JotCast | Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.10.22

Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.10.22

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Brian Batko

2:01

OK folks, we're all back from Buffalo and I think we're in better shape than the Steelers. Let's talk it out.

pdxJaxon

2:01

Good morning Bats,
No need to discuss yesterday's fiasco.
What Id like to discuss is how will we possibly fill all the holes in 2023?
We critically need OT,ILB,DL,CB, SS
We need starters at all those positions and I just dont see how we plug all those holes

Brian Batko

2:03

The problem I see with this Steelers team is that they have a lot of players who aren't so terrible, or so consistently terrible, that they obviously need to be replaced. But they also don't have many players who are performing well enough to be beyond replacing, if that makes sense. There's no depth shining through, and that's a systemic problem as much as it is an individual one when it comes to players not playing well.

Baghdad_Ben

2:04

Brian - this is maybe the tenth time in the last 10 years Tomlin has experienced his “worst loss ever”. If that keeps happening it means you are getting worse. Every. Single. Year. Where is the bottom for this org? How long before AR says we need to do something different?

Brian Batko

2:06

Well, that's not really true. The 2016 loss to the Eagles was his worst until last season, at least by margin of defeat. And then yesterday happened. Just a full-scale failure. Where's the bottom? We may well find out in 2022. The bad is mounting, but I still think there's been enough good in Mike Tomlin's tenure to want to see how he does with this current situation: breaking in a first-round QB and overseeing a transition, if not a *gasp* rebuild.

coach15

2:07

Is it true with all the online/newspaper headlines I scanned this am, at least behind closed doors, that there seems to be some turmoil amongst the troops?

Brian Batko

2:08

Chris Carter and I just discussed that at length on today's episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, so check that out: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2022/10/10/nfl-week-5-rec...

In short, yes, frustration continues to build. I'm not sure if it's the kind that's natural and maybe even healthy for a losing locker room, or the type that can lead to dysfunction and in-fighting among the team. As Mike Tomlin would say, this rest of this season "will write that story."

Rick S from VA

2:09

This is a quote from the PG today; "this is a horribly coached football team, a team severely lacking in personnel in some areas and a team that can’t seem to make the most fundamental of plays." Spot on; the only thing that he forgot to mention was a total lack of effort. With the exception of CH & KP. It starts at the top. I am not calling to fire HCMT, but when will he start holding his coaches and #1 draft picks responsible and start using those that want to play football?

Brian Batko

2:10

You're right, Rick. If this thing continues to go south and gets really bad - which seems entirely possible given the upcoming schedule - it'll be uncharted territory for Tomlin. Of course I'm curious to see how he responds, whether that's surprise personnel decisions, drastic changes on the coaching staff, what have you.

PghFNinCali

2:10

Hi Brian. Do you think the Defense played better under Keith Butler and Tomlin? Maybe the issue is Tomlin having his hands in everything and the Steelers should hire coordinators that can perform without his assistance?

Brian Batko

2:12

Could be. But I think even when Keith Butler was here, the division of labor was largely the same. That could be even more to your point, though. It's fair to suggest Tomlin needs to delegate more, maybe take more of a CEO approach, but hey, we're still talking about a guy who's won a lot more than he's lost and coached this team to a division title just two years ago.

Brian in CA

2:13

Thanks for the chats. What's your best guess as to the percent chance that Canada is OC to start next season?

Brian Batko

2:13

I'll go 6%

Blue Collar Jeff

2:14

Brian--Thanks for checking the mail. It occurs to me that since Mike Tomlin didn't have a significant amount of coaching experience at the coordinator level, he must have "won over" the Rooneys with his eloquent discourse and passion for the game. He was fortunate to inherit a Super Bowl-caliber team from his predecessor and took them to two the big game twice in his first four years. Now that all remnants of those teams have departed--both players and coaches--it's not looking like his eloquence and passion are doing much to maintain "the standard". Has Tomlin been overrated by all of us for a decade simply because he talks such a great game?

