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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.09.24
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Brian Batko
1:59
Hi everyone, had a fun weekend in ATL and the Steelers came home with a win over the Dirty Birds. What do you wanna ask?
Mike from NY
1:59
Hi Brian. Do you know if Johnston is out for the season? After putting up with Harvin's punting for 3 years, it was nice to have a competent punter. It seemed like he would get off a 25 or 30 yard punt in pressure situations. They say field position is the most important thing, yet they put up with him for 3 years.
Brian Batko
2:02
I certainly got the sense it was season-ending in the moment and then from hearing Mike Tomlin after the game. Now Ian Rapoport has confirmed that it is. Definitely an awful situation for him and the team.
Tampa Too
2:03
Brian, who scores the first touchdown this season Pittsburgh’s offense or Pittsburgh defense?
Brian Batko
2:04
After watching Denver’s offense and Steelers’ defense, it’s a reasonable prompt! But I’ll go with the Steelers offense. George Pickens, specifically.
putinbatch
2:05
why was Russell W. in uniform yesterday? could he have played in the event of a Fields injury? thanks.
Brian Batko
2:06
He was designated as the emergency third QB. So he only could’ve gone in if Justin Fields AND Kyle Allen were injured. I imagine he would’ve been handing off a lot in that unlikely scenario.
Stairway to seventh seed
2:06
Brian:  Tomlin likes to bring in kickers and punters that have Steeler experience when we have injuries at those positions.  Brad Wing and Matthew Wright come to mind.  Does this mean we are likely to have to endure Pressley Harvin the sequel?
Brian Batko
2:08
Or Brad Wing III: Just Wingin’ It. Also, Corliss Waitman punted for someone this preseason, so he should be in just as much of a groove as Harvin, who was cut by the 49ers.
Ty Hink
2:09
Brian, thanks for the chats. I understand the more weapons an offense has, the better off they'll be, however the way steelers want to operate I'm glad the Aiyuk trade didn't go through. Giving up higher round draft picks in a system where you don't necessarily need elite WRs didn't make much sense. Think we dodged a bullet there. What say you
Brian Batko
2:09
I wouldn’t say dodged a bullet, but overall yes, I agree because of much the same logic. We don’t know what this team is right now offensively, starting with but not limited to the QB position.
MG
2:10
Any word yet on what the Steelers will do about a punter, will they bring in several guys to audition or just sign a guy?
Brian Batko
2:12
To Stairway’s question, my guess is they go with a familiar face for right now given the sudden change with Cam Johnston’s brutal injury. It would be the easiest and smoothest transition for everyone. But you wouldn’t necessarily be committed to staying with that guy all year.
GPT
2:13
If Fautanu is ready to go at RT, will Jones start at LT or do we ride the Dan Moore train even longer?
Brian Batko
2:15
I feel like the Dan Moore train ran on time and made all its stops yesterday. So no, I don’t envision Troy Fautanu displacing one tackle or the other the moment he’s fully healthy.
SW Steel
2:17
Mr. Batko, Thank you for your time sir.  I love these chats.  Is it me, or does it seem like we are using plays from the Matt Canada offensive playbook?  I saw lots of check-downs, "play-it-safe" calls yesterday, as well as a QB sneak that my blind uncle saw coming.
Brian Batko
2:18
Thanks for that, SW Steel. It really did seem like Arthur Smith's controller unplugged a couple times there, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt given the QB situation in flux late in the week, disjointed flow of the game, etc.
Jeff M
2:18
Did you notice anything different with the way they used Minkah compared to last year? In MInkahball back?
Brian Batko
2:19
Not in the moment but I did see him fly in like a missile to make one tackle from his deep spot. Might get back to you on that one later in the week, Jeff.
Dgf2
2:19
Step 1 of 8-8-1 season has been completed!!!
Brian Batko
2:19
Would've preferred to get the tie out of the way first. We've seen it before in Steelers-Falcons.
Bob from the Poconos
2:19
Why do we seem to continually struggle to score TDs?  Is it scheme, talent, both?  Thanks!
Brian Batko
2:20
Circumstances often play into that, too, Bob. A short-yardage failure didn't help on that 4th-and-1 late. And to SW Steel's point, yes, it seemed to be a rather conservative plan on offense.
