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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.01.25
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martian
11:01
Good morning BB. Does anyone at the post talk to Rooney? Does he simply not care, not watch, or just fine with the status quo? What more needs to be seen to make a change? Also - is this the darkest era of Pittsburgh Sports all time?
Brian Batko
11:02
Greetings, martian. Art Rooney II generally doesn't do in-season interviews. He (and his son Dan) talked while in Dublin, but that was a special occasion. But they care. I see both of them at practice, watching from field level, all the time.
Johnny
11:03
Good Morning, Could TJ Watt have an unreported nagging injury that is hurting his play or is the decline age related in your opinion?
Brian Batko
11:04
He's had some good moments this year, but definitely doesn't seem to have the same burst, or at least not as consistently.
KB
11:04
Your gut feeling- rebound of sorts in Baltimore, or further decline?
Brian Batko
11:04
Further decline, KB
NY Steel
11:04
Although Rudolph had some bad plays in the 6 quarters he played against Cincinnati and Chicago, he also led 5 long scoring drives that looked very good. Is he really a worse option than Rodgers right now who looks completely frustrated and out-of-sync with this offense?
Brian Batko
11:04
I don't even know anymore, NY. I don't even know.
Lou
11:05
I know there is zero chance this happens….but could Howard go in and play and if he did maybe he could bring that “young guy spark” we see in the NFL?  Maybe he has that Baker/Nix/Purdy in him?
Brian Batko
11:05
Lou, I feel like they'd need to be completely eliminated from the postseason picture for the Steelers to try that move.
Steelers55
11:06
Hey Bats, Keep watching? Does it feel to you that this may finally be the last silly quote that pretends to look like he has everything under control?
Brian Batko
11:06
Well, considering there are at least five games left, no.
Lambert58 Fan in Indiana
11:06
BB: Thanks for the chat. Is there an organization that has had three worse OCs than Fichtner, Canada, and now Arthur Smith? Does Tomlin have to be the smartest guy in the room? Smith acts like he’s the OC for the 1972 Dolphins.
Brian Batko
11:09
Are we completely sure Arthur Smith is as bad as you (and, reasonably, countless others) are saying? Hear me on this real quick. I swear I'm not trying to come across as an apologist for the OC, but food for thought. You just laid out three consecutive play-callers who have presided over largely moribund offenses. It seems logical to me to suggest that they're all working under the same approach set by the head coach. I feel like people always forget that the 2020 Titans had AJ Brown go for 1,075 receiving yards and Corey Davis had 984. If the man hates using wide receivers, he had a funny way of showing it.
Turk in MD
11:10
Hi Brian.  I don't understand this "low risk" strategy on offense.  They still give up back-breaking turnovers. When behind by 10 points, they NEED quick strikes down the field.  Instead they are content to run for a predicable small gain.  

THIS is living in your fears.  THIS is a loser mentality.  What is going on?
Brian Batko
11:12
Yeah, all that said in my previous reply, last night had some absolutely indefensible calls by Arthur Smith. Not sure if he just had too much faith in his OL or was too bogged down by trying to scheme around the Rodgers wrist injury or what, but it resembled the offenses that took the same field a couple weeks ago in the WPIAL championships.
Soggy
11:12
Good Morning BB.  2 part question... Has Tomlin lost the locker room & do you expect any coordinator changes before the season ends.  Thanks (as always) for the chats
Brian Batko
11:14
I'll point back to some of those previous seasons from recent memory I referenced earlier. He didn't "lose the locker room" in those years. But 2024 was a complete and total collapse that ended on a five-game skid. It feels like if he's ever going to "lose the locker room" this could be it. You've got aging players on both sides of the ball, some who are new and others who have gone through this Groundhog's Day experience time and time again.
Steel Desi
11:14
Do you get the sense that Tomlin will waive his no-trade clause, and if so will there be a market for him.  The Bears have to be extremely thankful AR2 hung up the phone on them last offseason.
Brian Batko
11:16
At that point it's probably more about where else would he want to coach? The Giants are another historic franchise and he does have family in that area. If Tampa ever came open, we know how fondly he looks back on his time there.
OK I've got time for one more, let me rifle through and find a good one.
obxandy
11:16
What are chances of Steelers vs Miami game to be flexed from MNF to sometime Sunday?
Brian Batko
11:17
Can they move it to Sunday morning, like 6 am?
11:18
OK friends, sorry to leave so many loose ends, but that's always how it is in these chats. Knew it would be especially that way today. On the bright side, the mailbag will be back from the Thanksgiving hiatus and Ray will be here tomorrow to keep the conversation flowing. Enjoy the rest of your Monday.
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