Brian Batko

2:16

No, I don't think so. I'm not gonna go that far. Tomlin can be a good coach, even a great one, with an impressive resume while also being someone who hasn't won a playoff game since 2016. Both those things can be true. To me, there's always been something to be said for winning that first Super Bowl with a group that failed to do it without him a few seasons prior.

Simon C

2:17

Good Evening UK time. My question is how does the HC sort out the problems the team has when a good case can be made for him being the problem? He doesn't seem the self reflective type, but the failing coaches as his hires, the laughing failing player culture is his, The 'elite' defense is his. He isn't going to change, to stubborn, too inflexible, so how does the team change?

Brian Batko

2:19

I don't know that I agree with your premise that Tomlin doesn't or won't self-evaluate. But, in general, there's an organizational structure in place to ensure that changes can happen at any level where they might be needed. Steelers have a new GM in Omar Khan who has said he has different ways of looking at things than Kevin Colbert, a new assistant GM in Andy Weidl who helped acquire plenty of talent in his previous stops, and so on.

Salami Phil

2:19

What are some young up and coming offensive minded coaches that the Steelers could look to hire as OC after this season? Seems like a lot of teams are hiring retired QBs to be their OC.

Brian Batko

2:23

Joe Brady is QB coach for the Bills, and he was fired last year as OC for the Panthers, but as evidenced by today's news out of Carolina, maybe he wasn't really the issue. Also happens to be a William & Mary guy. Brian Johnson is QBs coach for the last unbeaten team, the Eagles, where Jalen Hurts seems to have taken huge steps forward. And one other name that's intriguing is Saints pass game coordinator/QBs coach Ronald Curry, who was there for tail end of the Brees era.

Javi

2:24

Hello Bats. 3-14 season is actually in play. Tomlin has no fear of losing job which breeds complacency. Every NFL team I think Tomlin seat would be hot. What would it take for Rooneys to consider coaching change.? This organization is stuck on stuck.

Brian Batko

2:25

Like it or not, I don't think one horrendous year would do it. Again, as I said earlier, we might find out. But I truly think it'll have to be an extended period of losing to offset an extended period of winning that would force the Steelers to make that kind of change from the top. And if I had to guess, when the Tomlin era does end, it won't be because he got fired.

artie bridge

2:25

Brian, Help readers understand what's wrong with Chase Claypool. His exceptional size and speed haven't translated into even adequate, let along strong, performance. And he's regressed after a promising rookie year. Any realistic prospect of him playing up to potential?

Brian Batko

2:27

I wish I knew. The Steelers probably do, too, or they'd get it fixed. There are fundamental reasons why he wasn't a first-round pick and looked like a steal as a second-rounder. It goes back to the finer points of the position - the technique, natural pass-catching ability, etc. Do I think he can still turn around his trajectory? Yes. Do I think he's someone who might need a change of scenery to do so? Also yes.

Boerne Tx Steeler

2:29

Here’s Sean Payton‘s number 856-2409 Please pass on to Art thank you

Brian Batko

2:29

Is that a 412 area code or...

Ed in Carrick

2:29

ESPN says a top 5 pick next year. Do you agree? And do they go QB?

Brian Batko

2:31

It's tough to think of five teams worse than the Steelers right now, and it doesn't help that they have four games left in this division, not to mention these next three games against teams off to hot starts. But no, they would not go QB, Ed. BPA just about anywhere else, or maybe trade back to amass picks with a team that WOULD covet a QB.

Bigdan3669

2:32

Are the Steelers victims of their own arrogance? Hear me out on this, I believe that they have become so enamored with the idea of stability as an organization, that they refuse to make changes that might seem contrary to that idea. Any other franchise would have moved on from Tomlin, the lack of development of defense, the lack of post season success, and the lack of discipline are all things that shouldn’t warrant a lifetime contract, but here we are. What say you?

