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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.20.25
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Brian Batko
11:47
For what it's worth, with what little time I had in the postgame locker room (these God forsaken late kickoffs, I'll tell ya) I did ask Patrick Queen if there were miscommunications playing out similar to last year's late season slide and he said no. He said it was more about individuals not doing their job, their 1/11th on any given play.
pauljr13
11:49
Hi Brian, does Tomlin really want us to believe the primary reason for the loss was the 2 turnovers and not the 470 yds his historic D gave up?
Brian Batko
11:51
The turnovers were significant, but that's the reason why we often ask if the Steelers being so opportunistic on defense is truly sustainable. I also thought Mike Tomlin didn't seem particularly mad, frustrated or disappointed in his postgame. Almost like he was resigned to his fate. His Flacco Fate.
Lambert 58
11:52
Hi Brian, do the 2025 defense's troubles tell us that money doesn't always buy happiness? Thanks.
Brian Batko
11:52
I already knew that, Lambert. After all I am a sports writer.
Dicky Do
11:54
So the offense is really clicking now, but the defense is really stinking up the joint. Is it coaching? Are the highly paid big name talent players effectively passed their prime? Are they just so focused on running up their sack count that they let their run defense turned into a sieve? And please don’t say it’s because the players aren’t executing their assignments because saying the defense stinks because the players aren’t executing is just a tautology.
Brian Batko
11:55
As someone who took intro to logic in college, this is not the first time I've heard the term tautology. But a lot of football talk is that way. It is what it is. It's the NFL. The standard is the standard!
Butcher
11:55
Brian- thanks for chats as always. The O looked fine. Finally got Muth involved. But the D is becoming my real concern. How can we be dominant and disruptive one game and so easily schemed to prevent any impact plays the next? There is a definite coaching issue, and when you build a secondary to defend anyone.... And get smoked by the team you built for... Coaching and pulling aged players.  Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
11:57
Well in this particular two-game sample size, it's quite obvious to me. They faced a rookie QB under 6-foot with a questionable arm making his first true NFL road start one week, then the wily old veteran Joe Flacco with a cannon who's seen it all in this league the next week. The Steelers are still 4-2, which is great, but the biggest indictment here of what they've been in recent seasons is that none of what happened Thursday was surprising to me.
Jerry in Bradenton
11:58
Hey Bats. Offense was good enough to win. The historically expensive defense kinda p00ped the bed. I think they need a smaller, quick DB to be on Chase near the line of scrimmage with the bigger DB over the top to help prevent the slants. Someone like B. Bishop. Would have been a good game to call him up. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
11:58
Eh, that doesn't really do much for me, but I do wonder if Brandin Echols might get more opportunities in light of that complete coverage breakdown. He's a smaller, quicker corner with much more NFL experience playing on the outside than Beanie Bishop.
Henry Hill
11:59
Greetings Brian; the 'historic defense' was obviously a debacle on Thursday night, but the offense was hailed as effective and competent. Do you think that is tempered at all given the Steelers were playing one of the worst defenses in the league, and missing their best player?
Brian Batko
12:00
I do agree the Bengals defense is horrific, yes. They're starting two rookie inside linebackers and like you said, didn't have Trey Hendrickson to lift up those around him. So as much as I felt like the defense didn't prove a ton in stifling the Browns, I suppose I have to keep that same energy for what the offense did to the Bengals.
Stash
12:01
BB, the proverbial landscape has been altered significantly due to that debacle, which, in retrospect, we all should have seen coming. Your thoughts, if any.
Brian Batko
12:02
Well my thoughts are the chat has concluded for today. A looot of questions left on the cutting room floor so be sure to come back for Ray Fittipaldo tomorrow. Enjoy another MNF doubleheader if you so choose.
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