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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.24.25
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Brian Batko
10:00
Morning everyone, I'm still in Chicago but ready to chat Steelers-Bears. Good to see you.
Pittfan
10:01
Hi Brian. I'm just not a fan of this coaching staff and it all falls on Tomlin. Austin is a puppet and Smith's offense is what got him run out of Atlanta. Smith made his name on the back (and legs) of Derrick Henry and a phenomenal year by Tannehill. I don't dislike Tomlin the person but he's not the right coach for today's NFL. Ben Johnson ran circles around him yesterday. There's really no question in there but I would like your opinion.
Brian Batko
10:03
Guess I'll just go point by point. Calling Teryl Austin a puppet is a bit harsh, but yeah, it's not looking good for him either way. Arthur Smith had brutal QBs in Atlanta but the offenses were quite explosive, run and pass, when he was with the Titans. I generally don't knock coordinators for having good players. I praise them for either getting them the ball or helping to put them in good situations.
Land of Nod
10:04
This team is quite a dysfunctional group.  Week 12, still seeing pre-snap penalties such as illegal formation (no WR covering the tackle).   How does that happen at this stage (after HS football, college football, + NFL experiences)?   Please tell me they didn’t “practice” an illegal set up?   Anyhow, that’s just one play that made me crazy.  Jet sweeps to TE’s seem like a great idea… we should do that more (eye roll).   Was Connor waiting for 80 to pick him up and carry him forward?   Is it just me, or could 88 be a pro bowler elsewhere?   He should be begging the front office to trade him to a place that accepts the existence of the area of field Pittsburgh dooms as the “middle”.  So it goes another year under the Tomlin regime.
Brian Batko
10:06
That illegal formation penalty on Calvin Austin was a major error and a huge mistake. He knows that. But that doesn't change that Austin has been in a rut lately. And Jonnu Smith is a great veteran presence to have around but at this point, the more I see, he needs to be a straight backup to Pat Freiermuth rather than someone rotating with him. He played one more snap again yesterday than Freiermuth.
DB from NC
10:07
Two things. First, for the life of me I don't understand why Tomlin did not challenge the spot on the tush push, 4th & 1 call. It was less than yard and Warren easily advanced enough to make it. Spencer Anderson was a wrecking machine as a FB. It was one of the most productive days running that I can remember in a while. But yet we shy away from what's successful. All that to say, it's NOT lack of talent on this team that is holding it back. It's LACK of coaching and it's disheartening to say the least.
Brian Batko
10:09
Turnovers on downs are subject to automatic review, so that's why on that. I'm not sure they were THAT dominant on the ground, DB. Sure they finished with 5.2 per carry but 55 of those came on the fake TE sneak, which to me is different than lining up and running it at someone efficiently and effectively. Take out that play (which was a great call and great coaching move) and they rushed for 3.7 yards per carry.
Zamo
10:10
Hey BB. Really frustrated bud.  Tomlin and mustache absolutely REFUSE to use the middle of the field and it’s been this way for years.  It’s an offensive league. Bears were without their entire linebacking crew and yet, we somehow have 4 TE’s that never get schemed open?  This offense “lives in their fears”.  Hate to say but to
second, this defense just cannot get a stop when it matters most.  They did get the one at the very end but that was just terrible play calling and decisions by the bears.   Hope you have a great thanksgiving!
Brian Batko
10:13
You too Zamo. We've seen Rodgers go over the middle at times, but there's no denying this offense and specifically the passing attack has looked largely the same for the last 3-4 years regardless of QB, OC, etc. I think there are opportunities where guys are open over the middle - not quite DJ Moore-level open, alas - and the QB either doesn't see it or doesn't pull the trigger.
MikeM65 in Florida
10:13
I watched the game in a bar and didn't have audio.  The tush push (I like Steelers' Steamroll) play where the Steelers didn't make it looked like they did make it from the overhead camera and it looked like the forward progress wasn't stopped.  Did a whistle blow?  Did they rule forward progress was stopped?  Could the spot have been reviewed?
Brian Batko
10:14
It's an automatic review now for turnovers on downs, but I agree that it looked like they got it on the second effort. Then again, as someone who's kind of anti-tush push, I don't mind if the refs officiate it in a way where you better get it and get it comfortably if you're gonna rely on that play. Zach Frazier explained postgame that they just weren't in the right rhythm with the setup, snap, etc. on that one.
79 Buccos
10:15
Players get evaluated, traded, released or earn another contract.  Do the Rooneys evaluate the coaches?  I know they must, but we hear nothing about it.  Is this common for other owners/teams?
Brian Batko
10:17
Well yeah, of course they do. The head man, at least, and then they entrust him with evaluations of his assistants. In some organizations the GM also evaluates the coaches, but we know how coach-centric the Steelers are historically.
Yates
10:18
on last Steelers drive did 14 or 30 get any snaps?  Inarguably they are the most explosive pass catchers the Steelers have on team?   And why does Mason or Steelers coaches think Metcalf is a good target on 50 50 balls? No evidence of that.
Brian Batko
10:21
Yes, Kenny Gainwell was out there. Sometimes lined up out wide, other times in the backfield. Interesting thought on using Warren on that drive though. They've been very rigid with his utilization, and that hurry-up offense situation was no different. As for DK Metcalf, I still view him as an elite receiver, but he's not been great lately. Feels like he was making some contested catches early in the season and then turned into a rich man's Chase Clay pool.
409Joe
10:21
BB, thought I'd ask someone with true football knowledge (that would be you) because I honestly don't know the theory or philosophy  behind it: who cares if the tackle isn't covered? Like, does it really make a difference to the defense if an WR isn't on the LOS?? I wasn't impressed with my google results.
