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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 09.16.24
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Brian Batko
11:51
Hey everyone, let's go ahead and get started with our chat a little early. Steelers 13, Broncos 6, and it's three hours - or at least a fourth quarter - of our lives we'll never get back but they're 2-0.
TVC15
11:51
Does Justin Fields and the Steeler offense have a better chance against the Chargers than Bryce Young and the Panther offense? Like maybe the Chargers win 26-10?
Brian Batko
11:52
Not entirely sure what you're saying here. The Panthers are a total mess and Bryce Young looks to be overwhelmed by the NFL game. So, I would say yes, I guess, to your question. And no to the Chargers winning 26-10.
Rob
11:52
I was impressed with Jones in the interview you conducted. He didn’t seem to shy away from anything. Do you get a sense of what is causing his backward slide? Flipping back and forth from right to left? Elbow injury? Something else?
Brian Batko
11:54
Agreed, I give him credit for not hiding in the shower or training room while reporters were in there. It's pretty easy to duck it if players want to. Broderick Jones seems to get it in that respect. But he also needs to show he gets it from a playing hard perspective, playing focused and fighting through the adversity now. I'm sure the injuries don't help and neither does shifting sides, but he's not one to make excuses. Everyone's at least a little banged up this time of year.
Lou
11:54
Hi Brian. Is the real issue with Jones his arm and he’s compensating with holds?  Also, do you think management sees that Justin can only take this team so far and Russ is what’s needed to make a big jump and help the less than good WR room?
Brian Batko
11:56
Hey Lou. It's entirely possible that brace is compensating for something that's more than just bumps and bruises associated with play. He's not missing any practice time because of it, though. And no, I don't think I would say I agree with your second point. Justin Fields probably has more upside, even if there are aspects of playing the position Russell Wilson is better at than him.
I Don't Cook
11:56
We've seen Justin Fields manage two games, throw some nice deep balls (absolute beauty to Pickens but for the dumb penalty), and not turn the ball over.  Conversely, we don't know what version of Russ we're getting.  Does Tomlin roll with the hot hand or does Russ start when healthy?
Brian Batko
11:58
Wouldn't we all like to know? We've seen that Mike Tomlin is quite comfortable playing and winning this way, even if it's not ideal. With that nagging calf injury for Wilson, I feel like Fields actually has a pretty decent cushion here. He's not taking the ball and running with it, but let's say he's jogging.
SteelerNation Boston
11:58
Hi, love the chats Brian. Last 2 years, Steelers offense was predictable: We all knew sitting on our sofas what plays were coming so NFL defensive coordinators probably had a good idea as well. During first half yesterday, Smith varied the play calling and it seemed to work well. Alas, the second half was back to predictable. What's the probability he will learn from that and keep mixing it up?
Brian Batko
12:00
It wasn't great, but much like Week 1, I feel like Arthur Smith kind of understood the assignment: Don't try anything too risky, milk this clock and our defense will make sure we get out of here with a win. And from my spot in the press box, I do think Fields missed some open receivers at times - particularly Pat Freiermuth - so Smith's play-calling would've looked better had they connected on some of those looks.
Atlanta Dan
12:00
Hi Brian Thanks for the chat.  Other than perhaps the glory of another non-losing season and an opportunity for stacking blowout road losses on the first weekend of the playoffs, what is the logical reason for having the Steelers’ 2023 first round pick and alleged future left tackle rotate at right tackle in order for the journeyman left tackle to continue to start there since he is “less comfortable” at right tackle and apparently useless as a backup swing tackle?
Brian Batko
12:02
Can you be a journeyman if you've only played for one team? Future journeyman, maybe. But Dan Moore has been fine for the most part, other than the holding call yesterday. The die has been cast a little bit with this tackle triangle. I happen to think we would've been looking at Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones both starting had Fautanu not gotten hurt in the first preseason game, but oddly enough, that opened the door for Jones to struggle at what's not his preferred position.
Donnie Iris's 6th wife
12:03
I think that Fields and done a tremendous job executing the vanilla gameplan.  Despite the penalties washing away his big gains 2 weeks in a row are we protecting him from himself or just doing what we need to do to barely win?  Given the game planning was Tomlin (who i love) part of the reason canada's and now smith's offense being elementary and predictable as best?
Brian Batko
12:04
I don't understand your chat name and I hope it's not offensive, but no turning back now. It might not be fair to say Mike Tomlin handcuffs his coordinators to an extent, but I do think it's clear what his philosophy is and his staff understands that. He's leaning into what the strength of his team is, a dominant defense, and likely holding out hope the offense will break through eventually.
Concerned Steelers Fan
12:05
Hi Brian, the Russell Wilson saga continues to baffle me.  Is this some face saving way to anoint Fields as the full time starter?  If so, things will not go well for the Steelers against better competition when the offense is so one dimensional and Harris is not exactly a game breaker at running back.
Brian Batko
12:07
At some point, the Russell Wilson saga boils down to the 35-year-old veteran who hasn't won a playoff game since the 2019-2020 campaign and was available for basically free this offseason got hurt pushing a sled the day before training camp practices began. And then got hurt again the week regular season practices began. The potential Justin Fields future became the present.
ReceiverPlease
12:08
Hey Bats....It seems like a legit number 2 receiver would help a lot...do you see it happening via trade? Or is there anyone unsigned that would be better than what we have?
Brian Batko
12:11
Hey, Gerry Dulac wrote this just for you, Receiver please: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/09/16/steelers-bronc...

