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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.30.20
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Brian Batko
12:00
Hey, folks. Another week in quarantine, another Steelers chat to fill the time. Let's get to it, shall we?
JerseySteel
12:02
Hi Brian - do you think Jonathan Taylor or Jalen Reagor will be there at pick #49 and if so, which one do you think the Steelers would take?
Brian Batko
12:04
Tough to predict that one. I could see all three of the top RBs - Taylor, D'Andre Swift and JK Dobbins - going before the Steelers pick. The Dolphins have four picks before that and could probably use a new back as much as any team. Other possible landing spots would be Tampa Bay, the Chargers and maybe KC? As for Reagor, projections for him are all over the place. But if both are there, I'd go with Reagor and I think the Steelers would too, but that's just my guess.
Guest
12:06
Why won't the steelers go out and get a big bodied nose tackle, and please don't tell me it's because he doesn't olay that much, maybe we should get away from all these exotic defenses and get back to basic football, big men up front playing the run and rushing the quaterback 100% of the time using a rotational line
Brian Batko
12:08
Most people ask me why the Steelers won't go out and cut the big bodied nose tackle they already have, Dan McCullers. But there might be a valid point in your question. With the way teams in this division are running the ball, specifically the Browns and Ravens, you might see the Steelers play more "basic football," as you say.
Jakester
12:08
suppose that when 49 comes around, the Steelers' board says to take one of 2 players who are equally rated  - 1 RB, 1 WR.  Who would you select?
Brian Batko
12:10
Wide receiver. If you don't, you're basically saying you're more comfortable with Deon Cain and Ryan Switzer as your depth wideouts than you are with James Conner, Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels (we'll even throw in Kerrith Whyte for the Kerrith Whyte crowd) as your backfield. Cain has some potential, but I don't fall in that camp.
MTScott
12:11
So do you feel better about the Steelers today after cuts & FA?!
Brian Batko
12:12
Sure. I think they made a few nice moves to shore up their deficiencies in signing Stefen Wisniewski and Eric Ebron, plus trading next-to-nothing for Chris Wormley. There aren't a ton of glaring needs now going into the draft, allows them to be pretty flexible in picking for value/talent/fit.
Scuba Steve
12:13
Who from Tiger King is most likely to be signed by the Black and Gold?
Brian Batko
12:15
Wow, Scuba Steve, that's a great question. Give me Allen Glover as a backup middle linebacker who's a beast on special teams. Travis Maldonado (RIP) definitely had the frame to be a tight end if he added some weight.
Bring on the season
12:16
How good was it to rewatch that 08 Super Bowl!  Still hold my breath til the end. If only #34 didn't fumble away that 2010 one.
Brian Batko
12:18
If I'm being honest, I did not partake in the rewatch. But I definitely remember where I was for the original. Watched it at my Uncle Mike's old house in Brighton Heights, on his birthday, no less. And he's a huge Steelers fan.
Jerry
12:19
What do you think if we pick Claypool with our first pick?
Brian Batko
12:21
From a talent perspective, I think it'd be great. I was already a big fan of Chase Claypool's game and his combine performance helped him even more. Could push him into the first round, even, if you believe some mock drafts. The Steelers probably don't need that *type* of pass-catcher quite as much now that they have Ebron, but hey, Claypool could be a true No. 1 in the NFL, I think. You always can use a guy like that.
Tom in Dallas
12:22
Some people were critical when the new NFL year started and we tagged Bud and let go Barron, Chick, and others, and the knock was, we were a weaker team.  But, by keeping Bud and letting the others go, I think we were stronger at the time than if we had let Bud go and we kept the others.  Is anyone second guessing those moves now?
Brian Batko
12:22
One thing I've learned in about 11 months now covering the Steelers, someone somewhere certainly is. You can find pretty much every Steelers/NFL opinion on the Internet if you really want to. That might be a weird answer to your question but whatever, I haven't left my house in a while.
Joe
12:23
Hi Brian - are there any remaining free agents that make sense for the Steelers to look hard at given the cost/benefit of $ and comp pick calculations?  I’d welcome a veteran corner or safety to add some viable depth.  Thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:25
Hi Joe. I'm not sure they need to add another corner, but an experienced linebacker - outside or inside - and safety could still be helpful for 2020. I'd have to sit down and really pore over a list of possible specific names/fits.
Mickey
12:26
You mentioned a few chats ago that maybe you could go defense at 49 saying ILB or OLB if a player rated higher than offense but not safety, I believe there is gonna be a great safety at 49 to pick BPA than ILB or OLB After the FA signings we have done, would you do it now? Realistically we need depth at any position entirely only..
Brian Batko
12:28
Yeah, I should say, it does seem like the free agency moves are mostly done now. There could always be a surprise between now and the draft but I wouldn't count on any more major signings (i.e. non-XFL folks).

But Mickey, I still don't think I'd look safety at 49. You've already essentially used two of your last three first-round picks there. Regardless of how you feel about Terrell Edmunds, it's not as if he's enough of a liability at this point to be looking for his immediate replacement. One caveat to that would be if there's a hybrid linebacker/safety type that really catches their eye, but the projections for those kind of positionless players are mostly in the later rounds.
Guest
12:29
What are your opinions on the Steelers taking team friendly deals on Cam Newton or Jameis Winston?
