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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 05.08.23
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, we've got a potentially busy week on the Steelers front. Schedule release Thursday night (maybe?) and rookie minicamp Friday/Saturday. Let's hop to it.
KRUT
2:01
Thanks for the chats BB!  Lots of smoke around Van Noy signing with Pitt, usually there is something to that.  I like him and think he would fit in as a 3rd edge rusher.  Have you heard anything being in the works with him?
Brian Batko
2:02
Is there a lot of smoke? Or is there one outlet who suggested a free agent edge rusher could go to a team without a deep group of edge rushers? I haven't heard anything. He's 32. Still can be productive, as he showed last season with the Chargers, but I'd be surprised if he wants to come here and take a clear backseat to the two starters.
rob
2:03
Are  the  Steelers  trying to  win the  Big 10 East or the AFC  North ?  There are  10 major  football conferences and The Steelers only selected  from two this  year. I I like Tomlin but  since he arrived in 2007 they have  picked a Big10 player  every year -2 in most- half of  which don't  pan out. And  what's the problem with the  ACC specifically Pitt which has  had players on other teams drafted that are doing well at positions of  need, especially  defense back (hamlin, jackson, whitehead, maddox, pinnock and mathis).
Brian Batko
2:06
There are five major football conferences if you ask me. It's certainly a noticeable focus on that league but more so that region of the country. There's a real thought process among decision-makers in the NFL about players succeeding in the same conditions in college as they will in the pros. Obviously, that's not a hard-and-fast rule, because sometimes you have to go get some SEC or Pac-12 speed. This year specifically, I'd say the ACC wasn't all that great in 2022 and the Big 12 only has 10 teams, so they'll always trail the other conferences for the most part.
Barry Berkman
2:07
Brian, which of the rookie draft picks do you see havig the biggest impact immediately?
Brian Batko
2:08
I think Broderick Jones is going to start immediately at left tackle. It wouldn't shock me if they eased him in, but if I had to bet, I see him winning that job outright over Dan Moore Jr.
Alan in Alabama
2:09
Any intel on players who’s contracts ran out that are still available such as Snell, Jack, etc.? Any interest in bringing any of them back?
Brian Batko
2:11
Well, Benny Snell's No. 24 now resides in Joey Porter Jr.'s locker and Myles Jack's No. 51 has gone to Nick Herbig. Not to read too much into jerseys, but I think if either guy was likely to return, those wouldn't have been available to the rookies. As for Chris Wormley and Derek Watt, their roster spots have pretty much been backfilled by younger, cheaper candidates.
Scuba Steve
2:12
Was Derek Watt worth the money?
Brian Batko
2:13
Sure. Not my money.
Ed in Carrick
2:13
Is Witherspoon in danger of losing his spot on the team?  Would it be because they have similar talent with someone like Trice who is cheaper?
Brian Batko
2:15
Yes, there's no doubt in my mind Ahkello Witherspoon will be fighting for his job as a backup outside corner. He's got an easy out in the final season of his two-year deal, doesn't have much of a special teams resume and struggled with injuries in '22. Add in the fact that the last time we saw him on the field he was getting torched by AJ Brown and I don't feel great about his odds of being on the team.
Vegas Vinnie
2:16
Thanks for the chats. You guys at the post gazette are the best.
With all of the excitement of the free agency and draft class as the dust settles. Everything comes down to one thing. Is Kenny Pickett going to be able to make the jump to get the Steelers to the playoffs?Do you think that all of the hype will pay off? Or will we have this same conversation next year?
Brian Batko
2:19
No, thank you, Vinnie. And I don't disagree with you at all. For many years, Steelers fans knew they could count on high-level QB play and just had to hope other factors wouldn't spoil things - injuries, leaky secondary, shoddy OL, etc. Now when I look at this roster it feels like it's more about Pickett being the one to prove that he's capable of getting them over the hump. Not that he has to do that himself, by any means, but I don't envision a bigger X-factor than the QB (which is how it is for the majority of the league, right?)
Jersey Steel
2:19
Hi Brian - looks like the Steelers filled most of their starter and depth holes in FA and the draft. However, it still feels like they need another player to compete for a backup role at ILB and 4th QB for camp. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:21
They might be OK at ILB, depending on the progression of Mark Robinson and health/ability of Cole Holcomb to be the every-down guy. Elandon Roberts might be a case of a veteran having both the highest floor and lowest ceiling in that trio. I don't feel too enthused about that unit overall but not sure how else you add to it at this point. As for QB, depends what they want out of that QB3 spot. If it's a young, cheap option to potentially ascend to the backup role, Tanner Morgan should get a long look. If it's an aging backup who can serve as an extension of the coaching staff, they'll have to go find that guy for the right price.
LYM
2:22
Brian, thanks for the chat. Any indication/guess on what their plan is if the offense falters again? I think the roster provides good reason to be optimistic but can’t help feeling a new car with nice options isn’t much better than an old beater if the driver doesn’t know how to drive.
