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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.11.19
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Brian Batko
2:00
Good afternoon, friends. Short week, but we’re still chatting. And we’ll still have plenty of Steelers coverage, including a North Shore Drive podcast (https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/the-north-shore-drive-sports-...), my weekly mailbag and the Skinny Post newsletter, which you can sign up for below. It’s free, fun, exclusive Steelers content, from quotes to stats to insights from me. All you have to do is create a Post-Gazette account if you don't already have one, then sign up here: https://my.post-gazette.com/profile/#/preferences
And with that, let's kick off
Dirty Dave the Love Slave
2:01
¿Would you consider the trade for Minkah comparable to the trade for Jerome Bettis back in the day?
Brian Batko
2:02
Well, I was 4 when that trade happened, but it does seem like the Steelers have pulled off maybe their best deal since then. Although the compensation in return for Minkah Fitzpatrick was probably fair. It'll likely end up being a win for both sides, if the Dolphins can put another first-rounder to good use in their rebuild.
Alaska Steeler
2:03
Sure seems like we got lucky on the non PI call on Edmunds at end of game.  It seems like he rarely turns his head to find the ball and his style just begs for that type of call.  Agree or not?
Brian Batko
2:04
He plays physical, yeah, but I wouldn't say the Steelers got lucky on that one. You see those types of calls go either way a lot of the time. Sean McVay might've challenged it if it hadn't been under two minutes, though. I don't think Terrell has been great in coverage or anything -- certainly not the 100 percent A-plus grade his brother Trey has -- but that was a big play, and he made another big play that kinda flew under the radar last week on stopping the 2-point conversio.
Hood
2:04
Any word on how shaziers rehab is going? Is he able to run?
Brian Batko
2:05
Yes, and he can do a lot of other things in the weight room, but as far as I know, still a long way to go for him. Nice to see Shazier honored on the field pregame last night though. He's enjoying his time as a Pitt student, finishing up the degree he started at Ohio State.
John Strange
2:06
Should Rudolph been able to field the high snap that led to the Ram turnover TD?
Brian Batko
2:06
Eh, it would've taken a pretty athletic play by him. And I think he would've gotten pasted by Dante Fowler if he had caught it. Looked high to me. Maurkice Pouncey needs to do a better job eliminating those. He had a few slip-ups snapping to Duck Hodges at the Chargers, too.
BringBackWeegie
2:08
Hi Brian - Which decision was worse: Play action from the end zone or switching up the OL? Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:09
I don't think the OL shift was that bad. Chuks Okorafor had a few lapses but was actually better than I thought he'd be given the way he played in preseason. I thought Matt Feiler probably played as well as anyone, with how much he had to deal with Aaron Donald inside. The play-action from the end zone was big risk and did not reap a big reward, obviously.
Tampa Too
2:09
I thought the clock management at the end of the first half was awful.  The Rams had only one time out and we threw 3 incomplete passes which allowed the Rams to attempt a long field goal .  Fortunately it was not good. Your thoughts on this clock management
Brian Batko
2:10
Here's the thing: if the Steelers complete those passes, maybe they get points. If they run the ball instead, people are asking why they weren't more aggressive. Case in point: the final possession when they ran three times to try to kill clock, and lots of folks didn't that either, because they couldn't grind out a first down and instead had to punt back to the Rams.
Plex a go
2:10
Seems like Coaches Butler and Tomlin got a lot smarter since Game 2? How and when will Coach Fichner get his IQ raised? And forget Danny Smith- apparently he's here for life no matter the results?
Brian Batko
2:12
Yeah, coaches are always smarter when they're winning. Danny Smith's return and coverage units have not been great, but let's give some credit for being hyper-ready on the fake punt pass. Trey Edmunds said they watched that on film a hundred times. It was the worst fake punt I've seen since Jeff George Jr. sneaked onto the field at Notre Dame last year...
Bobby Bottleservice
2:12
Come back to Pitt FB, nothings been the same since you left.
Brian Batko
2:12
You're right, Jeff George Jr. isn't lining up at punter anymore
Ronald
2:13
Brian , would you take Eli Rogers back? I really think right now he is a great choice (Switzer injury and performance) why not give it a chance? He would help in both returning and WR corps ..
Brian Batko
2:13
Sure, he might be able to help. But it seems that ship sailed a while ago when he cleaned out all his stuff and said farewell to the important people in the organization.
Mark in L.A.
2:14
Given the problems with the Steelers' kickoff coverage team, why are they having Boswell kick short?  It could have cost them yesterday.
Brian Batko
2:14
Guess they think their coverage can improve. Kicking short has been working well for teams AGAINST the Steelers.
livinthedream
2:15
Brian, D outstanding. O not so much. Until Mason demonstrates a 2 second release he should never ever attempt a pass from his own end zone. We were lucky it only cost 2 pts . Your thoughts.
Brian Batko
2:15
I agree, the D was outstanding and the O not so much yesterday. You're spot-on, my dude.
The Peanut Gallery
2:15
Wait a second! IsTomlin doing a good job? Even the defense is playing...splendid. You might not even get a when to Fire Tomlin question today! Is that possible?
Brian Batko
2:16
I'm hopeful, TPG. But as Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding once said, hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.
Melanie
2:16
Mr Batko this Offense is Horrendous (fundamentals, drops, execution) they better improved ASAP it’s becoming ridiculous, take the win but common !! Who is to blame for lack of improvement ?
Brian Batko
2:19
Please, Melanie, Mr. Batko is my father. I'm not sure there's a clear person to blame. It's tough to adjust on the fly in the NFL. The other guys are getting paid, too, to stop you. I suppose Randy Fichtner shoulders some responsibility for not coming out more crisp following the off week. But to his credit, I thought Mason Rudolph looked just fine yesterday.
JB
2:19
Have to be someone out there that can replace Switzer. Seems like a wasted roster spot. How about Jones or Griffey?
Brian Batko
2:20
Tevin Jones is on the p squad, but not really considered a returner type. Trey Griffey been out of work since preseason cuts. Terrelle Pryor is out there.
Susy
2:21
If make Playoffs is there any small possibility Big Ben could be back? We really need Offense
Brian Batko
2:21
No
From afar
2:21
When do you think that the Steelers will slip up?  This week at Cleveland?  They always seem to play down to the competition.
Brian Batko
2:22
Could be. Browns still have talent, mainly at the skill positions and in the front seven. Gotta think even at 3-6 the Dawg Pound will be pumped up for this one. They are favored by 2 last I looked.
Steelchuck
2:22
Hey Brian - how’s Conner looking for being active Thursday?
Brian Batko
2:23
Looking good, by his own estimation and Mike Tomlin's as well as Gerry Dulac's reporting https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/11/11/pittsburgh-ste...
Meath Hiller
2:23
How do we get Vance going?  He is a beast who should be getting 6-7 targets/game.
Brian Batko
2:25
He had a drop on one of his seven targets last night, the second game in a row with that many. It depends on what the defense is giving Mason Rudolph. Seems pretty clear to me that he's not going to try to force balls into spots that aren't open very often, if at all.
Scott Cook via KY
2:25
Why don’t we sign someone to play fullback if Nix can’t go. Our running game improves with a fullback.
Brian Batko
2:26
Good question. There are only so many roster spots to go around. Rosie Nix's knee cropping up again isn't ideal, but not putting him on IR tells me they're still hopeful he'll be back in another week or two. But hey, maybe the correct move was to put him on IR long ago and sign someone else there so you can still run power.
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