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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 07.18.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, one more week of downtime before the Steelers report to training camp next Tuesday. First practice on Wednesday. What's going on?
Steel MD
2:01
With the backlash over the naming rights, could you see Acrisure taking Rocky Blier's suggestion of  "Rooney Field" at Acrisure Stadium as a means of good will toward fans?
Brian Batko
2:02
I think the best compromise at this point would be Acrisure Stadium at Three Rivers. The company's CEO made a big deal last week at the press conference about how much and how long he's been a Steelers fan, so hey, maybe at some point they try to put that ketchup back in the bottle, so to speak...
MJ
2:03
Batts, love your chats  Loved Ben the toughness our team needed but MT's physical skills are better without any injuries defensively i think we are in a better place  My question   could Kazee be that big slot guy we need ? Running against our nickle Defense has been very rewarding for other teams
Brian Batko
2:05
No, because Damontae Kazee isn't that big. He might be a slot option, but Arthur Maulet is a bit thicker and Cam Sutton probably is too.
Jacque Strap
2:05
Hi B$...how many Steeler training camps have you covered, and were any of them at St. Vincent? What are some of the pro moves for a reporter at St. Vincent (no, I'm not some fake reporter who will try to steal this info for personal use).
Brian Batko
2:07
My only training camp at Saint Vincent was 2019, my first yeat on the beat. One pro move is spelling out Saint instead of using St., because that's how the college stylizes its name. Other necessities for any reporter or fan out there include lots of sun screen and, preferably, a floppy hat.
DR. L
2:08
How is it that WR Johnson so often make catches running back, towards the line of scrimmage? I know some will point to scheme, but no one else on the Steelers, or any other team for that matter, makes so many catches with so much momentum going the wrong way. Does anyone notice this, is it even on the radar of the staff? This isn't peewee football where you can go backwards and then proceed to just outrun everyone to and up a sideline.
Brian Batko
2:09
Part of Diontae Johnson's game is his elusiveness as a runner after the catch. Sure, sometimes that gets him hemmed into a bad spot, but he also makes a lot of plays with that mentality. I'd say he probably needs to pick his spots a little better with that but wouldn't want to coach that trait out of him when it can lead to so many big plays.
Corey
2:10
Are you surprised about the reaction regarding Heinz Stadium?  Also, do you think it will be replaced in the next 10 year?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:10
Not at all. People don't like change, especially when it's something like a team mascot or jersey or, in this case, a stadium name. As for whether it'll be replaced, I have no reason to predict that.
Steeler in Virginia
2:11
We've never really seen Tomlin with QB uncertainty in his career (other than the Duck season). How quick do you think he'll be to pull the trigger on a switch if whoever wins the job starts to struggle?
Brian Batko
2:14
That's a good question, one none of us can answer because as you said, we haven't really seen him in this scenario. I'd say he gave both those guys that year, Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges, a fairly long leash. But this is a much different situation because the likely QB1 is a vet and the likely QB2 is a first-round rookie. In 2019, it seemed like Tomlin's general approach was give a guy about two games of struggles before pulling the plug. It would make sense that Mitch Trubisky's chances would be at least slightly better than that.
Earl T
2:15
The Steelers have been keeping 3 QB’s on the 53 man roster.  Do you think they will again this year and if yes who will they be.
Brian Batko
2:17
Yes, I think they'll continue that practice under Mike Tomlin and I'll stick with the initial post-draft roster projection I put out there. Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Chris Oladokun. Don't feel great about Oladokun, but I keep coming back to the idea of why use that draft pick on him if you don't want to keep him around for at least a year and see what he's got?
Ryan
2:17
Why not call the stadium Acrisure Stadium at Three Rivers?  That may appeal better to fans.  Chiefs have GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and the Broncos Empower Field at Mile High.
Brian Batko
2:18
Right, there's some precedent around the league for that kind of naming convention. But I have to assume that idea came up at the highest levels of the negotiations, and for whatever reason, it didn't come to pass.
luke
2:20
hey brian, would you trade DJ and a second or 3rd round pick for deebo? cant deny the versatility he brings to a team plus the ability to spell najee.
Brian Batko
2:20
Nah, I don't think so. Deebo Samuel supposedly doesn't want to continue in that role and would rather be used as a pure receiver more. I think he's probably a better player than Diontae Johnson, but not so much so that I'd part with a Day 2 draft pick for a guy also in the last year of his contract.
