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Unrestricted free-agent QB Charlie Batch (collarbone) has been throwing while increasing the distance thrown as well as increased velocity and repetitions.
Batch said he would like to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Source: Steelers.com
Mancini's Take: Much like Orlovsky, Batch is a nice backup, who won't get anyone excited, but is a smart enough player to steer the ship in a pinch. The problem with him is that he's an ice sculpture in shoulder pads. One good sneeze could land him on the injury report. The other thing to note about Batch is that he can be very streaky. You can do much worse than having this other former Lion as your backup. He can come into a game, rally the troops and throw a couple of touchdowns in short order, but counting on him for an extended period of time is a very dicey situation.
Mandel's Take: Now here's an example of a team bringing a guy back because he knows the system, knows what the coaches expect, and knows his role. Are there better QBs out there? Sure, but Pittsburgh knows that's not the only factor in building a winner. Batch isn't a long-term solution if Roethlisberger gets seriously hurt, but he can safely fill in for a game or two. Speaking of Pittsburgh backups, I'd like to see what they have in Dennis Dixon. Remember him? He is fully healed from his knee surgery and might be ready for that understudy role, and perhaps more. Dixon can play in this league.
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