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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.23.24
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hello there, welcome to a Christmas week chat ahead of Steelers-Chiefs. Let's get to the questions.
Sam
2:01
I'm not really sure how to feel about the Steelers right now.  I mean, there are two opposite ways to think about things which are both rational:  one is that there probably aren't more than 3 teams in the league who would be favored to win EITHER at Philly or at Baltimore.  The other is that they were pretty soundly beaten at the point of attack in each game and we've seen these late season downfalls before.  How telling will their rebound at home on a short week be?
Brian Batko
2:02
Telling in the sense that they need to play better and should be healthier. But still should be kept in perspective in the sense that the Chiefs have won two straight rings and might be the best team in the NFL yet again.
epiballo
2:03
Hi Brian, and Merry Christmas! The last two games, Russ Wilson has thrown the ball away again and again and again. I know they miss Pickens, but can't the other WRs work back towards him and give him a target?
Brian Batko
2:06
Merry Christmas to you, too. I think part of it is lack of talent at receiver but also Russell Wilson's style. He's been near the top of the NFL in throwaways in recent seasons, but on the bright side, near the bottom in interceptions. We know how much Mike Tomlin hates turnovers here. Live to fight another day.
Harry Callas
2:06
Brian, Merry Christmas.  Is it accurate to say the Steelers have experienced an extraordinary number of soft tissue injuries this year compared to prior years?  And how much of the injuries is related to a training and strength staff?  I recall Tomlin's new strength coach worked at Boston College with Tomlin's Son, Dino, another Dino connection hire ala Matt Canada at Maryland.
Brian Batko
2:08
Hi, Harry. Merry Christmas to the Callas family. I haven't done a deep dive on the soft tissue stuff. Sounds like a good offseason project though if you'd like to help me out. It does seem rather coincidental that the BC strength and conditioning staff came here, eh? That doesn't mean they aren't good at their jobs, but a reminder that in the NFL, oftentimes familiarity leads to hirings. Let's hope this one goes better than Matt Canada's tenure.
LarryG from Punxy
2:09
Happy Holidays!  I saw in your article "'It’s just sloppy football’: From Chris Boswell to Patrick Queen, Steelers sound off on rare loss to Ravens" posted December 21, 2024 that Patrick Queen said "players need to be accountable to their teammates. They need to be in meetings on time. They need to do what they’re supposed to do at practice."  If this team is serious about making a deep playoff run, at this point of the season there shouldn't be any players not on time for meetings, and they should be doing what they're supposed to do at practice.  If these things are not happening, that's squarely on the head coach...maybe it's time for a change at the top.  Do you agree on either point?
Brian Batko
2:11
Happy Holidays, Larry G. Thanks for reading. Patrick Queen was clearly passionate during that postgame interview, so I actually asked him to clarify if he meant he had a problem with players not being accountable or if he was just re-enforcing it for the stretch run. He said re-enforcing. But sure, maybe still concerning to hear the urgency on that front to some extent. Queen's clearly trying to display some leadership during a tough time, though, so perhaps take the literal wording with a grain of salt.
Bulldog
2:11
Bats...hope your weekend was great.  Extend Tomlin again now so he doesn't get away in four years?  I'd really miss him if he were to leave.
Brian Batko
2:13
It was nice. I've come to really enjoy Baltimore, to the point that I'd call it one of my favorite road cities. You too, Bulldog. To me, it's quite clear at this point that any fair Mike Tomlin evaluation falls between "he's a terrible coach who needs to go" and "the Steelers should give him a lifetime contract because they're so lucky to have him." And that's OK! That's the case for most players and coaches in sports.
Takoma Tom
2:14
Hate to say it but it looks like another mediocre winning season and get embarrassed in the playoffs.  Can we finally admit it’s time to rebuild?
Brian Batko
2:15
I still think the Steelers can win a playoff game. To me, they're a good team. Not great, but better than I expected, for sure. I'd probably pick them at home vs. Broncos or Chargers and on the road in Houston as we sit here today.
Chill Dave
2:16
Minor point, but did anyone notice when Tomlin declined a penalty and made it 3rd and 11 for the Ravens rather than 2nd and 21?
Brian Batko
2:17
Well, yes, I did notice that. It worked.
Bern
2:17
Has Pickens become more valuable than Watt?
Brian Batko
2:17
I think you could make that case because of the difference in depth at both positions, sure. But that's about the only reason.
Gregg@7723ft
2:18
Do you remember hearing about or playing the Bob Newhart "Hi Bob" drinking game? Would we make it through the 3rd quarter of a Steelers game if we changed it to "Wide Open!" and or "miscommunication in the secondary" phrases instead? Seriously, even before the injuries, isn't this an even bigger issue than not being able to stop the run lately?
