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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.13.21
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone. Just got back from Buffalo, my wife is watching Downton Abbey in the next room, and I'm ready to chat. So let's roll.
Paul
2:01
Hi Brian great win, were you as surprised the OL could not establish any run game early on and offense looked just like last year. Was Randy F a scapegoat?
Brian Batko
2:02
No, because that's pretty much what we saw in training camp and the preseason too. This year, though, there's more reason for optimism that it can get better because of how green Green is and how much more Moore can improve with more action at left tackle. See what I did there?
Tommy
2:02
They only blitzed twice on Allen's 54 drop backs... amazing, no?
Brian Batko
2:04
I think that's the recipe this year for the defense, now that Mike Hilton is gone and you have different kinds of players in that nickel role. Same with Vince Williams being replaced by Schoe Jobert. But I was in the Bills press conferences after the game and both Josh Allen and Sean McDermott talked about how much pressure the Steelers can get rushing 4 or even 3, which apparently they did once or twice, according to Buffalo. That's how good that OLB trio, Cam Heyward and Tyson Alualu were.
ErnHartnerMr305
2:05
Did any players talk about the impact of Tunch's death on the outcome of Sunday's game? I always listen to the radio broadcast and it just felt very different and sad.
Brian Batko
2:05
No, not that I'm aware of. And obviously I didn't catch any of the call from the Steelers radio crew because I was in the press box, but I'm sure it was a hollow day in some ways. No doubt though Tunch Ilkin would've been smiling about that outcome.
J Peezy
2:06
Is Devin Bush just "another dude." He isn't bad but isn't top 10 pick material either.  What say you?
Brian Batko
2:07
That's an intriguing question, and why I wrote about Bush at length for Sunday's paper. If he's more than Just A Guy, this defense can probably replicate what worked so well for the Bucs on their way to winning the Super Bowl. Devin White and Lavonte David playing 100% of the snaps, shutting down the middle of the field while the front four gets pressure. I thought Bush was fine yesterday in his first game back, though I agree that you want a top-10 pick to be better than fine. Let's give him more time to shine.
Joe Snarky
2:10
Question (and not a snarky one) -- can Ben still heave the ball 40-50 yards with any accuracy? He's throwing the ball at 2, 2.5 seconds again, and I know that's a product of the raw, young line. But supposing he had 4 seconds to throw, can he still sling it? Have you seen it in practice? Because it didn't seem like the Bills respected Ben as a downfield threat at all.
Brian Batko
2:11
Can he heave it? Yes. Accurately? Sometimes. That's why I think the biggest thing for him this year is just consistency. His arm is not shot. But he admitted himself that it wore down last year as the season went on, which is why he struggled and the offense, too. Totally with you though that the Bills defense was playing him the same way everyone from Baltimore to Washington to Cincy to Cleveland did down the stretch last year. He'll have to keep them honest eventually.
Javier M Mori
2:13
Hello Bats. What was your overall assesment of Canada offense.? Any key adjustments made at halftime? I think our WR core had probably best game as a group..
Brian Batko
2:14
Not good enough. Needs to be more efficient in future weeks. But it will face weaker defenses, too, possibly as soon as Sunday when the Raiders visit. Adjustment-wise, seemed like maybe they tried to push it downfield a bit more in the second half, which at least drew a couple penalties. Definitely a solid effort from the WRs. They made plays when given the chance, no drops.
Mr.Thompson/ectcyberhipaa
2:15
Steelers history shows that a Week 1 dud does not correlate how a team might play in January.  I was prepared to point that out to anyone upset if predictions came true, however, this win may feel like a comfort blanket come January and it was nice to see that kind of win, agree?
Brian Batko
2:16
Sure. It's better than a loss. But if last season taught us anything, it's that sustaining success isn't easy. The defense showed that as long as the offense comes around at some point and plays more complementary football, this team can do something special. Because the defense sure is.
AK
2:16
So I guess the fans who said cutting Gilbert should have been cut are admitting they were wrong and that the Steelers coaches actually know what they’re doing?😂😂😂
Brian Batko
2:19
Eh, Miles Killebrew is the man who should get most of the credit for that play. Or maybe Danny Smith for however he designed that block. Ulsyees Gilbert did the easy part, scooping and scoring. I would hope Quincy Roche or Cassius Marsh could've done that too. But give him kudos too for helping to save the Steelers kick coverage unit from surrendering a touchdown return on the very first play of the season. He might've been out of place initially - everyone was, apparently - but he hustled his butt to run down Isaiah McKenzie and make the tackle just before the red zone.
Jud
2:20
Should we be tempering the "Super Bowl Bound" expectations?
