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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.29.22
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Brian Batko
2:01
Hi everyone, the 2022 preseason is in the books and the Steelers won the final game of the whole darn thing. Let's talk about it.
MikeM65
2:01
I've read how Ben reached out to Mitch T and Kenny P and he visited practice one day.  I never understood what happened between Terry B and the Steelers' fans, but do you think if Ben continues small gestures like this the same thing won't happen between him and the Steelers' fans?
Brian Batko
2:02
Never got the sense that Ben Roethlisberger had any ill will toward the fans, specifically. It sounds like he didn't love how he was treated by management at the end, but to your point, he's already made a trip back to the South Side, so doesn't seem like there will be any lingering resentment in that way.
paul from sacramento
2:03
Hi Brian, Love your insight and podcasts with Ray. (also congrats on the newest member to the Batco household), With the injury to Kazee, do you see them making a move to grab a back up safety?  Kazee really seemed to make an impact in the dime package.
Brian Batko
2:04
Thanks on both counts, Paul. They kind of already made a move for a safety last week, claiming Elijah Riley off waivers from the Jets. Little did they know at the time Damontae Kazee would go down a few days later. But obviously they saw something they liked in Riley to make that move so late in the preseason, and I thought he was flying around out there late in the game Sunday. Good for him. Might have a chance.
420 blazer
2:05
Mitch looks good but I still feel the Pickett draft choice was a mistake. I believe they should have gone with Mitch and Mason while upgrading their OL with their first draft choice. If Mitch struggled then draft a QB next spring. The QBs class next year is very talented and much deeper than this year. That would have been the smart move so I feel they dropped the ball. What you say?
Brian Batko
2:07
In theory, I don't necessarily disagree. But look at how the draft fell. Short of trading up, which is always a tricky thing to gauge, which OL do you draft at 20 instead of Kenny Pickett? After the Saints took Trevor Penning at 19, the next lineman off the board was Tulsa's Tyler Smith at 24 to the Cowboys, who initially were using him at guard. Then Tyler Linderbaum to the Ravens at 25, but the Steelers signed Mason Cole to man the middle.
fredward
2:08
Brian, is Kazee a short-term IR guy, or is he done for the year with his pending IR designation?
Brian Batko
2:10
I get the feeling he'll be placed on IR AFTER the 53-man roster cuts, which means he'd be able to return at some point this season. If he's able to come back this year, why not carry him on the initial roster and give yourself that possibility?
Jim in Florida
2:10
I love Pickett, but - hindsight being 20/20, did the Steelers make a mistake not getting an O line stud and waiting until next season for one of several top QBs that will be coming out? Trubisky appears solid.
Brian Batko
2:11
They probably put too much faith in Dan Moore Jr., which affected their approach to free agency well before the draft.
Ghost of Harry Newsome
2:11
Which current Steeler would make the best sports columnist? AND / OR Which current PG contributor would win a punt-pass-kick competition?
Brian Batko
2:13
Wow, what a question on a Monday afternoon. I don't profess to have a good read on the writing skills of any current Steelers, but tight end Zach Gentry might be the funniest guy on the team, so I'll put my chips on him here. As for the punt, pass and kick competition? I've gotta go with former high school football star Mike Persak https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/article/four-ok-white-coaches-h...
Chicago Rob
2:14
Thanks for doing this.  Any concerns with the Defense stopping the run?  # preseason games and 3 games where teams can easily run.  Sure hope we can stop that.  What say you?
Brian Batko
2:15
Certainly has to be some concern, given how poor the run defense was a year ago. But the return of Tyson Alualu and additions of Myles Jack and Larry Ogunjobi give me optimism on that front. Problem is, inside linebackers are always crucial to any team stopping the run, and I'm not sold on the ones not named Jack here.
Paul
2:16
I get the old adage, “they’re free agents for a reason.” But don’t you think someone like Eric Fisher (OT) or Trey Flowers (EDGE) would make some sense for the Steelers? I know there’s a cost associated with any free agent, but if they strategically cut a few guys (Boykin, Watt, etc.) the money is there. Tough decisions would need to be made, but they can’t seriously be comfortable rolling out Dan Moore or any OLB not named Watt or Highsmith, right?
Brian Batko
2:18
Trey Flowers is headed to Miami where he'll join Melvin Ingram on the edge. Eric Fisher, there seem to be concerns about his age/health more than cost, and he didn't exactly earn rave reviews last season with Indy. You're right though, they can't be comfortable at left tackle. If it's not an established guy like Fisher, they should go acquire someone young who can compete with Moore for the job over these next couple weeks and even into the season.
Joseph
2:18
How did the o-line become so bad? Is it coaching? The talent? The last 3 years have not been kind to the group, their quality of play has been below the standard
Brian Batko
2:20
They haven't invested much in the position in the draft. That adds up eventually. If you aren't gonna draft linemen high, you better be very good at spotting overlooked talent. If you aren't very good at spotting overlooked talent, you better be able to coach and develop. None of the three things above are taking place right now.
Sunner in Orlando
2:21
Has Bush improved at all this preseason? I don't see it. I think he should be cut but the Steelers don't want to admit they made this big of a mistake in drafting him. Can they get anyone off the waiver wire who may be a salary cap casualty?
Brian Batko
2:23
I actually think he's gotten better each week, but that's not saying much. They aren't going to cut him. He played the first half yesterday then watched the rest of the game in street clothes like the other starters. The emergence of rookie Mark Robinson has me less inclined to think they should go add another ILB. Robert Spillane is someone the coaches like, too. If anything,
If anything, they'll have to make a difficult cut like Marcus Allen or Buddy Johnson, is how I was going to finish.
BringBackWeegie
2:23
Hi Brian: What can the Steelers do now to shore up the OL and run D, both of which the team seems to have failed to do in the off-season while instead drafting two QBs (one of whom is now cut)? Go Steelers.
Brian Batko
2:24
They've taken steps to shore up the run D. How many more defensive free agents do you want them to add, you know?
AK
2:25
Why do Steelers fans think that cutting Bush will save anything when his contract is guaranteed?
Brian Batko
2:26
Some might think that, but I believe Paul up there just thinks he's a terrible player and should be gone regardless of financial repercussions. I'd disagree with that, personally, but it wouldn't shock me if he loses his hold on a starting job at some point.
(Sorry, not Paul, that was Sunner in Orlando)
Bens "retired" Boot
2:27
Just wondering if theres gonna be any questioning of Mike Tomlin about  Najees actual injury   or will Najee get in trouble for revealing it ?
Brian Batko
2:29
I don't think Najee will get in trouble, but I was surprised he was that open about it. As for Tomlin, here's how that would go:

