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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.28.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
Why hello there. Time for another chat, last one of February, let’s make it a good one. Ready…break.
Jay
2:01
Hi Brian.  Would steelers be more aggressive getting a FA OL or DL this year?  I kinda think they have to.
Brian Batko
2:02
Hey Jay. OL, yes. Still a young group and Kevin Colbert even said last week he regretted not doing more in free agency a year ago. The DL, to me, is a unit that needs to get younger, which lends itself more to a draft pick who can help now and later.
Mikey
2:02
I don't live in Western PA so I don't follow Pitt football, nor have I followed Matt Canada's career elsewhere. But in any of his stops has he ever run an offense that showed any interest in a vertical passing game? Or does his entire bag of tricks consist of hitch passes, WR screens, and jet sweeps. We hear a lot about all of his pre-snap motion, but that doesn't help much if the defense knows the ball is staying near (and more often behind) the line of scrimmage..
Brian Batko
2:04
Well Mikey I didn’t cover Matt Canada as a beat writer for the P-G when he was at Pitt but I came on right after, and followed the Panthers prior to his season, as well. He took a little used WR in Jester Weah and turned him into a legit deep threat for Nate Peterman and that offense. I think the guy understands how to push the ball downfield, even if it’s not necessarily his calling card as a coordinator/play caller.
Rocky
2:06
Hello Brian, Do you think the Steelers will pick up a new punter to compete with Harvins?  Or does Harvins have a long term contract that they are stuck with.  Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:07
He does have a rookie deal that lasts four years, as they all do, but that’s hardly an obstacle or a factor that will secure his job. They’ll bring in competition, no doubt. The only thing they’d be stuck with is the decision to use a draft pick on someone who wasn’t a long term fix at that position.
Sunner in Orlando
2:08
Hey Brian thanks for the chats! Is there any movement on the Tuitt front from either side? If Tuitt does not come back a draft would a DL choice in the first or second be prudent? If he does come back, could the Steelers wait until the third round the address the aging line?
Brian Batko
2:09
No problem, sir. But to answer your question, nothing that I've heard. The only DL I'd use one of those top two picks on is probably Jordan Davis from Georgia because he's just such a unique specimen. Last time there was a mountain of a man to that degree coming into the NFL, the Steelers drafted him. Dan McCullers didn't work out, but Davis is a far more athletic player at that size, which is why he's generating first-round buzz.
TV
2:10
Could you see Steelers drafting a truly developmental quarterback in the later rounds like they did with Rudolph and Dobbs, or is the drop off in talent beyond the top 4 or 5 guys just too great?
Brian Batko
2:12
I'm not gonna rule out anything with this QB situation. The Steelers haven't been in this spot in almost 20 years, so who knows what they'll do? They're probably still trying to figure that out themselves. The draft gurus do generally consider there to be a tier of 5 or 6 QBs, then a big gap, but you never know when there's a diamond in the rough. Maybe this is the kind of class where we look back in 10 years and realize it was someone way off the radar who was the best of 2022.
574 Fan
2:12
Brian - have you gotten any indications from the team with regards to how they feel about Buddy Johnson?  They kept him on the 53 man all year but I dont think he got a helmet until late in the year.  Keeping him rostered seems to indicate they like him, but keeping him inactive for so long at a position that was lacking so badly would say the opposite.
Brian Batko
2:14
The Steelers put him in for Joe Schobert in that Vikings game when they were getting gashed by Dalvin Cook and afterward Mike Tomlin said they wanted to see guys who could whip some tail and do some "striking." So, I guess he thinks Buddy Johnson is capable of doing a bit of that once he learns the defense more.
Yinzer Steelheart
2:15
In a tweet to Ray I mentioned that Steelers should wait until next year to get their franchise QB and in this off season they should draft DT Jordan Davis, Sign CB JC Jackson and ILB Vander Esch in FA. Use the rest of the draft picks to build the OL and get a WR. And try to re-sign SS Edmunds with an affordable deal, and retain CB Witherspoon. I believe they can use the same approach like 04, bringing a QB once you have a very complete team in Def and Off.
Brian Batko
2:17
So I take it Ray didn't respond? JC Jackson will command a ton of money, but he is really good. And you make good points about how you can restructure this roster while kicking the can down the road on the QB, but it's all about whether the Steelers can feel comfortable enough with Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins and new QB X (they've been candid about planning to add a guy one way or another). And if they DO think there's a franchise QB in this draft, someone they really love, then all bets are off.
TomnAZ
2:18
Wentz or Minshew?
Brian Batko
2:18
Give me Gardner Minshew, especially with how much more affordable he'd be.
jwheaney
2:19
You are the Steelers GM. Do you:
2:20
1. Sign high priced QB?2. Trade up to achieve higher choice in the draft order.
Brian Batko
2:21
Neither, but I guess if those are my only two options, I'd go with 2.
