You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.14.20
powered byJotCast
Brian Batko
1:56
Well, the good news is the Steelers are still 11-2. The bad news is ... well, just about everything that has happened over the past three games, save for a deceiving win against Baltimore. Time to vent.
Buster
1:56
Ray Ray has been looking shaky. Do you think it’s time to put DJ back to return punts again? Do you think he could catch the ball if they did?
Brian Batko
1:58
Might as well start the chat the way the Steelers started the game: with a head-scratcher by Ray-Ray McCloud taking the kickoff out of the end zone. Look, I still think McCloud can be electric in that role, as evidenced by his wild-man punt return where he tried to hurdle Jordan Poyer (and nearly did, but also could've been severely hurt or coughed up the ball).

I know some are saying the Steelers should replace McCloud, with Johnson or anyone else, but I'm not there yet. Knowing when to return and when not to seems more of a coaching issue to me, so coach him up on what to do and when.
MD
1:59
What are your thoughts on the theory that the Offensive Line can't run block, but is doing a great job protecting Ben?  Seems like the "penny and nickel" short passing game is what is protecting him, not any great pass blocking.  What do you think the future of Pouncey and DeCastro is given their high cap hits?
Brian Batko
2:01
I do still think that theory holds water. Five straight games not allowing a sack, you're doing something right beyond just how quick your QB is getting rid of it. As for Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, that's tough. Two vets who have been so good for so long. But hey, the Steelers have made difficult decisions in the past to move on from older guys who have lost a step, so...
Peter
2:03
At the begining of the season 11-5 would have seemed great but a bit of a stretch.  Now it seems like a real possibilty and a failure.  Seems like the O line is a mess which hurts the run game and the long pass. Hence Steelers are one dimensional.  Is there any news on O line injuries?
Brian Batko
2:04
Nope, but I did notice the Steelers during the game called them shoulder injuries for Matt Feiler and Kevin Dotson. But postgame, Mike Tomlin categorized them as pec injuries. That's a bit concerning, considering how long pec injuries generally take to heal. Tomlin will talk tomorrow and I don't believe the team is doing any interviews today, so maybe look for an update around noon Tuesday.
Dinkinanddunkindonuts
2:05
Are you shocked Ben was finally pick-sized on what has become an inundation of short slants, digs, drags, wheel and rub routes?  Is this necessity, the norm or a temporary gimmick?
Brian Batko
2:06
Can't say I was shocked in general, although I'm a bit stunned that he thought he should throw that pass. Not sure what he was seeing. Even his postgame explanation was a bit odd, that he "saw them go into a zone coverage, so I tried to keep JuJu [Smith-Schuster] going out to the corner to get blown up. I put it a little bit on his body behind him." It's certainly been the norm, but whether it's a necessity is a huge question going forward. One I'm not sure anyone has the answer to.
ScandaRhino
2:07
Does the OC have enough creativity to move on from shirt passing game considering the Defs have seemed to have figured it our?
Brian Batko
2:09
We've seen Randy Fichtner be creative at times. He certainly had to be last year with Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges struggling. Thus, you saw the Wildcat experiment, which did not end well. But even early on this season I really liked some of the new flourishes that were added to this offense, the jet sweeps, motions, crafty bunch formations, etc. Not sure where those pages have gone in the playbook.
Alan in Nashville
2:10
The best thing that can happen right now is Cleveland loses tonight and the Steelers beat Cincy. Sit Ben and a few stars like TJ and Cam, cross your fingers and hope that they can recharge enough for the playoffs. What do you think, Brian? Extreme but I don’t see another route right now.
Brian Batko
2:11
Well I don't think they'd sit the starters for the final two games, much as that might help recharge the batteries. But sure, in Week 17, giving them a break would be fortuitous. Won't be mentioning that to the team, though. I'm quite certain the competitors in them would like to run the table and get some help against Kansas City to regain the No. 1 seed, a real bye and homefield advantage.
Titan in Charlotte
2:12
Brian, Can Steelers risk waiting until the second round of draft to get one of the big 4 RBs: Alabama's Najee Harris, Clemson's Travis Etienne, North Carolina's Javonte Williams, or Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard?
Brian Batko
2:13
No, I'd probably use my first-round pick to grab one of those first two, but then again it's looking as if this team might have some more roster holes than we thought (cough, OL, cough).
STEEL72
2:13
Buffalo did not look like a playoff team to my eyes... which makes the Steelers situation so much more troubling. Injuries aside, what is going on with this team that there seems to be no urgency?
Brian Batko
2:14
I wouldn't say that about Buffalo. They've been playing really well, and maybe they didn't look like a playoff team (on offense, at least) because the Steelers defense is still pretty darn good. I know this is two straight discouraging losses, but at this point, what kind of loss wouldn't be discouraging? Steelers have lost to one team that's surging and another that's just flat-out good, and it's not as if they got blown out in either one.
Shane in New England
2:15
Anyone notice Watt sitting out one of Buffalo's final drives? Could have used him in there. Did he get injured?
Brian Batko
2:17
Not that I know of. There have been several games over the past couple years in which TJ Watt takes himself out to get a breather. Hard to blame him or question that the way his motor runs nonstop. But yes, it's noticeable when he's not in there, and anecdotally it seems the defense allows some back-breaking drives without him. TJ has been between 83-96% of the snaps all season, and last night was 85%.
