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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.19.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
OK folks, let's get to this. Should be a lively chat today, given that the sky is falling here in Pittsburgh two weeks in.
jeffe
2:01
I don't get it.  Last year it was dink and dunk in part because of the line and also Big Ben's "limitations".  What is it this year?  Preseason looked pretty good for the pass.  Is it Canada?  Is it Mitch?  And what is it with the short underneath passes when it is 3rd and 8?  Doesn't seem to fool anyone - particularly me.
Brian Batko
2:02
Well, the line still isn't dominant, but I don't think they were a huge problem yesterday. From where I'm sitting it's partially Matt Canada, partially Mitch Trubisky. There's more than enough blame to go around when you score two touchdowns in your first two weeks.
ken
2:03
You think this Thursday will be Mitch's last chance to prove himself before they make a QB change?
Brian Batko
2:05
It depends, obviously. If he plays like he has the first two weeks, I think it would be a very logical spot to transition to the backup. Kenny Pickett could have an extra few days to prepare for a defense that has allowed 54 points the first two weeks and he'd get to do it in front of a home crowd that loves him. Plus when you look at the Jets offense, there's probably not a ton of pressure to keep up with a high-flying attack there.
Nate
2:06
I know it will be asked a lot but how can Matt Canada be employed past this season? He has never done anything in the pros, had a 1 year marvel at Pitt, that turned into LSU firing him mid season the following year. I love Tomlin for his loyalty to the players and coaches, but there is no way you have him here past this year.
Brian Batko
2:08
The defense of Canada would be to argue that 2021 Ben Roethlisberger and 2022 Mitch Trubisky are bottom-half-of-the-league quarterbacks, maybe even bottom-10 if you're really down on Ben's play last year.
SteelerinNorCal
2:08
It seems as though we've been running versions of the same ultra-low risk offense since 2019, which spans two coordinators and several QBs if you include Mason and Duck. Is this low-risk approach a mandate from Coach Tomlin? Are we living in our fears?
Brian Batko
2:09
Very well could be. This defense has really good players and, for the most part, has been pretty good in that span. Mike Tomlin might figure they're a team whose identity is defense-first, win ugly, "get out of stadium," as he always puts it.
rman
2:09
Hello Brian...I could make a big list of complaints about the Steeler offense but there is one play they run that worries me....the shovel pass to the receiver/runner being caught right behind the center.  Seems like a disaster waiting to happen.  Do you think, as I do, that it will be botched and ran the other way for a touchdown someday?
Brian Batko
2:10
Yeah, I don't love that either. It worked very well for Canada in college, especially his one year at Pitt, and yet doesn't seem to be as effective at this level. Don't get me wrong, they work it a lot in practice, but I'm with you that it feels like a low-reward/high-risk play.
Gregg from Shaler
2:11
Hi Brian - the last Pat’s position it seems to me our DL was crowed over to the right side of the Pat’s OL. And the Pats kept running left, away from the bunched up DL. We never adjusted and the Pats ran out the clock. Is it me or are we not adjusting appropriately in that series?
Brian Batko
2:12
Players have been asked about that drive a lot, and they've all taken the blame for not executing. Let's be honest, the defense was run ragged all day because the offense couldn't sustain drives. I can't put much blame for that loss on the defense. Time of possession 34 to 26. Feels like the players are saying all the right things, but there has to be frustration mounting when you're holding teams to 20 points or less and either barely winning or, in this case, not winning.
Fat Thor
2:13
This team is who we thought they were - they stink. But then the rest of the AFC North is struggling as well so we have that. Which AFC North team is best positioned to make the necessary adjustments? I'm going with Bungles due to the crazy talent they have, Rats are a close second but they still need more O weapons beyond LJ. Steelers can't scheme their way out of a rooster of a few superstar but the rest mediocre at best.
Brian Batko
2:14
Yeah it's still the Bengals for me. I saw them get it going in the second half of that opener. Not sure what the heck they were doing yesterday, but I suppose the Cowboys defense is pretty solid. Cincy will get it figured out, I think, and I wouldn't say the Ravens look like pushovers even though they blew that game yesterday. You have to be impressed with what the offense is doing.
Tom
2:15
Would you have Rudolph as number 2 on Thursday?
Brian Batko
2:15
No, I think Kenny Pickett is better.
