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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.27.23
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Brian Batko
11:00
Hi everyone, coming to you live from somewhere in the middle of nowhere Ohio in the car, on the way back from Cincinnati. Let's talk about that 16-10 win for the Steelers over the Bengals, eh?
(To be clear, I am not driving and chatting.)
Fort Wayne Nate
11:01
Morning, Brian! Nice solid Steeler win. Can you help me with one of the rules though? On the first punt by the Steelers, Harvin punted inside the 5 and the ball was heading to the endzone and then Boykin who was in the end zone leaped so he wasn’t touching the end zone and batted it back inside the 5. Was it ruled a touchback cause Boykin was already in the end zone before jumping and batting it away? I thought it didn’t matter as long as a body part wasn’t touching the end zone.
Brian Batko
11:03
Hey Nate, that was a bit of a confusing play but I believe Miles Boykin needs to re-establish himself in-bounds to make that play. I could go through the exact definition of the rulebook, but that's the general gist of how that's officiated.
Charlotte Steel
11:03
Hi Brian, it seemed like the whole offense was more energetic yesterday, and performed better--especially noticeable was how well the receivers played, guys like Allen Robinson even contributed. If Pickett plays better going forward, do you think the receivers will play better as well?
Brian Batko
11:04
I think every receiver looks better when the QB is playing well, but I hear you on some of the route-running and attention to detail maybe being improved.
Canadian Bacon
11:04
Which was more ridiculous, Tomlin's excuse for not challenging the TD catch or DJ's excuse for taking the following play off?
Brian Batko
11:07
Probably the latter. Mike Tomlin's explanation really made me feel like the Steelers need to rethink how they operate in that space, whether that's hiring an additional coach who has that replay responsibility or whatever. But the way Diontae Johnson handled that and the question about it after, just another example of a lack of accountability. It's a troublesome trend.
Renegade
11:07
Diontae Johnson isn’t worth the trouble. He is not a winning player. Too many drops and immature. The Steelers draft WR very well, so release him after this year, if not right now. You win games with winning players, he is obviously not one. Agree?
Brian Batko
11:10
They're not going to release him right now. But they can move on from him after this season. If they cut him, they can save $10 million and have less than $6 million in dead money. Or, maybe someone trades for him and you can get something in exchange for him when he has a year left on his deal. I don't disagree with you. Was never on board with extending him, though I did think the value ended up being decent for the Steelers.
Gregg from Shaler
11:11
I was happy with the offense yesterday, definitely a step in the right direction. But with that said, I do worry that any improvement will only serve to encourage MT to promote one or both of the interi guys instead of searching for outside coordinator talent. I can hear him saying, ‘we want to maintain the continuity with Kenny’ - I think that it would be a mistake to make another lazy hire/promotion. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
11:13
It's all part of the evaluation process, Gregg. Tomlin will need to take a long look at that if the offense continues to improve and move the ball the way it did yesterday. Ultimately, if that happens, I think there's a way to thread the needle with both. Hire an OC who might be willing to keep both of those guys on staff in some capacity, maybe as pass game coordinator and run game coordinator. But let's see how the rest of this season plays out.
Tom
11:14
Hi Brian, can we expect a similiar offense going forward and do you think the points will come? it's really hard to believe one guy made this much of a difference even though we all knew it would lead to improvements (it couldn't get worse)
Brian Batko
11:17
The coordinator change certainly comes at a time when the Steelers are set to face some softer defenses. Statistically, the Bengals were one of the league's worst going into yesterday, and they were missing starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, too. Now the rebuilding Cardinals come to town next. But still, it's a huge indictment of Matt Canada the way this all went down. No way around that. There's something to be said for the "new coach bounce" idea, but even the X's and O's just seemed to make a lot more sense.
SteelfaninNJ
11:17
Morning Brian, any thoughts on the lack of production between Pickens and Pickett?  Is there something more here other than they just cant get together on the field.
Brian Batko
11:19
It sure has slowed down lately. Other teams have responded to the fast start George Pickens had to this season, that's surely part of it. Diontae Johnson being back from injury means more targets will go his way, naturally, and now Pat Freiermuth is more involved too. And the Steelers want to run it, as we know. They've been good at that lately. But hey, Pickett-to-Pickens came up large on that slot fade with Mike Hilton in coverage. Great play call and great execution by QB/WR on that.
CJ
11:20
Brian, hi Frank Reich was fired today by the Carolina Panthers , would you like to see the Steelers bring him in as an offensive consultant with opportunity to interview for OC next season
Brian Batko
11:22
That doesn't make sense for this season. But Frank Reich should probably at least be on a preliminary list of candidates to be the next Steelers OC, and you make a good point that even if he isn't the best option there for 2024, why not feel him out as an addition to the staff in a lesser capacity? Obviously it takes two to tango but that's the kind of outside-the-typical-Steelers-box thinking that there needs to be more of. Especially if you end up hiring a young, up-and-comer OC who might not have much play-calling experience, or any.
