You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.14.24
powered byJotCast
Brian Batko
11:56
Hi everyone, chatting from my flight back to Pittsburgh after a fun weekend in Vegas (aren’t they all?) - bear with me if we have any internet issues.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:59
Brian: did the number of gifts that the Steelers got from the refs yesterday make you question whether or not Frenchy touched the ball or Franco trapped it?
Brian Batko
12:00
Those bail-out penalties certainly did impact the game, but hey, that same officiating crew made some questionable calls that went against the Steelers last year when they lost to the Jaguars. Another reason I tend to not dwell too much on officiating criticism, etc. It often evens out in the end.
SteelyMcBeam
12:00
Do you think Fields gets another start SNF against the Jets? I’m not saying he’s playing the best football, but I think his legs are the best weapon the Steelers have offensively. As long as they win, and he doesn’t turn the ball over, Tomlin should love that right?
Brian Batko
12:02
I'd say that's the million dollar question coming out of an otherwise ho-hum victory against a bad team. My gut feeling is Mike Tomlin sticks with him. They just won and won big. Obviously, there's a lot more context than just a W in the box score but it is the bottom line at the end of the day. This offense has been built for/around Fields since Russell Wilson went down before the season opener and I don't think it's particularly practical to just suddenly enter a different mode with a much different QB.
Najee
12:03
BB, admit it, you personally did not think I had those long runs in my genes.  It's OK, you were not on an island.
Brian Batko
12:05
Not true, ChatNaj. 'Twas I who wrote this offseason about your grueling workout regimen, strict diet and reshaped physique: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/05/16/najee-harris-o...

You didn't really like me asking you about it at the start of the season, but hey, you look slimmer, quicker and faster to me than previous years. Jack Jones thanks you for his new pair of ice skates.
little snack
12:06
is dan moore the steelers best offensive player?
Brian Batko
12:06
Probably not but he continues to play good, solid football. Not all that noticeable at LT and that's a positive.
Moon Mullins
12:07
Hi Brian the Steelers struggled hard to lose to Dallas at home. The Lions devoured Dallas for a late snack. How do the Steelers fare against the top teams in the league right after they crawl and sweat and bleed to get to the sixth or seventh seed? Thank you!
Brian Batko
12:10
It's a week to week league, that's for sure. I wouldn't dismiss anyone who says the Steelers have yet to beat anyone good. Their formula remains run-first, shorten the game, get a dominant defensive effort. Perhaps that can help you steal one against the so-called contenders. But if Justin Fields can find some consistency,to me,  there's more upside than there's been the past several years.
GMJoe
12:11
So is Fields worth a fourth pick? Zero hour is right around the corner. The FO will never tell you it's thinking about this, but they must be, right?
Brian Batko
12:13
The Fields trade does go from a 6th-rounder to a 4th-rounder if he plays 51% of the snaps. I don't think that's much of a consideration at this point. You're talking about the most important position on a team compared to a two-round jump on Day 3 of the draft. I'm all for asset management, but not sure I'd be overly concerned on this one.
Retire21
12:13
That Dallas loss looks even worse this morning. I had hoped for 6-2 at the bye before the season. Looks doable with the two NY clunkers coming in back to back but what’s worse a QB who can run but.can’t pass or one the other way around, especially with what is the second half of the last preseason game as the O line?
Brian Batko
12:15
My expectation was 6-2 given the soft schedule, and yes, it should be well within reach. The Jets are a weird team, so I'll have a better sense of that game after seeing what they do tonight with the interim HC, new offensive flow, etc. But as bad as Fields looked throwing the ball yesterday, it's not as if we haven't seen him put it together from the pocket for decent stretches. It's in there. Just have to keep plugging away at trying to figure out how to get it week in and week out from him.
FastFred
12:16
Hi Brian, Any sense yet of how bad the Frazier injury is?
Brian Batko
12:17
Hello, FastFred. Not really, but I just know it looked bad in the moment and he was down for a while. I don't have a good feeling about it.
