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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.13.25
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hey everyone, welcome back to another Steelers chat, this time on a Tomlin Tuesday (on a Monday). We've got a lot to talk about between that, the win over the Browns, the Bengals coming up, etc. Fire away
Ken
2:02
Hi Brian.  It looks like the Steelers made the right move to get rid of Wilson & Fields and sign Rogers.  Give them an A for off season moves.
Brian Batko
2:04
So far, certainly. And yeah, I admit I've been one of the last survivors on Fields Island but the way he's playing lately is brutal. The sack avoidance is the big thing for me. I know he took a decent amount last year even when he was starting here, but that's always baked into a running QB, and he also evaded plenty. Not sure what he's seeing (or not seeing) now with the Jets.
wilddog
2:04
Brian, as someone who is around the team in person quite a bit, which current steeler would you least want to get into a physical confrontation with?
Brian Batko
2:06
I mean, have you seen me? All of them. But if I had to pick one, I'd go with Darnell Washington. He could throw me very far.
CG
2:06
Hi Brian, Tomlin looks like a smarter coach this year.  Does Aaron Rodgers help him be smart enough to win a playoff game this year?
Brian Batko
2:07
Possibly. War of attrition right now in the AFC, particularly the North. Avoiding the Bills and Chiefs in the first round would be great.
Jim
2:08
Good afternoon Brian, I noticed yesterday even in the first half it seemed like the Steelers were breaking the huddle and finally getting set with just a few seconds left on the play clock and several times barely got hte snap off in time. Were they trying to shorten the game from the start or did they have a specific reason for this? On several punts with the clock moving in the second half, the ball was snapped with plenty of time remaining so it does not seem that was the goal.
Brian Batko
2:10
Hello Jim. I'm all for nitpicking a good win, as long as it's fair. That's what the chat's for sometimes. Looked pretty clear to me from the press box they were having some issues with the play getting in on time from Arthur Smith to Rodgers. Gotta shore that up for the weightier games and moments in this season.
artie bridge
2:10
Bats, two Pat Freiermuth questions: 1.  Given his reduced role in the offense, should/would they consider trading him?  And 2, if so, what kind of return would be reasonable?
Brian Batko
2:13
Well, the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade probably showed that nobody's safe. But there are a lot of factors that go into deciding to trade a player and Pat Freiermuth is about as low-maintenance as it gets, particularly for a big-name guy on his second contract. I'd assume a TE-needy team would give up a third or fourth for someone with some term on his contract like that.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:14
Brian: the Steelers Thursday night record is abysmal particularly on the road and in the division (0-6).  There are some really bad Thursday losses in the recent past at Cleveland (2022 and 24) and at home to a 4-13 Patriots team (2023).  Do you have any theories as to why they are so bad on Thursdays?
Brian Batko
2:16
This comes up every year. I always throw out a couple theories. The first is that it's actually more about how well Mike Tomlin tends to prepare his team on a normal week or with extra rest. Or that they play such a physical brand of football week in and week out that's just naturally tougher to recover in four days.
SoCalYinzer
2:17
Where are all of the “Aaron is washed” and “Tomlin’s an idiot for letting Justin Fields walk” folks this morning? Come out and join us for the chat 😃
Brian Batko
2:17
Well it's the afternoon here, SoCalYinzer
Josh
2:18
Who is responsible for the field playing conditions? It sounds like Tomlin had no clue ahead of time. But for a billion dollar business that is paying hundreds of millions to players playing on that field, it is shocking and entirely unacceptable that the field conditions were not corrected ahead of the game. Losing one player was bad enough but imagine if Boswell would have injured himself? It seems like someone (or people) should be held accountable.
Brian Batko
2:20
To be honest, Josh, I've never given it much thought. So I guess I'm not so different from the head coach in that regard. What I can tell you is that on the Steelers website, they have a stadium operations section which lists a sports turf operations manager, two lead assistants and two more assistants.
Ryan
2:21
Good afternoon Brian what do you think about the play of Jalen Ramsey he good yesterday with his two sacks
Brian Batko
2:21
That second one, hoo boy did he close fast on Dillon Gabriel. You saw that from him at times in Miami, and with all the success the Steelers have had over the years with guys like Mike Hilton and even Arthur Maulet, giving them a super-sized slot who can also play elsewhere is like a dream acquisition for Tomlin.
