Brian Batko: Hi everyone. We got a very, very small taste of football and the 2022 Steelers this past weekend at rookie minicamp. Also the schedule came out last week. Plenty to chat about, so let's get down to brass tacks.
Jim: AB wants to retire a Steeler, new level of insanity or what is the deal?
Brian Batko: Or we could start with a question about Antonio Brown. To be clear, he tweeted this afternoon that he wants to retire as a Steeler on paper, i.e. with a press conference and all that pomp and circumstance. Obviously, there's no chance he comes back here to play, and to me, the real story here is that he's giving up on playing anymore. He's done at age 33. I'd be somewhat surprised if the Steelers welcomed him back for this sort of thing given all he's said/done, but I won't completely rule it out. It's a pretty quick one-day thing, and he was a great player here.
Guest: Hey Brian. Any thoughts on what might happen with the Flores lawsuit? He made some very serious accusations about high ranking members of the league. If it is found that he made them up, I would expect disciplinary action against him. Would you expect the Steelers to get hit in terms of fines and/or draft picks?
Brian Batko: Um...no. I have no idea what will become of the suit but seems highly unlikely that he "made them up."
Alex: Any right tackles out there to be brought in to compete with Chuks for the job?
Brian Batko: Sure, there are tackles available for hire. But I look at the contract the Steelers gave Okorafor this offseason and it doesn't strike me as a situation where he has to compete for his job.
Steeler Fan from WMass: Hey Brian- thanks for the cool chats- I always learn something. Best guess- who’s the next Steelers QB to throw for 300 yards on a game day?
Brian Batko: Thanks. That's a good question, considering Mitch Trubisky hasn't thrown for 300 in a game since December 2019. I'll go with Kenny Pickett.
Cody: We heard that Kenny threw a nice ball at the rookie camp, any thoughts or mumbling about olakodun
Brian Batko: Not really. He didn't look out of place from what I saw. But of course all the focus of this weekend was on Pickett. We'll have a chance to get a little bit more of a glimpse at Chris Oladokun at OTAs starting next week.
Dirk: How about those Maulers!?
Brian Batko: Fired up over here, Dirk. Hometown team just got their first win yesterday, and they had to come back to do it. Next stop: Canton.
Coachjystad: Good Afternoon Mr. Batko! Run Game ? Was Najee (or Alabama in General) a zone scheme or a man scheme in their run game? Does OC Canada's projected playbook match up well with Najee? Or is he good enough to where it doesn't really matter?
Brian Batko: I don't think it matters for him. He showed last year he can fit in any blocking scheme, any offense, especially with his combination of tough running and pass-catching.
Scuba Steve: Since the Penguins were eliminated yesterday, and Pittsburgh doesn't have a baseball team, are you prepared to fill the sports void with hypothetical questions for the next four months? Good speed good sir.
Brian Batko: Whoa whoa whoa. The Pittsburgh Baseball Club just won a game and didn't even need to get a hit to do it. These guys might take us all the way.
Phil from Alabama: With the addition of Brian Flores and new key defensive players, will we see more complex schemes for the defense this next season ? If we do, I think it will help against the higher powered offenses the Steelers will face this year.
Brian Batko: Plus a new DC in Teryl Austin. I hesitate to think the Steelers defense will change a whole lot, especially with Mike Tomlin having the influence he does, but any team needs to make some tweaks after they lead the league in yards per carry allowed. And get scorched in a first-round playoff game. High-powered offenses litter the AFC at this point, so for as much as we've talked about Tomlin's challenge finding a new franchise QB, stopping all the other ones will be just as daunting.
Paul from Sacramento: Hi Brian, Love your chats and podcasts with Ray (kinda helps get through the off-season) Do you see the Steelers possibly adding (or wanting) any help to the DL after teams begin cutting (cap hits) or staying pat with who they have?
Brian Batko: Thanks, Paul. I think they're pretty well stocked on the DL after drafting DeMarvin Leal in the third round, but if Stephon Tuitt is definitely not returning, or someone gets hurt, then maybe they look to free agency. Would still be a crowded group though.
Billy Bob: Is it true there is bad blood between Vince Williams and the Steelers, Or was it a forced like Troy Polamalu's retirement?
Brian Batko: I guess I'll refrain from answering any questions about bad blood and ex-Steelers, because it seems to be a touchy topic
Rob: Are the Steelers going to sign former Giants Pro Bowl CB James Bradberry?
Brian Batko: Probably not
Mute: Brian what’s your view with crazy 84 tweeting desire to retire as a Steeler.. My view is I did lost all the respect for him long time ago after being a hero in town.. he went with aunt Brady everywhere and then all the off field issues.. don’t want to see him ever again with anything steeler related.. does Mr. Rooney decides on this matter? Thank you !
Brian Batko: Sure, if this is a serious request from Mr. Big Chest, I imagine the buck stops at Art Rooney II to decide if they want to rebuild that bridge.
Hari: Thoughts about CB and OL depth. An area of concern or just maturation with experience?
