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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.17.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
And just like that, the Steelers have a pulse again. What's up everyone? Let's get to your questions after that stunning 20-18 win against TB.
Atlanta Dan
2:01
Did anyone ask Mike Tomlin why the Steelers did not call three running plays to run out the clock after getting the ball on their own 14 yard line with 46 seconds left in the first half rather than call a pass play on first down, that stopped the clock after being incomplete, followed by Tampa using its two remaining timeouts to stop the clock after the next two running plays, which gave Tampa sufficient time to gain yardage after it got the ball back at midfield and kick the end of the half field goal?
Brian Batko
2:02
No, but that certainly was some awful clock management. I think so much happened in the final 30 minutes of that game that those questions got lost in the shuffle, but hey, even if Mike Tomlin had been asked, he's rarely expansive on decisions such as those.
Buster
2:03
Does Rudolph get a hat against Miami?
Brian Batko
2:03
Only if Kenny Pickett is inactive because of concussion protocol.
Jacque Strap
2:04
Hi B Money...I'm no expert but perhaps one of the reasons the defense was successful yesterday is that Tomlin and co. actually had to put together a more creative, specific plan to stop a specific opponent, as opposed to the (slightly arrogant) 'we're going to do what we do, nameless gray faces' type of approach?
Brian Batko
2:05
Actually, Jacque, Tomlin and the players spoke yesterday of how the game plan was a "limited menu" on defense because of so many unfamiliar faces. Tomlin even said they had to focus more on themselves this week than the opponent because of trying to get guys like James Pierre, Josh Jackson, Elijah Riley and Quincy Wilson ready to play. I give the coaches credit for using some good disguises on the back end that kept Tom Brady on his toes, but the players themselves executed, too.
Utah Jim
2:07
It doesn’t look like Kenny will clear protocol for Sunday night. If Mitch plays well, and gets the win, do you make him the sacrificial lamb in Philly? Imagine the mess if Kenny gets “smashed” again after Mitch gets two wins.
Brian Batko
2:09
Sure, in your scenario, I think it would be smart to stick with Mitch Trubisky and then re-evaluate after the off week. Then again, that's a mess in its own way, because Pickett's progress/development gets called into question. But this QB situation has been a mess for quite a while, so what else is new? At this point I might just stick to the most basic approach, i.e. riding the hot hand.
Steel Russel
2:11
Hi Brian - Did we learn that we have the wrong starters in the secondary based on the outstanding play of those who beat the living legend yesterday?
Brian Batko
2:13
No, I'm not ready to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick/Cam Sutton/Ahkello Witherspoon/Levi Wallace with Tre Norwood/Art Maulet/Josh Jackson/Quincy Wilson. But it does speak to the randomness of the NFL. Most teams so evenly matched talent-wise. Jackson and Wilson were second-round picks at one time. And it's cliche to say, but it's truly a game of inches. Yesterday turns out differently if Myles Jack doesn't get a fingertip on an end-zone target to Cameron Brate, or if Chase Claypool doesn't find a blade of grass with his left toe, etc. Same way the Steelers win a game or two earlier this season if one or two plays have a different outcome.
Mike from DC
2:15
Did you get the impression the Steelers played with more effort this week? Maybe Ryan Clark’s comments got to them…
Brian Batko
2:17
Maybe they did, but I wouldn't chalk it up to Clark's remarks. I think it's a trend of this group of guys over the last year or so. As I tweeted out earlier today, they've now won their past four games after getting blown out by 20-plus points. Maybe it's something Tomlin does, maybe it's Cam Heyward's leadership, I don't know, but they respond well to getting embarrassed. Now if only they could make such embarrassments less frequent...
PghFNinCali
2:18
Hi Brian
The Defense finally held up their side of the bargain and the Steelers won a game. I noticed as the game was running down, the Steelers where snapping the ball with like 17 seconds left on the clock...Why not let the clock run down as much as you can? Have they not seen Tom Brady in the 4th qtr with little time left?
Brian Batko
2:18
We must've been watching a different game.
Jeff
2:19
Thanks for the chats BB.  Who is Dotsons official back up?  Is it Green or someone else.  Because somebody else needs to replace him
Brian Batko
2:20
Good question, Jeff. It is Kendrick Green on the depth chart, but I really don't think the Steelers would have any trust in putting him in there. He's been inactive every game. They'd probably look at one of the other backups, Jesse Davis, Trent Scott or JC Hassenauer, if they wanted to make a move at LG.