Brian Batko
12:32
Depends how team friendly you're talking. I mean, everyone has a price. Just don't think the price is gonna be right for either of those guys and the Steelers, given that it would be a strange fit behind Ben Roethlisberger in this quarterback room. Personally, I think Jameis Winston has more of a chance to still be a franchise QB in the NFL, but we'll see. Cam's health/age are worrisome.
Brian in CA
12:33
Drafting for need resulted in wasted picks on Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns.   Aren’t there enough positions that could use an upgrade (OL, WR, RB, and even a few on D) that BPA is the way to go?
Brian Batko
12:35
To an extent, yeah. I don't know that OL is as much of an option now that they've addressed the interior with Wisniewski. You basically have three guys now competing for one spot in Wisniewski, Zach Banner and Chuks Okorafor. The two who lose out are the top backups on gameday. The fact that the Steelers didn't sign a WR or RB in free agency makes me think they're inclined to go best playmaker available, but will stay flexible if a top linebacker seems attainable.
Alan in Nashville
12:36
Hi Brian. I’m not sure why so many people were negative on the Derrick Watt signing. Rosie was making 2M (in 2018 money) and Watt makes 3M. Watt will actually be playing a more diversified role and emphasize that he’ll be playing...something that Rosie has had a hard time doing lately. And while I’m not into nepotism, I don’t mind the addition of another high-motor Watt player. What are your thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:38
I was fully on board with moving on from Nix given his salary. But my thought is you could replace him, at fullback and on special teams, with someone much cheaper. There are some positives with Watt. You point out the ST production and of course the family ties, but he's also been very durable. Same goes for Wormley and Wisniewski. Ebron a different story, but the Steelers seemed to put a lot of stock in availability this offseason (maybe no coincidence given the triage unit that was the 2019 roster).
jake
12:39
ILB and OLB are extremely thin behind their starters and with Bud most likely leaving after the season, I think these 2 positions are a must to address in next months draft. Could you imagine if Watt or Bush got hurt for an extended amount of time. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:41
Yeah, I think the Steelers could go LB as early as their Round 3 comp pick. Are you gonna get an instant impact starter-caliber player there? Probably not, but maybe you find someone with some physical traits you can develop for a year if injuries don't force them into the fire. If Watt got hurt, at this point, I'm not sure Ola Adeniyi or Tuzar Skipper have displayed enough to show they're ready. If Bush got hurt, well, just play nickel/dime every down and hope for the best, I guess.
marty v
12:43
Why do all these crazy "insiders" think that it would be a good idea for the Steelers to sign Winston?
Brian Batko
12:45
Marty, I don't fault people for coloring outside the lines. And I always try to see all angles of any argument, discussion, etc. The thinking is that Ben isn't durable and Mason Rudolph isn't a viable backup. I get that. Don't necessarily agree with the second part, but I get it. Also, speculation is fun. Throwing out the idea that the Steelers pursue a Jameis Winston or Cam Newton or Jalen Hurts gets more buzz than discussing interior lineman options. Can't say I've seen it realistically bandied about by any so-called "insiders" though.
Paul
12:46
Can Derwin Grey step up and be a quality backup Guard?
Brian Batko
12:47
Well he was a seventh-round pick last year, and they kept him on the practice squad all season, so the Steelers at least saw something. Barring any OL additions, at this point he's probably battling with JC Hassenauer - who is center capable - for the eighth OL spot, which might become a realistic way to get a game check as active rosters expand.
NYCJOHN
12:48
I feel like everyone thinks that the guy we just signed to our line is all we need but he was signed basically  1 mil a year. Am I the only person who thinks that we need more help their? Thanks.
Brian Batko
12:50
No, NYCJOHN, you make a good point. Especially if you are actually my uncle John who lives in NYC. I've said from the beginning that I see Wisniewski as more of the new BJ Finney than the new Ramon Foster. As in, a worthwhile player to have on the roster, but I'm not necessarily handing him the starting left guard job. But that also doesn't mean you need to bring in someone else to be your new full-time LG. Because if Banner or Okorafor is ready for prime time, you slide Matt Feiler inside and plug in the best man for the gig at right tackle.
Guest
12:50
Here's a question requiring some conjecture. Which team(s) will work like hell to tank in 2020 (assuming there's a 2020) so they can get a shot at Trevor Lawrence?
Brian Batko
12:52
And here I was thinking all these questions require some conjecture. Anyhoo, my best bets for that would be the Chargers (if they don't draft a QB sixth), the Panthers (if Teddy Bridgewater plays like a backup) and the Jaguars (if they also don't draft a QB in the first round and Gardner Minshew turns into a pumpkin).

But also ... what about the Patriots? Now that would be interesting.
Utah Jim
12:53
Do the Steelers need a three down running back that gets the bulk of the carriers? I know that’s Tomlin’s preference, but the last 6 Super Bowls were won by teams using pretty much a committee approach.
Brian Batko
12:53
No. There isn't a team in the league that needs that nowadays. But it does help to have a difference-maker. I think you look more strongly at that in next year's draft rather than this one.
Retire21
12:54
Paralysis by analysis. This draft will be measured with limited data against what has become normal. I like and trust our brain trust.
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