Brian Batko
2:20
Can't say I'm familiar with that one, but I can pick up what you're putting down. Those lapses and coverage busts were brutal in Baltimore. You have to tip your cap to Todd Monken and what he drew up, plus the inherent challenge of defending a Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry backfield, but that was a bad performance by the Steelers defense and they know it.
AK
2:22
It seems to me that the Chiefs are a very bad matchup for the Steelers, especially with how poorly the defense is playing now.  What do you think the Steelers chances of winning the game are, 10%?
Brian Batko
2:24
That certainly seems low, AK. But I hear you. Number one, the Chiefs are a bad matchup for pretty much anyone. Number two, Patrick Mahomes is 3-0 vs. the Steelers with 14 touchdowns and 1 interception with 988 yards. I'm gonna go 44 percent because they're at home.
Double Dawg Dare You
2:25
Hi Brian. Thank you for the time. Merry Christmas to you and you family. Is this team just not good enough to make a run or could they be serious contenders if healthy.
Brian Batko
2:26
You too. I think they could make a run depending on the matchups, but I'd constitute winning two games as a run. Probably not ready to call them serious contenders given how the Chiefs, Bills and even now Ravens look.
SDWC
2:26
Do you think the discrepancy in carries between 22 and 30 on Saturday was simply to give Najee a blow and have him fresher for KC this week?
Brian Batko
2:27
No, I don't think that's ever really been much of a consideration with Najee Harris. One of his best attributes is his durability/conditioning/want-the-ball mentality. I'd say Jaylen Warren's uptick was more of a hot hand situation than anything.
Streaming Sports Sucks
2:28
Now that the Steelers are 0 and 2 without George Pickens do you think his critics will be a little less harsh?
Brian Batko
2:28
They're 1-2 without him, is that too harsh to point out?
Whatsup
2:29
I am convinced that this is not only Mike Tomlin's defense that we are watching but also his offense.  How could it be otherwise if you see the same plays called over and over that Canada called.  1st down run up the middle.  2nd down run at the edge.  3rd down throw a pass that is 4 yards short of the marker and while I am complaining anyone else tired of hearing miscommunication is the reason that the secondary is failing? WOW
Brian Batko
2:29
Now that's an airing of grievances on festivus.
Tampa Too
2:29
Brian, if the Steelers win on Wednesday and Baltimore loses to the Steelers clinch AFC North title?
Brian Batko
2:30
No, they do not. It still would come down to Week 18.
John from Toronto
2:30
Hi Brian. With the injury bug biting in the secondary any chance Eric Rowe gets elevated from the practice squad to face the Chiefs on Christmas day? I thought he played well last year when called upon.
Brian Batko
2:31
Agreed but if DeShon Elliott is back, I don't see that happening. If anything it would've made more sense to have his style of play in Baltimore but clearly they weren't comfortable enough yet with that move and/or wanted Damontae Kazee out there more. But Eric Rowe isn't a bad guy to have around as insurance policy.
HeHateMe
2:31
Why don’t corners look back for the ball anymore?
Brian Batko
2:32
Depends on the situation, Rod.
artie bridge
2:32
Ok Bats, a two-parter:  1.  How many more bad games from Russ until we hear cries for Justin?  2.  If Russ is available to sign with us at - say - $25 mil, and Justin is available at half that, would the money differential figure in the Steelers' decision?
Brian Batko
2:34
Not that it was a bad performance from start to finish in the way we saw from previous Steelers QBs the past few years, but if Russell Wilson has another game like that with two costly turnovers, the cries will begin later this week. That's how fandom is. To answer your second question, I need to see how Wilson finishes this season. Justin Fields is more-or-less in the clubhouse with his score on the card. Wilson's out there on the final few holes - or the entire back nine, the Steelers hope.
Still Beam09
2:34
Do you feel the defensive coaches need to be replaced, other than Dunbar, it has been inconsistent. And Tomlin hamming it up, and dropping the F bomb for Hard Knocks, doesn't seem to help any. His old ways are creeping back into this team that really got the team no where for 15+ years, besides a "winning reg season record".
Brian Batko
2:36
With the usual caveat that evaluating assistant coaches is tricky, I think Denzel Martin's work with the outside linebackers is impressive when you look at how much Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig have improved in their time with him. Secondary coach Grady Browns always gets credited with his contributions to the turnover culture. And I'm not sure if Mike Tomlin is putting on a show for the cameras. Maybe some of that can be subconscious, but that's also just how he is. Most people are seeing that side for the first time.
the real guest
2:37
Brian, When all is said and done the Steelers will once again be the 14th or 15th best team in the NFL which is the Art and Mike standard. Yoi and double yoi.
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