Brian Batko: Well, can't say I predicted that game in last week's chat, but I did caution against counting out the likes of Cam Heyward, TJ Watt and Mike Tomlin. Things got worse before they got better with two of those three, but in the end, it worked out for a Ravens win Questions...
PAMMY WHAMMY: What's your take on the failed 2 point conversion? A play Baltimore should have made or a pass altered because of TJ Watt's position and 7 previous sacks in the back of Jackson's head?
Brian Batko: One they should've made. Certainly TJ Watt disrupted it, and Lamar Jackson admitted as much, but both he and Mark Andrews also said they need to make that play. Hey, isn't there a phrase that goes, "better lucky than good"?
Jim: So, how did the Oline finally figure out how to run block in the fourth quarter of game 12? Or is Le Glue a great difference making lineman!
Brian Batko: Maybe he's just a Leglue guy.
Paul: what are the chances our punter will be back
Brian Batko: Next year or next game?
Kyle: Is it time to forget about forcing the run and Canada's offense and let Big Ben play backyard ball in order to win?
Brian Batko: No, not entirely. Committing to the run and sticking with it actually paid off a few times in that game yesterday. I mean, shoot, even Benny Snell Football got involved with a couple good ones. But I did ask Mike Tomlin today if they can use the no-huddle more regularly and if it's something that could help sustain consistency on offense. He demurred.
DJ: Will Bush see a more limited role for the remaining games?
Brian Batko: Depends on the health of Robert Spillane, who was just activated from the COVID list about an hour ago, and on how Bush plays the rest of the way.
Guest: R E S P E C T they earned it. Leglue plays T,G and C. Do you think he has found a home?
Brian Batko: Too early to say. But the Matt Feiler blueprint is a great one to follow in this organization for a versatile former UDFA on the O-line.
TC: I don't usually agree with Romo, but on the broadcast yesterday, he said the Steelers were last in play action pass. Then he pointed out the success the Steelers had when they did use it. Will we see more of it the rest of the year.
Brian Batko: Wouldn't hold my breath, because they've been among the bottom of the league in play-action for many years now.
Greg: Doesn't 17 points in Q4 show us that BR is better at calling plays in the no-huddle that Canada is at calling plays at all? Switch to BR calling more of his own plays at the line of scrimmage?
Brian Batko: Well, maybe, but the biggest play of the game was the play-action TD throw to Diontae Johnson, which Ben Roethlisberger said himself postgame was a great call by Matt Canada. Is it possible that Ben calling his own plays is more effective than Canada calling plays for him? Now that could be. But we've been asking that all along, whether those two offensive minds would mesh. It's been touch-and-go, to say the least.
SW Steel: Please tell me that Steelers brass won't entertain signing 'Carlton' next year...
Brian Batko: I'm gonna need a little more on that one, SW Steel...
Matt Mexico: Can we now admit Harvin isn't good?
Brian Batko: He's not punting well.
MD: I think a key component to the rest of the season is figuring out how many young players are part of the future. What is your current thinking on Moore, Dotson, and Green?
Brian Batko: Need to see more, and that's a bit vague, considering the future could be two years, four years or six years. I'll narrow it to 2022, and assume they're trying to be competitive, because they always do. Moore, yes. Dotson, yes. Green, probably ... but I'm iffy on that one.
Scooter: Does Ben need permission before audibling? Case in point, 3rd and 1 on the last play of 3rd qtr and Claypool is out the left all by himself with Jimmy Smith playing 11 yards off of him. First downs are a premium with this offense and Ben let's the clock run down to the 4th qtr?
Brian Batko: I believe that when we did this song-and-dance earlier this season with regard to those baffling 4th-down calls, the explanation from Mike Tomlin was that generally "in those weighty moments" Ben is limited with what he can do. Take that for what you will.
Daniel77: Is Boz capable of kicking the kickoff to the endzone every time? It just didn't make sense to kick to Baltimore's KR who is one of league's top returners. What was Danny Smith thinking?
Brian Batko: In the past yes he's essentially said that when you see him kick it short, it's by design. As for why, perhaps they were trying to create some splash on special teams.
Chris: Hello Brian, Watching Ben last night, it appears he physically can still make most if not all the throws needed for a successful NFL Starter. I'm thinking perhaps some of the issue with his poor performances might have been mental(?). I'm thinking of when he appears to be rushing through his reads, throwing way short of the first down marker on 3rd and 4th down, etc. If he can play somewhere near the level he played last night, My vote would be for him to come back next year. What do you think?
