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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.04.23
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Brian Batko
2:00
OK, I’m just gonna finish zipping up my hazmat suit, fastening my helmet, stepping into the chat anddd here we go…
Tom
2:01
I get players are paid millions of dollars for their physical talents, but shouldn't they be professional enough to knows the rules of football? No excuse for Heyward not knowing that he had to cover the tackle. That is just plain ignorance of the rule.
Brian Batko
2:04
Oops, didn't mean to post two questions from Tom. But thank you, Tom. It's on the players and it's also not exactly a gold star for interim OC Eddie Faulkner is his preparation for that game. We gave him praise for how the offense operated vs. the Bengals. Only fair that it works the other way when they look ... uncoordinated.
The Dude
2:04
The more we see of Pickett the more obvious it is that he is not going to be a great (or even good) quarterback. So what is the next move - draft a guy, keep trying Mitch and/or Mason, maybe a veteran? Tomlin’s usual is to stubbornly stick with a high draft pick way too long, which would be the worst idea,
Brian Batko
2:07
It's also not going well for Kenny Pickett injury-wise in his first two seasons. To be fair, he's only missed one game due to injury, but this is now four he hasn't finished, and obviously he's going to miss at least a couple starts now. Man, I hate to be this pessimistic, but perhaps the health concerns will actually be an easy way out of this for the Steelers. An off-ramp, if you will.
Riicky
2:08
Hopefully the powers to be see that it is more than the OC. They made a mistake selecting Kenny.  Career back up at best.  This could set the team back for years if they do not address it.  Choosing the next OC is vital as well.  Two good ex HC’s available.  Hopefully MT’s ego will not prevail in the selection.  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:09
That's the ultimate question for the offense now. Do you stay the course with Pickett through another offseason, go into 2024 with him as QB1 and see if a new offensive coordinator can elevate him? There's something to be said for patience and there's something to be said for time-wasting.
Coach15
2:10
Thanks for the chat-  How can the national media continue to praise MT as one of top coaches in the league & also back him to be considered as coach of the year, this season, after another unprepared-dreadful-humiliating performance, vs again, another cellar-dweller team?
Brian Batko
2:12
I do think this one is gonna carry some stink around the league. Kevin Harlan was laying it on pretty thick during the broadcast about how stunning of a result it was. Labeling him as one of the NFL's top coaches is a long-term take, for the most part. He has that cache. But I don't think you'll be seeing any calls for him as coach of the year, and if you do, the logic likely will be that his personnel is so bad (personnel that's largely there because he's heavily involved in that acquisition process).
Rob
2:13
How much longer before we hear "fire Tomlin" chants echo throughout Acrisure?
Brian Batko
2:15
Actually thought I might've heard someone yell it in the stands yesterday, but it's hard to hear fans from the press box. You all know me. I'm usually here to be more reasonable, measured and objective than the chatters. And yet, this feels like the low point of the Tomlin era. Then I remember, even in just five years on this beat, I've been through a lot of ups and downs covering the Steelers. They ebb and they flow. Just a couple months ago I was singing much the same tune after the Texans game. They bounced back the next week to beat the Ravens. Go figure.
brewalker
2:16
28 Killebrew has been lights out ST player for us, but man he had a bad game.....Goal line when Trubisky came in after 8s injury. Wouldn't the wildcat have worked better there with an extra blocker? Everyone knew we weren't going to throw it.
Brian Batko
2:17
Yeah, I have no idea where that came from for Miles Killebrew. Probably a blip on the radar, but that was inexcusable, no doubt. I don't think the Steelers have Wildcat in their playbook. When you can't pick up a yard at the goal line, that's pretty much always on the players, to me. They weren't staring across the line at the 85 Bears.
AtlantaDan
2:18
Good afternoon Brian- thanks for the chat.  Given the Steelers talent level (or lack thereof) and record that could just as easily be under .500 given the number of fortuitous end of game situations, if Jaylen Warren or anyone else on the team believes they can take any opponent lightly, isn’t master Mike Tomlin supposedly able to relieve players of that delusion through his masterful motivational skills of which some members of the national media speak so highly?
Brian Batko
2:20
Certainly. It doesn't reflect well on the head coach if players are saying that, thinking that or living that when they take the field. But Tomlin shrugged that off today by basically saying postgame interviews tend to follow the narrative of the questions. I will say, the locker room seemed very loose to me last week when I was in there. And I thought that going into the game, so now I wonder if there was something to that. To an extent, that's on the coaching, but it's also human nature, so incumbent on the players themselves to lock in.
the real guest
2:23
Brian, Steeler Nation must not forget that the new standard, "a non -losing season", is still well within reach. My question is should the trophy Art II bestows upon MT at the "non-losing season" parade be (a) an ostrich with its head in the sand or (b) a guy bent over kissing his own butt? Delusion vs hubris as it were.
Brian Batko
2:25
Sigh. I know this won't be a popular answer. But I don't think it's fair to suggest that the Steelers consider .500 the standard. Do I feel that it's impressive they haven't fallen short of that since 2003? Yes, I do. That's my opinion. But do I think that means they had a good season in a vacuum? No. And the lack of postseason success since 2017 is inarguably frustrating, disappointing, whatever adjective you want to use.