Ben's right arm
2:17
Thanks for the chats Brian,  offense has lots of issues but my main concern is Ben's unwillingness to throw the ball down the field. Is it all route combinations or is he just not uncorking the long ball? When he does it is not accurate but we should at least try right? We certainly have the a couple of guys that can stretch the field.
Brian Batko
2:19
Yes, I think they have to try to open it up more. Last three games are very clear proof of that. Also, it worked when James Washington streaked down the right sideline for that 19-yard score, so that was a route that required Ben to zip it in there, and he did. Perhaps the million dollar question is whether he can still do that consistently.
Vinegar bend
2:20
The Bills defense adjusted at half time to double team Cam Heyward on most plays in the second half (and I was surprised that Tuitt did not have any impact on the rush effectiveness). Other teams seem to make adjustments at half time. We seem to stick with what is not working on both sides of the ball. Do you support this supposition?
Brian Batko
2:22
Not particularly. Am I saying the Steelers didn't get outcoached last night? No, of course not. They probably did. But to say the staff never tweaks things or fixes things at half is incorrect. Just look at the Texans game and first Ravens game this season. Or even the Cowboys game, albeit one that should've never been close at all.
marty v
2:23
Explain to me why we cannot run the ball when we have all-pro OL of Pouncey, DeCastro and Villanueva and a FullBack that we rarely use?
Brian Batko
2:23
Because the All-Pro OL aren't blocking very well.
Nick from VA
2:24
Are the Steelers really this bad, or is this brutal schedule of playing the final 13 weeks with no bye, and 3 games in 12 days, finally catching up to this team? My thoughts are it's more the latter with a little bit of the former sprinkled in. I say this because of the alarming number of injuries they've had in these last three games, compared to relatively fewer injuries in the first 10, with the noted exception of Bush. What say you?
Brian Batko
2:26
That's a big one to tackle, Nick. Frankly, I wish I knew for sure! But I'll just be boring and say they're not as bad as everyone fears right now, while also saying the weren't as good many thought when they were 11-0. I was saying last week that the WFT game was the kind of lackluster performance that was bound to catch up to them at some point. And it did. As for this one? Well, it's more than fair to wonder if they simply lost to a better team. The injuries are catching up, no doubt.
Guest
2:28
Hey Brian. If you could pick one thing to change that might spark this offense what would it be?
Brian Batko
2:30
I've said this before, but I think they should try to see what they have in Anthony McFarland at running back. And no, not on a fourth-and-1 throw split out wide, but as someone who actually gets to carry the ball occasionally. But what do I know, because he was inactive last night.
Guest
2:31
Brian, thanks for the chats and your insights.  I noticed early in the Bills game, during the so-called "scripted" portion of the game plan, the Steelers used more pre-snap motion and misdirection and then it completely disappeared.  Has anyone asked Randy F. why he and Ben abandon it so quickly?  Not saying that it would have fixed anything but, it does give the defense other things to look at and consider.
Brian Batko
2:32
Yes, Fichtner was asked about this just last week and attributed it to lack of practice time lately, brutally short weeks, etc. He also said there's a balance they need to find between those kind of scripted play designs vs. Ben operating out of the no-hudde. But hey, they were on a regular schedule last week and like you said, they didn't exactly commit to the game plan in that way before going back to Ben Ball.
Dominic
2:33
If the Steelers are eliminated early in the playoffs, could this be it for Ben? I can't see us being any stronger next year and Ben's cap hit is choking us.
Brian Batko
2:34
Who knows? Probably not even Ben himself. I imagine it would depend on how the rest of this season plays out for him. There was a national report yesterday about his knee injury bothering him more than people outside that building realize, which could certainly be true.
AtlantaDan
2:35
With home field advantage being minimal this year due to limitations on crowds, if the Steelers are not going to get the first round bye would it be better to rest players for the week
Brian Batko
2:35
I still think there's something to be said for not having to travel to go play a game. Teams will want homefield advantage all the time, even without fans.
Tom
2:36
Is Hilton making himself a must sign for the defense?  He seems to be the only one stepping when when a big play is a must.
Brian Batko
2:37
Not gonna call him a must-sign. The only must-signs are probably T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. He's very good, obviously, so it'd be nice to find a way to keep him. But Cam Sutton is a very useful piece in his own right.
Tim
2:38
How much emphasis will the Steelers put into improving their running game in the offseason?  Seems as though Mr Rooney will possibly open up his end of season presser w that very topic
Brian Batko
2:40
Again? Maybe I'm just a newfangled football watcher and not a purist, but I don't think it's that crucial to have a great ground game. It's far more significant to me to have a good offensive line that can block it up both ways, because it really does start there, and obviously you need a quarterback. Steelers need to improve what they do in the run game, but it wouldn't make sense to me to overhaul the entire plan and your identity as long as Ben is back.
Jeff
2:41
Thanks for the chats B.  I get the benching of Dj but would you agree he is our best route runner and therefore open more?  Washington catches the ball but rarely seems to have much separation.  Also Hilton needs to be on the field all the time.  He and Watt seem to be the only playmakers.  and where was Tuitt?
Load More Messages
Connecting…