ATLsteelerFAN
2:22
Bats, is it safe to say that Coach T knows more than all of us? Combined!!!  It’s amazing year after year everybody criticizes him, but he always comes out on top.  Some criticism deserving, but mostly not.  Your thoughts
Brian Batko
2:23
It's always my contention that yes, the head coach (and assistant coaches, players and scouts) of an NFL team know more about the game than us on the outside. But that doesn't mean they're always right or beyond reproach.
Big Snack 98
2:24
Hello Sir — thanks for the chats! I know it’s still early in the season, but the Minkah-Ramsey trade looks like it’s a winner for the Black and Gold. What’s your take thus far?
Brian Batko
2:26
Yeah I'd say so, Big Snack. His versatility is the primary part of the upgrade. I still think someone like Joe Flacco (and other QBs later on) could have success attacking the Steelers' safeties but we'll see.
Jones
2:27
The Steelers offense reminds me of The Simpsons episode when Moe trains Homer to be a boxer. He just stands there and gets punched but doesn't make any mistakes against all the homeless boxers until they get tired and he pushes them over. But then when he gets to Dredrick Tatum he can't do that anymore and gets knocked out. Kind of reminds me how the Steelers play offense. Don't make mistakes. Run a 1930s style offense and eventually the bad teams will throw up all over themselves. Eventually the good teams will annihilate you. Is there any reason to believe this year will be different?
Brian Batko
2:29
There is. Aaron Rodgers may well be the best QB they've had since pre-injury Ben Roethlisberger. DK Metcalf is also better and more reliable than George Pickens in my opinion. The O-line is still a work in progress but appears to be jelling. So yeah, on top of all that, if Tomlin has gotten introspective at all over the course of this playoff drought and is willing to at least alter his philosophy somewhat, there's reason to believe.
TVC15
2:30
Hi Brian,  I know you can only play who is on your schedule but how seriously should the Steelers 4-1 record be taken?
Brian Batko
2:31
I picked them to be 5-0 at this juncture, so...Then again, once I watched the Jets and Seahawks games, I was not at all feeling comfortable about still having them over the Patriots and Vikings.
Rudolph’s Mustache
2:32
They have done a good job so far of winning games against the weaker teams on their schedule. Do you think the 2nd half of the season is less daunting than it was at the start of the year?
Brian Batko
2:34
Yes, no doubt. The Ravens are dealing with a rash of injuries and many of those who are healthy enough to be out there have been horrendous. The Chargers keep having guys go down on the OL. The Bengals won't have Joe Burrow for the November matchup either. And the Browns in Cleveland? I know it's in Cleveland, but come on. Dillon Gabriel looked more like David Gabriel yesterday. David vs. Goliath.
2:35
Wait, David won that one. Nevermind...
Beal
2:36
Feels like the Steelers have a great chance to get off the schneid in road, divisional TNF games this week. Do they get the W?
Brian Batko
2:36
Maybe
Big Bri
2:36
With D Washington and J Smith being the top 2 TE’s do you think Freiermuth could be considered for a in season trade? If yes what do you think he would be worth? I heard someone say on one of the talk shows a 2nd round but I’m think we would be lucky to get a 4th.
Brian Batko
2:37
He's the perfect kind of piece for an offense that feels like they can make a run at a ring if they just add a bit more firepower. So yeah, a 2nd-rounder is probably too steep, but a 3rd? It wouldn't stun me. He's got a track record of production in the NFL.
Jim Bow Dean
2:38
At this point do you think they will pick up Broderick Jones’ fifth year option in the Spring? Will all the other six picks in the 2023 draft class get extended?
Brian Batko
2:39
Good question! Too early to say but if I HAD to guess right now I'd say no. As for the others in that class, I feel pretty good about Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington and Nick Herbig. Not so much about Keeanu Benton.
MAD DOG
2:39
Good Afternoon...when a nfl team loses a,starting qb..it tanks...quits...loses...not the steelers they scratch claw fight..that credit has to go to tomlin...what do ya think? Thank yiu
Brian Batko
2:40
Yes, which is why I've always pushed back on the notion that the .500-or-better streak is more Ben Roethlisberger's achievement than Tomlin's. Was Ben the biggest reason for that sustained success? Sure. But he was 0-1 as the starter in 2019 when he went down. The Steelers held it together, more or less, with Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges.
Richie Tennenbaum
2:42
Brian, one could argue the Steelers eeked out a win without really dominating on offense.   I get a win is a win, but it's troubling that Steelers aren't playing full caliber ball against weaker opponents.   What do you think needs to happen for us to win in the harder matchups.
Brian Batko
2:43
They didn't eke out that win yesterday, but OK. Offensively, they need to have fewer 3-and-outs, and thus probably need to run it more efficiently on early downs. '
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