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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.27.25
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hey everyone, Steelers locker room access just ended so we'll get started in a few minutes here. Thanks for your patience.
Uncle T
2:05
I truly didn’t have great hopes before kickoff but was pleasantly surprised with the first half play. Did you see the momentum change with the missed offsides and the missed OPI on the next packers series?
Brian Batko
2:07
What's up Uncle T? I guess you could say that, and the DeShon Elliott injury was a gut punch, but sometimes you see teams rally around those moments. To me the Packers were just all around better, no "momentum" needed.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:08
Brian: you have consistently predicted the Steelers to get to at least 9-8 in your preseason predictions because you have never seen a Tomlin losing season.  You are not alone as most in the local media seem to take for granted 9 or 10 wins and a first round playoff loss.  Looking at the schedule though, can you really see them getting to 9 wins barring QB injuries for opponents?
Brian Batko
2:11
And this year I said 10-7 after liking what I saw from the defense in training camp. But hey, don't just paint me as an eternal, uh, optimist. I also said I won't predict that they win a playoff game until I see that either. As for the rest of this season, so many funky things can happen week to week or with injuries. How about five more wins against, say, the Bengals at home, Browns, Bears, Dolphins and Ravens in Week 18?
Mark
2:13
Hello Brian.  As that famous philosopher Popeye the Sailor Man once said, "that was embarrasskin".  I have a thought provoking question.  Why is that when the Steelers offense does well it's because they have a great offense, but when the opposing offense does well it's because the Steelers defensive players and coaches stink?  Does the answer have something to do with fan being short for fanatic?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:15
Of course. It's not my place to say what is and isn't rational but I do think my role in this ecosystem we all inhabit is to be relatively level-headed. Two straight losses that were pathetic performances from a defense that is the highest-paid in the NFL by far. Coaching breakdowns, player lapses, really just everything out of whack. But I've seen this movie before. It wouldn't stun me if the Steelers turned around and won Sunday at home.
The Eman
2:17
Do you think Steelers can get Mel Blount out of retirement? The ghost of Jack Butler could cover better than these  incompetents.
Brian Batko
2:17
Jack Butler reference always plays, Eman
Ben
2:17
Hey Brian - remember when we thought the Steelers were just a qb away? Wow. Rodgers might be their best player after Boswell. That Watt contract looks pretty bad. What can they do to get him going? His impact on the last 10 games is more mediocre starter than defensive game plan.
Brian Batko
2:19
I pretty much asked him exactly that after the game. He said they have to find ways to produce, that's for sure. To me it's obvious the logical thing to try is shifting him around the defensive front more. I thought the NBC guys did a good job breaking down how much the presence of Micah Parsons impacted Aaron Rodgers, who had to know where he was pre-snap every play. Even if it wasn't Parsons the one getting home, he affected that down.
Jack Lambert
2:20
Did anyone watch how they moved Parsons around on defense.   Imagine if we moved Watt around and not let teams easily read how to chip and double.  Both the scheme & Watts play are not worthy of the contract
Brian Batko
2:21
He was fairly disruptive just a couple weeks ago against the Browns, which for all their issues is not exactly one of the worst O-lines in the NFL, but yes these past couple of games have been rather quiet. And taken with last season's five-game slide, it's even more discouraging. And combined with his mega deal this offseason, I understand why fans are frustrated. But I can tell you T.J. is, too.
Henry Hill
2:21
Greetings Brian; Prediction: this will be Tomlin's first losing season, yet we'll still win our division because the rest of our division is lousy.
Brian Batko
2:22
Ha. Yeah, 8-9 might just get it done. Old school AFC/NFC South vibes, baby.
Atlanta Dan
2:23
Thanks for the chat after another debacle by the defense.
After the 1988 and 2003 seasons, the most recent prior seasons in which like this year the Steelers gave up 30 or more points in 4 of the first 7 games, Bill Cowher replaced Tim Lewis with Dick LeBeau as DC in 2003 & Dan Rooney forced Chuck Noll to fire DC Tony Dungy & other coaches in 1988. Is it likely AJRII forces Mike Tomlin to hire an actual DC to coordinate the defense with some new concepts if Tomlin does not do so voluntarily or is any change in defensive coaches & schemes just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with these primarily old & slow players?
Brian Batko
2:26
You're welcome, Dan. I threw out some potential DC replacement names in my mailbag last week (and hilariously, that generates a blog headline about how the Steelers have now been "linked" to various candidates). A couple of those were familiar faces in Larry Foote, Deshea Townsend, but most were completely outside the organization. To me, that needs to be the move if a move is made.
Lou
2:26
Hey Brian. If the Steelers added a decent WR2, do you think they could be successful running more plays with 4 wide and such so the D is spread out more? Or maybe this bunch just can’t hack that.
Brian Batko
2:28
Then you really need to hold up in protection, Lou. I'm sure there would be some benefits to Rodgers being able to survey the field and have a bit more time to go through his progressions and get the ball out, but I don't know, that's just not what this offense was built to be. And it's probably not feasible to change your entire philosophy like that on the fly. Funny how many of us came into this season thinking it would only work if Rodgers didn't have to be Superman. And now that might be the only way for it to work?
NY Steel
2:28
It is one thing not to be historically good or elite. It is another to be near the bottom of the league in most defensive metrics.  How could Tomlin be so wrong about his schemes and personnel?  Is there any accountability with Tomlin or should we just "be happy he is our coach" like Rooney once said?
