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Three days ago, it appeared Charlie Batch was going to be released. Now he's likely to be the Steelers' starting quarterback for the opener.The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Batch is expected to go from No. 4 quarterback to the starter now that Ben Roethlisberger's suspension has begun and Byron Leftwich's knee injury has him on the sidelines.
If Leftwich were healthy, the Steelers were expected to release the 13-year veteran and go with Leftwich and Dennis Dixon at quarterback, with wide receiver Antwaan Randle-El serving as an emergency quarterback. With Leftwich down, it won't be surprising if the Steelers decide they would rather start Batch than Dixon, a third-year quarterback who botched his chance to work with the starting unit by throwing two interceptions against Denver last week.
If Batch starts, still expect to see Dixon play. There is a growing feeling it appears in Pittsburgh, as first noted at Steel City Insider, that Dixon works best when he feels less pressure. When the Steelers held an open competition at quarterback during minicamps, Dixon was awful. Once the Steelers anointed Leftwich as Roethlisberger's fill-in, Dixon relaxed and was excellent in the first two preseason games.
In recognition of Dixon's good work, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Dixon would get to work with the first team in the third preseason game against Denver. On national TV, he responded with his worst game as a pro that included an interception in the end zone and another that was returned for a touchdown. With the pressure off as the third quarterback again this week, Dixon threw a touchdown in his only drive of the game against the Carolina Panthers.
So, it wouldn't be surprising to see Batch serve as the starter, but with Dixon ready to go, if nothing else to serve as a different look. Batch still has some mobility (more than Leftwich), but he's a pocket passer behind a leaky offensive line. If he has trouble finding time to throw, Dixon's athleticism and ability to take off and run (he has 91 yards on 14 carries this preseason) would be one way to slow down the rush.
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