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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.04.24
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Brian Batko
1:58
If you're on time, you're late for today's chat. Greetings to all and I hope you had a nice weekend. Let's talk some Steelers, draft, combine, whatever floats your boat.
mrbig
1:58
the players will never agreee to 18 games... The goal is clearly to get the SB to President's day weekend. Don't you think it is more likely that they will agree on 2 byes per season instead?
Brian Batko
1:59
Possibly both. I don't see an issue with each team having a double-bye. But if there's a ton of push-back on adding yet another game, then sure, the NFLPA will dig in to battle it out. Just remember though, money always talks.
John
2:00
Which of these scenarios are more likely to be true?
Hi BB,

Which one of these scenarios are more likely to be true?
Mike Tomlin rewards the Steelers for his contract extension by:
1) Winning his 1st playoff game in 8 years.

2) Posting his 1st losing season and finishing last in the AFCN.
Brian Batko
2:01
Hi John. That's a close one, but I'll go with 1 under my steadfast belief that I can't predict 2 until I see it with mine own eyes. I've at least seen the first scenario before, though yes, it's been quite a while.
Leaper
2:02
Any chance DJ is not with the Steelers this year?
Brian Batko
2:05
Yes I think there's a chance. Shopping a somewhat underachieving veteran player with a high cap hit is certainly a page in the Steelers' playbook. And Diontae Johnson has a roster bonus due March 16, so perhaps that's why it's reportedly being rumored out in Indy at the combine. Take that with a grain of salt, but still, it would make sense (which I've written about) https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/02/22/diontae-johnso...
Receiver Problem
2:05
The Steelers have drafted 18 receivers during the Tomlin era. All but Sanders were either a problem child or a bust. That leaves us with a roster of two receivers with attitude problems and a group of bad receivers.  Is there a scouting issue? Or is it a discipline and culture issue?
Brian Batko
2:07
Not sure I entirely agree with your premise. Antonio Brown became a problem, but not until after putting together a Hall of Fame-caliber career here. JuJu Smith-Schuster's social media antics grew tiresome but he played his behind off and cared about winning (while also posting a few really good seasons himself).
TX Pressure
2:08
The NFLPA Survey comes out and really the focus on ownership is troubling as AR2 hasn't done anything since last year that beared the same results.  Training facilities, recovery equipment, dietician & food these help you stay on the field and get back quicker.
Brian Batko
2:11
Most of the negative criticism of the team's facilities is not something that can be quickly solved, though they should absolutely do what they can to make improvements. But sure, some of the issues that are smaller in scope such as family enhancements and equipment, that doesn't paint a great picture of the Steelers incorporating feedback from last year's survey.
Jake
2:13
I can’t recall a draft that is going to work in the Steelers favor with all the OL and CB talent. And if they did decide to Trade DJ, the WR room might be stronger than the OL and CB’s.
Brian Batko
2:14
Yeah, their needs align nicely with this draft, other than maybe the defensive line and strong safety spot. A strong wide receiver group didn't stop Tampa Bay from paying Mike Evans big bucks, but obviously any team that might want to inquire about Diontae Johnson has the leverage of a deep draft class there.
DJ
2:15
Do you think Zach Frazier will last until pick 51?  I think pick 20 might go DB, whats your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:16
Could go either way, but I think the possibility of getting him in Round 2 would be a factor for me considering OT, DB or even DL over C in Round 1.
Center of Attention
2:16
The Steelers have passed on two perennial Pro Bowl centers recently (Humphrey, Linderbaum) for Friermuth, Najee, and Pickett. The game is won and lost in the trenches, and we have a long line of standout centers. If Powers-Johnson is on the board, will Tomlin finally get it right? Will he get past his annual mistake of drafting shiny new offensive toys that don’t work well and pick the guy that will anchor the position for a decade or more?
Brian Batko
2:17
While I enjoy the idea of having another JPJ, it's too early to say how badly they'll need a center. If they sign a top free agent there, Jackson Powers-Johnson/Zach Frazier won't be as much of a priority in my eyes.
Doyle37
2:17
Why not start yhe season a week later and let college have the week  ?
Brian Batko
2:19
There's already a lot of time between the last preseason game and the start of the regular season. I don't dismiss your idea, but if that's what they do, they should just move back the start of training camps, too, and shift/condense the offseason calendar.
Trade Deadline
2:19
Do you expect any trades of consequence? It would make a lot of sense to proactively try to trade Watt. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fantastic player. He’s also aging, injury prone, and his value is high now. I would also try hard to trade Johnson and Pickens. Johnson is in a contract year and Pickens is addition by subtraction. The Steelers aren’t in the top half of the teams in the league. It’s time to stockpile draft picks and look towards the future.
Brian Batko
2:22
Now you sound like the Pirates GMs of days gone by. The prospects are always better than the pro players. As for TJ Watt, we're all aging. He plays the game with a reckless style, for sure, but I don't think I'd call him injury prone. Now, the receivers? I'd listen.
Pickens G
2:23
BB, are you a little surprised that I've been quiet this off-season and have, to date, refrained from any diva-like activities?