Ric4d
2:21
Patrick Queen????
Brian Batko
2:22
Not a good start to my pick for Steelers MVP. Why didn't I just be boring and take TJ Watt?
Pittfan
2:22
Hi Brian. I'm sure you're getting a lot of questions about the offense. There can be many factors to scoring no touchdowns. New offense and coordinator, backup QB (that's a stretch), no #2 WR and young offensive line. Or is it Mike Tomlin just flat out plays not to lose with a very conservative offense philosophy? If Mike is the reason, the Steelers will never win another Super Bowl on Mike's watch.
Brian Batko
2:23
Yeah, there's probably a good deal of nuance to your concerns and the answer. Mike Tomlin might feel like he needs to manage games and win this way until he gets back to a place where he has a legitimate franchise QB and weapons around him to be a potent offense.
Krystle
2:24
Does Najee Harris benefit more from Wilson as a QB because he can play under-center? I felt like Najee would of had more yards from a direct hand-off rather the ball being tossed to him.
Brian Batko
2:25
Hey Krystle. No, I wouldn't say that, because running backs also can benefit a ton from a mobile QB who keeps defenses off-balance and plays with their eyes.
GMJoe
2:27
Brian, what do you think of the Enteen story? First opine on the veracity of his comments, then tell us whether firing is appropriate for comments made during what amounted to a setup. A fake date strikes  me as pushing journalistic ethics. Sad that he is punished for her fraud.
Brian Batko
2:30
Well that one came out of left field, GMJoe. For those who don't know, you're referring to the Commanders exec who recently was fired after being caught on a hidden camera video sharing controversial, if not outright derogatory comments about NFL players, fans, etc. While I haven't spent much time looking into that, of course it strikes me as being ethically questionable and it's another bizarre precedent to worry about in the wild west that is the current media landscape.
Craig
2:31
Thanks for the chats, Brian.  After Bradshaw and Ben, who would you say are the best QB's that the Steelers have had?
Brian Batko
2:32
This is always a spirited discussion. Tough to compare between eras and I don't consider myself any kind of Steelers historian, but from what I do know, off the top of my head, I'd probably say Duck Hodges.
Sam
2:33
If the Arthur Smith offense is going to lead to a lot of 3rd & shorts, I can see where the Steelers can be harder to defend in those situations with Fields in there.  But, despite most of them being long, I couldn't help watch all those FGs (even though they were long range) and think of Wilson's redzone TD/INT numbers from last year and think the team will be more efficient in scoring areas with him in there.  I personally didn't view yesterday as Fields snatching the job, did you?
Brian Batko
2:34
Let's see if Russell Wilson can run this week and then I'll have a better idea.
Arthur not Art
2:35
Good afternoon, Brian.  Thank you for the great articles and chat time. Three things I took away from yesterday's game are: 1. TJ is definitely (and has been) the best defensive player in the league whether the AP writers want to admit it or not; 2. Even though there was a lack of production, Arthur Smith was the reason they won that game (past 3 years, the O would have had multiple 3 and outs, increased the D's time on the field, and wasted a good defensive performance); 3. Unless Wilson shows something he didn't in the preseason, their QB situation is not much better than last year and they will need to either invest draft capital to move up in Rnd 1 or spend big FA $ to get a franchise QB if they are serious about being a SB caliber team. Fair assessment?
Brian Batko
2:37
1) No reason to just rip the writers here, AnA. Allow me to remind you that the second annual NFLPA All-Pro team voted on by the players did not include TJ Watt. Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby were the edge rushers. 2) I thought he had some good play calls that showed a real feel for the game, but I'm not gonna go so far as to say he's the reason they won 3) Fields didn't snatch the job, as Sam said above, but I'm not writing him off yet
Bern
2:38
Is it odd Russ was inactive but dressed for game?  More importantly, who do you think will start this week?
Brian Batko
2:39
No it wasn't odd. Doesn't hurt to make him inactive but available in case of injuries to Fields and Allen. And Wilson himself hasn't been one to just stand around in street clothes at all from the moment the calf injury first happened. As I sit here today, my best guess is Fields.
Shane in Colrain
2:39
How could Tomlin not start Wilson (if healthy) in a revenge game against Denver? If he starts Fields, wouldn't he be living in his fears?
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