and then sign Hodges back to the P squad. But we are gonna find out just how much they like him. Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel are available.

Picksixlisberger

12:37

Do you think the Steelers need to sign an experienced backup to help Randolph or are they going with Duckboy?

Brian Batko

12:40

In all honesty, pickings are slim. Matt Cassel is a free agent. He's 37 but actually played in two games last year for Detroit. David Fales and Brock Osweiler are younger options. Brandon Weeden, no one really knows how old he is, but he's out there.

Ben

12:40

Roethlisberger injury aside, aren't the FO and coaching staff guilty of some pretty insular thinking? They've sunk a lot of money into an O line that can't run the ball and they've failed to develop any defensive backs since Ike Taylor (basically). In today's NFL, if you can't control the clock and stop the pass, how do you win? I think the system needs a good review as much as the personnel... what do you think?

Brian Batko

12:42

Ben, is that you? But really, I don't have an issue with the OL spending and construction. With a franchise QB like Ben, more than anything, you need to make sure you have five guys who can keep Roethlisberger upright. They do need to do some soul-searching in how to get the ground game going, though.

Rob

12:44

I think it is time to clean the house with Tomlin and old man Keith Butler at the end of the season. You can't tell me the Steelers couldn't lure someone from the college ranks like from a Clemson, Georgia, etc

Brian Batko

12:44

That seems like more of a challenge than a question

DuBe

12:44

Steelers need to trade for Cam Newton

Brian Batko

12:45

Dude, DuBe, this is genius. Then they could have not only FIVE Cams or Kams on the team, but also the most famous one. Bring in Cam Cameron as OC. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/09/07/players-named-...

Reality

12:46

Tough break that both Tomlin and Big Ben just got contract extensions. That kills their cap going forward. Time to promote Hodges and let the new era begin.

Brian Batko

12:46

Promote Devlin Hodges to No. 1 QB and hire Bill Cherpak as head coach. That's reality.

SOMD Panther

12:47

Where are you on the "NFL Teams Should Hire a Clock Management Specialist" debate?

Brian Batko

12:47

Makes sense to me, man. We've got so many consultants and quality control and outside receiver coaches, and none of those seem as valuable to me as a 17-year-old kid who beats the crap out of everyone due to flawless decision-making on Madden,

PdxJaxon

12:48

Brian, I think we can all agree...Moncrief has to go. Im also concerned about Switzer. Do we bring back Eli Rogers and Diontae spencer?

Brian Batko

12:49

Well, Diontae Spencer is in Denver, where he's being used almost entirely as a punt returner. Eli Rogers is just sitting around waiting to get signed by somebody, whether it's the Steelers or another team. The Donte Moncrief experience has been awful so far, don't get me wrong. I still think Switzer, whose usage was down this week by the way, continues to be near the bottom of the list of problems.

Not with a bang but a whimper

12:50

In a few words how would you sum up the offensive and defensive philosophy of the 2019-2020 Pittsburgh Steelers?

Brian Batko

12:50

Not ready for primetime, but not ready for daytime either.

ab2

12:50

I told you last year: "trade me and you'll see"

Brian Batko

12:52

Man, I'll say this much: maybe it's an oversimplification of an idea that's generally accurate, but through two - actually, three - games without Antonio Brown, it is starting to look more and more like he made Ben Roethlisberger great than the other way around. I know he was plenty good before AB, too, but Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes were no slouches themselves.

Alan

12:52

When will they fire their clock management coach? How could they let Tomlin watch the clock burn 20 seconds prior to the 2 minute warning without alerting him to take a timeout?

Brian Batko

12:53

Indeed, that was bizarre. Not sure it really mattered in the end, but there was no defending that.

Guest

12:53

Hi Brian, Did they say specifics on the 'type' of elbow surgery? such as Tommy J?

Brian Batko

12:54

Nope, team gave no specifics

KC Grenier

12:54

Good morning Mr. Batko. I'm a first-time poster on your chat. My question is this, with Ben being out, does that change your forecast for the Steeler's season record and post season chances?

Brian Batko

12:55

For that, KC, I thank you. It, uh, certainly does. It's hard to really forecast anything at this point, given that we've seen one half of Mason At Work. I was lower than most around here, other than my dear pal Chris Mueller, on the Steelers at 9-7. Now? Maybe 7-9 is closer to the ceiling than the floor. But still, we'll have to see. To me, the most significant aspect here is that a Super Bowl is no longer on the menu. I feel much more confident saying that now than I did this time yesterday.

Tom

12:56

Brian, Time for the D to step up and start earning their money. Gut check time. Either whine or start winning.

Brian Batko

12:56

I'll pass it along, thanks

BoKnows

12:56

Hi Brian - would you say that this weekend's game is an important an early season game as we have played in a long time? HCMT has to demonstrate that he can not only rally the team from a low point, but that he can exorcise the demons of losing again to an (allegedly) inferior team.

Brian Batko

12:57

Not so sure we can call the 49ers inferior anymore. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 297 yesterday as they blitzed the Bengals. Certainly, it's a vital game. Should tell us a lot. We don't even know what we don't know.

John D

12:57

Looks like there is some movement within the PG. Not a fan of the movement. Is this permanent?

Brian Batko

12:57

None of us are permanent, John,,

John from Florida

12:57

I suspect that Ben has had this problem from the start of the season, maybe even camp. He has just not looked the same this year. He has not had any real zip on the ball and has not been accurate with his throws. Would the team doctors know if this arm problem existed before yesterdays game ?

Brian Batko

12:58

His balls had zip on them when they were coming at me on the sideline during training camp. I can tell you these things almost surely will be asked of Mike Tomlin tomorrow in his weekly presser. He won't be speaking today, as far as I know.

Cgljr

12:58

Brian, Can you tell the O line is missing Munch?

Brian Batko

12:59

Eh, not really. They couldn't run the ball much at the end of last year, either.

Seven’s Coming

12:59

Do you think it’s possible we see an uptick in targets for James Washington. Not only do he and Rudolph have history but he’s on my fantasy team.

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