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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 05.10.21
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Brian Batko
12:00
Hey there, folks. Happy Monday. NFL schedule comes out on Wednesday night. I'm not a huge fan of the dog and pony show that the schedule release has become, but it's big news, for sure.
Jim
12:01
I loved the draft, got just what we needed. Why are the so called experts down on it? Best RB, 2nd best TE, most athletic center, steal of the draft in the six with the Miami LB. What's not to love?
Brian Batko
12:02
There's a large portion of Steelers followers who think they needed to do more to address the OL, specifically tackle and center. To play devil's advocate, since when do you want the most athletic center? You want the best center. I'm not saying Kendrick Green won't be good, but the Steelers chose Pat Freiermuth over some more experienced players who might have a better chance - on paper - of winning that job as a rookie.
As for Quincy Roche being the steal of the draft, that's high praise. I thought it was a really good pick, but let's not anoint him the next Tom Brady just yet.
Ralph LA
12:03
I know that years later we are able to see how an NFL draft worked out, but immediately after a draft do you ever hear from management or coaches that things didn’t work out the way they wanted?
Brian Batko
12:04
Of course not. It's just like signing day for college football teams. They're all bringing in a bunch of high-character guys with a lot of versatility who make us a better football team. Now, in a situation like Dwayne Haskins in Washington, rumors eventually leaked out that the WFT front office wasn't all in agreement over that pick, but that wasn't until a couple years later when he had already flamed out.
Guest
12:04
If Roche is so good (and I keep reading what a steal he is) why did he fall to the 6th round?
Brian Batko
12:06
Well, the knocks on him are that he doesn't have the most imposing frame for an edge-rusher, isn't crazy explosive as far as athleticism goes, and his production last year was disappointing at 4.5 sacks for Miami. Did most of his college numbers at his previous stop, Temple. But hey, if every team were always right about every player, we'd never have Antonio Browns or Mike Hiltons.
Steeler Joe
12:07
Small thing, but: Is it NA-jee? Or Na-JEE?
Brian Batko
12:07
NA-jee Harris. And it's definitely not Na-JAY. I give him credit for trying to get ahead of that in the draft process and ask people to pronounce it correctly. It's really not that hard.
Alan in Nashville
12:08
Good morning. A pet peeve of mine is when I hear coaches and media members talk about players, particularly o-line, needing to be/play “meaner” or “nastier”...My belief is that you may be able to motivate someone to “act mean”, but if you’re working on it with them in the first place, it’s probably just not in their DNA. Is this what has held Okorafor back? He seemed to be very highly thought of as a rookie, technically sound as well, but seems to have regressed some. And that sort of worries me if he’s pegged as a starting tackle. Thanks!
Brian Batko
12:10
Chuks Okorafor wasn't viewed as a particularly aggressive blocker coming out of college. Much more of a finesse player, with athleticism from growing up playing soccer. But I'm kind of with you on the whole "nasty demeanor" thing being overplayed with O-linemen. They all think they bring a mean streak to the table. One of the weaknesses I've seen for Dan Moore Jr. is that he's not the most violent player, not always as physical as he could be.
12:12
And hey, Dan Moore Jr. might turn out to be really good. Maybe even sooner than later. But after the way the Steelers have struggled in the run game, and with a new O-line coach at the helm, they were going to tout this draft class as a bunch of big, nasty guys no matter who they picked.
Tim
12:12
Sleeper pick of Steelers, either drafted or undrafted, who might be a pleasnt surprise this upcoming season?
Brian Batko
12:14
Not that I'm the only one saying this, but Shakur Brown from Michigan State could be this year's UDFA who becomes a camp standout. It was pretty surprising that he went undrafted, and he seems to have the type of skill set that lends itself to playing in the slot, where the Steelers have a need. So that's my pick.
Joe
12:15
As the roster stands now, the lack of depth at OLB is the last glaring need.  Should they do whatever is needed to bring in a competent vet in case of injury?  Restructure whatever contracts are needed?   They need more than a body but a potential starter.
Brian Batko
12:15
I disagree. As we've mentioned a couple times already, I like Quincy Roche to come in and at least challenge for the No. 3 job as a rookie. And Cassius Marsh? To be honest, I'm not totally sure what to make of him, but I also think there's a chance he sticks around, at least for special teams duties.
12:17
To me, the biggest need on the roster is still the secondary, both corner and safety depth.
Tony
12:17
I think the Steelers addressed every need they had and who’s to say who will be or not I’ve seen first round picks that were busts.