Brian Batko: No, he should not come back for an age-40 season. I would not vote for that if I were you or if I were in the Steelers front office.
YinzerinVa: 58,000 and change. That was the attendance yesterday. How concerned should the Rooneys be? This is definitely the 2nd game I have been to this season over 10,000 no-shows. There are probably more games with the same numbers.
Brian Batko: Yeah, I was actually surprised to see that this wasn't the lowest attendance number of the season. Tickets were as low as $40 to get in yesterday. Ownership should be concerned, but so should the other 31. It's a global trend, and at some point, teams will probably need to realize that admission prices are starting to exceed demand for the in-person product.
HitmanErnie412->305: Brian, I understand the focus on the Steelers' play from the Pittsburgh fanbase and media, but can you share your thoughts on Lamar Jackson? He looks absolutely awful - his mechanics, his decision making and his coachability. I don't know if you are old enough to remember Kordell Steward, but do you not think he would be a more effect wide receiver in the NFL?
Brian Batko: No, I think he's just in a slump right now, playing without his All-Pro left tackle and adjusting to some new receivers. Not trying to make excuses for him, but the guy isn't even 25 yet and has already won the MVP. I think brighter days are ahead ... at quarterback.
MG: Ahkello Witherspoon made some big plays, kind of what you expect of a guy you traded a draft pick for. So the obvious question is: Why has he been inactive pretty much all season?
Brian Batko: Tomlin's diplomatic answer today is that Witherspoon was learning the defense after coming in so late during the preseason process. But I have to imagine a big part was getting burned by Henry Ruggs in Week 2. To be fair, there hadn't been a ton of opportunities for him when Cam Sutton and Joe Haden both were healthy, but since then, Tomlin has chosen to "de-emphasize" James Pierre in favor of "Spoon."
Yates: Brian. - is claypool’s toe or head the main reason for his decline? JW only seems to contribute with penalties. Time to give Miller or Simms more PT?
Brian Batko: I don't get the sense that Chase Claypool is being hampered by an injury, but you never know. These guys don't like to use that as a reason for playing poorly. I'd be curious to see more of Anthony Miller, but he can't even get on the active roster over Cody White, who's been playing special teams and has a bigger body for WR blocking.
Len from Orlando: BB, more of a comment than a question: I never need to hear another question about Mike Tomlin's coaching ability ever again. (Or at least through the end of this season.) It wasn't pretty, but he got the win.
Brian Batko: Yeah, it's weird, haven't gotten any questions yet today about whether it's time for him to go.
Buster: Could Leglue be what holds LeSteelers’ offensive line together?
Brian Batko: Depends how long Kevin Dotson is out. He'd be eligible to return now, having missed three games, but Tomlin didn't even mention him today among the guys working their way back. Leglue at the very least did enough to stay ahead of BJ Finney/JC Hassenauer in the pecking order for now, in my eyes.
SW Steel: Haha! Carlton = Russell Wilson
Brian Batko: Obviously it depends on the price, but yeah, of course I'd take Russell Wilson at QB next year.
Dan: What did you think of the of the officiating?
Brian Batko: They weren't as bad as everyone made it sound in the moment, which is pretty much always the case.
Michele: How many players aren't vaccinated on the team?
Brian Batko: Can't say for sure. Based on the percentages that the team has put out, maybe 4 or 5?
artie bridge: Brian, not to dampen the euphoria of yesterday's win, but, honestly, which of our starters would be bona fide front-line starters on a playoff contending team? I estimate about 5.
Brian Batko: Diontae Johnson, TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick for sure. Maybe one or both corners. Pat Freiermuth is pretty damn good, too. So yeah, good estimate by you, but are there a bunch of all-star teams running around out there I don't know about?
BillFromAZ: Why do the Steelers have so much trouble covering players? When the opposing QB keeps targeting the same wide open receiver, I'd think they would learn and cover that person. But it continued to happen and if it weren't for T.J. Watt, that 2 point throw would have been good.....Andrews was wide open yet again.
Brian Batko: It's hard to cover plays in the NFL, Bill! Really at every level of football. Offenses are so sophisticated, they know where they're going and you don't, which is why you see scoring go up and up and up. I know, miscommunications and coverage lapses are frustrating, But trust me, it's not just the Steelers.
Cosnation: Has Tuitt played his last down as a Steeler?
