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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.30.19
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Brian Batko
2:59
Hi everyone, sorry for starting a little later than usual today, but the Steelers just had their final locker room session of the season. Exit interviews for the players (with us) in a sense. Let's get rolling.
Mr Medium Chest
3:00
Am i searching for something that isn’t there or does Tomlin seem like he lost some of his passion? Seemed like he isn’t the same guy who tried to trip Jacoby Jones back in the day. I started to notice it when he gave a “no comment” after the Myles Garrett fiasco. I’m curious to hear your opinion. Happy New Year
Brian Batko
3:01
I don't sense that, MMC. Mike Tomlin might come off as dispassionate in his public comments, but that's because he just doesn't have much use for saying things through the media and things of that nature. Obviously. The Myles Garrett incident was a good example of that.
Steeler in Virginia
3:01
In hindsight, should the Steelers have offered a fourth for a Andy Dalton-type QB to come in and get this team to the playoffs? Or was it not worth losing that future pick?
Brian Batko
3:03
In hindsight, sure, but at what point in the season? Coming into it, Mason Rudolph was so encouraging that they traded a QB (albeit not a veteran type) FOR a mid-round pick. They probably didn't foresee the turn Rudolph's season would take. I know I didn't.
Vasily
3:04
Hey Brian.  Enjoy the chats.  I  thought Jaylen Samuels’ running and receiving talents were under-utilized this season. Do you foresee him getting more playing time next year?
Brian Batko
3:05
Thanks, Vasily. Funny you say that because yesterday when he caught a pass out of the backfield, I remarked aloud, "Hey, Jaylen Samuels, I remember him." Seems pretty clear as the season went on that the Steelers liked the way Benny Snell was running more than Samuels, who had a couple extended auditions but didn't quite take advantage the way he did last year. Still a useful piece for 2020 and possibly beyond.
Anthony
3:06
ben best years re behind him
Brian Batko
3:06
Thank you, Anthony
JV
3:06
Hi Brian, how would you rate Coach Tomlin’s performance with the media?   Considering that a coach’s media interaction is one of the primary methods they have to connect with the fan base (i.e. the paying customer) I wish owners would invest more training in this area, and insist that their primary spokesperson (the coach / manager) improve their ability to give meaningful, non-evasive answers to legitimate questions that fans want to know more about.  Perhaps I’m just living in my fears, and I should embrace the standard.
Brian Batko
3:08
I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, to be quite honest with you. Hey, wait, that sounded a lot like a Tomlin answer. But really, I think it's pretty meaningless in the grand scheme. Does it make our jobs harder at times? Sure, but no one cares about us. Just ask my wife.
Tim Biakabutuka
3:08
How far is this team from being good again?
Brian Batko
3:09
Wow, great chat name and bonus points for correct spelling. I don't think it's far, Tim. It was good at times this year. Occasionally very good. So much hinges on Ben Roethlisberger, of course, but it's just as crucial that this defense remains in the upper echelon of the NFL.
The ghost of Franco
3:09
Bigger need for this team a stud running back or TE?  Conner is to injury prone and the rest are just adequate backups the way I see it?  How do you see it?  Thank you.
Brian Batko
3:11
It's tight end to me. Look at the guys from the Ravens who were breaking tackles and ripping off long runs yesterday. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, undrafted and mid-round pick. You can find those types and they'll succeed behind a strong offensive line. But tight ends can really be game-changers, and Vance McDonald didn't do much of that this year coming off his breakout season.
Ryno
3:11
Was it just me, or was TJ Watt playing angry yesterday?  Cant wait to watch him over the course of his career.
Brian Batko
3:13
It did seem like it. He got called for a couple offsides penalties, which he couldn't have been happy about. Talked to him today in the locker room and he seemed quite frustrated about the season, despite his own success. Look for a story on the site at some point this week as we wrap up the season.
Alan F
3:13
Just a precaution, does Colbert and Tomlin bring in another QB to compete for the backup going into the pre-season?  Or do you have Lynch and Rudolph compete with Hodges clearly a 3rd string?
Brian Batko
3:15
That's a big question going into this offseason. Are there guys out there the Steelers like? Are they comfortable with Rudolph and Duck? Is it even viable salary cap wise to bring in a vet like that? Guessing here on Dec. 30, I don't think they're ready to give up on Rudolph ... yet.
And by that I mean as a backup.
Jay
3:15
Steelers being 8-8, Tomlin doing a fine job or AFC super weak this year?
