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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.29.21
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hi everyone, welcome to the chat. The Steelers have to overcome adversity, and so do I, with an irritable toddler trying to keep things together in the next room. Give me some grace.
DJ
2:01
The Steelers seem top-heavy in terms of both coaching talent and player talent.  Star head-coach, and a bunch of middling to below-average assistants.  Can Tomlin not attract better candidates due to the long shadow he casts?
Brian Batko
2:02
I don't think that's the case. A lot of assistants would probably love to coach under a guy with that much respect in the football world. If anything, I'd lean toward he might just have a philosophy of hiring older, more established assistants, often times with high-level playing experience, and those longer-in-the-tooth types don't get as many opportunities in today's hiring climate.
STEEL72
2:03
What can a team do on a slide like this that will make any difference? "We just need to play better," seems to be a really vague excuse for the fact that one on one matchups are being lost by everyone not named Watt, Heyward, Muth or Harris. The body language seems very bad across the board and not just because of a bad loss. If it were up to you, what are your moves this week to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic?
Brian Batko
2:05
Yes, it is a vague excuse, and one that doesn't satisfy fans most of the time. But the fact is, players/coaches will never speak publicly the way they do behind closed doors. For all we know, they do have solutions, but they won't disclose them to the rest of the world in that setting. My moves this week would be to bench Devin Bush, if Robert Spillane is able to play. I'd also tell a couple O-linemen that their leash is short, and if they don't play better, they'll be replaced by Zach Banner/Joe Haeg next Thursday night.
Dave
2:07
Do you see similarities between Claypool and Martavis Bryant (minus the drugs)? Both think their exceptional physical skills are enough. Not students of the game. Claypool seems to need a mentor but the offense doesn't have anyone to guide these younger guys.
Brian Batko
2:08
I think Chase Claypool needs to play better, certainly. He had a lot of success very quickly, maybe too quickly, in his NFL career. Coming out of ND, his reputation was a guy who always played with an edge, did the dirty work, etc. Right now, he does seem to be relying on his size and athleticism, which is not correlating to a lot of big plays so far in 2021. You're right that there's no mentor in the WR room, but you'd think the QB could help with that, to some extent.
Joey the Moey
2:10
in December 2018 the packers made decision to let HC McCarthy leave team after 13 seasons, it was time and look at them since.. not bad right BB?? Many fans were saying it was time for Tomlin also to leave back then, we didn’t so look at us since, getting worse by the minute.. is it time now for change BB in your view? I hope you really answer the question and not avoid it, like HC most of times.. thanks
Brian Batko
2:12
Not yet. Not for me, at least. I know, I know, the Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and appear to be careening toward a full-fledged dumpster fire at the moment. But weren't we also saying that after Week 4? They responded with four straight wins. And were people saying that about Bill Cowher in 2001 after three straight years with no postseason? Obviously, the Steelers stuck with him and eventually got a Super Bowl out of it. Organizational philosophies are rigid by nature.
YinzerinVa
2:13
Is there any reason to go to another game this season?  Or should I just hope the opposing fans will purchase my tickets?
Brian Batko
2:14
I suppose the Big Ben angle could keep fans invested. This is probably it for him, and if you have a certain appreciation for his career, legacy, etc., you may want to keep showing up to support that or cherish his final days.
IUPDave
2:14
I can't remember a time our middle linebackers have been hampered so much in run defense.    I wan't to say Bush is all to blame, but is part of this problem the lack of quality defensive linemen (other than Cam) which is allowing the offensive line to get to the linebackers sooner?    I miss the days of Casey Hampton, and while good nose tackles only play 1/3 of the snaps, they sure do help the run defense.  Could this be the main problems with our linebackers?
Brian Batko
2:16
To me, it's more on the 'backers. I'm not a defensive coach, but when I watch ... sure, the DL isn't exactly blowing it up at the line of scrimmage, and too often they get pushed back. But more often, from what I'm seeing, there are gaps where the ILBs can shoot in there and make a play. They either aren't getting there or aren't making it.
Jud
2:17
Injuries can't be to blame, many other teams are facing similar circumstances correct?
Brian Batko
2:18
Correct. Now, there are some unique circumstances, such as the Chargers game where you're missing 3 of your 4 most valuable defenders and they're all guys who had been here for most, if not all games to that point. But in general, a lot of teams have had even more injury issues than the Steelers. That "reason" for poor play only goes so far until it becomes "excuse-making."
Not a hater
2:18
When will the suffering end? I mean, losing to the bengals 3 straight times should be a near firing offense. Will we see any major changes at the end of this season if it continues this way?
Brian Batko
2:19
You'll see one major change, about the biggest any NFL franchise can make, either way. Unless Ben wants to play at age 40, which I can't see happening.
Dlongley44
2:21
Can we start the draft talk now!!!!  DT Jordan Davis 1st round pick steelers!!
Brian Batko
2:22
Sure. This season isn't exactly close to how things are going for the Lions and their beat writers, but I'm always up for draft chatter. Davis seems like an absolute monster, the kind the Steelers could use on their D-line, but with so many needs is that really how you want to spend your first-rounder? It could go either way.
Kordell
2:23
True or False:  The Steelers need to stop 'reaching' for positions of need and just draft the best football players available as part of any rebuild?
