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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.19.22
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, thanks for dropping by our last chat before the holidays. Steelers, NFL, whatever's on your mind, let's get to it.
New Orleans Steelers Fan
2:01
Will Acisure Stadium ever get a Dan Rooney Statue?
Brian Batko
2:02
That's a valid question. Certainly he's worthy of it, but while I never covered him, everything I've heard and read indicates he was someone who wouldn't necessarily bask in that glory. It might be fitting for The Chief to have the only statue at the stadium.
SteelersFanInPatriotsNation
2:03
Coach Batko: Do you cut Marcus Allen?
Brian Batko
2:05
Not for what he did yesterday. While I'm not a fan of Allen's antics in general, he's well-liked in that locker room for his big personality and a lot of energy. Obviously, he took that way too far in Carolina, but to my knowledge it's the first time he's been penalized for something along those lines. I don't think it's fair to have that sort of zero-tolerance policy rather than hoping a guy learns from it. At the same time, I don't think he's a very valuable player and I'd probably cut him for that reason.
Alaska Steeler
2:06
Marcus Allen penalty ~ more of a yawn and move on, or symptomatic of an undisciplined team and too much of a players coach?
Brian Batko
2:07
What I don't know is whether other players found it to be something that's more of a recurring theme with him than a momentary lapse of judgment. If he's viewed as someone who counteracts the mission of being serious about football and winning games, then sure, Mike Tomlin should solicit the opinions of team leaders on that and what it says about the culture. But only those who are on the team can really speak to that.
Buster
2:07
What kind of attendance do you expect for this Christmas Eve game?
Brian Batko
2:08
Probably not too good, given that you can get two tickets for $25 each on Ticketmaster at last check. Maybe people will snap those up at the last minute but it's generally not a good sign for demand.
Javi
2:09
Hello Bats. Will there be any consideration of rolling with Trubisky even if Pickett is cleared?
Brian Batko
2:10
I doubt it. Assuming Tomlin is asked about it tomorrow, my guess is he says Kenny Pickett's their guy, he's the starter, etc. And in fairness to Pickett, he was on a two-game winning streak until the Roquan Smith hit.
Eric Carr
2:11
Hard to find any fault with yesterday but why was Muuth so invisible?
Brian Batko
2:12
My guess is Pat Freiermuth still isn't 100% and obviously Mitch Trubisky was having success targeting the wide receivers in general and the outside in particular. It's not a bad thing if Freiermuth's recent string of big games has opposing DCs scheming to take him away.
Jake
2:13
I watched the San Fran game the other night and it’s night and day the way they’re inside LB’s attach the line of scrimmage compared to ours. I know Greenlaw is better than what we have but I also think it’s our scheme. Hopefully that gets changed next year
Brian Batko
2:14
I thought the Steelers ILBs rose to the occasion and played better yesterday, especially with Myles Jack out. Mark Robinson was flying around even with just 7 snaps, Devin Bush got off a block to make a big stop and Rob Spillane seemed to be in the right position most of the time (although Chuba Hubbard took him to the woodshed in a 1-on-1 matchup).
IMissCowher
2:15
Hey Brian.  This nonsense with selfish, childish, and undisciplined behavior has gotten worse every year with Tomlin.  His answer is always he didn't see it.  How does he not see it?  More importantly, why doesn't he simply establish a zero tolerance policy for that nonsense?
Brian Batko
2:17
How exactly would that policy work? Is there a sliding scale for value of player and egregiousness of offense? I think it probably turned out well for the Steelers that they kept Diontae Johnson in the game after his penalty. Allen's penalty was completely ridiculous, but he owned up to it postgame, for the most part. At least there's a chance he learns from this.
Little Ben
2:18
How can the Steelers play an entire game and target their most dynamic receiver (Pickens) 3 times and one of the better tight ends in the league zero times? Felt great to win but this seems to be a recurring problem in terms of getting the ball to guys that can make plays.
Brian Batko
2:20
Because they aren't a very explosive offense in the first place, which limits how many players can and do get involved on a weekly basis. You think the philosophy and ability of this team can support three pass-catchers consistently having productive games? I think it is a big-picture issue that will be part of the reason they replace the coordinator this offseason, but it's also a bit hypocritical to criticize aspects of the passing game lacking on a day when the run game was so good.
