Steel Trap86
09-28-2010, 06:34 PM
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers coach Mike Tomlin probably wishes his quarterback decision had been this easy all season.
Charlie Batch, buried so deep on the Steelers' depth chart that he barely practiced during training camp, will start Sunday's AFC North game against the Baltimore Ravens. Batch hasn't started successive games since midway through 2005, when Ben Roethlisberger had a right knee injury.
Batch started Sunday at Tampa Bay only because Dennis Dixon had left knee surgery last week and Byron Leftwich was recovering from a left knee injury. Yet Batch completed 12 of 17 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns -- his first scoring passes since 2007.
Leftwich, expected to start throughout Roethlisberger's four-game suspension, is healthy, but Tomlin said Tuesday that Batch earned the right to remain in the lineup. He did it through his play -- he's 4-1 as a fill-in starter since joining the Steelers in 2002 -- and through his perseverance.
Batch played only one game the previous two seasons because of injuries, and his perceived fragility was partly why Tomlin started the inexperienced Dixon in the first two games. Batch declined to criticize the decision, nor did he complain when it seemed likely the Steelers (3-0) would cut him before Leftwich was hurt during the Sept. 2 preseason finale.
"Guys have a great deal of confidence in him," Tomlin said. "He's a man who's taken advantage of an opportunity, and you've got to be happy for him. It's an awesome lesson learned for our young players, one I hope they're taking heed to. This league is about perseverance, this profession is about perseverance and taking advantage of opportunities when they're given. He's given them a shining, clear-cut example of that at this juncture."
Tomlin isn't second-guessing his decision to start Dixon during tight victories over the Atlanta Falcons (15-9) and Tennessee Titans (19-11), even though Batch threw Pittsburgh's first three TD passes of the season. Batch also looked more polished and comfortable than Dixon.
Dixon will be out for up to six weeks, but the Steelers don't plan to put him on the injured reserve list.
Roethlisberger is eligible to return to practice next week, when the Steelers have a bye. He will start Oct. 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ae8712/article/steelers-will-start-batch-again-at-qb-vs-ravens?module=HP_headlines
Flacco isn't going to put up more then 10-14 points if that. Ravens have a weak secondary right now, so if "air batch" can throw it out like he did against the Bucs, Wallace will have another huge game and we shouldn't have any problems going 4-0. Ray Rice is questionable for this game too, not that he's much of a threat against this D right now anyway.
Charlie Batch, buried so deep on the Steelers' depth chart that he barely practiced during training camp, will start Sunday's AFC North game against the Baltimore Ravens. Batch hasn't started successive games since midway through 2005, when Ben Roethlisberger had a right knee injury.
Batch started Sunday at Tampa Bay only because Dennis Dixon had left knee surgery last week and Byron Leftwich was recovering from a left knee injury. Yet Batch completed 12 of 17 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns -- his first scoring passes since 2007.
Leftwich, expected to start throughout Roethlisberger's four-game suspension, is healthy, but Tomlin said Tuesday that Batch earned the right to remain in the lineup. He did it through his play -- he's 4-1 as a fill-in starter since joining the Steelers in 2002 -- and through his perseverance.
Batch played only one game the previous two seasons because of injuries, and his perceived fragility was partly why Tomlin started the inexperienced Dixon in the first two games. Batch declined to criticize the decision, nor did he complain when it seemed likely the Steelers (3-0) would cut him before Leftwich was hurt during the Sept. 2 preseason finale.
"Guys have a great deal of confidence in him," Tomlin said. "He's a man who's taken advantage of an opportunity, and you've got to be happy for him. It's an awesome lesson learned for our young players, one I hope they're taking heed to. This league is about perseverance, this profession is about perseverance and taking advantage of opportunities when they're given. He's given them a shining, clear-cut example of that at this juncture."
Tomlin isn't second-guessing his decision to start Dixon during tight victories over the Atlanta Falcons (15-9) and Tennessee Titans (19-11), even though Batch threw Pittsburgh's first three TD passes of the season. Batch also looked more polished and comfortable than Dixon.
Dixon will be out for up to six weeks, but the Steelers don't plan to put him on the injured reserve list.
Roethlisberger is eligible to return to practice next week, when the Steelers have a bye. He will start Oct. 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ae8712/article/steelers-will-start-batch-again-at-qb-vs-ravens?module=HP_headlines
Flacco isn't going to put up more then 10-14 points if that. Ravens have a weak secondary right now, so if "air batch" can throw it out like he did against the Bucs, Wallace will have another huge game and we shouldn't have any problems going 4-0. Ray Rice is questionable for this game too, not that he's much of a threat against this D right now anyway.