Brian Batko
2:24
False. You always have to account for need in drafts, even if it's not the primary factor. Like, do I think they should draft a running back if that's the best player on their board next year? Of course not.
artie bridge
2:25
Brian, six games remaining.  What quick fix changes do you recommend to right this sinking ship?
Brian Batko
2:27
Touched on this a little in an earlier question. I'd give the OL one more game to see if they can bounce back at home against the Ravens. If it's status quo, I'm inserting Zach Banner at RT. Bench Chuks Okorafor, flip him to LT and bench Dan Moore Jr., I don't care. Just see if you can do something, anything, to spark the run game.  And I might even make another OL replacement, though they're running out of healthy bodies there.
George M in OKC
2:27
How is it going Mr. Batko?! Pat F might end up being the next Travis Kelsey but it’s looking like Creed Humphrey might have been the better pick. I get hindsight is 20/20 but he was a top rated player at a position of (massive) need.
Brian Batko
2:28
It gets tougher and tougher to argue that point with each game that Kendrick Green gets pushed around at center. But Pat Freiermuth is still playing really well, isn't he? You only get so many picks. Maybe the Steelers should've gone the FA route at C for a stopgap option, but yeah, there's that 20/20 vision again
Dlongley44
2:30
So everyone is up in arms over MT and rightfully so, but Kevin Colbert is the real blame. I love them both, but drafting a RB without a O-line? Not having even backup level CB??
Brian Batko
2:32
Kevin Colbert hasn't been perfect, obviously, and he'll own that. He always does when the Steelers don't have the type of season they want to have. But I think Najee Harris is a great player you can build around. The CB depth is, well, full of bad evaluations/development from Justin Layne to Ahkello Witherspoon. Yes, that's on the front office, who let a couple starter-caliber players get away this offseason too.
Jim
2:32
Do you think that Tomlin has jumped the shark? Has corners who can't cover, lineman who can't block, D lineman who can't plug a hole. Is he just a really poor judge of talent? I know we have Hayward and Watt, but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then.
Brian Batko
2:33
Make fun of the man's non-losing season streak all you want, but one of the thing it tells me is that the Steelers have found more than one or two acorns over the years.
Rungame0
2:35
Brian, just figuring out what the defense is trying to do scheme-wise, like, what is their goal?  Rush 4 every time with no stunts and blitzes?  Are they trying to stop tbe run?  The long pass?  Spy the qb?  Stop The screens?    Just How are they positioning their personnel?  Compared to tbe ravens defense last night it looks like Butler’s defense is remedial. Thank you.
Brian Batko
2:37
With a name like that, I figured your question would be about the run game. There's definitely an identity crisis of sorts happening for this defense, which has long been a blitz-happy bunch, then suddenly became a ferocious four-man rush team in Week 1 as they beat the Bills. Now...I don't know what they are. I get what the loss of Tyson Alualu/Stephon Tuitt does to the penetration up front, but could losing Vince Williams at ILB really impact the blitz package that much? And even when they drop a bunch of guys into zone coverage, Joe Burrow was still finding windows and fitting the ball in there. Just no answers.
Buster
2:38
In past years, fans didn’t give up hope in times like this because these were the Pittsburgh Steelers  and we had faith that they could rise up and mount a comeback. I just don’t think they have anywhere near enough good players to do that this year. Do you agree?
Brian Batko
2:40
Yes and no. They still have good players, even great ones, on defense. But I think part of the previous time you speak of, when hope was always on the horizon, is that the Steelers had one of the best QBs in the game. And as long as you had him, you always had a chance, in any game, in any season. Times have changed.
Tom in Punta Gorda
2:41
Hi Brian, Steelers need to give Buddy Johnson a shot at replacing Bush. Can't do any worse. Shut Bush down the rest of the year so he can get his head and knee right for next year..
Brian Batko
2:41
Didn't even consider him as an option. He's not dressing for games, let alone playing. That's an indictment on his special teams ability more than anything, but Tomlin and Co. are big believers in proving your worth on ST before getting a shot on defense.
Tim
2:42
Will Tomlin finally do the right thing and pull Ben if we fall behind the Ravens by 3 or 4 touchdowns?
Brian Batko
2:43
Apparently not. I thought that was ridiculous yesterday. But I guess I'll be singing a different tune if they turn around and beat the Ravens next week thanks to all the extra work they got late in the Bengals game.
TSH
2:44
Thank you for your time, Brian!  Where was the drive, pride and energy yesterday?  Are the rookies hitting the rookie wall?  The veterans too banged up?  Losing is one thing but they looked like they quit before they game started.  Do you think this is the last straw and they are going to tank the rest of the season?
Brian Batko
2:46
Bad start and it snowballed on them, much like the playoff game. I think they came into it with energy, desire to win, etc., but just got smacked in the mouth and didn't/couldn't respond. From the looks of it, yeah, this thing is about to get worse before it gets better. But part of me thinks I'll look dumb for counting out guys like Cam Heyward, TJ Watt and, well, Mike Tomlin.
Ken Ward
2:47
Hi Brian, love your chat. How many years do you think it will take to be competitive again. If the draft were held to day, what position would you pick first. Thanks
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