Brian Batko
10:23
Haha I had the same thought actually. It's a very pedantic aspect of football isn't it? But I suppose it's more of a slippery slope thing where you need to enforce certain pre-snap rules to prevent offenses from going way overboard in formations to trick a defense.
10:24
To put it in terms of another sport, I guess it's kind of like asking why does the inbounder really need to have both feet behind the line in basketball when they pass it in? It doesn't make a difference 94 feet from the hoop, but it's a rule to maintain order.
NY Steel
10:24
Why were all the pass plays on the last 2 drives so short? Why not try more plays 10-15 yards down field particularly when teh Bears had injuries in the middle of their defense
Brian Batko
10:26
That's not entirely true, NY Steel. There was a deep shot to Roman Wilson incomplete. And then obviously the Bears were trying to keep it in front of them at that point and Rudolph was trying to take what the defense gave him. To me, that's where it's really helpful to have a QB with more mobility and playmaking juice than Rudolph (or even Rodgers at this stage, for that matter).
Takoma Tom
10:27
Coach T is Chuck Noll at the end of his tenure.
Brian Batko
10:28
Chuck Noll went 7-9, 6-10 and 5-11 in three of his final seven seasons so we'll see about that. Not really right now.
Mike in Virginia
10:28
Do you think this defense has such a hard time covering the middle of the field because they don't know teams are legally allowed to throw there?
Brian Batko
10:29
Touche, Mike.
Maryann
10:29
Hi Brian,  This rollercoaster of a team is just so frustrating on many levels.  Our coaching is old meaning no good scheming , no excitement etc…. Myles Garrett was moved all over the field yesterday but TJ just takes the same stance in the same place.  It’s like Tomlin is “ my way or the highway”.  We can’t continue this for TJ or Cam to win.  We need to revamp in areas so the fans paying can get a good product on the field.  Maybe I’ll eat my words when we unleash hell in December….
Brian Batko
10:32
Maybe! Nothing would really surprise me with the Steelers as long as it falls between (losing season) and (playoff win). And I beat this drum every so often, but in my mind, a lot of what you refer to or allude to comes back to some of my offseason criticisms of the franchise in becoming stale/stagnant in the coaching realm. Not necessarily firing Mike Tomlin, which I was not calling for after the Ravens debacle. But simply bringing in new people, fresh ideas, expanded positions, things of that nature.
Clarence Snowshoe
10:33
Using percentages… who is to blame for yesterday’s loss? Coaches, defense, offense?
Brian Batko
10:34
Kind of a weird game because the offense wasn't great, wasn't completely terrible, put up 21 points in the end. The defense wasn't great, wasn't completely terrible, scored a touchdown themselves and got two huge 3-and-outs late. But in the end, both sides of the ball - and special teams, for once - were mediocre enough to result in a loss. It was like a microcosm of Steeler football from 2021 to now.
Frustrated
10:35
Can we just eat their salaries and move on from this entire coaching staff at the end of the year?  I don't think I'm overreacting either considering the fan base sees the same things occurring week after week, year after year even with new mix of players.  I'd rather be sub-500 in the short term with a new staff in order to start over.  There needs to be new ideas in the building.  If it's personnel, move our major assets to get draft capital and rebuild with a staff that is ready to move into the 21st century of football.
Brian Batko
10:37
I don't envision the Steelers ever firing Mike Tomlin. But as I've written before, if things really go off the rails here (highly unlikely imo) then what kind of conversations start happening behind closed doors? Is there an ultimatum of sorts that if Tomlin stays, he does not get to pick the next defensive coordinator (or even offensive coordinator) and take it or leave it? I genuinely don't know. Just thinking out loud here, Frustrated.
Jim Bow Dean
10:39
Why throw contested passes to DK? That’s not who he is.
Brian Batko
10:39
He wasn't providing much in terms of YAC yesterday either though when the chances arose. But to be fair to DK, he was getting beat up in that game, and should be commended for playing through all those bumps and bruises.
Happy Gilmore
10:40
How do you interpret Patrick Queen's post game comments? He essentially said the defensive scheme makes the job of the ILBs very difficult.
Brian Batko
10:42
I wonder if somewhere, a bunch of guys were nodding their head. Jon Bostic, Mark Barron, Devin Bush, Avery Williamson, Joe Schobert, Robert Spillane, Myles Jack, am I missing anyone? By and large, as the person asking some of the questions, I certainly interpreted them as highly critical of the  coaching staff and defensive scheme. There's not a ton of room for other interpretations there.
TVC15
10:43
Was beating Joe Flacco and the Bengals at home in their revenge rematch the Steelers' Super Bowl this year?
Brian Batko
10:43
No, no. It was beating the Colts at home.
Steeler Nut
10:43
Why can other teams hit 15-20 yard crossing patterns, posts etc with ease...yet, we simply never have anyone wide open?  Our personnel isn't horrible.  It has to be scheme!?  Agree?
Brian Batko
10:44
Ehh it's probably some of both. The Bears guys making plays yesterday were all first-round picks. DJ Moore, Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, Rome Odunze. Is Roman Wilson on that level? Is Calvin Austin on that level?
Les
10:45
Hi Brian, if Tomlin’s so called strength with coaching is on the defensive side of the ball then why does there seem to be ZERO adjustments when needed the most?? It’s so frustrating to watch the same thing over and over with their offensive and defensive tendencies. The Elephant in the room is Tomlin and he needs to go. He talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. Unfortunately with his 2 years left on his contract he will never be fired before then. This team needs a fresh start. Thoughts?
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