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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.16.20
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Brian Batko
1:51
Good afternoon. We're nine minutes early, but why not get started now for all the eager beavers out there? I'll open it up for any questions you may have.
Guest
1:52
now will somebody take me serious about the steelers going undefeated until the afc championship game? i've been saying this every week and you guys laugh !!! who's laughing now?
Brian Batko
1:52
Guest is here to claim what's his. Everybody clap it up for Guest.
mrbig
1:52
Is Colbert the team MVP?
Brian Batko
1:53
I suppose you could always make a case for the GM being the most important member of any organization any year. But it's very tough to separate that acquisition of players to the development of said players to the execution by the players themselves. And at that point, why not say Art Rooney II is the MVP? After all, he's the one who ultimately decides to employ Kevin Colbert to do his job.
Donna
1:55
Hi Brian...any idea if McFarland is expected back from his illness in time for the next game?  Also, is Jaylen Samuel in Coach Tomlin’s doghouse with his lack of playing time?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
1:56
Would think so on Anthony McFarland. Fact that he wasn't placed on the COVID list is probably a good sign for him, relatively speaking. As for Samuels, I don't necessarily know if I'd say he's in any sort of doghouse, he's just not a big part of the plan on offense this year. They've drafted other guys at his position and are using them instead.
Yates
1:57
Hi Brian -  9 and 0 start is not the right argument to make that an effective run game does not matter.  With no run game, Ben is exposed more to injury. That is enough of a reason to think lack of run game needs to be fixed no matter the winning record.  Because if Ben gets hurt, then what do you have as an offense...receivers aplenty but no QB that can play at ANYWHERE NEAR Ben's level. Where do you come down Brian on the importance of lack of rund game?
Brian Batko
1:59
I'm really not all that concerned about it until proven otherwise. If Ben gets hurt, let's just be honest, the Steelers aren't hoisting a Lombardi at the end of this thing. And a better running game won't change that.
Coach15
2:01
Why in the world, up by 3-1/2 scores, late in the 3rd period, wouldn't the Steelers run the ball, use clock & attempt to keep BB upright & healthy?
Brian Batko
2:01
Because we need things to talk about in the Monday chat for a 9-0 team.
Utah Jim
2:02
Conner seems more effective running behind someone like a pulling guard or FB. The Steelers appeared to be doing more of that earlier in the season and it was working. Why did they stop or am I wrong?
Brian Batko
2:05
Eh, you're kind of wrong, UJ. Derek Watt was getting 6-8 snaps a game the first three weeks until he hurt his hamstring. He played six snaps yesterday, so, about the same usage for him. If you thought the Steelers were bringing him in to be a Kyle Jusczyczk or something, that was never very realistic.
MikeM65
2:06
Charlie Batch made a comment during the post game show that you can't fix the running game on the fly because you don't want to (or cannot) wear pads and hit during the season.  Can't they do things like work on blocking technique out of a three point stance, work on blocking schemes, and do other non-contact drills to improve the running game?  Or is it simply these linemen are built to pass protect and cannot improve with their run blocking?
Brian Batko
2:07
Charlie has forgotten more about playing in the NFL than I'll ever know, so that's an insightful comment from him. Here's a fun fact, though, for what it's worth: in the three games Kevin Dotson started or played most of the snaps, the Steelers ran for 100 yards in all three, against Denver, Philly and Cleveland. No slouches on defense. In the six games without Dotson in there, they ran for 100 twice (Texans, Giants).
Retire21
2:09
Were you surprised they sent Burrow out there late and then just had him hand off?
Brian Batko
2:09
Not particularly. Joe Burrow said after the game he never wants to come out, whether they're losing by 10 or 20 or 100. So maybe he wanted to stay in and take the full 60 minutes of that thunderous pounding.
Yates
2:10
Brian -  Serious question.  Why do certain of the more outgoing Steelers players seem to treat the Zoom calls with beat reporters with such disdain?  Do they think it is not cool to treat you better?  Most beat reports seem to avoid negative takes at all costs. Just don't get it.