Brian Batko
12:18
Well, yeah, sure. But speculating on who will or won't be good from a given draft class is kind of the whole fun of it, right? If we just sat here and said "The Steelers know more than we do about football, so no point in questioning any of their moves" then that would defeat the point of any of this.
daniel11
12:19
Hello Brian, the Steelers still have many depth issues, but I am most worried about Chucks at LT. What makes the Steelers brass think Chucks can protect BB's blindside?
Brian Batko
12:21
Same traits they liked in Chuks when they drafted him. Great physical traits, did the job well in college, and last year they seemed to like his performance as a full-time starter, albeit on the right side. But I'm with you in that it sure feels like a leap of faith, of sorts, without much insurance policy. Joe Haeg? Dan Moore Jr.? Not sure what the backup plan is.
tonysufak@aol.com
12:22
from 1 thru 10 how would you rate tomlin the last 5 years as coach?
Brian Batko
12:23
I'll go 7.5.
Bernard
12:23
Which, if any, of the first 3 picks were you least excited about and why?
Brian Batko
12:23
I was equally excited by all three.
jmr
12:24
Everybody is talking about our O-line. Here's a big question I have from last year: it was clear after some time that Kevin Dotson was a gem and the future. Why was he benched for Feiler in the playoffs? That decision made no sense to anyone who paid attention. The reason I ask is that I don't want whomever made that decision to keep on making O-line decisions. Thanks for your time, BB!
Brian Batko
12:25
It's a fair question, for sure. Ultimately, I think it was on Mike Tomlin, who has a track record of trusting his starters, for the most part. And that's what Matt Feiler was, a guy who'd been very reliable for the Steelers much of three seasons. Dotson's time is coming now, and I feel like expectations for him are pretty high. Thank you for your time, as well.
Bernard
12:26
If Green doesn't start this season, was that pick a miss (given the obvious weakness and the "all in" approach")?
Brian Batko
12:28
No, I certainly don't think you can say that. Ideally, he can start from Day 1 and be an upgrade over BJ Finney/JC Hassenauer, but as I wrote last week, that's not very common in the NFL these days for centers: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/05/07/rookie-startin...
david
12:29
Do you think Haskins can turnaround his career in Pittsburgh?
Brian Batko
12:30
Sure, I think he can if all goes right for him. He has the talent. Big question seems to be whether he has the drive. He's a restricted free agent after this year, and Mason Rudolph is now signed for another season too, so that could be your QB competition in 2022. Or Haskins won't even make it out of camp this September. Who knows?
J$Money
12:31
Brian, thanks for this chat and the draft chat was awesome. How soon after a player is drafted and signed does that player receive the playbook and training instructions from the Steelers?
Brian Batko
12:33
Thanks, J. I believe that process begins fairly quickly for those guys. Heck, Trevor Lawrence had the Jags playbook for weeks BEFORE they even picked him. Rookie camp is set for this weekend, for the Steelers and most teams. A few teams held theirs this past weekend, despite some of the tense ongoing labor disputes between the league and players' union.
JerseySteel
12:34
Hi Brian - do you think Shakur Brown or Mark Gilbert can have an impact as UDFA for the slot corner position?
Brian Batko
12:36
Brown, yes. Gilbert, not so much. And I'm not saying Gilbert won't make an impact. He's got a chance, too. But I don't think he's a nickel corner. Outside guy, if anything.
Ron T
12:37
Hi Brian just curious as to why dobbs is never mentioned in the qb talks. The steelers must think he has an upside as they continue to keep him around. Is he just a backup to the backup?
Brian Batko
12:39
Hi Ron. Yeah, Dobbs is still hanging around too, but I think he's pretty much maxed out as a career backup at this point. Would be a great story if he proves me wrong, but the Steelers already traded him once, and he didn't rise up the ranks in Jacksonville, either. Maybe he'll settle into that Charlie Batch type role where you're never going to hitch your wagon to him as THE guy but you'll always feel decent about him coming into a game or even making a few starts here and there if need be.
Jeff
12:40
Thanks for the chats B.  What does Tomlin mean when he talks about running schemes?  Seems like you call a running play you run block, passing play you pass block.  Not sure how things change that much when it was clear game 2 we couldnt run the ball.  Why didnt they change the scheme then?
Brian Batko
12:42
Could be a lot of reasons for that, Jeff. The old OC's preference. The personnel. The simple challenge of overhauling a playbook mid-stream. There certainly is more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to run-blocking. I'm not going to sit here and pretend to be a football coach, but you have zone-blocking schemes, different types of zone-blocking within that, as well as man blocking schemes with various offshoots of that, all of which can be explained by someone more knowledgeable than me about X's and O's.
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