Preparing with Batch

I read on steelers.com that Max Starks said they are preparing as if Batch would be the QB, but if Ben is ready on Monday he will play. If this is true (I always suspect a little disinformation In these interviews), it will be interesting to see the game plan on Monday, as I would hope that planning for Batch to play would be a much different game plan than a plan for Ben to play.

 

yep hope batch can hit wallace on some 4 yard slants and then wallace takes it to the house

 

Like I said before, see what happens when the Chargers play the Ravens and then plan from that point.

 

Not neccessarily: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9SBlm1i ... detailpage

 

We should prioritize getting a new backup QB in the off season. I like Charlie and he'll make a fine coach someday but we need someone younger, stronger, and more talented to back up Ben in the future.

 

Ben will play, I have no doubts. If Charlie does play, I still have confidence in him, he came right into that game and fired a rifle to Jerricho C. which hit him right in the hands and he dropped it, other than that Charlie had zero time to throw, not exactly his fault.

 

The Niners are going to bring the house every chance they get whether we have a healthy Charlie Batch or a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger under center.

 

if Bens plays, which i think he will, i would imagine we will see a lot of shotgun formations or the pistol formation. not that Ben will run from the pistol, but its a little easier to still use your rb in that formation than from the shotgun.

if we learned anything from Ben getting hurt and Batch playing is that without Ben this team will go nowhere. i know Batch was thrown in the game without warning, but the fact that he is old and cant move and doesnt have much arm strength anymore would not change with more time to prepare.

 

I agree that a gameplan designed for Batch would be ideal for a hobbled Ben, but I fear that they will spend all week planning for Batch, then have Ben play and go back to a scrambling, backyard style that will get him killed -lots of empty sets and long ball, when they have not practiced that all week. It is what Ben and Arians like to do. But, if they do that, at least Batch will be better prepared to come in.

 

That pass was late, underthrown, and should have been picked. The DB at a minimum could have and should have at least knocked it down instead of bumping it up to Wallace for him to catch. The DB should get credit for an assist like in basketball on that one. I'm not sure we want to put this up as an example of CB's great arm and throwing prowess. This just shows that the Steelers got lucky on that play and the ball bounced in our favor. If anything, I see a good example of why CB should not be throwing bombs to Wallace - late throw and underthrown.

 

I see your point Knox, but I think Batch still has the arm to go downfield. What he needs is a solid line blocking, and Wallace to get separation. I don't think those things will happen, which is why we won't see him going long if he plays.

 

There is zero chance Batch makes it trhu the enitre game. I would go with Dixon.

 

Swap them in and out play by play, like the Cowboys did at one point in the 70's.

 

Give Dixon the start. At the very least, he will be motivated to build his resume and a winning performance against SF is a good start. Batch is too old, slow and weak. Playing Ben risks our chances he will play in the playoffs, since all of SF will go after his ankle. I would only play Ben if has healed to the point of being mobile enough to avoid getting hit.

 

I'd like to think that with a week preparation Batch should be able to manage the game well enough. Hopefully Arians can keep the big play calls to a minimum and minimize Batch's role in the offense. Dixon SHOULD be a capable backup, but hasn't proved himself to this point. Still, I think he deserves a nod over Batch, who played awful in spot duty last week (even though it was unexpected).

 

Either way, we need to run the darn ball! Effectively, I might add. I put Charlie playing at .1% odds. Ben came back in, he'll have them tape it up, shoot him full of pain meds and go out there an kick 49er butt.

 

i agree and am more worried about pouncey playing. if pouncey plays legs goes back to LG and you know who doesn't get on the field.

 

Sounds like what everyone was saying about our defense after week 1.

 

I'll be at the game and I would really like to see Ben and Pouncey play; but, looking long term we need both healthy for the playoffs. Therefore I hope they don't push to get back to soon and further injure themselves. I would bee happy with Charlie starting and Dixon backing him up instead of and injured Ben and no Pouncey.It would be nice to win the division and have homefield throughtout but w/o Ben were screwed.

 

I think that most people will be suprised how well CB can play
if he has some time to prepare and gets some reps in practice.
Lets not forget when everybody wrote him off last year during #7 suspension, he came in
and won 3 games for us. Rest # 7 this week, save him for the playoffs when we will need him.

 

That's the only point I was trying to make. Yes the pass could have been intercepted but if it was thrown any longer the catch may have been out of the endzone. Batch's arm strength isn't a problem. If he has a good week of prep leading up to the game he'll perform much better than he did against the Browns. Unlike Ben he seems to understand the routes better and releases the ball quicker. At least that's what I saw last year when he subbed for Ben those 1st 4 games.

 

And, no offense to Charlie, but I would rather he took the beating than Ben