Ro
11:24
Good morning Brian, hope your morning going well. What are your thoughts on bringing in Byron Leftwitch in as OC next season?
Brian Batko
11:25
Another guy who I wouldn't rule out. Really, they should cast a wide net. Nowhere to go but up after how badly the last hire flamed out. Leftwich did not preside over a good Bucs offense once Tom Brady retired. But every candidate who's available will have pluses and minuses like that, otherwise they'd already be an employed, successful OC or in consideration for a head coaching job.
steeler in nc
11:27
Thanks for the chats Brian. What is the next step forward for the offense?
Brian Batko
11:28
Finishing drives in the end zone instead of through the goal posts.
Mike P.
11:28
Early in the game, the broadcast was showing a closeup of the Steelers’ defensive huddle and it looked like Roberts was struggling to hear the defensive play call, and TJ started gesturing angrily to the sideline as if to say “hurry up”. Then later it looked like Walker had the green dot and Roberts no longer did. Do you know if a change was made or if there were communications issues early on defense?
Brian Batko
11:29
Not sure about that specifically but I thought the ILB tandem had a nice game again, just from watching in the press box. Can keep Blake Martinez and Myles Jack on ice for at least another game, right?
SteelersFanInPatriotsNation
11:29
Hi Brian. Was the offensive performance yesterday (much overdue) more a reflection of the change in play caller or more a reflection on the Bengals so-so defense? Or a little of both? Do you think it's sustainable for the remainder of the season?  They were certainly more aggressive!
Brian Batko
11:30
Probably some of both. If Canada was simply bringing down everybody's mood on that offense, maybe there's an intangible factor to the rejuvenated success. But piling up that much yardage and hitting on that many chunk plays also does suggest that Mike Sullivan just might be better at this whole NFL play-calling thing than Canada was. Which is entirely possible, considering Canada had never done it in this league until the Steelers gave him the chance, and we saw how that went.
TJ
11:31
I don't know how Canada could have been that bad but isn't the proof in the pudding now after yesterday's performance? i think the points will come.
Brian Batko
11:33
Yes. And now all the analysts who were calling his schemes amateurish and better fit for Friday nights, let alone Saturdays, appear to be validated in a major way. I'll admit that I may even have given Canada too much credit these past few years. It's only one game so far, but no doubt, it was a nice reminder that it actually is possible to move the ball consistently and win a game while gaining more yards than the other team as opposed to just somehow having one more point on the scoreboard at the end of the day.
Jake
11:34
Instead of just getting into a Verbal spat w D. Johnson, hopefully Minkah laid him out after the game yesterday. Completely unacceptable
Brian Batko
11:36
Well I'm fairly certain that didn't happen. But I would say there's, uh, quite a gap in how hard those two play.
the real guest
11:37
Brian, As the story goes, Yogi Berra landed at La Guardia and took a cab to Yankee Stadium. To get there he had to give the NYC cabbie directions. When they got there the cabbie apologized and hoped Yogi wouldn't be mad at him. Yogi said, "I am not mad at you I'm mad at the guy who hired you." Hope Art II understands Yogi's logic.
Brian Batko
11:37
Yogi Berra also said when you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Mats
11:38
Hello BB, thanks for the chats, was Sullivan fired from NY, if so, what was the reason, thanks
Brian Batko
11:41
His second stint with the Giants was actually similar to Eddie Faulkner's role now. Sullivan was the OC in title, but head coach Ben McAdoo (Homer City stand up) was the play-caller. McAdoo actually handed the play-calling reins to Sullivan mid-season in 2017. McAdoo got canned at 2-10 and the whole staff was out after that season.
BBpolka
11:41
I was at the game and noticed that TJ Watt sat out the entire Bengals touchdown drive (which admittedly was only 4 plays).  Any idea why he was out for the entire drive?
Brian Batko
11:43
Didn't specifically ask anyone about this postgame, but my assumption is that he was gassed and they just decided to use their backups. TJ Watt never plays every snap. That's why it's so important for there to be minimal drop-off when Markus Golden or Nick Herbig come in.
Bedford
11:43
So asking out of curiousity--and because I know how MT works--but what if you see drastic improvements for the rest of the season in the Offense.  #1 would MT stick with the 'in-house' regime, and #2 has there ever been an OC by-committee approach like we are using now?
Brian Batko
11:44
Can't rule it out. Not sure of any examples off the top of my head, but I don't think this is unprecedented. There definitely have been co-offensive coordinators. I know Miami had that setup at one point recently, though I don't happen to know if one of them was the dedicated play-caller.
Greg
11:44
We FINALLY moved the ball offensively and the play calling actually used (gasp!) the center of the field - so how do get more actual TDs? If we played against Burrow and lost 16-35 would we still be feeling as good today?
Brian Batko
11:45
Ah, of course not, Greg. But all you can do is play who's in front of you, and they won - in a most un-Steeler like fashion, with a win that probably wasn't as close as the final score looked. Usually they tend to pull out victory from the jaws of defeat.
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