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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.23.19
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Brian Batko
12:00
Hello, everyone. The Steelers are one of five 0-3 teams in the NFL, all in the AFC, but the Redskins might join them tonight. The players are off today after traveling back from the West Coast. Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo are still making their way back, too, but I watched from home, so I'm here for the vent session. Away we go...
Doug from Raleigh
12:01
The O line doesn't seem as effective as in the recent past.  I see people on all the usual chat sites and forums are blaming the loss of Munch,  but I don't think you forget all your techniques over the off season.  But you can get older and slower:  so has age gotten its hooks in this group?
Brian Batko
12:02
Possibly. They were getting blown off the ball toward the end of the game, just as the defensive line was on the other side. Matt Feiler and Al VIllanueva gave up a couple bad pressures and sacks late. Still not a lot of push there for James Conner, either. To be fair, they have played three excellent fronts in three weeks.
12:03
Can the 0-3 Steelers still make the playoffs?
Yes (24.2% | 52 votes)
 
No (75.8% | 163 votes)
 
Total Votes: 215
tom
12:03
Is it just me or is the steelers offense way too predictable?  Lining up in the shotgun almost every play seems very limiting.  Shotgun runs are ineffective.  Is the personnel not fitting a better scheme or is this just bush league coaching?
Brian Batko
12:04
I agree Tom, I was left scratching my head on why they kept going back to running out of the shotgun. Diontae Johnson motioning into the backfield pre-snap didn't seem to be fooling anyone. From a personnel standpoint, I do think they finally have some clarity in their receiving corps for the first time in their post-AB world. Didn't seem like a great game plan from OC Randy Fichtner though.
Nick
12:05
Brian, I had heard that for home games, some teams spend Sat night together in a local hotel. Do Steelers do that? if so what would be the purpose in it?
Brian Batko
12:06
Hey Nick, I don't believe so. I could be wrong, but I think you see that more in college football. Pitt definitely does it on the Friday night before Saturday home games, just to stay focused and locked in. Shouldn't need that sort of thing for a pro football team, in my opinion.
Mike
12:07
The troubling thing to me about yesterday was not just the fact that the Steelers forced 5 turnovers and STILL lost, but think about how bad it could have been if they weren't gifted some of those mistakes. With supposed abundance of talent on that side of the ball, at what point can we finally say the coaching, scheme, and lack of ability to make adjustments is the culprit, or at least a high percentage of the problem? (although I agree that offensive failures yesterday didn't help things). In crunch time though, defense for Steelers just hasn't gotten it done in recent years.
Brian Batko
12:08
When can we finally say it? Chatters have been saying it for weeks, months, years probably. But hey, both of the Steelers turnovers were gifts, too. Mason Rudolph's pick struck me as one you can throw when you're in a 52-45 game with Texas Tech in the Big 12, but not so much in an NFL slugfest on the road. And, obviously, James Conner's fumble was just inexcusable. Defense had its moments yesterday but again fizzled in the second half and couldn't get the job done late.
Steven
12:08
How many losses before Tomlin has to start worrying about his job security?
Brian Batko
12:09
I can't see the Steelers firing him midseason, but yeah, a second year in a row missing the playoffs would be bad. Doing it with your first losing record would be worse. Bottoming out in a year that you traded your first-round pick would be, well, nightmare scenario for a coach's job security.
Kyle
12:10
Does Fichtner have any any plays with the qb under center?  The handoffs from the shotgun make it appear the Conner is slow getting to the line.
Brian Batko
12:11
Perhaps a majority of those plays are 21 personnel with Rosie Nix in at fullback. He's hurt, and while he barely factored in on offense in Week 1 this year and even last season, you have to imagine he'd be getting some run right now as a potential spark plug for the ground game. Also the TE situation went from bad to worse with Vance McDonald's injury. After the game, he was the only one Mike Tomlin made it sound like could be more than a day-to-day thing.
Chris Boswell
12:11
I'm back...hey, where did everyone go?
Brian Batko
12:12
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Steeler in Virginia
12:12
With an early pick in the second round of the 2020 draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select: A: OLB B: WR C:TE? D: OL?
