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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 10.09.23
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hi everyone, a win is a win I guess, right? Let's get to your Steelers chatter.
Turk in MD
2:01
Hi Brian!  JPJ should be starting. If Tomlin wanted to ease his rookies into the lineup with progressively more snaps before the bye week, ok.  It’s an interesting balancing act of developing high ceiling rookies vs. risking a slow start.  (Yes, they are in 1st place, but it feels like they stole a game yesterday). Thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:04
You only risk a slow start if your rookies aren't ready. From what all of us saw in training camp and the preseason, I thought Joey Porter Jr. was ready. Broderick Jones case is a bit different given that it's a one-man job, you aren't gonna rotate one of your O-linemen, and Dan Moore Jr. played solidly leading into the regular season.
Hi Batts
2:05
As welcome as the win was, the offense has still be awful.  Only 6 TD this season, 2 from the D.  Is there any accountability other than coach speak nonsense from Tomlin and Canada?
Brian Batko
2:07
Accountability is an interesting notion in pro sports. Accountable to the fans, I guess? I'd say both guys have taken a lot of blame, possibly to a nauseating degree at times with Matt Canada. All that matters at this point with Mike Tomlin is actions, at least when it comes to that coaching position. Behind closed doors, I would assume people are held accountable, even if it's in ways that aren't visible to the outside world.
Ken
2:08
The Ravens only got 10 points in the game.  Was it because of the Steeler's defense?  Or, was it because of all of the dropped balls by the Raven's WRs?  Or, because of Harbaugh's poor decisions not to go for the field goals?
Brian Batko
2:09
Combination of all that. The defense was better than in Houston, that's for sure, but far from perfect. They did just enough. Tomlin seemed a bit resentful of a question yesterday about the defense starting slow, pointing out they only allowed 10 points in the first half. As you note, they were lucky to do so, given the drops and procedural error at the end of the second quarter.
Tom
2:11
Are the Steelers bad enough to be good or just good enough to be bad?
Brian Batko
2:12
Not sure how to answer that but I will say this: Yesterday was a good win. There's no such thing as a bad one. But I would not call it an encouraging win. I don't really think any differently about this team and its ceiling than I did before or during that game.
Steelchuck
2:14
Hi Brian does Canada stay our OC or are you hearing any whispers about Byron Leftwich or any other candidates?
Brian Batko
2:14
I'd be shocked if he's not the OC when they come back to face the Rams, slightly less stunned if he's not doing it for the duration of the season.
AK
2:16
For the fans who are calling for Canada to be fired mid-season, wouldn’t a replacement OC be stuck with the same offense and plays? What difference would a new OC make during the season?
Brian Batko
2:16
The idea would be to upgrade your play-caller in terms of feel for the game, structuring a game plan, scripting a start, etc.
Jim K
2:18
As if there aren't enough questions/concerns about clock and scoring management, why did the Steelers go for 2 after their weekly touchdown? Between that and the victory formation issues before the FG, that could have further doomed the Steelers after giving the Ravens extra time on the clock for their last possession.
Brian Batko
2:21
I'd say it's fairly commonplace to go for 2 there with 1:17 left, because there's really no difference between being up 4 or 5. Hard to predict that you'd end up tacking on a field goal in what, 25 seconds of game clock?
Jim_Bow_Dean
2:22
Was that the best game the ILBs have played in a long time?
Brian Batko
2:24
Probably. And I'll take credit for it! Here's why: In my weekly instant analysis that goes live right when the game ends (https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2023/10/08/steelers-raven...) for the first quarter or two, I had Cole Holcomb's name in the "trending down" section. Obviously, I had to re-write that as the game wore on. Seemed like he was everywhere, and Kwon Alexander wasn't far behind.
2:25
Holcomb can thank me for the reverse jinx.
Steelmike58
2:26
Hey Brian, was the 41 yard TD to Pickens an audible by Pickett? It was a great throw and catch, but if Pickett called that would show some nice growth in putting the team in the best position to succeed.
Brian Batko
2:29
I don't believe he changed the play. The call you heard from him at the line was likely setting the protection, which he acknowledged after the game. "Got our protection right," he said upon pointing out they were prepared for Cover-0 looks all week in practice.
Omaha Omaha
2:30
Based on Canadas reaction to the game winning TD do you think Kenny changed the play and he was angry about it....Is he just a dead man walking and responding as such... or are his reactions about as lifeless as his offensive scheme?
Brian Batko
2:31
Certainly strikes me as strange, because I'm fairly sure I've seen booth shots of Canada before where he celebrates a big play with the other assistants. But for whatever reason, as I just stated, I don't think Pickett changed the entire call at the line. He may have been taking it in, looking at something else on the field, etc. And for all we know, he turns to whoop it up as soon as the CBS camera cuts back to the action.
Texas Steel
2:34
The offensive play book is still...well...offensive, but at least some things became clear with this team. Despite the mediocre line, Jaylen Warren needs to start and get the majority of the carries. JPJ should have started from the beginning of the season. Any others come to the forefront for you?
Brian Batko
2:36
Throw the ball to George Pickens a lot? Use Connor Heyward to get open quickly on underneath stuff. Don't let Gunner Olszewski anywhere near the football again.