Tom
2:21
I want to see more of Mark Robinson these last games.  our ILBs don't make splash plays.  give the man some reps for next year.   what say you?
Brian Batko
2:22
Agreed. I talked to Myles Jack about his groin Friday - wait, that didn't sound right - and he basically said it's typical end-of-the-season type health issues. Well, in that case, just shut him down and let the younger guys showcase what they can do.
FollowTheLeader
2:23
I wonder why the team is so attention hungry with their immature, selfish acts.  Then again, the head coach is on video dancing in the locker room.  Attitude reflects leadership, right?
Brian Batko
2:25
It's not a good look for Tomlin. I get that. But to act like he's the only head coach who has ever danced in a postgame locker room after a big win is disingenuous, and he's had more career success than many of those who have.
KMAC
2:25
Your prediction for their final record?
Brian Batko
2:26
8-9 but don't hold me to it. My game-by-game prediction record has been atrocious this year.
rman
2:26
I say "NO" to cutting Marcus Allen.  It IS Christmas week after all.  If anything have him explain to the team "if" or "what" he was thinking at the time.
Brian Batko
2:28
At least I'm not alone on this. It's kind of like all the vitriol I'm seeing for the Patriots WR who made one of the dumbest plays in NFL history last night, Jakobi Meyers. Making a stupid decision doesn't make you a stupid person. Meyers is an undrafted free agent from 2019 who has turned himself into a solid NFL contributor for the Patriots. But yeah, let's just delete the guy over one mistake.
Miles McGuire
2:28
Hey Brian,
Which coaches do you foresee not coming back in 2023?
Brian Batko
2:30
Not really into firing people via chat, but I've been saying for weeks now that I don't think Matt Canada will be back given the offense's struggles for the past two seasons. Odds are there will be others, and a new OC would likely have some freedom to bring in his own staff.
TxSteeler
2:30
Will you or your brethren actually have the guts to ask MT tomorrow what he said today and how he disciplined Allen after Sundays gaffe, or will y’all, as usual, not ask a difficult question
Brian Batko
2:31
For the record, I'm off on Tuesdays during the season, so I will not be asking Tomlin that  tomorrow. But plenty of difficult questions get asked of him and others every week, by myself and coworkers.
DanW
2:32
I thought Johnson made what could’ve been a huge mistake on the onside kick at the end of the game. The ball hadn’t traveled 10 yards (and didn’t look like it would) but he inexplicably dove for it, touched it and made it a live ball. Seems like this is something that NFL players should understand and something that Smith should be telling the special teams unit when they go on the field. Do you think this this a case of Johnson not understanding the rules or just making a bonehead play?
Brian Batko
2:33
"Just trying to make a play," I'm sure. It wasn't wise, but I can sort of understand the heat of the moment, a split-second decision you need to make on "do I just try to grab on this and end the game or hope that it stops rolling and we win?" Probably a certain level of instinct that kicks in on those plays.
Jameson
2:34
Hi Brian, do you think Trubisky has played better than Pickett overall? And if so should he start for the rest of this season?
Brian Batko
2:36
No, I think the Pickett we were watching in the games leading up to the Ravens concussion was better than all we've seen from Trubisky, though it's somewhat difficult to compare given how Trubisky's circumstances have changed so often. No, I don't think Trubisky should start the rest of the way. Time to continue playing and evaluating Pickett.
D
2:37
What is the silver-lining here?  To me, this is a team and coaching staff that isn't really ever going anywhere.
Brian Batko
2:38
The silver lining to any win is that winning is generally good for the culture of a team. Perhaps a strong finish this season serves as a springboard for them into next season. You can't win a few games in a row without first winning one.
Tampa Too
2:39
Who will be the back up QB next year?  MT or someone yet to be named?
Brian Batko
2:39
Someone yet to be named is my prediction. A veteran who knows what he'll be getting into as the backup/mentor to a second-year guy in Pickett.
Yates
2:40
Hi Brian/.  Why is 88’s snap count reducing?   What is nature if his injury?
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