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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 11.17.25
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Brian Batko
12:10
Hey everyone, thanks for joining. Let's get right to your Steelers-Bengals questions
Pierre Peninsula
12:10
Hey Bats, what did you think of my performance Sunday?
Frankly, after shutting down the Bengals WRs and getting the scoop and score this puts me in the Top 5 of underdrafed free agent Defenders in Steelers history behind Shell, Harrison, Butler, and Willis. I’ve done everything the Steelers have asked in my 6 year career (besides catching a pass on a fake punt last year) and it’s clearly my time to shine and help this resurgent secondary and defense. Was it enough to keep the starting job once Slay returns?
Brian Batko
12:12
It was so stellar that I'm already having second thoughts about my own nickname I bestowed upon you. Isn't the whole point of an island that you can get stranded there? Peninsula isn't quite as intimidating. But it sounds great. And even if Darius Slay gets his job back, he should have very little leeway.
Gene
12:12
Why isn’t Pat Freiermuth involved more in this offense??
Brian Batko
12:14
Because the Darnell Washington Era is upon us and the man casts a large shadow. Seriously, he's basically become the Steelers' TE1, which is not something I would've remotely envisioned this season. It's a testament to how well he's playing. Combine that with a commitment to the running backs, both on the ground and through the air, as well as DK Metcalf needing targets and the other mouths to feed are going to have a lot of hungry weeks.
Pittfan
12:15
Hi Brian. Do you think Mason looked better than Aaron is because Mason has never been a scrambler and hasn't had to adjust his game the way Aaron has? Aaron really looks old, nervous and confused right now.
Brian Batko
12:16
Perhaps that's a factor. Mason Rudolph came into the league with limited athleticism, and yet to me, the area where he's grown the most from that 2019 season until now is his pocket presence. Maybe that's just a comfort level that he had to grow into as a player. Or maybe Mason Rudolph has been dead for years, so you can't kill him.
Jabba
12:18
Maybe an overreaction, but I thought the secondary changes are incredibly effective. Do you think this style of defense is sustainable through the season, or something that will be easy for good teams to pick apart now that it's on tape? Also what do you make of the play of #42... I'm convinced he should take Slay's place more often than not, but let me know if I'm wrong! Thanks for the chats!
Brian Batko
12:20
Oh I wouldn't call it an overreaction three games in. That's a decent sample size to this point. Doesn't guarantee future success or anything, but to this point, how can you call it anything other than a fantastic decision by Mike Tomlin, Teryl Austin and Co. to shuffle the secondary the way they did? Sure, you can argue they fell bass ackwards into it a little bit with Slay/Chuck Clark/Jabrill Peppers going down, Pierre stepping up out of nowhere, Kyle Dugger being forced into the lineup immediately, but it's impressive
Greg
12:20
Would you replace Darius Slay with James Pierre going forward? (even if Slay were 100% healthy)
Brian Batko
12:21
At most, I would let Slay make his next start once he's healthy, but as I said earlier, first sign of trouble I'm yanking him and going back to Pierre.
Bud
12:22
Brian, Rodgers was mostly ineffective before his injury. Mason looked good (against a bad defense). Was Rodgers trending down because he really seemed to struggle making reads the last few weeks?
Brian Batko
12:24
It's not even just the issues with escapability in/out of the pocket these past couple weeks. The accuracy has been a struggle too, not to mention just general lack of chemistry with his pass-catchers lately. You always feel like Aaron Rodgers can pull out of it at any time, because he's Aaron Rodgers, but he's about to turn 42. That's concerning.
Mike from NY
12:25
Hi Brian. So they shut down the Bengals receivers yesterday after having been burned badly the last game. Was it mainly because it was a Thursday night game and nobody wants to play in those? I'm sure they changed up some schemes too
Brian Batko
12:28
Schemes? We talkin about schemes? Not players, not players. We talkin about schemes. Iverson aside, look how different the PLAYERS were yesterday from that first game. Of the five primary defensive backs, four were either out or in different positions this time around. That has to make a difference.
Farmtastic
12:29
Hey Brian, you get an all expenses paid trip for you and the family to a destination of your choosing, but you have to tackle Darnell Warshington at full speed. Are your kids getting a free vacation or are you staying home?
Brian Batko
12:29
I'm gonna meet God but my kids are gonna have a blast at Disney
AK
12:30
It concerns me that the Steelers couldn't throw the ball downfield on the worst pass defense in the league?  What do you think?
Brian Batko
12:30
Yes, that game was a good and much-needed win but didn't do much to alleviate concerns about the ceiling of this offense, AK. But hey, we might see if they just need to sprinkle a little Mason magic on it.
epiballo
12:31
Hi Brian - thanks for the chats! Well, the wait for an update on Rodgers is on. If he should be out for an extended time, am I wrong to think that Rudolph provides more dynamic play and QB that may better serve the Steelers playoff push?
Brian Batko
12:32
I don't think it's a stretch to think he at least provides more threat of a deep passing game. Really haven't seen it much from Rodgers. Uncle Rico Rudolph, come on down!
Uncle Leo
12:33
Hey Bats, Jaylen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger seem to be playing safety at a very high level the past several weeks. The CB situation has also seems to have solidified with Porter, Echols, and Pierre. This is probably a good problem to have, but what does Tomlin do when Elliot, Slay, and possibly Samuel Jr are ready to enter the lineup?