Jake
2:21
it didn’t look like Matt Corral would be there at 20, but from what I’ve been reading it looks like he may fall that far. I know we need help in the trenches but he’s the one QB I’d jump on. Thoughts ?
Brian Batko
2:23
Corral is pretty interesting. I'll be curious to see how he measures and tests at the combine. How much of his success at Mississippi was his own talent vs. the system? Definitely like the intangibles with him, though. He's a tough dude and seems extremely competitive.
Se Acobo
2:23
Steelers Roster looks like swiss cheese for real Bats! Could be major turnover in 2ndary. Do you see Haden back or has that ship sailed?
Brian Batko
2:25
Leaning toward that ship having sailed. I think Joe Haden really likes it here and appreciated his time in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers didn't come to him about an extension before last season. He's about to be 33 and has made plenty of money playing ball in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Fine cities, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him go join a contender somewhere outside of the rust belt.
Guest
2:26
Have you had a chance to look at lb Troy Anderson? Guy reminds me of Jack Ham.
Brian Batko
2:28
Not yet, but I do have a funny story about Troy Andersen, inside linebacker from Montana State. When I was in Vegas earlier this month for the Pro Bowl/East-West Shrine Bowl, I played blackjack with a couple who came in from Montana just to see him play in the Shrine game. Problem was, he got invited to the Senior Bowl at the last second and went to Mobile instead. Kind of a bummer for all those fine folks who made the trip from Big Sky Country, but I'm sure they still had a fun time.
Guest
2:29
Can you rank from 1-5 or 10 the qb’s you would like to see starting on opening day?
Brian Batko
2:31
Geez, Guest, how much time do you have? I mean, it doesn't really matter to me who starts at QB for the Steelers. Lord willing, I'll be covering the games and getting paid either way. But in terms of who would be most interesting, Dwayne Haskins winning the job would be quite the story. So would a rookie, any rookie, but especially Kenny Pickett from Pitt. And I'm all for a good story. Unless it's Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers would be intriguing, but I imagine it would make my job a lot more difficult than it has to be.
Ryan
2:31
Good afternoon Brian who will you be watching at the combine I’m interested to see how heywards brother looks
Brian Batko
2:32
Hey Ryan. Yeah, it'll be fun to get some results on Connor Heyward, who seems like a classic late-round Steelers pick. Regardless of positional fit, you have to feel good about his football character and make-up given what you got out of Cam, right? I'm also planning to keep an eye on Skyy Moore out of Western Michigan by way of Shady Side Academy/New Kensington, and of course the Pitt/PSU guys in attendance.
Retire21
2:33
Seems Mason did have some chemo with old college teammate James Washington. They shared a TD in the Detroit game and I think the year Rudolph started a lot of games when Ben missed almost the whole year. Would that be enough to think he might come back?
Brian Batko
2:34
Ah, I don't think so. For starters, there's no guarantee Rudolph will even be the starter. And with Washington, I just see that as a situation where both sides need to move on. Perhaps he can finally break out with a change of scenery/offense/etc.
Guest
2:35
Brian, The inside linebacking corps, much lauded going into last season, had its share of struggles. Is there hope for the existing group? If not, is the answer in free agency, or through the draft?
Brian Batko
2:37
I don't know if there's hope, but I'm of the opinion that the Steelers have little choice but to find out. And trust the evaluations they've already made on these guys. Whether it's a big name like Devin Bush or an under-the-radar type like the aforementioned Buddy Johnson, it's simply not practical to keep sinking valuable draft capital into the same position year after year. I know it's an important spot in the defense and there's something to be said for cutting your losses, but at some point you have to develop guys and then they have to perform.
DALTER
2:38
Hi,  When are we going to know how many pics the Steelers get in this years draft ?
Brian Batko
2:38
Hello, DALTER. The last two years, the NFL has announced comp picks on March 10, so I'm guessing it'll be March 10.
Ben
2:38
Hi BB - there is rightfully a lot of concern about the run defense and defensive line, but if Tuitt and Alualu return doesn’t that shore things up tremendously and allow the Steelers to focus on other needs like OL? The D is completely different with those two healthy, which of course we can’t bank on but …
Brian Batko
2:40
I wonder if this is Ben Roethlisberger. How wild would that be if now, in retirement, he just spends his afternoons in Steelers chat rooms? Anyway, I agree with you Ben, and even just Tyson Alualu's return alone should go along way to patch things up at nose tackle. As long as he's healthy, of course, which is why you probably need to add a draft pick at some point. The Steelers should know better than I do whether their confidence level is high enough that they can get away with a mid to late rounder, or if they need to make a more significant move for the DL.
ppozone6031@gmail.com
2:41
Brian I would like the Steelers to hire the guy from the Eagles to supervise Hunt and Kahn?
Brian Batko
2:43
Not sure if that's a question or comment, but Andy Weidl certainly has the resume to be the next Steelers GM if they want to go outside the organization. High-level front office job? Check. Extensive draft experience? Check. From here? Check, and even worked here way back when, which is a very nice bonus.
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