Brian Batko
2:20
If you have them, yes.
chuck Mac
2:22
Too early to celebrate the crow that the cynical Pittsburgh sports writers need to eat for being so down on the Stilers !!!???  Can't wait to see the bandwagon fill up as we march onward!!!
Brian Batko
2:22
I'll pass that along to all my fellow cynics.
Tommy
2:23
Bills, despite being top AFC scoring team last season, had some offensive line needs too. How do you see the Raiders OL by comparison, coming up?
Brian Batko
2:23
Well they parted ways with standout center Rodney Hudson this offseason, so that's interesting. I don't think it's expected to be very good. But I'll watch tonight's game against the Ravens and formulate my (cynical) opinion accordingly.
Yates
2:24
Brian -  Defense was amazing.  Consider TJ had 3 days of contact practice, and Highsmith has a groin issue, and 93, 8 and 21 starting 1st game with Steelers.  I thought before the game Steelers D would be great this year.  Big Dupree fan but based on what 8 did yesterday, Bud may not be missed.  Offsetting, 7 was far from sharp so may need D to carry this team - AGAIN!  Along with Boz.  THoughts on performance of 7?  How much should we worry about all of the misses of easy throws?.
Brian Batko
2:26
Yeah I do think it's a little concerning. But Buffalo is a tough place to play and yesterday was pretty windy. Josh Allen missed some throws, too. Still would like to see better accuracy and decision-making from Roethlisberger, especially as he continues to rely so heavily on the quick game.
Justin
2:27
Brian, in my opinion the forgotten huge play was Pierre's long pass breakup around midfield in the 4th.  The next play was a Heyward sack followed by the blocked punt.  How did Pierre perform other than this specific play?
Brian Batko
2:29
I haven't rewatched the game with a focus on him, specifically, but in real time I thought he was OK. Buffalo made it a point to go at him when he was matched up on Stefon Diggs, so it wasn't an easy game for him in that sense. Maybe it was a game-plan thing, but I still get the sense though that the Steelers don't have complete confidence in him. As evidenced by trading for Ahkello Witherspoon, then using Cam Sutton outside more often and giving Tre Norwood the de-facto No. 3 cornerback snaps.
Tampa Too
2:30
Brian, I had a question regarding the bills last drive when they score their final field-goal. They had no timeouts left and TJ sacked the quarterback but there was a holding call against the offensive line.The Steelers declined the penalty. My question is why didn’t the clock start as soon as the Steelers declined the penalty? The clock appear to start only after the snap
Brian Batko
2:31
Probably missed that while writing my instant analysis game story, but if someone else has the answer, feel free to weigh in.
AZ Steeler
2:31
Are they grooming Norwood for Edmunds spot next year?
Brian Batko
2:33
No, I don't think so. To me, his ceiling is No. 1 slot corner, which he was yesterday. At least as long as Minkah Fitzpatrick is around (which, hopefully for Steelers fans, is a long time). I don't see Norwood having the body type or physicality to be a strong safety. But hey, maybe they can mold him into that or use him in a way that he won't have to do a lot of those typical things in the box.
Carl in Carrick
2:33
Hi Brian.  Any idea how Spillane hurt himself in warmups?  Is he expected to be ready for game two?  Thanks.
Brian Batko
2:33
Not a clue. Mike Tomlin should have an update tomorrow. You don't hear of too many shin injuries, or warmup injuries, let alone those two together.
Titan in Charlotte
2:34
Excellent Monday Brian, better start to season Steelers 1-0 or Shaler 2-1 with the loss in OT?
Brian Batko
2:35
It's a tie for me, dog. Wish my Titans would've pulled it out in OT to start 3-0 but I'm still encouraged by what they're doing to start the season. Also had Shaler alum JP Holtz get a shoutout from Cris Collinsworth for his block on Justin Fields' touchdown run last night. Excellent Monday, indeed.
Southside Jimmy
2:37
Good afternoon Brian.  I don’t know how the Steelers decide on who gets a game ball, but I think it would be a classy move if the Steelers presented the Ilkin family with a game ball from yesterday’s win in honor of Tunch.   Perhaps the Steelers have done so.  Any information you could provide regarding this would be appreciated.  Thank you.
Brian Batko
2:37
That would be nice. I'm sure yesterday was a thrill for them during tough times.
Steeler in Virginia
2:38
Who sits if Karl Joseph comes up? I saw a lot of different defenders flying around back there that I've never seen before and had me looking up jersey numbers, but everyone seemed to be doing their job. Easy I guess when the QB has zero time to sit back.
Brian Batko
2:40
If Karl Joseph comes up permanently, then you probably have to cut one of the inside backers or a DB. If you just elevate him on gameday, you can make someone inactive at one of those spots. For that reason, I'm not convinced that's in the plans, at least not immediately, but we'll see.
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