Brian Batko
2:25
I think we saw last year that George Pickens stays out of the way in the offseason. It's in-season where he causes headaches and distractions at times. So no, I'm not surprised.
Emilio
2:26
Hi Brian,  according to the players poll, the Steele have one of the most likeable coaches and one of the least appreciated owners. How do players draw the line? What part of their employee experience is due to Tomlin and what part to Rooney?
Brian Batko
2:28
Well I assume most players understand Mike Tomlin doesn't pay for weightroom equipment or gameday childcare, but I guess I see what you're asking. Could Tomlin be part of the solution in terms of improving staff size and nutrition and things of that nature? Maybe, but I don't know how much pull he has in those areas. He might not want any say in aspects of the organization that aren't in his job description.
Poor Pick(ens)
2:28
Multiple teams wouldn’t touch Pickens in the draft. The Steelers used a 2nd round pick on him. Pickens has turned out to be everything that was said of him prior to the draft. Tomlin has a bad habit of wasting picks on guys like this. Is it arrogance? Does he think he can fix what others couldn’t? Or is it just apathy? Does he just not care about attitudes and team culture as long as the players are talented and produce on the field?
Brian Batko
2:32
Oh I'm certainly not willing to call Pickens a wasted pick or anything like that. At least not at this po int. He's coming off a 1,000-yard season with plenty of big-time winning plays to help the Steelers get back to the playoffs. But to your point, obviously, it hasn't been a smooth ride. I think Tomlin doesn't mind those challenges though and factors it into the ceiling/floor eval of any prospect.
Andrew Ross
2:33
What up Batz? You know what, a lot of Pittsburghets a lot of people don’t know this, but Mason isn’t that much older than Picket. And that Mason has actually played fewer games than picket. Now we all know Mason outplayed little hands in 2023, and yes, I know it was a small sample size. What I’m trying to say, though, is that Mason has both a higher floor and a higher ceiling than tiny hands. Think about it, if Mason plays more games, dont you think he gets better? Or do you think the rest of league gets a read on him and find the defense that wint let him cut it loose. I’ll bet on the former. The Steelers had a first round grade on Rudolph. I think the only reason they didn’t play him more was because of the incident against Cleveland.
Brian Batko
2:36
You know, beyond the blatant hyperbole in your post, I've been thinking a bit lately about the dynamic you point to at the end there. As much as I don't think the Steelers will abandon the evaluation that steered them toward Pickett just yet, they also had enough of a baseline-level belief in Rudolph to trade up for him that year in the third round, even with an entrenched Ben Roethlisberger sitting there.
Jim_Bow_Dean
2:37
I’ve read many times that defense lineman need to have a certain profile to fit with the Steelers scheme. I don’t see this with any other position with the possibility exception of outside CB. Wouldn’t it be smarter to just get good players and change the scheme to fit them? It would have been stupid to pass on Aaron Donald if he was available just because he doesn’t look like Cam Heyward.
Brian Batko
2:39
They aren't going to entirely change a philosophy on either side of the ball to fit one good draft prospect. I don't think any team would do that. But sure, as position-less football becomes more and more a reality, particularly on defense, there might be less weight placed on traditional height/weight/speed thresholds.
Steeler Joe
2:39
Dr. Batko: If you could get a second-round pick for Diontae Johnson, that's a no-brainer, right? Because you can use that pick in this deep-WR draft to get someone with comparable talent and a better attitude?
Brian Batko
2:41
Yes. I've written on here and in the mailbag that he's clearly a good player. But just for me, in my view, there were too many incidents last season that made me question if he cares about the team more than the numbers. I'm not naive enough to think there are any NFL players who don't want to produce statistically to some extent, but man, you've got to compartmentalize that for the good of winning.
Ranger 73
2:42
while  Tomlin has proven himself as an NFL coach, my contention is that a different coach that emphasized discipline and held wayward players more accountable (Brown, Bell, Pickens)  would have won more games. It is maddening how many games were  lost to inferior opponents. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:44
Not saying everything is fine and dandy with the Steelers culture right now or that Tomlin handled everything perfectly last season but I'm not gonna say a Bill Belichick or Tom Coughlin type is needed. Shoot, Andy Reid had one of his best players accost him on the biggest stage in sports and they went on to win the Super Bowl as Reid brushed it off. I understand that's an isolated incident versus what could be described as a pattern of missteps, but my point is it's not a hard-and-fast line between winning and losing more games.
Tyrus
2:46
Yo Bats! Great chat as always, I've got a question around some past draft misses. Specifically, Jarvis Jones failed at OLB but wouldn't a more scheme oriented coach move him to his more natural position of MLB, thus eliminating the myriad issues they've had there over the last 10 years?
Brian Batko
2:47
Nah, I just don't think Jarvis Jones had enough athleticism/size combination to be an impact NFL linebacker.
Chet
2:48
Possible they move Daniels to center and draft a guard?
Brian Batko
2:49
I think that's highly unlikely. James Daniels hasn't cross-trained at center at all in the two years he's been here.
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