Brian Batko
2:24
Given how little they did to bolster that side of the coaching staff, I assume they're content to ride it out with Matt Canada, for better or worse. Not the answer you want, of course, but hey, let's keep an open mind...
Yates
2:25
Hi Brian- If Snell is not resigned would most likely reason be that another team promises more PT?   I think he was very strong as 3rd RB with more people thinking he brings a lot more value to the team than 26.
Brian Batko
2:26
Or they're just content to move on from doing business with Benny Snell. I mostly agree with you that he actually served a purpose as the RB3, and the signs of life last year in Indy were a pleasant surprise. But perhaps they want someone who brings a bit more juice and upside to that role, even if that means sacrificing his special teams prowess, such as it is.
Chad
2:27
If you had to rate likelihood of steelers signing Marcus Peters on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no chance and 10 definitely. What would your number be?
Brian Batko
2:27
1.1
Baghdad_Ben
2:28
Will there be anything we can watch in OTAs and Latrobe that will tell us Canada has some new tricks or are we just going to have to wait until the seasons starts if we'll see more of the same?
Brian Batko
2:29
Nothing they show me in practice will give me any encouragement. Now, the preseason? I suppose Pickett could lead a sharp drive or two with some picture-perfect deep balls mixed in and it would impress me. But for the most part I'll need to see it in a game to believe it. And I highly doubt the Steelers will be anything other than vanilla if they do have new tricks up their sleeve.
Kool-Aid McKinstry
2:30
What is your prediction on the amount of prime times the Steelers get?
Brian Batko
2:30
I'll go with 4.
STEEL72
2:30
To the Batkave... I'm just gonna say it right now and I'm sure others will too. Mike Tomlin goes to social media for the first time in I can't remember, delivers his sibling speech to appease fans about family ties on the team, and suddenly we have transmissions from the Watt retirement universe. A few seconds later, we have a scheduled visit. Please tell me Mike Tomlin is setting up a subtle sales pitch to a man who has done everything in football except put some heavy gear on his finger? He plays with his brother on a one year, makes the defense second only to Philly, and reaches the promised land with a hungry and underdog Steelers team hellbent on their 7th. Two questions? What would Watt need to be paid for one year? And to paraphrase Dumb and Dumber..."so you're telling me there's a chance."
Brian Batko
2:32
Ah, I don't think so. I can't be in JJ Watt's head, but he seems about as sure of retirement as one can be. The timing never quite broke right for all three to be together here. As for what it would take financially, everyone has a price I guess, but Watt is one of those big names who will keep raking it in during retirement.
Jay
2:33
Hello Brian, always appreciate and enjoy your coverage.  After their rookie seasons, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Tua got true #1 receivers which really help their growth.  Kenny Pickett got a better running game.  Are the Steelers already telling us what they really think of Kenny Pickett?  Play great defense and run the ball to compete in the AFC?
Brian Batko
2:34
That's probably part of it, but let's not discount the pure talent of George Pickens in this equation. Doesn't mean he'll pan out the way Ja'Marr Chase, Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle have, but he has that ability.
the real guest
2:34
Brian, Liked your article on the way-too-early final 53. By my count you have at least 17 folks who were not there last year. I agree with you and find it curious that no one is using the R word. Apparently if there is little or no change in the QB,RB and WR rooms there is no rebuild. I guess we just call it an upgrade year. That is ok with me, especially if they upgrade the 9 wins to 11 or more.
Brian Batko
2:35
Thanks. It'll be interesting to look back on that 2022 season, in which the Steelers made a very clear "rebuild" kind of trade (Chase Claypool) and were all too eager to hand the keys to a rookie quarterback four games in, albeit a pro-ready first-rounder.
Javi
2:36
Hello Bats. Many are thrilled about recent draft but I am bit surprised about some pushback on Porter Jr. Any merit to that sentiment in and around Steeler organization or fan base locally?
Brian Batko
2:37
He has his flaws like most any prospect. Some are plain to see, such as the lack of ball production in college. Others could be a case of pre-draft overanalysis. As for the intangibles, such as following in his dad's footsteps and feeling the weight of that legacy, those don't move the meter for me. They're fascinating, don't get me wrong, but it's just as likely they'll help him than hurt him. He has a real comfort level here and will have just about the entire fan base on his side from the jump, even more so than a typical rookie.
Floridaguy
2:38
Will you be at the Steelers rookie training this weekend?
Brian Batko
2:38
Will be there Friday morning, probably not Saturday. It's wedding season for the Batko family.
Ken
2:38
Why are so many people down on Pickett? The last 7 games he played well and now with some help up front for him and Harris he should be much better. I am seeing these so called experts placing him behind this years rookies.
Brian Batko
2:40
Because he doesn't throw the ball as far or as hard as Will Levis, doesn't run as fast as Anthony Richardson, things of that nature. He's the first quarterback to be drafted 20th or lower to also be the first QB picked in his class since 1997. That perception will be there for as long as it takes for him to blow it out of the water.
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