You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 06.11.19
powered byJotCast
Brian Batko
12:00
Here we are, our final Steelers chat before the team goes dark from the end of this week's mandatory minicamp until training camp. It'll be a bit abbreviated so that I can get out to practice, but don't hold back now. And if you don't get your question answered, you can always tweet or email me for this week's mailbag. Go!
AugustWest
12:01
Biggest offseason loss: Antonio Brown, LeVeon Bell or Mike Munchack?
Brian Batko
12:01
Big Chest Brown
ALB
12:01
I’m concerned about the depth of the defensive line should anyone go down.  Does Buggs have a chance to be a decent player?
Brian Batko
12:02
I think so. Wasn't sure about him when the Steelers drafted him in the sixth round, but if I'm not mistaken, he was rotating in with the first team here and there with the DL in OTAs. Granted, Stephon Tuitt wasn't doing much, but still, probably a somewhat promising development for a rookie.
fredward
12:02
It seems like the Steelers like to make depth trades at the end of camp every year. What position would they most likely target this time?
Brian Batko
12:03
Probably tight end. They reportedly put in a claim for Jets releasee Jordan Leggett, but didn't get him.
John in Augusta
12:04
Does Darrius Heyward-Bey have a chance at the 53 man squad or has his time come with the Steelers ? He always seemed dependable and willing when called and never a problem on the field or in the locker room. thanks
Brian Batko
12:05
I think his time has come. He's not even on the roster right now, and the Steelers WRs room is deep as is. They should be able to find another reliable guy to help out on special teams.
john
12:07
thanks for your chat. enjoying so far. will the steelers defense that now has a lot of speed now find themselves overpowered by heavy sets and grind it out running games.......
Brian Batko
12:08
Well, if they're as complete as they seem to be on paper, that shouldn't be too much of a concern. Because if you are getting ground up by bigger sets, that lends itself more to Vince Williams at ILB.
GSMP
12:08
I am in favor of an extension for Mike Tomlin. I believe he is still the right coach for the Steelers. Has there been any discussions recently about an extension?
Brian Batko
12:08
Not that I know of.
George
12:09
If the Steelers fail to win a playoff game this year is Tomlin gone?
Brian Batko
12:09
My intern Mike says yes
HW
12:09
Brian, it was a close vote but the public spoke and the verdict is that YES you DO look like Hugo Weaving!!! Have you rented any of his movies to celebrate?
Brian Batko
12:09
His entire catalog, actually
Guest
12:10
I heard that JT Jones hasn't looked great in OTAs. He's pretty clunky in space, one reporter wrote. Any dark horse, under the radar guys in camp who could be good OLBs for the Steelers with a little seasoning?
Brian Batko
12:11
No, I think the OLB situation is fairly cut-and-dried. Sutton Smith a bit of a wild card, but TJ Watt is a star, Bud Dupree is back, Anthony Chickillo under contract and Ola Adeniyi a promising second-year depth piece.
Vico
12:12
Hi Brian, Don´t you think that analysts are exaggerating with the performance they expect from the Browns?
Brian Batko
12:14
Not when you look at how much talent they have, in theory. Baker Mayfield is always gonna be a sexy name. Odell Beckham came in. They're very intriguing, for sure, and I actually think they're gonna be legit.
Steelit
12:15
Given the depth at TE, do you see the team using Samuels as an H-back type?
Brian Batko
12:15
Not sure, but Intern Mike can ask RBs coach Eddie Faulkner after practice. Faulkner coached Samuels at RB.
at NC State
Jud
12:16
Do you know where we can locate the Steelers training camp schedule?
Brian Batko
12:16
I don't believe it's been released yet, Jud.
SSA76
12:16
Aren't you kind of amazed at the number of people (including Steeler "fans") who don't seem to realize that Bell DID NOT PLAY for the Steelers last year?
Brian Batko
12:17
Wait, what? Bell made even more of an impact last season because defenses had to account for a guy who wasn't even on the field.
Craig
12:17
Do you think that Boswell will get out of his funk this season?
Brian Batko
12:17
Don't know, but if I had to guess, I'll say yes.
Greg
12:18
I'm concerned about Steven Nelson at CB. Yes he's an upgrade over Sensebaugh but I've read lots of criticism about his play at KC. Did we overpay for just an upgrade, or is he really worth that much?
Brian Batko
12:19
You can dig up plenty of stats for and against Steven Nelson, and the season he had last year in Kansas City. It's possible the Steelers overpaid, but they pretty much needed to get a veteran corner in there given the Artie Burns struggles.
Tampa Too
12:20
Brian, Thanks for the chat.  Do you think Tomlin will share the running back duties more this year or will he run Conners "until the wheels fall off" as he has done in the past with prior running backs.
Brian Batko
12:21
My inclination is that he will. One because I think the gap between Conner and the other guys is probably smaller than it was last year and probably when Le'Veon Bell was here.
Tommy B
12:22
Hi Brian, this is the first chat I've actually gotten to participate in but I noticed when I read your chat last week that you are a huge The Fray fan. It rang a bell for me because their 2003 EP titled Reason really resonated with me during the Steelers 2012 season. The team went 8-8 that season and it was the first season post-Hines Ward. I think the tracks (especially Unsaid) seemed to really capture how I felt about the team at that time. I guess this is just a long-winded way of me asking which Fray songs/albums do you most associate with the Steelers? Thanks!
Brian Batko
12:23
Never Say Never. Absolutely amazing question by you, Tommy B.
Mark
12:23
Brian, I suggested to Vensel that you and he switch teams in these chats since he covered the Vikings and Ravens.  He wasn't on board with that.  I know you wouldn't mind, right?
Brian Batko
12:23
You wouldn't want me chatting about the Penguins, that's for sure. But hey, Matt can do ALL my chats for me if he wants.
Guest
12:24
Will D Bush be a starter Week 1? And has Mark Barron been at OTAs? Thank you!
Brian Batko
12:24
This is a guess: Yes. This is not a guess: Yes.
Load More Messages
Connecting…