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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.10.25
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Brian Batko
12:00
Hi everyone, hope you enjoyed the game last night. I felt watching the Chiefs lose was somewhat cathartic but of course a close, exciting finish would've been nice too.
Dave
12:01
Watching Kenny Pickett take the final snaps of SB LIX was like watching my wife make out with my best friend on live TV while 50 billion watched, and then they all called me to ask me if I seen it.
Brian Batko
12:01
Wow, what a start!
BigSnack98
12:02
Hey Bats, love the chats! What’s your take on how the Steelers view Roman Wilson? In all of the chatter about the future of WR, he is rarely mentioned. Do they just not know what they have in him due to injuries or is there more to the story. It would be great to get a better sense going into the FA signing period and the draft. Thanks!
Brian Batko
12:03
Thanks, Big Snack. I think it's just a very incomplete evaluation of him right now because of those injuries. But as I wrote many times during the season, it's at least somewhat concerning that they didn't think enough of him as a player, or maybe just him and his progress, to try to get him out there at some point once he was healthy/healthier.
venosf
12:04
Who do you feel is the best Steeler player on offense on the team right now,,,and is that player a Super Bowl level type player?
Brian Batko
12:05
All things considered, I might go with Pat Freiermuth and yes, I think he's just as good as the Eagles TEs.
Martian
12:06
Morning BB. Was nice to see what an effective 4 man rush can do to good teams last night. Perhaps we should stop ignoring the DL until we can play that way?
Brian Batko
12:07
Yeah, that was a nice advertisement for drafting a D-lineman in the first round this April. But on the other hand, the draft isn't done in a vacuum and there might be good value at that position well into Day 2 and even Day 3. That's what Omar Khan, Andy Weidl, Mike Tomlin and the scouts will be sussing out these next couple of months.
ForWhomKordellTolls
12:08
Regarding Gerry's bombshell reporting last week, Smith and Tomlin ordering Russ not to change plays, score points and win games, does this send a signal to potential free agent WRs and QBs not to sign with the Steelers?
Brian Batko
12:09
Doubtful. You know what sends a good signal to potential free agents? Guaranteed money, financial security and cash. The almighty dollar is factor 1, 2 and 3 for most players. Then we can get into coaching, offensive philosophy, personnel, working conditions, chance of winning a Super Bowl, etc. I happen to think Mike Tomlin is still viewed as a major draw by players in the NFL, regardless of how you or I feel about his job performance of late.
Jeff M
12:10
You article about the Steelers coaching staff being smaller than most was really good. The part that sticks with me the most is Tomlin saying he would rather his coaches have too much work than not enough. Do you think his assistants having too much work might be why they seem to do the same thing over and over?
Brian Batko
12:12
Thanks, Jeff. It's not the be-all, end-all and I wasn't necessarily trying to make the case one way or the other. More so just presenting the differences between how the Steelers operate, at least on paper, and what their competitors are doing. Adam Bittner and I discussed it quite a bit on today's post-Super Bowl podcast in the third segment:
TVC15
12:12
Hi Brian, I did not understand the  Mike Tomlin contract extension last summer. He now has 3 years left on his contract. Is there even the absolutely slightest hope at all of a Super Bowl win? PS - If you say yes you are lying.
Brian Batko
12:14
Not really, but I'll just play devil's advocate by pointing out how quickly the Eagles flipped their own script after getting trounced in a wild card game a season ago. And teams like the Lions, Commanders and Texans have gone from much worse states to contenders in relatively short order.
mrbig
12:15
was that one of the most BORING superbowls? not a competitive game & halftime was meh-
Brian Batko
12:16
Yes, it was kind of boring, actually. That's not a bad word for it. But I very much enjoyed the outcome. And the halftime show was good by me but I'm also a Kendrick Lamar fan, so I was the target audience. My main criticism would be the intro. He's got a lot of songs, even recent ones, with amazing needle drops at the beginning yet he started out pretty understated. OK, enough playing amateur music/concert critic.
We aren’t even close
12:17
Clearly this isn’t a well run organization anymore. It’s living off a reputation of the past that in now way is the current reality. The fact that Tomlin wanted Claypool over Hurts is just further proof that this insane asylum is being run by the patients. For 31 other organizations that alone is a fireable offense, not to mention the last 10 years of bad decisions and futility by Coach Cliche. When will the media and fans realize that the organization is not a serious one and is simply a money making endeavor?
Brian Batko
12:19
Mic drop. But I'll just pick out one granule of that rant. Were there really a lot of Steelers fans/media pounding the table for Jalen Hurts at that time? Chase Claypool was the right pick on-paper in my opinion. Tough to foresee that he'd lose the plot two years into his NFL career and never really harness his physical attributes after a strong rookie season.
the real guest
12:20
Brian, It feels like the magic show has ended and football is a team sport again. What say you?