Ben
12:17
Hey Brian - the raiders are terrible and I’m glad the Steelers took care of business, but nothing that happened yesterday really changes big picture outlook. A healthy Watt and Boswell and a group of average professional players are good for 8-10 wins. It feels like it never adds up to more until 1) they draft a franchise qb in the top 10 or 2) Tomlin trusts the qb they have to play the position without handcuffs on. They’ve done a great job of rebuilding the line. I’d like to see them make a trade in the offseason to move up in the draft and take a shot on some real talent at the qb position. Until then, it just feels like we are treading water in a luke warm pool that is gradually getting cold. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:20
I hear you, Ben. It was like Groundhog Day for the offense again for most of that game. And the Raiders defense is probably better than people give it credit for. Well-coached unit, Maxx Crosby, some feisty corners. But, obviously, a lot of those issues for Fields were more like unforced errors. I do think getting Fields in here and using this season to evaluate him as both a short-term and long-term option is about as intriguing as anything else they could've tried at the position this season.
Tony
12:20
Hi Brian.  What about thoughts on the QB situation moving forward?  I feel like benching Fields would be detrimental to his development and if we are winning still in spite of the few bumps and bruises along the way, why change it up?
Brian Batko
12:23
The development thing doesn't hold as much weight for me when it's a fourth-year guy who's already played a ton of NFL football. It's not like he's a rookie you drafted and had to start him too early. But I do think Fields is a much better player - much better passer, especially - when he's playing with confidence. Going away from him would have to be a hit in that area, if they do it. If anything, perhaps Mike Tomlin could give him a boost mentally if he makes it clearer that he's the guy.
Zack
12:24
Fields still has some issues in thr pass game.  Would you start Russ against the Jets?
Brian Batko
12:24
No I'm not there yet, but it's not a great two-game trend for Fields. Aaron Rodgers vs. Russell Wilson would be an interesting vibe, though.
Todd Haley
12:25
Brian, any reason the Steelers aren't manufacturing more touches for Pickens early? Watching teams like SF, they will line their receivers up as tailbacks to get matchups they like out of the backfield and manufacture touches
Brian Batko
12:27
Good question. They probably should be. I don't think I'd do Deebo Samuel type things with him, but man, it hasn't been enough of a focal point the last couple games. I don't think I'd ever take him off the field, especially with this receiving corps. But in Arthur Smith's defense, from the press box it looked like there were some opportunities early in that game yesterday that he didn't go to Pickens for whatever reason.
John from Toronto
12:27
Hi Brian. Should Arthur Smith be giving Darnell Washington more targets? He's caught 6 of 7 balls thrown his way this season. And all he does is make plays.
Brian Batko
12:28
He can't control who the QB targets. There were a couple times Fields missed Washington, too, when he was open. But it's gonna be sporadic for him as a playmaker in the pass game. Don't think he'll ever be much of a volume target guy.
Ryan
12:28
Brian does Frazier have a chance to play this Week Also will Highsmith Be Back Do Steelers
Brian Batko
12:28
Too early to tell on Frazier, but I'd guess no. And I do think Alex Highsmith has a good chance to return Sunday night, yes.
Uncle T
12:29
Thanks for the chats Brian, what do we know about the Frazier injury and should we be start to worry about the OLine losing the the ability to gel based off the frequent replacements
Brian Batko
12:30
Of course. They'll all tell you it's next man up, standard is the standard, they're all pros and here for a reason, et al. But no one expects or prepares for this many injuries in such a short time frame. Ryan McCollum has been around a while and I'm sure there's a certain level of comfort with him, but he's also a guy who's been cut more than once by the Steelers. Tip of the cap to him getting out in front and moving people on the Harris touchdown run, though.
bryanbotco
12:30
how likely is it that the steelers resign Fields next year at this point
Brian Batko
12:31
I'll say 39%
574 Fan
12:33
How much does the less than stellar pass protection play into JF keeping his job going forward? Injuries have mounted, Jones has been atrocious (granted, Maxx Crosby isn’t a picnic), as much as I like Dan Moore’s story…he absolutely whiffed on Chaisson yesterday. Can Russ survive (let alone cook) behind this line currently?
AvatarPost-Gazette sports
12:42
Hello all, Brian is having some wifi/technical issues on the plane ride back to Pittsburgh. We're going to have to cut today's chat a bit short. Ray will be on chatting tomorrow, and Gerry on Wednesday as well. Thanks everyone for submitting questions today.
Connecting…