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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 01.10.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
Well, here we are. The Steelers aren't dead yet. Wild-card playoff game coming up for the second year in a row, but this time as heavy underdogs on the road at Kansas City. Questions, please.
So happy
2:01
Do you believe it all worked out?
Brian Batko
2:02
I do not. It's surreal. And if it's that way for me on the outside, I can't imagine what it's like for the players, coaches, etc. They had to know as well as anyone that the Jaguars beating the Colts was highly unlkely. And yet!
KS Steeler
2:04
Wild day yesterday!  Chances Steelers can come my way and silence the Arrowhead faithful?  I say 5%; but, then I like the their chances against Tenn.....
Brian Batko
2:06
I'll go with 27%, three points higher than the official probabilities generated by ESPN's Football Power Index (24.1%)
Lou
2:07
Hi Brian. Why was Harvin in the game? Will we see Waitman back in there for KC?  Steelers need to make KC start from as far back as possible....poor punting could lose this game! Among other reaons of course!
Brian Batko
2:08
With everything going on, that's not something that came up postgame with Mike Tomlin, but hopefully someone will ask him about it tomorrow. My guess is they wanted to give him a chance to bounce back from difficult circumstances, personally and professionally, while also giving themselves another in-game chance to evaluate whether he's their guy next year.
David in Raleigh
2:09
Do you think Mike Tomlin could be persuaded to hire a hypnotist to make Big Ben believe that every quarter is the fourth quarter?
Brian Batko
2:09
As Mike Tomlin has said many times, "We don't care where great ideas come from."
Dave
2:10
Chief's game a couple weeks ago wasn't even competitive. Chiefs will score points. Only hope is Steelers can score too. What do you think they can do on offense to make it a game?
Brian Batko
2:11
Other than hypnosis? Maybe they need to let Ben Roethlisberger go no-huddle more, and earlier. I know we've been saying it for weeks, actually months, but as the offensive struggles persist, you have to try to do something. Especially now in a game where it's stacked against you on paper vs. a team that laid waste to your plan just a few weeks ago. Drastic times call for drastic measures, right?
Mr Medium Chest
2:12
Hi Brian, I’m grateful for Brandon Staley but why would ownership not fire him immediately after the game? What other billion dollar corporation would deal with such malpractice & incompetence at top levels? Not to mention the money he cost the organization and the playoff experience he cost his young QB. Personally I wouldn’t have even let him get on the plane back.
Brian Batko
2:14
I think Staley is taking too much heat, honestly. They likely knew going in that he had certain beliefs, maybe some unconventional tactics, and were comfortable with that as an organization. To me, the Chargers lost because they couldn't stop Josh Jacobs from running right into the teeth of their defense and into field goal range with time winding down and the season on the line. That's coaching, to an extent, but not in the way you're getting at.
Eddie
2:15
Any concern with losing K.Colbert this coming year?  Combined with losing Ben, the record of not having a losing season might come to an end.
Brian Batko
2:16
Of course there's concern that comes with losing someone who's been your top personnel exec for two decades. There's probably even more confidence that his steady hand has set you up nicely for the future, but sure, you never know how someone else will fare in that chair until he/she is in it.
George
2:17
Will Juju and Terrell Edmunds be resigned?  Witherspoon?
Brian Batko
2:18
I lean no on JuJu, 50-50 on Edmunds, yes on Ahkello Witherspoon, but haven't really sat down and thought it all through yet. Figured we might be doing that today, but hey, the focus remains on the 2021 Steelers.
STLRAngler
2:19
KC by 30?
Brian Batko
2:19
Nah
Ca Ca nada
2:19
In regard to the 1st sack T.J. Watt had yesterday that was 'taken' away...How in the world could that be deemed an "abandoned play" ?
Huntley clearly picked the ball up, tried to escape but Watt nailed him immediately and stripped him of the ball... the ball wasn't spotted where Huntley fell at first it was spotted after it was recovered, after Watt stripped it, right?
Therefore it has to be a sack... If I missed it and they did spot it where Huntley first went down then that too is wrong... the whistle was not blown until the final recovery...right?
Brian Batko
2:20
Initially I had the same thought as you, as did a lot of folks in the press box and even on the field judging by Watt's reaction, but I think the snap being that bad is what led to the "aborted play" ruling. Not necessarily Huntley's effort to try to salvage it.
TNsteeler
2:21
Brian, good chats. Sure would be nice to have Tuitt for a run. Any good news for our run D?
Brian Batko
2:21
I don't see that happening.
Goldstar
2:22
Prediction for the starting O-line on Sunday?
Brian Batko
2:22
Dan Moore, John Leglue, JC Hassenauer, Trai Turner, Chuks Okorafor
The Dude
2:22
In yesterday’s game chat there was lots of talk about the Steelers not deserving to make the playoffs. Then you see that the Bengals, Patriots, and Raiders each won exactly one more game than the Steelers, plus each of them had an ugly loss or two. Can’t we say that while they do indeed have their warts, so do the other playoff teams?
Brian Batko
2:24
Sure, but how about this for a stat: The Patriots (+159) and Bengals (+84) both have positive point differentials over the course of 17 games. The Steelers? They're -55. The Raiders are even worse at -65, so yeah, you have a point there with Vegas. But I'd say it's pretty clear that the Pats and Bengals have been better/more deserving teams.
Scuba Steve
2:26
Great punt by Sam Koch pins the Steelers deep. Ensuing horrible punt by PH3 puts the Ravens in field goal position without even running a play. Is it safe to say Waitman should NOT be inactive this Sunday?
Brian Batko
2:26
Yes, Corliss Waitman SHOULD be the guy. Doesn't mean he will be.
Jon in Oregon
2:27
Do you have any knowledge about the likelihood of Dan Moore's return?
Brian Batko
2:27
No but I'm optimistic because he was able to play through it Monday, and didn't land on IR last week. That tells me it should be relatively short-term, but maybe just didn't cooperate on a quick turnaround.
Alaska Steeler
2:27
Please, please tell me Tomlin isn't stubborn enough to think a Matt Canada designed offense can give us even a remote chance to win on Sunday?  At most 30% Canada and 70% Ben calling plays.  Please Please whisper this in his ear.
Brian Batko
2:28
I'll whisper that into his ear over dinner and drinks tonight, yes.
Jud
2:29
Can Canada take any credit for the win?
Brian Batko
2:29
Sure, everybody can take credit. His jet sweeps to Chase Claypool were the only source of life in the run game. Sounds like some of his route concepts worked well in the weighty moments, as well.
Buster
2:31
Thank God Rich Biccasia doesn’t live in his fears.
Brian Batko
2:31
And that the Raiders have a good kicker.
Eric Carr
2:32
Brian what is your thought on the appeal of the aborted TJ sack? I know they've been doing that now, there was one by John Simon at the end of the KC game where Henne fell on a bad snap and Simon touched him. But this was way different.  Huntley got back up untouched and TJ sacked him and he fumbled. They counted the FF for TJ and gave us the FR. So the play continued and was NOT aborted. How can the sack not be awarded?
Brian Batko
2:33
I think given the hoopla surrounding the sack record, it should and will get a closer look than most plays reviewed for stat corrections.
Bill
2:33
Might be one of the worst teams ever to make the playoffs.that cross on to Tomlin’s neck must be doing him some good.I still say Tomlin’s a good rah rah coach
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