Brian Batko
12:21
I say I think Patrick Mahomes will have the Chiefs right back in the mix again next season. But yes, the Eagles did what the 49ers failed to do a year ago, beating the top-heavy team with a more well-rounded roster. Although I'd say Jalen Hurts is a fairly massive upgrade from Brock Purdy at the most important spot.
62 Stack Monster
12:21
Brian, The Eagles didn't blitz last night, and the Chiefs were shut out well into the third quarter.  The Steelers need for a stud DL is warranted in the first round, don't you think?
Brian Batko
12:23
And that's probably why the powers that be in Pittsburgh would tell you it's worth spending big on defense, to get the TJ Watts and Cam Heywards and Alex Highsmiths of the world to create havoc with a four-man rush. It's sort of the inverse of striking while the iron is hot with a QB on a rookie deal. Eagles have goons up front and the majority of those guys are getting the job done while on rookie deals, allowing them to spend big bucks elsewhere.
Steelmann58
12:24
Hi Brian who do you see the Qb being in 2025. Do you think they sign one by Fa start
Brian Batko
12:25
Yeah, I assume the Steelers will move quickly on that front. Partly based on Art Rooney II's QB-centric comments but also considering how fast they acted on Mitch Trubisky a few years ago and Russell Wilson last year. They didn't drag their feet on figuring out - or trying to  figure out - the QB situation.
Alan in Bama
12:25
Hi Brian, another season in the bag, thanks for the chats and PG coverage. The Steeler receiving corp looks to be the weakest in some time and much of the talk in the past year. Debo pops up as the latest chatter piece. I can’t recall the Steelers making an acquisition of a receiver by FA or trade in many a year who made a big impact. Is this a fact of them not needing to? Am I forgetting someone?
Brian Batko
12:27
Appreciate it, Alan. It's somewhat bleak right now, yes. Calvin Austin III is essentially the surest thing. George Pickens and Roman Wilson are question marks for opposite reasons. Much as I'd like Deebo Samuel to carry on the Deebo tradition in Pittsburgh, I wouldn't race to bring him in. But you're right that they've attacked it through the draft much better than any other avenue.
Word Salad Sandwich
12:28
What Vic Fangio was able to do to the Chiefs last night shows that coaching truly does matter. The Steelers highest paid defense has never developed a game plan to slow down the great QBs in the league. Do you think this performance will have any impact on how Art2 views the Steelers coaching staff?
Brian Batko
12:29
I hear you, but Vic Fangio's job was made a lot easier by Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith and company wrecking the Chiefs in 1-on-1 matchups, setting the edge, and just generally dominating the line of scrimmage.
Chill Dave
12:30
Hi Brian, Fangio's successful approach was essentially cover 2 and have your line win up front without blitzing.  Isn't that the same as Tomlin's?  Do the Steelers just need better players?
Brian Batko
12:30
That's what I'm getting at, yes. But to our last caller's point, sometimes coaching is about adapting to what you don't have.
Paul in Colorado
12:32
After watching how Philadelphia made Mahomes look human. Do you think the Steelers need to increase their priority to improve the defensive line? The chances we get a game changer at quarterback are slim but we can build a new Steel Curtain!
Brian Batko
12:33
Everyone's trying to do that, so good luck. It'd help if the in-house guys can take a leap. Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, looking at you. But yes, it's also time to replenish the pipeline and find a true game-wrecker guy to take the torch from Cam Heyward eventually and supplement him in the meantime.
John from Toronto
12:33
Hi Brian. Are you surprised the Chiefs didn't make adjustments against the Eagles pass rush
Brian Batko
12:34
That's tough to do when you're just getting physically overwhelmed like that. It's always more about players than plays. Last night was just everything coming together for Philly from talent to scheme to execution.
TX Pressure
12:34
Watching the game shows if you don't have an O or D line you can't truly compete - we don't have either so stop with all the talk of WRs and QBs get those lines nailed down and get the coaching that can make them better!
Brian Batko
12:35
Steelers are making the investments to lay the groundwork. That's why I'm not gonna sit here on Feb. 10, 2025 and fault them for drafting Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier over Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean last April. They're trying to build this the right way, too. But trying and making it happen are two different things. Remains to be seen if they land this plane.
Jim (Cosmo) K in Jax
12:37
What's your favorite sport outside of football to watch and/or participate in?
Brian Batko
12:39
Basketball, not close. I'm getting heavy into college hoops season now. This might be Houston's year finally.
Greenwood
12:39
Hi, Brian. We are hearing reports that some Steeler coaches prefer Wilson, some Fields. Which coaches are in which camp?
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