MikeM65
2:22
Trubisky seemed like a different QB yesterday by throwing downfield more.  Earlier in the year he seemed too conservative, so my question is why the change?
Brian Batko
2:24
He was asked a lot about his mindset in his postgame interview and even he seemed somewhat at a loss for words on it. General observation is that there's less pressure on a backup than a starter. Certainly, Trubisky seemed to play more free in that circumstance.
TV
2:24
Mitch played a good quarter and a half of football and I would comtend that if he played like that as a starter, he would still be the starter.
Brian Batko
2:25
Agreed. And I actually didn't think he should've been benched at halftime of the Jets game in the first place. Once it happened and Pickett did what he did, there was no going back, but the whole QB situation has been handled poorly, probably going all the way back to OTAs and not giving Pickett more of a chance to compete to start.
Steve
2:26
Hi Brian!  Thanks for the chats.  Yesterday was a great team effort. Not to take away from it, but shouldn’t that level of focus and motivation be the case every week?
Brian Batko
2:28
Like I said earlier, the margin for error in most NFL games is so slim. It's pretty rare that you catch a matchup like Bills-Steelers in which one team just has all the momentum and rides that wave for 60 minutes. Just look around at the standings right now. One unbeaten team, no winless teams, whole lot of teams between two and four wins. Focus and motivation is all well and good but let's not act as if luck doesn't factor in, too.
Lou
2:29
Hi Brian. Do you think the Steelers won because the Bucs are just as bad on O as they are and "somebody" had to win the game after all. Plus, what does it say about the starting D that the 3rd stringers came in and did a better job? Lucky? Deserving of more reps?
Brian Batko
2:30
The Bucs certainly have some issues on offense. The interior of their line had a tough day against Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and company. And I imagine going from Josh Allen and the Bills to that is sort of like taking off a weighted vest and running a mile. You'll feel pretty fast!
Chuck from Michigan
2:32
Steelers will take the win yesterday against the Buccaneers but that run game being employed stinks and needs to make better use of Najee's speed.  Need more off-tackle, around-the-end, pitch plays, screen passes and out-of-the backfield passes to get Najee's motor running.  Jet sweeps and up-the-gut runs are not working.  Appreciate your thoughts and the chats.  Thanks Brian.
Brian Batko
2:32
I thought Najee Harris looked more spry early in the game than he has, so perhaps better days are ahead for him. Did you like the Wildcat?
mrbig
2:33
hi, I guess Mitch played like a backup with nothing to lose, then he looks great, but the pressure of being a starter & risking being benched is too much for him?
Brian Batko
2:33
Or it's just a matter of consistency. Trubisky struggled with that his first four seasons, which is why the Bears benched him and ultimately let him walk. Elite QBs are going to give you that level of play more often than not. The mediocre ones will have flashes of good, flashes of bad, and maybe that's just what Trubisky is. All evidence points to that, anyway.
Sam
2:35
What do you make of the current quality of NFL football? Brady recently made a comment about parity by saying "there's a lot of bad football out there."  I tend to agree, considering the same Steelers team that was one Cincy long snapper away from being 0-5 entering yesterday could now also be perceived as being Gunner catching a punt properly vs. NE and not blowing a 10 point 4th quarter lead vs. NYJ away from being 4-2.
Brian Batko
2:36
I don't necessarily think it's "bad" football, other than those Thursday night affairs in which you can tell neither team is at its best physically or mentally on three days' rest.
TonyM
2:37
Winning cures a lot of problems.  Do you see us running the table?
Brian Batko
2:38
And hoisting the Lombardi Trophy behind a two-headed QB platoon. Pickett the starter, Trubisky handles the final quarter and a half.
Stat Man
2:39
BB, it may be just a tad early for the third-and-Claypool moniker, but I reckon nobody has ever pulled off that trifecta of clutchness. You concur?
Brian Batko
2:39
He stepped up.
Weegie
2:39
Do you think the Gunner Olszewski era is over ? Should I garage sale my jersey?
Brian Batko
2:40
I like Gunner, but ...
GM
2:41
Not to take anything away from yesterday's win... but if Sims gets you to the RZ on a return why do you call 3 pass plays?!  Help me understand that
Brian Batko
2:42
Have you seen the Steelers' run-blocking?
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