polamalubeast
09-28-2010, 07:02 PM
Others may be, but the Pittsburgh Steelers express little surprise they have gone 3-0 without the services of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ...
... "It's great. It speaks a lot for our team," said running back Rashard Mendenhall, who has helped the cause by rushing for 332 yards in three games. "As far as our mentality, expectations don't change for us. Nobody's going to care if you lose a game because someone's not here."
The one still there despite the odds against him is quarterback Charlie Batch, 35. He's the one who was headed for the exit to start the season, thrust behind Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon all spring and summer. He got no snaps with the first-team offense in the spring or summer, none in the preseason, none until last week after knee injuries to Leftwich and Dixon left coach Mike Tomlin little choice but to turn to Batch.
"I was the odd man out. You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out," Batch said.
But Batch, starting for the first time since 2007, threw three touchdown passes in Pittsburgh's 38-13 dousing of Tampa Bay and will start his second straight game Sunday against Baltimore in Heinz Field.
The Steelers will try to go 4-0 when they turn things over to Roethlisberger when he returns next Monday from his four-game suspension. Roethlisberger is eligible to play when the Steelers come off their bye week and take on Cleveland at home Oct. 17.
There aren't many who thought they could win two games, never mind be 3-0 and have a chance at a sweep while waiting for their suspended quarterback to return.
"Of course, we did," said wide receiver Mike Wallace, who caught two long touchdown passes from Batch in Tampa
read more
http://pit.scout.com/2/1006791.html
... "It's great. It speaks a lot for our team," said running back Rashard Mendenhall, who has helped the cause by rushing for 332 yards in three games. "As far as our mentality, expectations don't change for us. Nobody's going to care if you lose a game because someone's not here."
The one still there despite the odds against him is quarterback Charlie Batch, 35. He's the one who was headed for the exit to start the season, thrust behind Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon all spring and summer. He got no snaps with the first-team offense in the spring or summer, none in the preseason, none until last week after knee injuries to Leftwich and Dixon left coach Mike Tomlin little choice but to turn to Batch.
"I was the odd man out. You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out," Batch said.
But Batch, starting for the first time since 2007, threw three touchdown passes in Pittsburgh's 38-13 dousing of Tampa Bay and will start his second straight game Sunday against Baltimore in Heinz Field.
The Steelers will try to go 4-0 when they turn things over to Roethlisberger when he returns next Monday from his four-game suspension. Roethlisberger is eligible to play when the Steelers come off their bye week and take on Cleveland at home Oct. 17.
There aren't many who thought they could win two games, never mind be 3-0 and have a chance at a sweep while waiting for their suspended quarterback to return.
"Of course, we did," said wide receiver Mike Wallace, who caught two long touchdown passes from Batch in Tampa
read more
http://pit.scout.com/2/1006791.html