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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.10.25
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Brian Batko
11:47
Hey everyone, I'm posted up at my hotel by the pool ready to take questions from the Steelers-Chargers fallout. Have at it
Sam
11:47
Taking stock of the franchise at large: Recently: bad losses in-season, late-season collapses, playoff blowouts.. Currently:  Same as recently just some different faces…..Future: No QB because yours is 41 and why in the world would he come back? Stale coach who is a poor game planner and hasn’t corrected any of his shortcomings over the last decade…$30M WR on a new contract who can’t get open because there’s no other perimeter receiving threat to help out and who might have the drops anyway….$40M pass rusher on a new contract who is past his prime and disappears for games at a time….Overpaid and old defense without enough youth to have much positivity about the future…young but underachieving offensive line…No more hope of winning a SB than dregs like the Jets, Browns, or Titans but also no high draft picks because they somehow win 4-5 more games per year than the quality with which they play would dictate. Is it Festivus yet?!
Brian Batko
11:49
I mean, the Steelers have a LITTLE more hope of winning it all than the Jets, Browns and Titans. Didn't you hear Aaron Rodgers clarify my question last night? It might've been his last game in Southern California. Super Bowl this season is in Northern California. It's still on his agenda. But either way, by and large, the Steelers bring their fan base much more joy than those teams you mention. The end result lately has just been ... hollow.
Saint
11:51
Why does this offense seemingly never feature the back shoulder sideline pass? Is it Smith or Tomlin? Can Rogers no longer throw it? Given that defenses are doubling Metcalf and taking away his in-breaking and “go” routes, the back shoulder pass should be there. Collinsworth said as much after the failed fourth down pass to Metcalf failed. Ben used to throw it regularly, three or four times a game. I don’t think they’ve made Steelers have throw it four times all year.
Brian Batko
11:53
Funny you say that because one detail Rodgers did acknowledge last night was that he should've tried to put it more on his back shoulder on that play you refer to. Granted, Rodgers then added that he probably should've just worked his progression to the other side of the field rather than force it into double coverage, but still. Obviously, he can make that throw and has done it plenty over 21 years. You know who was a pretty solid back shoulder guy? Kenny Pickett!
Bulldog
11:53
Bats...how was your weekend?  A closer look at the Colts game shows 6 turnovers and a 7 point win...far from a dominating performance.  Do you think last night's game is more indicative of who the Steelers are?  A team that will not win the division, fail to make the playoffs and struggle to compete.
Brian Batko
11:55
My weekend was great, thank you for asking. Hung out in El Segundo (did not leave my wallet), went to the Clippers-Suns game, had dinner in Koreatown, watched football in Manhattan Beach and swam in the Pacific Ocean. As for last week's game, it was a 7-point win in the box score, but the Steelers had that comfortably in the bag before the Colts' late touchdown.
Clean Sweep
11:56
What are the chances the coaching staff is let go at the end of the season?  How many years left on Tomlin's contract?  I'd rather have a new staff next year and do poorly for a few years like the Colts and Pats have been the last few years than continue to be mediocre every year and expecting more.
Brian Batko
11:58
He still has two more seasons left once this one ends. I don't ever see the Steelers firing Mike Tomlin. Could they shake up the staff drastically, particularly if this season goes off the rails? Potentially. Could Tomlin himself decide he's ready to move on at some point and leave money on the table? You never know.
Henry Hill
11:58
Greetings Brian; after last night's debacle in LA, I'm wondering how the Steelers will even get to 9 wins, too pessimistic?
Brian Batko
12:01
Of course, Henry! The Steelers always get to 9 wins (unless they have a tie, in which case they'll get to 8). Here's how they get there: Beat the Bengals at home because Cincy swaps out their entire defense for UFL players to make a statement; beat the Browns in Cleveland because not even the curse of Brownie the Elf can save that offense; beat the Dolphins, who can't function in cold weather; beat Ravens backups in Week 18.
SteelerNationBoston
12:02
Hi Brian, what is the probability of this: Steelers have their usual uneven games and finish this season 9-8, squeak into wild card, lose decisively to a better team, loudest calls yet for Head Coach to be replaced, Head Coach is not replaced, Steelers continue descent into mediocrity through 2027 season until finally a wholesale change occurs from the Head Coach on down, at which point they are revitalized and return to past Steelers glory by 2028?
Brian Batko
12:03
The odds of ALL of that happening concurrently are 2.7%
Frustrated
12:05
Not that I have access to game film, but I remember watching the Ravens playoff game last season in-person and noticing not a lot our players were not open on their routes and the play-calling was boring and unimaginative.  It appears as though we are having the same issues this year as well.  What gives?  Also, why are we not feeding Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainewell the ball more?  I've noticed we have not playing a lot play action plays lately either.
Brian Batko
12:06
If you subscribe to the notion that the first thing a coach/player says postgame is the main thing on his mind that he wants to communicate to the outside world, Rodgers started his press conference by saying he was "a little bit off" but that they also didn't run the ball super effectively in the first half, "and then we weren't getting guys open and putting it all together." So it would seem he's seeing some of what you were seeing, Frustrated. And he's probably frustrated too. Jaylen Warren is a stud.
paullochrane
12:08
should the steelers start mason instead of aaron
Brian Batko
12:08
Erm...no.
Momo
12:08
Do you think this Steeler coaching staff is capable of drafting and developing a young QB, like Denver did with Bo Nix?