Brian Batko
12:34
DeShon Elliott coming back doesn't strike me as very realistic, unfortunately. Asante Samuel Jr. sort of becomes a nice insurance plan. And Slay? Well, I guess you could just make him the highest-paid assistant coach on the staff.
Rich in Hawaii
12:34
Despite the weekly ranting from the fan base and fantasy owners about lack of consistent usage of #88 and #81, I don’t see it as a problem. The emergence of Mt. Washington and the offense’s design to play more ball control has led to the ball spreading around more to receivers as there are limited opportunities. There simply is not enough snaps in Smith’s offense to give every receiver 5-6 targets a game (and it would be lower if we ran more which many people believe). Can’t we just be happy with the extra tight end depth and overall production, especially with the general inability of the #2 WRs to get open this season? We seem to have a lot of flexibility to employ our diverse set of TEs against whatever Defenses stack against us. I’ll take the production and not worry about the distribution.
Brian Batko
12:37
Good morning, Rich, and aloha. Thanks for waking up early. And thanks for those words of wisdom. I tend to agree. I think Arthur Smith would probably tell you that he'd rather have efficiency than prolific numbers without winning to go along with it. Sure, perhaps some players are "overpaid" as a result of this, but what are you going to do with that money now in-season? Worry about that in March.
JPinPDX
12:37
Good morning Bats. What, if any, fallout do you expect from Spitgate?
Brian Batko
12:38
Ja'Marr Chase suspension, for one. Blows my mind that these incidents keep happening. I know, I know, NFL games are fiercely competitive and these guys are alpha males with emotions running high in a violent sport, but no one in their right mind would say, "Yeah, spitting on another person is cool, sometimes you just gotta do it to make your point." And YET! It continues. It keeps happening.
VTWC54LJW
12:39
BB, How do we account for the fact a large percent of PPG responders support Ramsey's actions and ejection? In our society, "stand your ground" rules seem popular; Chase was doing that and we do not know what Ramsey was calling Chase's mother. The point is, however, in another time and place, that could have been a game changer in a negative way.
Brian Batko
12:42
I do actually agree with you to an extent. In any walk of life, football or not, altercations can arise and there's a mental calculation we do in the moment, right? How much is enough to make me flip out. How much is worth putting myself in position to deal with a physical incident, a legal incident, or what have you. That said, I sort of applaud Ramsey's candor that he didn't really care about the outcome of the game at that juncture. It's not like it was the Super Bowl.
12:43
But you're also assuming some malice on Ramsey's part. We don't know that. What we do know is Chase pulled a complete punk, scumbag, reprehensible move that honestly has no place in any aspect of society.
TE Smash
12:44
Jalen Ramsey get spit (which is legally considered assault BTW)  on and responds with a punch. he’s then ejected from the game. Now Ja’Marr Chase might get suspended, but how is that fair to the Steelers? Or to Ramsey?  By this methodology, wouldn’t it be a solid strategy to have the 53rd man on your roster go spit on the opposing teams very best player on the opening drive of the game? The opposing player throws a punch and gets ejected, and the splitter gets suspended the next game, which doesn’t matter because he’s almost a practice squad player anyway.
Brian Batko
12:46
That's quite the imaginative scenario. In the NFL season opener Jalen Carter spit even closer to the face of Dak Prescott, who showed the utmost restraint and did nothing. Granted, video later showed Prescott spitting in Carter's general direction prior to that, but it's all so stupid. Stop spitting at or anywhere near people. Please. The TE Smash strategy is not worth it.
Jim
12:47
Good morning Sir, When Mason came in yesterday the cheers were audible on the broadcast, this seemed different than past times where the starter is booed and backup is revered. I don't feel yesterday had anything to do with the offense sputtering and looking for a switch, I think Steeler fans can relate to a guy like #2, he has never been anything other than a pro and all around good dude regardless of his positionon the depth chart. How can you not hope for a guy like that to succeed? Here is to hoping he gets a legit chance to be the QB next training camp, team seems to respond to him in the same way the fans do.
Brian Batko
12:50
Hello, Jim. I just have to laugh because I feel like I've been there when the fans were booing Mason, chanting for DevlinHodges to replace him, etc. He's really been on every rung of the ladder with this organization. That's why I joke that you can no longer kill Mason Rudolph. The 2019 season with Earl Thomas concussing him, Myles Garrett assaulting him, an undrafted rookie named Duck replacing him, and then finally a broken clavicle made the man imperious to anything that can happen in this league.
TXSteeler
12:50
Why is Ben S running so many routs and involved so much in the offense. He is a very good football player but not good receiver. When he is in the game it tips run or, at worst, allows DBs to basically ignore him in the patterns as they know he is a decoy or screen blocker if he does go out. Seems like a waste of a rout
Brian Batko
12:51
On the contrary, the Steelers yesterday improved to 5-0 when Ben Skowronek plays 15 or more snaps. Maybe they should just make sure he's on the field for the first 15, and then the rest of the game will be gravy!
Joe in Orlando
12:51
With all due respect to you, I disagree with starting Slay when he returns. I doubt we bring him back in 2026 so who cares about bruised egos. Start 42!
Brian Batko
12:51
I hear you, Joe. I'm not even sure I respect my own opinion on the matter.
CT art
12:52
IF AR can’t go who is Masons backup?
Brian Batko
12:52
Young man by the name of Will
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