Brian Batko
2:11
I'm not sure I've encountered all that much "disdain" from the players, though I certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness for us media types. Some guys clearly aren't real interested in doing it, which is fine. That's their right. I did hear Emmanuel Sanders, former Steelers wideout, saying last week that from a player's point of view, he greatly prefers doing interviews this way. No reporters prowling the locker room, lurking in his personal space. It's not ideal for us, but who cares.
Mercury
2:12
What ever happened to Art Rooney’s mandate that they run the ball more this year?
Brian Batko
2:12
You getting nervous, Mercury?
San Diego Steeler Fan
2:12
Per Gerry Dulac's article Do we go with a feature back (Conner) or running back by commitee
the rest of the way to fix the issue?
Brian Batko
2:13
I've been saying since the offseason they should use the other backs more. Benny Snell looked really good in the season opener, then fumbles got the better of him. But still, given his role, he faces a stacked box more often than not when he gets in the game. And with McFarland, you used a fourth-round pick on him in a year you needed immediate help. So use him.
Alex B.
2:14
This is a Passing offense no Doubt about that but they will need to run the ball to keep teams honest any idea what they will need to do to achieve that maybe a change in blocking schemes ?
Brian Batko
2:15
Possibly but again, that's not easy to do mid-stream here. The Steelers offense is built a certain way, their scheme is what it is, and the playbook employs their system. Can't scrap it all and start over in Week 11. Need to get better at executing it. But here's the other thing: you're probably not going to adjust personnel when you're protecting your quarterback the way they are. Don't create one problem trying to solve another.
ectcyberhipaa
2:16
Seems like fans feel like the Steelers are 9-0 despite all the weaknesses.  Do you get a sense of the team feels about their accomplishments?
Brian Batko
2:16
I get the sense they're very pleased with themselves.
Titan in Charlotte
2:17
Brian - Have you ever seen a slower person running than Big Ben? Thank god for his arm!
Brian Batko
2:18
It's painful to watch, Titan. Try to keep in mind that these are all world-class athletes mostly moving at warp speed, but yeah, that might just make him look all the more slow.
Jay
2:18
Hi Brian.  I was really down on Tomlin from 15-18, thought he was stubborn and his weaknesses persist without any acknowledgement.   I was at the Miami game last year and thought he should be kn hot seat after they were down 14-0.  Perhaps losing Ben made him think a little and he has been a much better coach.
Brian Batko
2:19
Or maybe he's just always been a good coach and it's hard to win in the NFL. Coaching that team last year probably did help him in a way, though he'd probably never admit that.
Mark steel
2:20
Game ball to cam Newton!!
Brian Batko
2:21
Didn't see much of that game last night, but I did see the wide receiver pass to Rex Burkhead for a touchdown. What a call. Patriots aren't dead yet!
iowasteelersfan
2:22
Do players still get fined when they toss a ball into the stands?  Seems silly in a multi-billion dollar business over a $100 ball.
Brian Batko
2:23
According to the NFL fine website they get docked $7k for that because of "sportsmanship." But I saw that JuJu tossed a ball to his dad yesterday on his dad's birthday, and other players have done it this season. I think they can afford it, but yes, it's a bit of a stupid rule.
Cool tre
2:23
Any reason why Carlos Davis got a helmet over Buggs yesterday?
Brian Batko
2:24
Isaiah Buggs has been dealing with an ankle injury for a few weeks, and last week, he was a little more limited in practice. With Tyson Alualu back, Tomlin probably decided Buggs would sit without a full week of work. No noticeable dropoff in my eyes.
Greg
2:25
Sure we don't just need a strong RB like Fournette to plow forward for a few yards each time we need it? Bengals may have stacked the line, but Bettis still got us a few yards when they stacked the line and we needed it.
Brian Batko
2:25
Need The Bus back.
JC
2:26
So did everyone notice Ben’s look of disgust when I slipped for a 5 yard loss? He realizes I was going to lose 4 yards anyway, correct? Maybe Pouncey could block somebody?
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