29342ss
2:37
Analysts on national shows this morning gave Tomlin credit for the win. Do you?
Brian Batko
2:38
In a sense, yes. His teams just seem to find a way to win when games get weird like that. I suppose it could be the mentality he fosters in a team going into it, how he handles them on the sideline in-game, or a little of everything. But for as much as it seems like so many Steelers results come down to luck, they sure get lucky a lot.
Kenny in SD
2:40
Thanks for the chats, Brian! With the bye week coming up, are the Steelers going to finally be back to full roster strength in week 7? Will we see immediate improvement in the offense with all starters (DJ, 'Muth, Daniels) healthy or do you expect more struggles ahead?
Brian Batko
2:41
There should be some hope for the likes of Diontae Johnson, James Daniels, Pressley Harvin and DeMarvin Leal. But Pat Freiermuth's injury sounds like it's a bit more tricky. Soft-tissue for a skill guy gives me pause about predicting he'll only need to miss one game/two weeks. Should be a good sign that they didn't put him on IR, though.
Fletch
2:43
Brian, thank you for the time, chats and great work. Thankfully the defense (and Ravens) bailed them out. Will we finally see change over the bye? Nothing is really working on offense unless they're in hurry-up. Hasn't for better part of 3 yrs now, through three 1st round QBs (including 1 HOF). Agree every position group on O has to execute better but to me, difficult to execute a play if defense knows where your going and play your going to run, especially if you can't check out of plays. If Tomlin won't change game planning and play calling responsibilities, will he at least mandate the QB can change out of any play called as he sees fit. If Tomlin really thinks the OC isn't the biggest problem, then he has to use this week to make personnel changes, no?
Brian Batko
2:45
Thanks, Fletch. This offense truly fills me with dread every time it takes the field now. My sense is this: Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Andy Weidl, Art Rooney II, they're all seeing the same thing we see. Maybe even feeling the same way we feel (will they go 3-and-out or 6-and-out?) - but they have far more patience for it than the fanbase, right or wrong. They're also far more impacted by it, all due respect to people who spend their hard-earned money, time and emotional bandwidth on this team.
AtlantaDan
2:46
Good afternoon - thanks for the chat. Was there an explanation for why the Steelers, in botching their attempt to run maximum time off the clock on third down with a minute left, went to an unusual formation in which Spencer Anderson reported as an eligible receiver, that resulted in an illegal procedure penalty on Okorafor for being uncovered at right tackle which stopped the clock while giving the Ravens an additional 40 seconds, as well as whether Orkorafor or someone else on the poorly coached offense did not line up where they were supposed to be?
Brian Batko
2:47
I asked Mike Tomlin about it and he attributed the "messiness" to bringing in linemen who aren't necessarily used to that (as a trickle-down effect for missing Dan Moore and James Daniels). It's inexcusable, but to be fair, he "absorbed" the responsibility for that mistake.
Yates
2:47
Brian-  Are all players theoretically available to media post game?   Do Steelers control which players speak with media at their lockers post game?
Brian Batko
2:49
Theoretically, yes, unless in case of significant injury and especially those dealing with a possible concussion. The Steelers generally pick who goes to the podium, which they often do for TJ Watt, Kenny Pickett or in the case of yesterday, George Pickens. It's more efficient for players who likely will have a lot of reporters wanting to talk to them. As for those who hold court at their lockers, naturally, some are more willing than others.
Baghdad_Ben
2:49
Did I correctly see a stat that yesterday's venture into the red zone was only the Steeler's 4th this year? Mind boggling. Have we ever had a worse offense? Include the pre Super Bowl era.
Brian Batko
2:51
Yes, without taking too much time in the chat to double-check, I believe that stat is correct. Obviously, it helps to hit on 70-yard touchdown passes, which the Steelers have done twice this season. But it is a remarkably horrendous number regardless.
Ryan
2:52
Gunner seems like a good team player and does a lot of the dirty work blocking, etc. but don't you think his returning kick offs and punts are over?
Brian Batko
2:53
He's well-liked in the locker room and Tomlin has heaped praise on his gritty mentality. But that stuff should only be viewed as a bonus if you're a fringe player. Unfortunately for him, it's a bottom-line business, and the bottom line for him is that he's gotta be out of chances by now. Sunday was either strike three or maybe ball five if you wanna count last year's miscues. I hate to criticize anyone when they're at such a low point, even a pro athlete, but these guys know they get the shine when they do well and must face the music when they don't.
Denver
2:55
I still am confused why the pass plays rarely are over the middle. Rarely a slant pass. Pickett is limited by his rolling to the out ( yesterday at least 3 times) as to who he has to throw to?  Receiver right up against the side line.  Other teams blanket our receivers because they only have to cover them from the hash marks to the out of bounds.
Brian Batko
2:57
I think that's a very fair criticism of the offense. Some will say Canada is trying to cut the field in half for Pickett and give him less to read, but this is the NFL. If you don't trust your QB to read the full field then what are we doing here. For all we know, it goes back up the chain of command to a conservative offense/philosophy/approach, wanting to win games by controlling it with your defense and field positioning. From that perspective, maybe the brass is higher on what Canada's doing than you'd think!
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