Brian Batko
12:10
Yes I think they're capable, particularly the ones most intimately involved in such development, Arthur Smith, Tom Arth, Matt Baker. But when it comes to Mike Tomlin, he's already had that coaching opportunity and we saw how Kenny Pickett flamed out. I suppose you can argue he has a better offensive staff in place now.
epiballo
12:12
Brian, I know 'fan' is short for 'fanatic,' but does it seem to you that some fans take winning and losing too seriously? I've been a Steeler fan since the '70s and have ridden the rollercoaster, but it is still just entertainment and I still have to pay my taxes either way.
Brian Batko
12:14
Well that's a loaded question. I mean...yes, I hope for your all's sake that you have more significant elements of your life that make your world go round. But for some, those meaningful relationships revolve around the Steelers and the shared experiences of watching/attending/following these games. And for my sake, whatever you do, don't lose interest!
TVC15
12:16
Hi Brian, They Steelers are a few lucky bounces/breaks from being 2-7 or even winless. Their "historic" defense couldn't even shut down a Charger offensive line decimated by injuries. Will the primetime embarrassments continue with them making the Dolphins offense look like the Greatest Show on Turf on Monday, December 15th? Is there any way they could be mercifully flexed out of a Monday night game?
Brian Batko
12:18
Yes, they can. And that would be wonderful! Although the Steelers are such a big brand that it might be unlikely. But I really can't envision them losing to Miami in Pittsburgh in December. Fins better hope for an unseasonably warm night.
pauljr13
12:18
Hi Brian, when the 2nd turnover happened, the Steelers were down 22-3 with 9 mins in the game.  Turnovers is not what lost the game, but Tomlin will try to make us think it.  Do you know if Tomlin used to emphasize turnovers as a reason for wins/losses when Ben was here?  It's like he knows it's the only way they can win games now because they're not good.
Brian Batko
12:20
Hey, when you have an elite QB, a la Ben in his prime, you can live with turnovers because you're gonna be an aggressive, attacking passing offense stressing defenses deep downfield, over the middle, etc.
Gino
12:22
Brian, so Rodgers obviously had a bad game, but he had to hurry his throws because the offensive line did not protect him.  Was it simply a bad game for the o-line also or were there other factors?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
12:24
I think those sacks were partly on the OL, partly on him. Actually asked him about that after the game and he said he'll have to go back and look at what he could've done differently, though he did note that he can't just take off like he used to.
62 Stack Monster
12:25
Brian, The Steelers had three first downs and 85 yards of offense in first half and didn’t convert a third down until the fourth quarter.  Smith's offense is horrible.  The play calling was horrible. Last night's performance was on par with Matt Canada and Randy Fichtner, in spite of having more talent than the other two ever had.  Why does Tomlin tolerate such a stodgy approach to an offense over the past five years?
Brian Batko
12:27
Tolerate? Mike Tomlin sets the philosophy of what he wants offensively. He's the head coach. And to be honest, I'm not even sure I have that much of an issue with Arthur Smith last night. Guys were open at times, schemed open, and Rodgers was missing the throw or missing the read.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:27
Good day Brian! Rodgers has looked increasingly more uncomfortable looking like he has no faith in the O line and has happy feet on every drop back. If the season starts to spiral out of control, what do you do in the QB room? Do you release Rodgers and play Howard rep to see what you have or ride with Rodgers to the grave with an 8-9 record?
Brian Batko
12:29
OK, so for hypothetical purposes to answer this question, spiraling out of control would be what, the Steelers losing four straight to be 5-7 entering December? No, I could not see this team of all teams and this coach of all coaches punting on the rest of the season. Speaking of Will Howard, though, I would think he'll be activated from injured reserve this week and placed on the 53-man roster.
Big Ed
12:30
Good morning Brian! It is long past due for the Pittsburgh Steelers organization to move on from Mike Tomlin. Is he a good coach? Absolutely, but I feel his message has grown stale and these seasons of mediocre football play needs to end. Not really a question just something that has been bothering me for a long time.
Brian Batko
12:32
You're not alone, I can tell you that much. But hey, to be fair to him, they're only one week removed from beating the team with the best record in the NFL despite a patchwork secondary.
artie bridge
12:32
Bats, Starkey's term "high mediocrity" is playing out, (except I'm not sure about the 'high' part.)  Can we eke out 5 victories among the remaining eight games?  I'm thinking 4 - 4 is more likely.  Your take?
Brian Batko
12:34
Well, I said 10-7 at the beginning of the season, but I'm wavering a bit on that. Never wavering on the .500 or better streak though. I'll believe it coming to an end when I see it.
Chris
12:35
Is Aaron Rodgers' performance last night just a fluke or a sign of what's to come? Thanks
Brian Batko
12:36
That's the million dollar question coming out of that one, Chris. If he lights up the Bengals next week, will that even do anything to alleviate the concerns? The Bengals are a Big Ten defense masquerading as an NFL unit.
Takoma Tom
12:37
Isn’t it time to rip the band aid off and admit this is not a playoff team.  Start playing the younger guys for experience.  Any lucky sneak into the playoffs pretty much guarantees a blow out embarrassing loss.  Everyone knows the Steelers aren’t a playoff team except themselves.
Brian Batko
12:37
What younger guys?!
PJ 134
12:37
Hey Brian, in retrospect, do you think Omar and Tomlin regret trading Pickens, even with his issues?
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