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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.16.24
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Roberto in Arizona
12:29
Hey, Brian.  I KNOW THIS WON’T HAPPEN, BUT IT MAY BE AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME.  On Thursdays, the NFL punishes players with fines and suspensions for things that occured the weekend before.  Hope about having them naming egregious mistakes by the officials, naming names and meted out punishments?
Brian Batko
12:30
I feel like we're really conflating "officials making split-second judgment calls you don't agree with" and "blatant errors borne of laziness, lack of knowledge, etc."
Same Old Same Old
12:31
I've commented in the past about Tomlin teams looking the same every year.  After poor offensive displays this year, the responses have been "it's the preseason" and "it's only one game".  Well, now we scored less points this week and average less than last year.  Is it time to accept that this isn't a QB or OC issue and that this is just what Tomlin does?  Every season under him looks the same no matter the other coaches and players.  Is this just what his culture and coaching produces?
Brian Batko
12:33
Certainly we're trending toward a common denominator type of situation, but let's also not forget that it's tricky to find prolific quarterbacks. Every team is trying to do it. Now, you look at what the Saints did yesterday after hiring a new OC and keeping Derek Carr, and yeah, scheme can absolutely unlock certain elements. So can superhero QBs. I'm sure Tomlin would sign up for one or both right now if he had the chance.
574 Fan
12:34
Any sense on when R Wilson might be available and whether or not he will impact the offense this season having missed almost all activities so far? Since he didn’t go to IR it’s pretty safe to assume he’ll be ready to go in the next couple of weeks.
Brian Batko
12:36
You would think, but I'm pretty sure the Steelers have had players miss more than four games before while not being on IR. It's less dire to have that roster spot nowadays when you have practice squad elevations available. I don't know when Wilson will be active. He says the calf is improving but he also was saying that throughout camp, so I'm taking a lot of those comments with a grain of salt.
Remember
12:36
200 yards in combined penalties. The game is either over officiated or under coached?
Brian Batko
12:36
Or poorly executed or all three
Stoney
12:37
I usually enter these chats with negative talk like: fire Tomlin, his hands are too small, Butler can’t coach, get rid of Ariens, etc. Not today. Today I will praise the d.b.’s. I think the new editions are playing well. Porter is a bit handsy but other than that I like em. P.s. Fields can’t throw.
Brian Batko
12:37
You were doing so well til the end, Stoney
KJ
12:38
Brian, thank you for the chats.  Do you believe it is asking too much to expect the Steelers offense to start scoring TDs?
Brian Batko
12:38
If they keep with the current pattern/trajectory, they'll put up 16 in Week 18
KJ
12:39
After he was pulled for committing 3 penalties, did Broderick Jones re-enter the game? And, if he did, how did he fare after his "benching?"
Brian Batko
12:39
Only for special teams blocking duties, KJ. He didn't hold!
Big Bri
12:39
First of all, we are 2 and 0 and first place in the AFC North and at the end of the day all that matters are the wins. What do attribute the sophomore jinx that seems to hit the Steelers these last few years? I understand that B Jones is still very green but he looked like he regressed from last year. Is it coaching, injuries or a combination of both?
Brian Batko
12:40
It's confounding because he actually looked pretty solid last season when he stepped in at right tackle for Chuks Okorafor. I'm not sure what's going on with him. If he has an injury that's much more significant than we know, then the team isn't doing him any favors by keeping that in-house.
Bedford
12:40
The difference of first-half JF and second-half JF was pretty obvious.  Good game manager when playing in front of the sticks--but you could see shades of the 'old' JF when down/distance didn't go our way.  I fear he is not QB1 as we start playing better teams, and god forbid, have to play from behind
Brian Batko
12:42
His inconsistency is what bogged things down for him in Chicago, based on those who watched him a lot. He made wow plays but struggled to really put it all together week in and week out, even drive in and drive out. If nothing else, it's fascinating to follow, because we know the traits are there.
Gene
12:42
Do you think Roman Wilson plays this week?
Brian Batko
12:43
I'm gonna guess yes. And I still view him as more of a slot option than anything, but hey, this receiving corps will take whatever kind of boost it can get.
John from Toronto
12:43
Brian, is it fair to say there is no QB controversy? Kudos to Justin Fields for getting the team to 2-0, but the formula is the same as last year with Kenny Pickett: conservative game plan, no turnovers and lean on the D. Surely, Russ Wilson is the starter when he's healthy, regardless if the team is 3-0 after the home opener.
Brian Batko
12:44
Wasn't it Tomlin who said last week that's a big if? I'll agree with him on that one.
Ben
12:45
Did courtland Sutton get on the plane home with the Steelers? What are realistic options for trading for a number 2 at this point besides praying for Roman Wilson’s health?
Brian Batko
12:45
He did not, but that would've been funny, Ben.
Stash
12:45
BB, please share if you an embarrassing episode somewhere along your life's journey which you could relate to Jones B's recent day at the office. Just to make him feel a little better if/when he reads your chat transcript.
Brian Batko
12:47
Hello, Stash. Good to see you as always. When I was covering Pitt-UCF in 2018 in Orlando I spilled Mellow Yellow all over my laptop keyboard. The thing basically short-circuited and I had to write my game story on my phone in the Uber on the way back to my hotel. Believe it or not, that laptop bounced back and is still usable today, so plenty of hope for Broderick (although I did replace it twice since then, which I suppose would make him a backup in this extended analogy).
Arthur not Art
12:47
Mr. Batko - thank you for the time and the chats.  After 2 games it appears the plan is to be ultra conservative on offense and let the defense carry the team. It will be difficult to beat better offensive teams with this strategy.  Do they open things up offensively this week since SD has a potent offense or are we in for a similar game plan. I fear the results won't be positive if they don't get aggressive on O but also wonder if Fields is capable of managing more than they've asked of him.  What's your opinion? Thank you.
Brian Batko
12:49
I imagine the Steelers brain trust would say that they'll open it up when they need to open it up. And let's not ignore that they did take their share of deep shots down the sidelines while using the middle of the field more this week. Baby steps, I know. Personally, I believe Fields can do more than this, but history is littered with people who believed Fields can do more than this (actually I guess it's pretty much just Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy, but still).
False Starts
12:50
Is Art satisfied with the response to his edict that the Offense must score points?
Brian Batko
12:51
Considering they averaged 17.9 ppg last season and are averaging 15.5 ppg so far this season, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no he is not.
12:52
OK friends, thanks a lot for stopping by the chat again. That was a fun hour, though I wouldn't recommend Broderick Jones reads this transcript. Have a great week and we'll talk to you tomorrow.
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