But as far as free agent options, it's slim pickens (pun very much intended). Michael Thomas is out there but he might be washed. And then it's a lot of guys who got cut by their preseason teams and signed back to practice squads. Omar Khan may need to scour the trade market at some point here.
Peter Paul
12:11
Bats, thanks for a great chat as always. How much of these  baseball score games are Justin Fields and how much is the gameplan? We have 100% turn over with the QB's and 100% turnover on the offensive staff, but this looks just like '22 & '23. There has to be a common thread that keeps this offense in 1958
Brian Batko
12:13
Hey Peter Paul, how did you know it would be a great chat when you submitted this question? I appreciate the confidence. To me, it's some of both. Like I said earlier, I think he missed some opportunities that could've led to more yardage/points, and then obviously the penalties were particularly destructive in Denver. But largely he seems to be playing within what the Tomlin-Smith ticket is asking him to do and resisting temptation to do some of the wild things we're seeing from young QBs around the league (and even some older ones).
STEEL72
12:13
Ok...knee-jerk reactions have settled. 2-0. Fields looks to be growing a bit, defense looks really good, but why does it feel like there is still a cloud hanging over an offense that should be more dynamic and better? Not asking for 40 points, but definitive strikes and statement momentum. What do your eyes tell you?
Brian Batko
12:15
My eyes tell me that the run game that was supposed to be the engine of this offense isn't exactly lighting it up through two weeks against less-than-premier defenses. That's something of a problem, too. It's been OK but we were promised more than OK.
the ghost of myron cope
12:16
Yoi! Yoi! Yoi! and Double Yoi!!!    If i was still in the booth still i would have little to get excited about outside of defense.  Should we be trying to trade Jones to Chicago for one of their receivers or make a trade to miami waddle for wilson.  I guess it doesnt really matter when the gameplan is so risk adverse.
Brian Batko
12:16
Please let me know what the Dolphins GM would say if Omar offered Russell Wilson for Jaylen Waddle. That'd be a fun conversation.
Jack
12:17
Thanks Brian for your great chats!  What in the world is wrong with Broderick?  Is his injury impacting his performance or is it just a huge step back he's taken this year?
Brian Batko
12:18
I saw on social media that Chris Hoke said he thought Jones showed up to camp looking disinterested. Now, Hoke knows infinitely more about football and what makes players tick than I do, but I didn't observe that in Latrobe. And I have no clue why that would be the case, unless he's secretly stewing that they drafted another tackle in the first-round or lying through his teeth when he tells us repeatedly he doesn't mind switching between the left and right side.
Chris
12:18
Hi Bats...Tomlin always says they don't live in their fears but isn't the Steelers ultra conservative offense a weekly example showing us that they do?
Brian Batko
12:19
Maybe they aren't afraid to try to win games with one or zero touchdowns. The "living in fears" thing has basically just become a cute way to explain various decisions that take place throughout the course of any football game, to be quite honest with you.
Jim_Bow_Dean
12:20
A lot of ticky tack calls on both sides and across the entire league. The NFL doesn’t get much wrong, but why can’t the officiating improve? Seems to have gotten worse and really interferes with the entertainment value of the game.
Brian Batko
12:22
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. It's not easy. Throw a flag and fans will say it wasn't a penalty. Don't throw it and fans will say it should've been a penalty. They're trying to ensure fair play, enforce points of emphasis that come from the league office, etc. I'd generally like to see a less hands-on approach from refs, but then what do you think players are gonna do, not try to get away with stuff? It's a thankless job.
Alan in Bama
12:22
Brian, how would you rate Patrick Queen’s  play so far? Saw the pass break up almost interception and a couple tackles yesterday. Maybe hoping for a little more from him in two games though it’s early?
Brian Batko
12:24
It's not a position where plays are gonna come your way every week. I haven't seen anything too concerning. But I was watching Ravens-Raiders before I left my hotel yesterday and I'll tell you what, speaking of Steelers inside linebackers, Robert Spillane is a darned maniac who seemed to be in on every tackle while I was tuned in. He later had a huge interception because that's just what he does against Lamar Jackson.
bwalker
12:25
Positives D strong, open and more creative conservative offense, using personnel more wisely like TEs. Negatives Jones development, not scoring enough, no notable WR2. Looks like good enough to beat bad teams, will struggle against anyone who has quality QB.
Brian Batko
12:25
The path of least resistance to 10-7/9-8, as I will continue to predict until proven otherwise.
Rob in CT
12:26
Do you think that the Steelers will now look at B Jones as the swing tackle with primary focus on LT in practice should Dan Moore struggle (Dan M playing well) or the be prepared to start B Jones at LT next year
Brian Batko
12:27
We all want/expect players to blossom early, especially high picks, but it's worth noting that it's still relatively early in Broderick's career. They have him for four seasons and then a fifth, should they so choose. Even if it ends up being a lost year for him as a starter, which is still way premature to predict, he can hit the ground running this offseason assuming Moore gets his money elsewhere.
(For now, though, there's really no other option as the swing tackle)
Jeff
12:28
Brian, are the Steelers ruining Jones by jerking him around in the name of keeping Dan Moore at LT going on its second season? If Moore is better will the Steelers offer him top of the market deal and move on from a first-round pick? If not, when  when do you file your story for next year's training camp ... "if only the Steelers could have a more experienced tackle group ..."
Brian Batko
12:28
No, I don't think Moore will be back here next year. They've made their draft investments there.
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