Brian Batko

2:35

Any other franchise would've moved on from Tomlin ... when? I must've been sleeping that time the Steelers went more than two years without a playoff berth. Lots of organizations don't get a chance to move on from coaches for losing playoff games because they never got to the postseason in the first place. The defense that was top half/top 10 in the league four straight years from 2017-20?

Yates

2:36

Brian- Do you believe that there is any reason to think it possible that the current dumpster fire version of the Steelers prompts Mr. Rooney to force coaching changes? Why does MT never own the team’s failures? Diverts blame to the collective? Team talent is not top of league but team consistently underperforms and seems out coached every game.

Brian Batko

2:39

I think blaming it on the collective is sort of his way of being consistent, as he also never really takes credit for wins. Hence phrases such as "the strength of the pack is the pack." But one of the first things he said yesterday was they didn't coach well enough. So, I don't know, Yates. They didn't underperform Week 1 in Cincy. They're probably similarly matched with the Patriots/Browns/Jets and lost all three in one-score games. And yeah, obviously they're miles behind the Bills.

Miles McGuire

2:40

Good morning Mr. Batko,
Its obvious this team lacks depth talent - OLB, ILB, Safety, CB, Dline. My question - Kevin C had a bunch of misses towards the ladder part of his tenue. Did the majority of his scouts stay on? I can be a little pessimistic thinking we didnt really hire a Football Guy as GM, rather a CAP guru, and we have the same scout team. Is the only update to the scout team Ike Taylor?

Brian Batko

2:43

Yes, the majority of the scouts from the later years of the Colbert era are still on staff. Steelers value stability and continuity. We know that. But in addition to Omar Khan's promotion, whether you were a fan of that or not, the Steelers added at least five new scouts, including Andy Weidl who's obviously in a prominent role as assistant GM. So there are some new eyes on this thing, Miles.

Yuri

2:43

Hello Brian. In my humble opinion, I think Najee is playing hurt even though he does not acknowledge it. I also think he is not seeing the holes which may or may not be afford by his injury. What are your thoughts? Thank you Brian.

Brian Batko

2:44

He's not doing much to elevate the offense, that's for sure. How much of that is on him individually and how much is on the O-line/scheme/play calls, I can't definitively say. But I know he doesn't look particularly explosive or elusive right now. And I also couldn't tell you what's going on with him health-wise, if anything. He's been resolute that he's 100%, and yet, maybe it'll be one of those deals where we find out much later that he was playing through something.

2:46

Artie Burns, Sean Davis, James Washington, JuJu, Bush, Claypool and now Najee. These are all 1st and 2nd round picks from top tier college programs that either ended up as huge disappointments or seem to be trending that way. Yet, each of these players showed well early in their careers. After the rookie season of each, you could reasonably have expected these players to ascend to either competent NFL starters or in some cases superstars. Now obviously each has a unique story to what caused them to flameout, but is it possible that the longer they get coaching from the Steelers' staff and the further away they get from the coaching at places like Michigan, Notre Dame, and Alabama, the worse they get as players?

Brian Batko

2:48

In general, I think those big-time programs have coaches who are very much on-par with NFL coaches. I could cite multiple coaches on the Steelers staff right now who came from those types of schools. So I'm not sure there's a significant through line to connect all those guys you mention. Burns and Davis were before my time, but off the top of my head, I'd probably say bad evaluations picking later in those rounds. Bush had a significant injury. JuJu was pretty good! Najee and Claypool, jury's still out.

2:49

Brian, in the last two years, 5 of the first 6 draft picks were for offensive players, all of whom, except for Kendrick Green, played. Yet there were no touchdowns. It isn't the Steeler way to fire someone midseason (we endured a full year of Ray Sherman) but how does this not squarely indict the offensive scheme being used and its architect?

Brian Batko

2:50

Eventually, he will have to answer for it. That's why I gave him a 6% chance of being back at the start of next season somewhere up there in the litany of questions.

SamG

2:50

I see a great opportunity…….let’s trade Mike Tomlin to Carolina today……for a draft pick or two….whenever! Thoughts?

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