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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.21.22
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Brian Batko
12:02
OK folks, let's discuss yesterday's game, which I imagine is one of the worst 37-30 losses in NFL history.
Jim Bow Dean
12:03
Is Flores overrated? The Dolphins are better without him, and the Steelers ILBs are not any better with him.
Brian Batko
12:04
As is the common refrain here, maybe Mike McDaniel's just winning with Brian Flores' players. Steelers ILBs have been better, by the way.
personnel-ly speaking
12:05
Certainly every bit of criticism of the coaching staff is beyond justified. But how about some objective analysis of how this team’s roster came to be one of the worst in the league. The talent base is among the bottom one-third or one-fourth in the NFL. KC was a wonderful GM who helped bring two SB titles to his hometown. But he also presided over a personnel dept. that drafted first-round busts like Artie Burns, Terrell Edmunds and Devin Bush. That used mid-round picks on guys like Kendrick Green, Anthony McGarland and Justin Layne. That squandered late-round choices on a deep snapper who didn’t make the team (2017), a punter who is awful (2021) and a seventh-round QB the team didn’t need (2022). Surely there had to be a “real position” player with a pulse who might have had a better, albeit long shot chance to contribute more. And who signed Mitch Trubisky. That traded for a stiff like Joe Schubert. That could never identify a cornerback. A little accountability, please!
Brian Batko
12:06
Other than calling him Joe Schubert, I have very little issue with this post. I'll even let "McGarland" slide because it's almost Chrismas time.
coachjpat
12:06
What was the biggest issues with the defense yesterday?  I couldn't watch the game in Dallas.  I saw they gave up a lot of chunk plays.
Brian Batko
12:08
Coverage lapses. Tackling. The front four actually played pretty well. And there were decent individual plays made by the likes of Levi Wallace, Myles Jack and even Rob Spillane at times. But the Steelers never have an answer for Tee Higgins. Then again, they usually get burned by Ja'Marr Chase too so maybe they just never have an answer for the Bengals' offensive scheme and Joe Burrow. I guess this is where I say the other guys get paid, too.
Steel Town D
12:08
Thanks for the chats Bats!  Let me start with I was a huge Pickett fan at Pitt, but to me he is the second coming of Mark Malone.  Good speed, average arm, likeable guy, but not a guy who is going to carry a team.  This is painful for me to say.  Thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:11
You won't get any Mark Malone insight from me but I'll say this about Kenny Pickett, the tangible things you look for out of QBs have been hard to find too often. I still believe he has the intangibles you want. No one's gonna out work him, he's going to study the game relentlessly and he probably won't let himself fail. But there's a certain ceiling that comes with being a first-round pick, through no fault of his own, and so far I haven't seen much that points to him having that sort of potential. What's most concerning to me is the pocket presence, that sort of innate ability to combine your physical gifts with the cerebral aspect of playing the position and then making a defense pay.
ev
12:13
Good Morning Brian, I was surprised that the O scored 30, and more surprised that the D allowed 37 in spite of the turnovers going the Steelers way.  This team is just pedestrian from all spots on the roster except for Watt.  With the money spent last off season on the O Line and a $108M defense, it looks like a bad investment. Aside from the offensive scheming and play calling, there is some substandard player evaluation. Is this on Colbert, Tomlin, or current GM Khan?
Brian Batko
12:15
No one is blameless, though I'd say Omar Khan has had the least to do with the team as currently constructed. And he actually had the foresight to realize a (high?) second-round pick next year would be more beneficial in the long run than chasing the ghost of this season. When you're 3-7 it's not just player evaluation and it's not just coaching/development. There are probably failures on both fronts.
Miles McGuire
12:16
Good morning Bats,
Another frustrating, FRUSTRATING LOSS. Matt Canada question. Does he know how to make in-game adjustments? I mean, my god, you would expect a counter punch to CINN jab in the second half. Is Matt Canadas ego his biggest flaw, or does he really not know how to call a game?
Brian Batko
12:18
He might not be very good at calling a game at this level. It's looking more and more as if that's the case. But the guy didn't magically get smarter in the first half then magically get dumber in the second. Execution is necessary, too.
Lou
12:19
Brian we could all be sad for the team this holiday season, but all I have is visions of dead money off the books in 2023, high draft picks, and saved money spent on maybe CB, OL, DL or whatever else we need in 2023!  Who do you think could be added as CB FA in 2023?  We need help out there! 2023 we take back the AFC NORTH!
Brian Batko
12:20
Lou woke up on the right side of the bed this morning. Happiness is a choice. Enjoy the day. Nobody's gonna break your stride, nobody's gonna hold you down. You've got to keep on moving.
12:23
Oh, I forgot to answer the question. For the most part, cornerback is such a tough position to find that teams lock up the good ones they have long-term. Byron Murphy and Greedy Williams are a couple talented players who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:24
Is this what you predicted at this point in the season based on personal coaching and schedule? I see a 6–11 record at best.
Brian Batko
12:25
No, I had them at 5-5 at this point. Might still stick with my 7-10 prediction, but going 4-3 down the stretch could be tough even given their relatively weak schedule.
Atlanta Dan
12:27
Bengals post game had this shot at Matt Canada - do some of the Steelers players agree? “We knew what they were going to do. They like to do the same plays over and over." https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bengals-germaine-pratt-says-steeler...