Brian Batko
3:15
He did a fine job
Sugarfoot
3:16
Do you believe Tomlin is on the hot seat? Coaching was horrible in the 3 game skid and Fichnter neeess
Brian Batko
3:16
Nope
Doug from Raleigh
3:16
I had my fear going into the season and now at it's end I certainly feel Juju is more Jim Smith, Calvin Sweeney, or Frank Lewis than John Stallworth or Lynn Swann.   What do you think,  and does the organization need to draft yet another WR?
Brian Batko
3:18
Is there concern? Sure. Am I ready to write off JuJu as incapable of being THE guy? No, not yet. He was playing with a piecemeal quarterback situation and a couple young receivers, one rookie, who were inconsistent but showed flashes of excellence. Let's see how he fares with a healthy Roethlisberger.
Mrbig
3:18
Steelers took advantage of the hitting rules on run option plays. That's how you stop those QBs. Was that why watt was so erratic?
Brian Batko
3:19
Erratic? I thought he played well, as usual. Overpursued once or twice, but I'll take that with the way he gets into the backfield at will.
Utah Jim
3:19
For years the Steelers have been telling us they don't need a traditional NT because it's a passing league.  Well they won't do anything until they can get past Baltimore who figures to remain run heavy for the near future.  Will the Steelers change their mind?
Brian Batko
3:22
I mean, they have Dan McCullers on their roster right now!
Jack
3:22
Running and/or disguising runs, aka passes to the LOS, on first and second down and throwing on 3rd and long is what ales this team.  Defenses know this and stack the box on first and second down, and then blitz on 3rd.  In the end it makes the QB, RBs, WR/TEs and OL look bad.  Moreover its no way to coach when you're undermanned and cant win one on one match-ups.  Tomlin has been doing this since 2007, except this year he doesn't have Ben to clean up his mess with a game winning drive.  Fire Tomlin!
Brian Batko
3:23
Huh, I didn't think that's where that question was going. Well, comment, not question. I think just as many people would argue that it was the players, or lack thereof, who hamstrung the play-calling efforts. Jimmy's and Joe's rather than X's and O's, if you will. But hey, at least we got one more "Fire Tomlin!" before we head into 2020.
RamblinJim from DC
3:23
Brian, long time lurker, first time asker - Left to Right, what do you think our O-line looks like to start the 2020 season?
Brian Batko
3:25
Wow, first-time chatter busting in with the tough question. I'll say: Al Villanueva, Matt Feiler (moves from RT to replace Ramon Foster), Maurkice Pouncey, Dave DeCastro, Chuks Okorafor. Foster yesterday after the game in Baltimore was talking like a guy who senses he won't be back. But I'm not at all confident in predicting who could replace him. Zach Banner? Someone we're not even aware of yet?
RealityMan
3:26
Ok, while the D has been greatly improved and has some young strong talent, it is not even close to an elite D. The Bill, Jets and especially the Ravens were able to run quite easily on this team, even when they knew it was coming. Having a stronger offence will surely be the focus next year but there are holes to plumb in the D as well. Barron, Edmunds, are obvious weaknesses but the D line also has to take some heat. How many changes do you see on the D?
Brian Batko
3:28
At least a couple, I imagine. Mark Barron could be a cap casualty (as he was in LA). Obviously, Bud Dupree and Javon Hargrave are valuable but might be expensive to keep. Terrell Edmunds isn't going anywhere. At this point, my prediction is that there will be two new starters next year, one way or another.
Daffy Duck
3:29
Brian, thanks for the chat and Happy New Year! What a nightmare conclusion to the season, no? I can't help wondering how much better the Steelers would be today had they drafted Darius Leonard instead of Terrell Edmunds in the first round, 2018. There would have been no need to use all the draft capital to get Bush, plus they probably still would have gotten Edmunds in the second or third round. They sure could use those picks now.
Brian Batko
3:31
Thanks, DD, same to you. Always easy to look back with a could've or should've. Darius Leonard would've been considered a reach all the same, but of course, that's the inexact science of drafting. Does it appear Edmunds was taken too high? At this point, yes. But he hasn't been an outright bust just yet. At least not to me. Needs to take a big step forward next year.
Artie Bridge
3:31
What's your order of priority for the off-season:  qb, rb, wr, te, ol, lb, db?  We need help at all of them, but how do you rank the levels of need?
Brian Batko
3:33
My personal ranking: OLB (assuming Dupree is gone), TE, OL, ILB, DL, P, WR, QB, RB. Kicker is last, I know that.
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