You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 4.30.19
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Brian Batko
2:31
It's all I do every night when I get home from work
Steely Dan
2:32
Casey Hampton is a Steeler all time great so why not get “big” guys for the NT position? Is his body type obsolete in 2019?
Brian Batko
2:32
Kind of, yes. But you still need guys to do the "Dirty Work." For what it's worth, 6th-round draft pick Isaiah Buggs goes by "Big Pooh." Not quite Big Snack, but hey, I still like it.
Jim
2:32
Do you see either of the rookie specialists just signed mounting a serious challenge to either Boswell or Berry in camp?
Brian Batko
2:33
Haven't watched enough Ian Berryman film just yet to really say. I'll get back to you, Jim.
Shaler
2:33
When did you graduate from Shaler
Brian Batko
2:33
2009
Questfor7
2:34
Liked the pick of Bush at 10 but what was he thinking with that ridiculous suit? Terrible.
Brian Batko
2:34
I agree, it was bad.
Kk
2:34
Top 3 favorite steeler(s) past or present?
Brian Batko
2:35
Past:

1. Joey Porter
2. Heath Miller
3. Hines Ward

Present:

Anyone who will talk to me
Rocky the Rocket
2:35
Diontae Johnson was a great Toledo Rocket. At times he seemed obviously ready for the NFL. Will there be pressure to produce right away? Go ME & Go STEELERS,
Brian Batko
2:36
I don't think so. Look, I'm not gonna lie, I had barely heard of Diontae Johnson before Friday night. But from what I've seen and read, he's fun to watch and I can see why the Steelers liked him so much. I do think signing Donte Moncrief in the offseason lowers the expectations for Johnson, as they would've been for any receiver drafted.
fan
2:37
It seems to me that among the UDFAs that Brumfield and Fred Johnson are the most promising...would you agree?
Brian Batko
2:37
Garrett Brumfield went to LSU. My boss, P-G sports editor Tyler Batiste, also went to LSU. Ipso facto, he's a very promising player indeed.
RL in NC
2:38
Fellow Shaler alum, now living in sunny NC.  Now that the Steelers signed Ben to an extension, how do they plan on figuring out what they have in their back-up QB's when Ben decides to hang them up in 3 years.  By that time, Rudolph's & Dobb's contracts are up and possibly no "real" game experience to judge them by . . . .
Brian Batko
2:40
It's starting to seem as if I'll answer any question by people from Shaler, or just if it includes any mention of Shaler. But yeah, that's a conclusion that pretty much any team with an aging quarterback has to do their best to make, right? We'll see if either of those guys flash in preseason. Josh Dobbs does have some real game experience, but I'm more intrigued by Mason Rudolph. I watched him throw for 800 yards in a game against Pitt at Heinz Field.
Julio
2:40
What did you have for lunch today?
Brian Batko
2:40
Leftovers from Sunday dinner
Rico
2:41
Not from Shaler....won't even pretend to be.  Does James Washington answer the call and take a big step forward this year?
Brian Batko
2:41
I'll say yes. I watched him catch for 800 yards in a game against Pitt at Heinz Field.
Chris
2:41
I thought the Steelers were high on Jake Magee.  Isn't he another option at tight end?
Brian Batko
2:41
The Maniac?
mvandrews7
2:42
Hello Brian,
Brian Batko
2:42
Sup
Guest
2:43
Good afternoon and welcome. Can't say that I have read any of your articles but if you replacing Ed B. Will start.
Brian Batko
2:43
Thank you, that's all I ask. Ed is a great guy.
ALB
2:44
Do you think the Steelers see Bush as an immediate starter or do the expect play Barron there for awhile?
Brian Batko
2:45
Well, from what I gather, Kevin Colbert never really tags anyone with that "immediate starter" expectation. Harder to avoid that when you trade up 10 spots to take a consensus top-10 prospect at No. 10, but with Mark Barron in the fold, at least you do have that luxury of potentially bringing Devin Bush along more slowly than you would if he was competing just with Vince Williams and Jon Bostic.
JR
2:45
Brian: regret you will not be covering Pitt FB. Good luck covering the Steels
Brian Batko
2:46
Hey, thanks. I'll miss covering Pitt, myself.
Nate
2:46
Brian, are you surprised the Steelers did not package more of the later picks and try and have more 4/5th rd picks?  Reason I ask is because it is already difficult for many of these drafted rookies to make the team when Steelers have 5-6 picks, let alone 9!!  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:47
No, not necessarily. Your point is well taken, but here's my counter: NFL draft picks are never a sure thing, and that's especially so when you get to those middle rounds. So, why not stockpile picks and give yourself a better chance of hitting on someone who can help you? I understand that from the Steelers perspective, certainly.
Charles Demarr
2:48
Brian, Who is you break-out candidate next season?
Brian Batko
2:48
James Washington is probably the easy answer here, and I've always been one to work smart, not hard.
Mike G.
2:48
Welcome to the madness Brian! Why grade draft picks before they so much as hit the field? Seems like a teacher grading students before the test. Case in point: Zach Gentry was a highly recruited QB in high school (initially was going to Texas), he also was standout basketball player...the Steelers saw something, isn't it fair to give him and the other draft choices a chance before assigning grades?
Brian Batko
2:50
Thank you, Mike G., though from what I understand everything about covering this team has been pretty relaxed the last few years.

To your question, why? Because it's sports, and sometimes speculating is fine, if not fun, to do. The previous team I covered, I'd get the same questions about star ratings and recruiting class rankings. Do they really mean anything? No. But does it satisfy an appetite for the fans who follow it? You bet it does.
Emilio
2:51
If we are honest the Steelers defense with Shazier was not that good, so why should be so excited about D Bush being the new Shazier? We have the same coaches making the defensive calls?
Brian Batko
2:51
It sounds like you personally shouldn't be much more excited, Emilio.
Wisconsin Winters
2:51
Best Pittburgh sports memory, worst?
Connecting…