Doug from Spring City
2:22
Hi Brian, love the chat each week!  As we near the start of training camp, I still don't know that the running back room has a solid back up behind Najee.  There are a few RB's that remain unsigned and I'm looking to hear your thoughts on how the Steelers will approach the situation.  Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:24
Benny Snell is a curious case, as he's shown some flashes in his career but last year wasn't overly impressive. Could you upgrade? Maybe. But most of the guys available on the open market are either over 30 - dangerous territory for any position but especially RB - or coming off injury. I could see them adding someone during camp or once other teams make cutdowns when there are more options.
epiballo
2:26
They removed the ketchup bottles from Heinz Field ... are the Terrible Towels flying at half-mast?
Brian Batko
2:27
Yes, and Styx is playing Taps inside the Great Hall. I'm sorry, that's the FedEx Great Hall.
GPT
2:28
How much do you look forward to people calling you 'Bats' during your chats?
Brian Batko
2:29
It's one of the first things that crosses my mind when I wake up in the morning, and a smile washes over my face. Actually, some of my high school friends called me "Bat" but never "Bats." I don't mind it. Does wonders for my brand.
Guest
2:30
Since the stadium has a new name, who was the Steeler to score the last TD in " Heinz Field " ?
Brian Batko
2:32
Najee Harris on his memorable 37-yard touchdown run to seal Ben Roethlisberger's victory in his final home game, Week 17 against the Browns, of all teams. But Chris Boswell scored the final point. Roethlisberger took the final snap, not Mason Rudolph.
Zburdette34@gmail.com
2:33
Hi Brian, who starts at LG, Dotson or Green?
Brian Batko
2:34
Should be a good competition in camp. If I had to bet, I'd put my money on Kevin Dotson. Extra year of experience in general, two extra years of experience at G, but I could also see the winner of that battle not having a real firm hold on the spot in-season.
Coach15
2:35
With the renaming of Heinz Field, & speculation as of this AM, that the KETCHUP bottles will be removed, will THE YINZERS, actually not attend games bc of this--?  Who attends or does NOT attend games bc the name of stadium?  Must be Browns transplant fans!
Brian Batko
2:35
It will have infinitely less impact on attendance than quality of the team and the weather.
Higley
2:36
It’s good to see the Steelers modernize by getting market value for the naming rights for their home field.  Do you think they will change anything else about the way they operate, such as free agency or negotiating contracts during the season?  The team as well run but it wouldn’t hurt to use all available tools to get that next championship.
Brian Batko
2:38
No, Omar Khan pretty much said flat-out that those organizational principles will remain in place. Perhaps the money from Acrisure will help in some on-field ways, such as the front office's ability/willingness to spend cash over cap, but it's not as if the Steelers were pinching pennies previously. In general, it's another change for the franchise that dovetails with Khan taking over for Kevin Colbert, so from that standpoint it's intriguing.
Brian
2:39
Will the Steelers actually trade for the offensive tackle from the Jets that all the rumors are stating? Thank you for your input
Brian Batko
2:41
I had to go look this up because this is the first I'm hearing of such a hypothetical trade. Looks like it's coming from the same outlet that proposed the "fireworks" Diontae Johnson-to-Dallas deal. I don't know enough about Mekhi Becton's current status to give much of an educated opinion on this made-up trade, but I don't disagree that the Steelers' tackles are a potential weakness in 2022.
big bud
2:42
What is going on with Joe Haden?  can he play safety for te steelers
Brian Batko
2:42
That's not going to happen, big bud
CanadianSteelersFan
2:42
Do you believe our new DT Larry O, along with having Tyson back will help shore up the run Defense? Or do you believe our new MLB Myles Jack and hopefully improved Devin Bush have more to do with stopping the run?
Brian Batko
2:44
Well, the run defense can't really get any worse relative to the rest of the league, considering the Steelers finished dead last. But I do think it will be improved with those additions, as well as a bulkier Isaiahh Loudermilk to add to the mix on early downs.
Benny
2:45
Why doesn't Claypool ever run routes across the middle of the field?  He is a big target.  Possibly a combination of bad route running and coaches don't trust him?  I would love to see him come across the middle and catch some 10-15 yard passes instead of only going up the sideline to fall down without the ball in his hands.
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