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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.22.21
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Brian Batko
2:48
1. Certainly gonna be difficult to get a full-fledged performance like that with the way the rest of the schedule plays out. Should've had it against the Lions, Bears, Seahawks, though I might content the Broncos win was good ball by both sides. 2. Nope.
2:49
Steelers are 5-4-1, which means they only need to go 3-4 the rest of the way to finish .500. Not saying that's what you should be rooting for, I'm just saying.
WV Black & Gold
2:49
What’s the over/under on questions about why Danny Smith still has a job this week?  I’m leaning “under” regardless.
Brian Batko
2:49
Yeah, what the heck, why isn't anyone asking about special teams? Credit to Danny Smith and his unit for creating a huge play on a night when both offense and defense needed it. This Miles Killebrew guy is pretty good at the third phase of the game, eh?
BostonArt
2:50
Hi Brian.  Thanks for the chat.  Probably going to get a lot of similar questions but last night's game has to end the Canada experiment at the end of this year, right?  I can think of at least 3 games his inexperience has cost them.  He also seems too stubborn to change (believe he admitted being stubborn in a PG article over the summer). Yes, players not executing also cost them games but last night the camera caught Ben looking at the sidelines like what the BLANK on one of the end zone series from the 5, with 3 pass plays again.  If he's lost the players trust, nothing he's going to do is going to produce. Don't see them canning him today but if they did, who steps up?
Brian Batko
2:51
The Steelers have a former NFL OC on staff already in QBs coach Mike Sullivan. If there were to be a mid-season change, which I do not expect, I assume Sullivan would be the most logical interim given his experience.
2:53
Thanks for plugging my offseason feature on Canada, by the way. If you missed it, you can read that here (he himself didn't say he's stubborn, it was another guy he used to work with): https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/06/14/matt-canada-st...
Greg
2:53
Rush 5 every other play until Watt returns? Don't see how we'll beat anyone without a pass rush .... Any update on when Watt might play again?
Brian Batko
2:54
Nah, we'll have to wait until Tomlin talks tomorrow, most likely. I think it's a good sign that they didn't immediately place him on IR, as they did with Kevin Dotson, but hard to say since he didn't practice at all last week.
HitmanErnie412->305
2:55
Najee Harris is going have a VERY short career if the Steelers do not invest more in this offensive line. Most concerning to me is the play of Kendrick Green, who looks just physically overmatched in most games. Should the Steelers rebuild this offensive line via FA or the draft?
Brian Batko
2:56
Yep, it's early to look at draft stuff, but as we sit here now I'd say they have to go OL in the first round. You could persuade me to say the first two rounds. Hey, build it through free agency if you can find some established guys, but that's never really been the Steelers' way, especially on the line. Time to start investing more and higher draft picks in it, although the looming QB question, well, looms. I just think it'd make more sense to build around the line/Najee and then plug in a new guy under center to see what happens.
It Takes Two
2:57
Why is the defensive collaboration between Tomlin and Butler so bad?
Brian Batko
2:59
I'm not sure that it is. It all looks bad right now, but keep in mind they're dealing with injuries. Keith Butler has mentioned that he's an old linebacker, so he has a stop-the-run-first mentality, and Tomlin is an old DBs coach, so he's more worried about coverage, but that doesn't mean they're a bad duo.
MG
2:59
We have all seen Kendrick Green put on roller skates and pushed directly into the QB's face plenty of times this season. How much of that do you think is correctable, ie technique and improved strength, and how much is just a function of him being too small for the job?
Brian Batko
3:00
He can get stronger and put on weight. Can't add inches or length. But he can also hone his technique. I think it's fixable. Doesn't mean it will be fixed, but I'm not writing off Kendrick Green 10 games into his rookie year, you know?
EricEbrontrending
3:00
I have to say Eric Ebron is trending up and catching the ball.
Brian Batko
3:01
Yeah, let's end this chat on a positive note. Eric Ebron is back! Thanks for stopping by, everyone. Hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving filled with football, family, food, fun, friends, etc. We'll chat again next week.
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