Brian Batko
12:13
I'm gonna go edge rusher. If the past couple drafts are any indication, there's a little more depth at that position these days, probably because of the flexibility of going with a college OLB or DE depending on scheme. Can't imagine Bud Dupree will be back, and not sure Ola Adeniyi will be counted on to fill that very important position in this defense.
Mean Jose
12:14
Brian, why can't the defense shut down the intermediate and crossing routes?  The D can't get a stop because those routes are eating them alive.  Are the coaches not good enough to figure out a scheme, is the personnel not able to perform, or is is some of both?  By the way... If Minkah plays that well every game -- and he only had five days to prepare -- he is worth that #1 pick.  I don't care if the Steelers pick 3rd overall, that's worth it.
Brian Batko
12:16
They're high-percentage throws for a reason. Sometimes it's not a bad play by a defense to give up something relatively short underneath. Scheming it up is a significant part, but to me, at some point, players have to do their job and execute. Not enough plays made yesterday. Take for instance the winning TD by the 49ers. That was just an instance of Dante Pettis beating two guys to the ball. No reason why Steve Nelson or Mark Barron shouldn't be able to break that up. They were in position.
Coachjpat
12:17
Third straight week that we have had extremely conservative play calls on offense during the first half. The offense is not doing our defense any favors. Time to open things up and allow Rudolf throw down the field?
Brian Batko
12:18
Yes. You saw what the offense was capable of once they did that. It helped that the 49ers had to throw in a cornerback who was a step slow and coming in cold, but still, Rudolph's at his best in the vertical passing game, I think. Right now you're 0-3, what do you have to lose? Go out and try to find an identity for your new-look offense and QB.
BIG TEX
12:19
Conner is a known fumbler and has cost us at least 3 games over the past 2 seasons. Is it time to admit he's not a premier back?
Brian Batko
12:20
I don't think those two things are mutually exclusive, Big Tex. Premier backs are gonna have the ball a lot, which means they're gonna rack up more fumbles. The guys with the most career fumbles in NFL history among running backs are Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris and Walter Payton. They were all pretty good. The discussions of Conner's ball security and Conner's effectiveness as a rusher are slightly different, to me.
Optimist
12:21
Am I the only one who thinks the Steelers can still make the playoffs? I'm calling it now 9 and 7 and a wildcard birth.
Brian Batko
12:21
As of right now, at least 22 people in this very chat agree with you.
Brian
12:21
Better quarterback in your opinion, Mason Rudolph or Baker Mayfield ?
Brian Batko
12:22
Still going Baker Mayfield, but it has not been a nice start to the season for him or the Browns. I'm starting to worry about my pick to win the AFC North.
Barry J.
12:22
Would Craig Meyer be a better choice for offensive coordinator?
Brian Batko
12:22
Oh, heck yeah. Craig would only call the good plays and get rid of the bad plays. No doubt.
ShouldadraftedSaquon
12:23
Is it safe to finally say that James Connor is NOT a feature NFL back?  The Steelers don't need his feel good story to cost them any more games.
Brian Batko
12:23
OK, I'll say it: I've seen zero indication that James Connor can play in the NFL, let alone be a featured back.
PITTOCLT
12:23
Did anyone ask Tomlin if considered putting Hodges in at half time?  I think 2 had around 40 yards passing at the half.
Brian Batko
12:24
No. But also, Rudolph got better in the second half. No one asked me either, but I think keeping Duck on the bench was a smart move.
Steven
12:24
Why isn't Jalen Samuels seeing the field?  He is a better natural runner than Conner and doesn't have fumbilitis like JC.  He is also a far superior pass catcher.
Brian Batko
12:25
Jaylen Samuels is seeing the field, he's just not seeing the ball, Steven. He played 14 snaps on offense, still a low number, but didn't touch it once. For whatever reason, I just don't think he was a big part of the plan coming into this one. That might have to change.
Steeler fan in MA
12:25
Should I be shunned because I think they might have a chance to turn this around?  My optimism is with the defense, I think it could become pretty solid as the season progresses.  Am I nuts?
Brian Batko
12:25
We're up to 26 who have your back.
dougp
12:25
Hi Brian, Thom Yorke is playing a solo show this week in PGH. Is Radiohead over-rated or under-rated?
Brian Batko
12:26
Not sure, I don't listen to them and never have.
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