"Hey Mike, Najee said he didn't just get stepped on, he had a sprained Lisfranc."

"Is there a question?"

"Did he have a sprained Lisfranc?"

"You guys know I don't get into injury specifics when I'm not required to."
Hi Brian
2:29
If there was ever a time to pull resources forward via a trade for picks, now is the time to fix the left side of that line.  In my mind, everything below the 2nd round should be on the table.  Thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:31
Sure. I don't think the Steelers are Super Bowl bound or anything, but trading a third-rounder isn't exactly an all-in kind of move. It might just be the cost of business to find someone to shore up your OL now and in the future.
Steeltown
2:31
Brian, will we see an o-line upgrade in the form of a trade this week?
Brian Batko
2:32
If I had to bet I'd still say no, but last year they went out and got Ahkello Witherspoon when CB depth was in question. There's certainly precedent.
Lou
2:33
Hey Brian. I'm not going to say the OL is great or anything...they had big penalties...but they also gave Mitch time to throw the ball downfield for the TD drive before halftime. Perhaps it's a glimmer of what's to come. Also, I didn't see any plays for Mitch to run around, so before everyone gets too low....I don't think we've seen what the O can be yet.
Brian Batko
2:33
I'm almost certain the Lions' starters were out by that point. And those starters were eating up the Steelers' OL early on. But I do appreciate your even keel!
Dansforth
2:34
Mr. Barlow, I enjoy your chats.  To what do you attribute Dan Moore’s regression?   Thank you.
Brian Batko
2:36
It me, Kevan Barlow. But honestly, Moore wasn't a very highly rated player coming into the draft. He was a fourth-round pick and most analysts had him projected to go even later than that. If anything, he probably overachieved last season when he was thrown into the deep end as a rookie.
JerseySteel
2:36
Hey Brian - It looks like the Steelers offense is very talented at the skill positions and like they managed to actually get worse on the offense line which will render the talent in the skill positions useless. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:38
Not useless, but it will make it more difficult for them to shine, obviously. Mitch Trubisky has talked a lot about how he wants to be aggressive and push the ball downfield (something Ben didn't do much of last year, to the offense's detriment). That's all well and good but you can't do that with pass-rushers closing in on you as soon as you get the snap.
Greg
2:39
Is this really the OL we will use for the season? Would would HCBB do?
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