Zell
2:26
I thought Mitch looked much more poised in the pocket than KP.  What did you see?  This could be a 3-0 score against the Patriots this week !
Brian Batko
2:27
It's kinda hard to look less poised in the pocket than Kenny Pickett right now, but I wouldn't say Mitch Trubisky played well either. He is what he is. That throw to Connor Heyward in the end zone was a glimpse of the baseline arm talent Trubisky has. It's the rest of playing the position that has kept him from being a long-term NFL starter.
Jim B.
2:27
Your thoughts on if they will address the QB situation during the off-season/draft? I cannot bear the thought of another year without an offense--say it won't be!
Brian Batko
2:29
My guess is they'll address it in some way. You have to shake up that room somehow, even if it's just replacing Mason Rudolph with a rookie QB3 with more upside. But I'm not going to predict that they bring in legitimate competition for Pickett, or even Trubisky, for that matter. Although the longer this plays out in a manner they did not anticipate, maybe that changes their thinking (obviously).
Bluffton Dave
2:30
will anyone finally say what the problem is? Tomlin! This once elite franchise now resembles the 50 & 60’s teams. Coach Bravado has everyone believing in his STANDARD of word salads to describe another failure. Just name ONE UNIT on this team that has improved in the last 8 yers. Does Art have what it takes to right the ship or will we soon be identifirted as the SOS, not even lovable losers anymore?…
Brian Batko
2:32
Thank you, Dave. I don't think anyone has hypothesized that the Steelers' head coach is the problem. The outside linebackers have greatly improved and probably the safeties, too, to address that rather arbitrary question (may have been rhetorical, not sure). Art Rooney II is dealing with the toughest challenge of team-building since he's been in his seat, that's for sure.
Dan
2:33
Hey Brian, thanks for the chats. Trubisky seems more willing to push the ball down the field, do you think the offense will score more TDs with him at QB?
Brian Batko
2:34
I agree with you that he has a bit more willingness to take risks, probably because he has less to lose at this point in his career. It'd be difficult to score less, and if I'm being honest, I don't change my expectations significantly one way or the other going from Pickett to the backup right now. But generally speaking, no, I'm not a big Trubisky believer.
Dave
2:36
Bats, I hate to pile on but are Pickett's injuries getting to be a problem? Especially in terms of evaluating him.  After almost two seasons, the lack of a functioning offensive game plan, and his inability to stay on the field make it really hard to know what kind of QB he can be.
Brian Batko
2:37
As I alluded to earlier, maybe it won't be a problem in terms of evaluation him. Maybe it'll be a solution. "Ah, it's nothing against Kenny, but he's just really struggled to stay healthy, so we had to fortify that room." Regardless of what you think in your heart of hearts, that's not a bad way to spin it publicly, if you do something significant to address that most-scrutinized position this offseason. I give the guy credit for gutting it out, but even Kenny himself might need to sit back and reset at this point.
Jersey Steel
2:38
Hi Brian - I observed Mark Robinson quite a bit in the 2nd half yesterday. He was easily blocked, couldn't get off blocks, and often easily moved backwards. To be blunt, he just did not look like an NFL LB. What are your thoughts on his progress?
Brian Batko
2:41
The fact that Mike Tomlin pretty much ignored his presence today and went straight to discussing Blake Martinez and Myles Jack is a good example of how I feel about his progress. And let's count the ways the Steelers have told us they aren't ready to put him in a major role. They signed Elandon Roberts, Kwon Alexander, Mykal Walker, promoted Mykal Walker, now Martinez, now Jack. Oh, and they've basically said publicly he's a long way away.
Cheeseburger in Paradise
2:42
Did the Steelers sign Trace McSorely because he has one career touchdown and 5 interceptions, so he'll fit right in?
Brian Batko
2:43
They actually signed Trace McSorley.
Doctor Evil
2:43
Did we unleash hell yesterday? It is December. Asking for a friend
Brian Batko
2:44
Yes, a very apropos callback. That game felt like some of those games (though I was a freshman in college, eating ramen, partying and the results of Steelers games were akin to a pebble in my shoe).
Mason
2:45
BB, should coach have instructed me to elevate my snaps in the vertical plane?
Brian Batko
2:46
I'd say that was a significant component.
Steelbro
2:46
I'm old enough to remember Andy Russell interview where he quoted Noll as saying his job was to teach players how to play football, not motivate them. "I will never give you a motivational speech. If I have to motivate you, I will fire you."  Can't fire the whole team but seems like there was a whole lot of unmotivated play out there.
Brian Batko
2:48
Possibly, but not let's overlook a number of schematic failures, mental lapses and physical failures against another team of paid professionals.
Ohio Steelers Fan
2:48
What did you think of TJ's whining about the refs yesterday?
Brian Batko
2:49
Not much. Guy's seething in the immediate moments postgame, hates to lose, and has that perpetual little brother chip on his shoulder. I don't agree with him.
NY Steeler
2:49
If you had to choose one, which would it be and why?  1) Last week was all smoke and mirrors.  2) The offensive ineptitude lies with the players, not the coaches. 3) The inverse of 2. 4) All of the above. 5) Who the heck knows.
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