Brian Batko: My guess is yes.
Bucco Bil: Been watching Edmunds at safety and he still hasn't shown much. Appears soft and afraid to put a hit on anyone. Do steelers have anybody to push him for starting job?
Brian Batko: Nah. Miles Killebrew is the nominal backup strong safety, and I actually thought they might try to get him involved this week since he's kind of a hybrid linebacker, and clearly that didn't happen. He's a special teams ace. Terrell Edmunds probably won't be back, though.
Easley: No question, just a comment: Sure am glad the Steelers got that long-term deal done with Watt!
Brian Batko: I don't know, man, I seem to remember people telling me in the summer he wasn't worth it and it was too much money to invest in a defensive player.
Weegie: Seems like Claypool could be doing more. Looking back. do you think he was worth a no. 2 given all the other needs ?
Brian Batko: Yeah but if you gave me the benefit of hindsight plus a time machine and let me go back to Night 2 of the 2020 draft, I'd probably take Trevon Diggs, who went two picks later.
Bill: I see a lot of potential in the young db’s. Haden gone after this year ?
Brian Batko: Tough to predict otherwise when they didn't extend him before the season. But Ahkello Witherspoon has just one good game under his belt and he's not under contract for next year either. So, I'll still take Trevon Diggs.
Emilio: I had not been in the stadium for a while , surprised to see no ticket scalpers and no food/drinks selling on the stands. Is that the new normal?
Brian Batko: I see ticket scalpers when I walk to the media entrance, but certainly there aren't as many as there used to be, now that the NFL has gone to all mobile ticketing. Can't speak to the concessions thing.
DavidM: I suggest the Steelers to do anything possible to bring in Joe Brady to come work as passing game coordinator. This guy was the hottest coordinators out there although it didn't work out for him in Carolina and was made a scapegoat. There is so much you can do with Sam Darnold as your QB and no McCaffrey and not much WR talent. I think Brady can bring fresh ideas and complement Matt Canada greatly. MT went to same college and should call and recruit Brady.
Brian Batko: Giving this idea the ol' rubber stamp. I like it.
Jud: Felt that Ravens lost that game rather than Steelers won it... will take it. Your thoughts on Vikings game?
Brian Batko: I can't believe they lost to the Lions.
fredward: Is either Karl Joseph or Tre Norwood an option to replace Edmunds next year, or are both just depth pieces?
Brian Batko: Probably depth. Both are more free safeties anyway. I could see Norwood settling into a slot corner role, though. Not much traction on the Joseph front this season, obviously.
Renegade: How much screaming would we be hearing today for the benching of Bush and Edmunds if Andrews catches that 2 point conversion?? The two closest defenders (spectators) were Bush and Edmunds on that play. Andrews should not have been that open.
Brian Batko: Yeah, they got fooled. Hard to say if that would've been on them or the play call though. Regardless, yes, you'd be hearing a lot of screaming to bench those two, cut them, and fire the entire staff.
Nate from Fort Wayne: What did you think of that non-catch by Ray Ray? looked pretty good to me and looked that it wasn't moving until after he made contact with the ground and not during.
Brian Batko: Kept going back and forth based on the angle. I'm sorta of the mind that if you have to take that long to review it, it's inherently inconclusive. But refs, and replay officials, have a difficult gig.
Lou: Hey Brian, Do you think that the way the Steelers ran the ball towards the end of the game with Leglue and Banner in there, that that's the OL we should see the rest of the season?
Brian Batko: Hate to break it to you Lou, but Banner was not in there at the end. He played one snap and the Steelers got stuffed on 3rd-and-1. But Leglue was pushing people around!
burghatheart: BK, has media access to players changed much through the season. Do you anticipate that some covid measures around restricting media accessibility will remain in place looking ahead (or will this loosen)? For the outsider, how has this changed how media has to do their job?
Brian Batko: Nope, but it is better than last season. Most interviews are in-person, in group formats. I do fear that the old days of full access in the locker room, on field at training camp, etc. won't be coming back anytime soon, if ever. From my perspective, it eliminates a lot of opportunities to develop rapport with these guys, explain to them our jobs, why we ask some of the questions we do, and things of that nature.
Brian Batko: OK, after that very meta back-and-forth, time for me to roll along. And an FYI, if anyone cares, I'm off next Monday so no chat. Try not to miss me too much. Enjoy the week, everyone.
First Published: December 6, 2021, 6:39 p.m.