Brian Batko
2:31
Seems pretty clear to me he thought Darius Slay had more left in the tank, and Joey Porter Jr. would take a bigger leap. As for the schemes, I cautioned before the season that if these big acquisitions gave him peace of mind that they could just roll the ball out there, line up and win 1-on-1 matchups, that's a potential fool's gold situation. Instead of the Steel Curtain, maybe this should be the Iron Pyrite.
Yates
2:32
I don’t have issue with Gainwell getting meanings snaps but do the coaches remember that 30 was a quality 3rd down back prior to this season and someone who gets meaningful YAC when he gets a catch?
Brian Batko
2:35
Yeah especially when he was running like an absolute beast again last night. Steelers had a 16-7 lead at the half and the ball coming out of the break, then go with three consecutive pass plays leading to a punt. I know people will crush Arthur Smith for that. But honestly, I don't hate it. You're trying to ride that wave and put away a good team, and hitting a quick strike or big pass play could've helped to do that. It's just not gonna look good when you run three times in the second half and lose like that. I get that, for sure.
Steeler Joe
2:36
Hey, BB -- how was your weekend? Hoping the Steelers retire those cursed jerseys -- and the khaki Dockers they wore with them. Worse than white after Labor Day.
Brian Batko
2:39
Hey Joe, it was great. Two birthday parties, one of which was also a Halloween party, and a trunk-or-treat too. Few things fill me with such wistful emotion as the wide-eyed innocence of kids in their costumes. And few things befuddle me as much as the Steeler jerseys that weren't entirely throwbacks, weren't entirely just alternates, had horrific beige pants and different colored numbers on front and back of the shirts. Anyhow...
Ken
2:40
Hey Brian,  why isn't anyone talking about the fact that the defense has NOT had one turnover in the last 3 games?
Brian Batko
2:40
Sup Ken. Can you believe the defense has NOT had one turnover in the last 3 games?
2:41
In all seriousness, it didn't really matter against the Browns' JV passing game. Sure the picks would've been nice but that game didn't hinge on it. The last two did.
Pittfan
2:42
Hi Brian. Is it possible Tomlin is doing what long tenured coaches like Bill Belichick and others have done? Relying on vets who other teams have given up on, taking total control and poorly evaluating talent? I'm starting to believe the Steelers are heading for a Patriots like rebuild.
Brian Batko
2:45
Yes, that could be possible to some extent. I wouldn't say Mike Tomlin has total control in evaluation and acquisitions, but he's certainly more involved than most head coaches.
TVC15
2:45
I have not heard anyone mention that the Steelers were coming off of a mini bye week and that is the best they could do. What do you think?
Brian Batko
2:46
That's one of the major reasons I picked them to win. Rest advantage and the Packers had just been taken down to the wire by the Cardinals. But hey, Matt LaFleur didn't need the additional prep time.
Jim Bow Dean
2:47
For the most part, hasn’t the secondary been an issue for all of Tomlin’s tenure? According to AI, not a single DB drafted under him has ever made a pro bowl. How is that even possible over 18 years? Isn’t the secondary supposed to be his specialty? No one should have any faith he can fix the problem.
Brian Batko
2:49
Ah, yeah, that is true. To me, Minkah Fitzpatrick is probably the best success story, if not Mike Hilton. Neither guy drafted by the Steelers, obviously, but in my view they certainly developed here and became good/great players. But yes! The secondary woes were a huge reason the Killer B's teams didn't have enough firepower to get over the hump for so long.
574 Fan
2:50
Given it’s the highest paid defense in the league, it’s pretty safe to say that that unit is an awful investment through the first 7 games.  How can this be rectified? Tomlin is not only seemingly untouchable, but it hasn’t felt as though Art has even tried to influence him when it comes to decisions on his coordinators. How does this situation with the defense change anytime soon (I’m afraid that the answer is it doesn’t).
Brian Batko
2:52
It's too late to rectify the personnel. They need to play better or be put in better position to accentuate what they still are capable of doing well. Brandin Echols coming to save the day? Cory Trice? Jabrill Peppers? Something has to change quickly to keep this thing from really snowballing and then being in danger of guys checking out.
Tomlin watch
2:52
Hey - the Tomlin-cam on broadcasts is pretty sad these days. There have been multiple shots of him the last couple of games, by himself, just sort of staring out into the abyss. It’s a big departure from what you usually see of him on the sidelines. Is it shock at how wrong his read was after last year? Any indication that he’s tired of this all too? Thanks -
Brian Batko
2:53
You know I really don't get that vibe, to address the last part of your message, but negativity can't be easy to absorb no matter who you are. He's been there, done that many times over, of course. The guy has coached through much worse than two-game losing streaks, particularly this early in the season. If it gets worse, we can revisit this.
Peter
2:54
With all the talk of a WR2 seems like what we really need is somebody to play the secondary who can cover and tackle. Anybody you think might be available?
Brian Batko
2:56
I mean, they certainly have more bodies to throw out there even in the absence of DeShon Elliott, who very well could be done for the season with the way that injury looked. But Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers are all getting up there in age and none have been particularly stout to this point in the season. That's a difficult issue to scheme around. Maybe they can get more creative with Jalen Ramsey but then again it's not as if robbing from the cornerback depth sounds great either.
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