NYC George
2:15
Administrative question. Is there any set schedule for Post Gazette sport chats?
Brian Batko
2:16
Yes, Mondays are my day, Tuesdays are for Ray Fittipaldo and Mike White, Wednesdays for Gerry Dulac, Thursdays for Paul Zeise and Fridays for Jason Mackey. Apologies if I missed anyone, but that's generally the plan, and sometimes different work schedules/game schedules/holidays switch things up.
Javi
2:17
Hello Bats. If steelers lay another egg and lose Thursday and Trubisky looks bad again does the Pickett conversation become real? And what will it tell you if Tomlin states no changes will be coming at QB position if offense is awful again?
Brian Batko
2:18
Of course it does. And if he sticks with Trubisky, it will tell me that Tomlin drafted Pickett because of his long-term potential more than his immediate readiness.
Scuba Steve
2:18
Which drop was more egregious? Cam or Gunner?
Brian Batko
2:20
I might actually go with Cam Sutton on that one. It wasn't as harmful, and they were both bad, but if I have to pick the lesser of the two, Gunner Olszewski at least had an unblocked dude screaming downfield in his face when he tried to corral that. Still needs to catch it, obviously. But his return team did him no favors.
Ken
2:20
The Steelers seemed to be moving the ball very nicely with the no huddle offense at the end of the 3rd quarter and then just stopped using it.  Any idea why?
Brian Batko
2:21
That's a tough one. Players don't really seem to know either, and Mike Tomlin declined to "get into when we choose to use it." So not sure how to answer that.
Donnie
2:22
BB, not to kick a man when he's down, but if one was looking for real life examples of relieving one's self down one's leg, my man GO provided a fine search return, no?
Brian Batko
2:23
Yeah, that was rough, especially so given that he was facing his former team and was particularly motivated to ball out.
Tommy
2:24
I see that Travis Etienne managed to drop his Fumble rate from 25% or 1 every 4 carries to 7.69% or 1 every 13 carries,  by not fumbling... at all... yesterday. :)
Brian Batko
2:24
Many months later, the Najee Harris/Travis Etienne debate rages on...
Joe Mayo
2:25
Hi Brian. What if Trubisky is bad Thursday?         Would we see Kenny Pickett?
Brian Batko
2:25
Wouldn't bet on it, but maybe.
Rocky B
2:25
Do they not trust Pickens to run the correct route?  Why not more targets ?
Brian Batko
2:27
My thinking here is that Pickens is running a lot of deep routes from the outside and being covered closely without much separation so Trubisky largely isn't taking those chances.
Coach T
2:27
Why is everyone so upset today?  We are in first place.
Brian Batko
2:28
Only team with a win in AFC North play, what's not to like?
TSH
2:28
Hi Brian and thank you for your chats!  Isaiahh Loudermilk.  We heard many reports during camp that IL has made great progress, yet he hasn't dressed for a game yet?  Have you heard if he is injured or if he is not progressing as we thought?  Do you think the Steelers will dress all the DL for Thursday since the Browns are run-heavy?  Thanks Much!
Brian Batko
2:29
I don't think it's injury-related, I just think the Steelers like their other six D-linemen better. Yeah, doesn't really match up with the Loudermilk hype, such as it was, in the offseason/preseason. And no, they don't need a seventh DL helmet this week. How about Mark Robinson, though?
Steeltown
2:30
M Trubisky seems to have terrible mechanics, he often seems to throw the ball falling backwards off his back foot.  It is reminiscent of Mason and his happy feet in the pocket.  At this point why not go to Pickett?  Even if he struggles behind that OL and horrible play calling it seems like giving him time to learn would be more beneficial long term than the QB play we have seen so far.
Brian Batko
2:33
Your criticisms are valid, for sure. But I'm not ready to pull the plug yet. Part of that is a short week, lack of prep/reps with the first-team offense, and a pretty fair defense you'd be facing on the road. But another part of this discussion is simply philosophical. Tomlin said today he's going to exercise "appropriate patience." Everyone has different levels of patience/comfort with status quo. For instance, when you ask me this, you're talking to a guy who kept the same roommate throughout college and has been with his wife for 14 years. I'm not a fickle person!
KJ
2:33
In your opinion, Brian, what can and what should the Steelers do to get their offense untracked?
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