Brian Batko
12:28
I did see that. Obviously, it's not good, but I think a lot of teams probably run the "same plays" because they want to stick with what's working, exploit advantageous matchups, etc. If you're executing, play calls - good or bad - become a lot less significant. It's certainly not fun to be a long offensive coordinator. When you try to do something different, such as a flea flicker in which the running back almost tossed away from the quarterback, that's not right either.
TSH
12:30
Hi Brian - thank you for your time!  My question is How could they call JC's illegal man down field penalty but not when the Bengal OL, Volson was way down field blocking on a screen play that scored a TD?  Thanks Much!
Brian Batko
12:33
Those are razor-close calls to make, as I've come to realize from talking to Steelers linemen about it all season. As we know, they aren't very good at abiding by that rule. The play you're talking about, my guess is the officials thought that the lineman was already/still engaged with a blocker, at which point it becomes a tough judgment call.
PghFNinCali
12:34
Hi Brian. Happy Thanksgiving! I used to joke with all my friends (even in the Cowher days) you want to beet the Steelers just throw the ball or DBs are horrible. Fast forward...Bengals went up and down the field on them. Should the Steelers draft a top CB, DL, LB or help the Offensive side of the ball?
Brian Batko
12:36
I think this is going to be more of a defensive draft. They've spent the last couple rebuilding their offense. The last four first and second-round picks have been on that side of the ball, plus a third and two fourths. Gonna be time to find some new (cheaper) talent at D-tackle, ILB, CB and maybe a No. 3 OLB. Even safety has a hole if Edmunds and Kazee both leave in free agency.
Emperors New Clothes
12:37
"the guy didn't magically get smarter in the first half then magically get dumber in the second"- - - - He failed to continue to do and continuously fails to do what is working, in game. It's like he can't let go of his delusional notions that 'his' plan is OK and execution is the main problem. How many targets did the clear and irrefutable from day one best offensive player/weapon have? How many lack luster draws or into the middle of the D runs for Harris... Not to mention putting Harris out wide and leaving Pickett a sitting duck in a empty set when Moore is getting blown up.The main issue is Canada... period... Unless you then note that issue is actually Tomlin/Rooney.
Brian Batko
12:40
That's fair. But did he continue to run the same plays and get outsmarted that way, or did he veer away from what was working? I don't think it can be both, right? Look, Canada is almost certainly going to be the fall guy for this after the season. And sure, you can convince me he's the main issue. But he's far from the only issue. George Pickens had six targets, in addition to three that were wiped out by penalties (another recurring issue that you can argue whether it's on the OC or the players).
Art Vandalay
12:41
Please just stop! Please! its so frustrating seeing this organization continue to do the same thing over and over without a change. I get it the Steelers don't make changes that often, especially mid season, but this is just maddening on how they refuse to change ANYTHING! Stop trying to jam a round block into a square hole!! This isn't just this year, this is the last 10 years! Please swallow your pride and start changing things! Everyone knows what they're doing, on offense and defense. Don't know if theres a question in here? Maybe just a rant? LOL
Brian Batko
12:41
There was a question, and the answer is yes.
BPOS
12:43
Why the heck could they not cover Tee Higgins, even when they knew he was the go-to target? While the secondary is not elite, they're not that bad are they? Canada's the the most disgraced coordinator but shouldn't Teryl Austin be getting more heat?
Brian Batko
12:44
Mike Tomlin has more to do with the defense than the offense, but yes, it wasn't a great day for the former secondary coach-turned-DC either.
AK
12:45
What games remaining do you think are most to least winnable?
Brian Batko
12:46
From most to least: at Carolina, at Atlanta, Vegas, Browns, at Indy, Ravens, at Ravens
Jim
12:48
This oline is awful, there has to be someone on the roster or practice squad that can do better than Moore. Why not give someone else a chance to escort the opposing d linemen to the QB on a regular basis.
Brian Batko
12:50
Actually, I believe the O-line depth to be just as awful. The backup left tackle is probably Trent Scott, a journeyman who hasn't played it since 2020. Not doing more to add competition to that unit is one of the more head-scratching aspects of this offseason to me.
STEEL72
12:51
I've run out of questions. Or maybe I can't ask the same questions over and over. After Watt's freakish interception, this should have rallied a team to victory and it sputtered all over again. Thank you for the chats.
Brian Batko
12:54
Great call by you. That's why I can't be overly critical of the defense for this one. The defense has TJ Watt. The defense gave up 90-plus yard drives in each half, but otherwise did its part multiple times to give the offense good field position. And that's Joe Burrow over there on that other sideline. He's pretty solid.
George Thorogood
12:54
Couldn’t you pretty much throw a dart at the complete list of position groups on this team and not miss hitting one with a dire need of personnel improvement? There are so many holes, one offseason of drafting and FA signings won’t be enough to turn this team into a solid championship contender, will it?
Brian Batko
12:55
Probably not, but the ultimate X-factor is that guy wearing No. 8, the same way that position is for most franchises trying to go from pretender to contender in the NFL.
Franco Bleier
12:56
I see us with only two possible wins, Carolina and one upset somewhere along the line. So that makes us 5-12. Who do you see us realistically beating?
Brian Batko
12:58
If you don't think the Steelers can win some games that don't seem very winnable right now on paper, you haven't been paying much attention to the NFL. The Ravens are almost certainly the best opponent left (twice) and they struggled to get past Carolina yesterday. Now, I know that means the Steelers - these Steelers - actually have to play well and play complementary football and not shoot themselves in the foot too many times over the course of 60 minutes to beat just about anyone. So that works both ways. But that goes for most of the teams in this league right now.
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