Brian Batko: I'm good with the CB depth. Maybe they don't have a true lock-down corner, but that might be an overrated concept in a Steelers defense that doesn't really rely on following one receiver around the field with the same guy. OL is more concerning, especially OT. Dan Moore and Chuks Okorafor as bookends are far from proven.
Jim: Do you think we will make any "splash" signings like Engram last year before camp? Is there anyone out there to be even considered as a splash signing?
Brian Batko: Oh there are always splashes to be made. Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Jadeveon Clowney and James Bradberry are just a few guys still looking for work. But I don't anticipate one unless there's a David DeCastro situation with someone currently projected for a significant role.
German Yinzer: Hi Brian, do you think that, as of now, the Steelers are the worst team in the AFC North? And do you think Picket is starting QB material? Thx
Brian Batko: No, I have them ahead of the Browns, due in part to Deshaun Watson facing a likely suspension. But on paper, I think the Bengals are clearly the most complete team in the division and the Ravens got better this offseason after an injury-plagued 2021. Wouldn't surprise me if the Steelers finish anywhere from 2-4. As for Pickett, yes, he's a starting NFL QB. How soon and how good he'll be, that's harder to say.
Jason: Why is it tomlin or his staff consistently fail to make halftime adjustments? It’s the same story every year. Does he not see this? Next to his time management skills or lack of it’s the elephant in the room every season.
Brian Batko: I'm not really sure that's true, Jason. The Steelers had a few impressive second-half comebacks last year, including the Bills, Titans and first Ravens game.
Texan Steeler: Hello, I am not comfortable with Dan Moore at LT and Chucks at RT. And I am not comfortable with our run D. The Steelers should have addressed these positions yet decided not to. What are your thoughts on our LT/RT and run D?
Brian Batko: Moore was better than I expected from a fourth-round pick who got thrown into the mix as a rookie. Okorafor had another great outing against Von Miller when the Steelers faced Denver. But NFL teams, specifically with their pass rushers, are so good at finding one weakness in your OL and exploiting it. I think both those guys need to be more consistent, and if the Steelers are going to have more of a run-first identity with an offense built around Najee Harris, they definitely need to be better in that aspect. I'm less concerned about the run defense, given the personnel changes there.
Bill W: So what ever happened to that video of Claypool stomping on the guys head outside the bar?
Brian Batko: Obviously, the Steelers looked into it and decided what discipline to levy, or lack thereof. And obviously, the NFL didn't do anything about it. That was a while ago, but "stomping" seems like the wrong gerund to use there, if I recall correctly.
Guest: Brian, any chance AB comes back now that Ben is gone?
Brian Batko: If it's just to pose for a couple photos and sign a fake contract, maybe.
Ed in Carrick: Thoughts on Antonio Brown wanting to retire a Steeler?
Brian Batko: Scroll up, Ed.
Tim: Best observation among the new Steelers you saw last weekend even if it is only football in shorts
Brian Batko: It's very inspiring that Kenny Pickett could not only catch snaps but also throw the ball despite those historically small hands. But in all seriousness, DeMarvin Leal certainly moves smoothly for a D-lineman, and Mark Robinson is one rocked-up dude at linebacker. Not tall, but a more impressive physique than when Devin Bush was coming out of school.
Ryan: Good afternoon Brian what rookies looked good how did tre Tipton Kevin Greene and Duce Staleys sons look
Brian Batko: Can't say I watched those three extensively, but Tipton clearly was comfortable catching passes from Kenny Pickett and made sure to work with him in most of the drills.
Tom from Kentucky: I know (after the Edmunds signing), the Steelers say that they have a starter signed at all positions. Do you think there is still a chance that they sign another free agent to help? Where would you suspect they could still make an upgrade?
Brian Batko: When I see Jarvis Landry signed for one year, $3 million, I feel like the Steelers could've used his leadership in the WR room, but I'm sure it would've taken more than that to get him to sign anywhere other than New Orleans as a Louisiana native and LSU alum.
Scott: How much of a voice do you really thing Austin and Flores will have in the defense? Butler was pretty forthcoming at the end that Tomlin ran the show.
Brian Batko: Keith Butler made it clear that Tomlin was calling the defense most of the time on Sundays, but I think Austin and Flores will have input on the game plan throughout the week, especially the one who has "defensive coordinator" in his title. And Austin certainly will continue to have a major role in coaching the secondary, making sure they're sound on the back end, etc.
Jud: Thanks for the chats! Who looked good out there? OL Jake Dixon? Tayland the Mountain?
Brian Batko: Of course the tryout player I talked up the most, big nose tackle Tayland Humphrey, didn't even make it there. Don't know why, but that's rookie camp for you. I'll say this about Duquesne's Jake Dixon, he certainly doesn't look like a converted tight end. That's a thick dude right there.
Brian Batko: OK folks, that's it for this week. Plenty of great questions left on the table but what can you do? I'll hold some for Thursday's mailbag. Have a good evening.
First Published: May 16, 2022, 5:46 p.m.
