It must be Batch this Sunday

The Dennis Dixon experiment is over. He sustained a knee injury in this past Sunday's game against the Titans and will miss at least three weeks with a torn meniscus. Dixon suffered the injury on a designed running play which is ironic because everyone was calling for more runs out of him and many, including Bruce Arians, seemed to be opposed to the idea because of DD's slight stature.

I guess BA can chalk this one up in the "I Told you So" column if he so desired.

Anyway, even before the extent of Dixon's injury was disclosed, I was hoping that Tomlin would put Batch in this week against Tampa Bay.

I think it was pretty obvious that Dixon just didn't look comfortable back there at quarterback. He almost always seemed to fix on one guy from the start of the snap and often missed wide open receivers. I'm not saying he can't develop into a very good quarterback someday, but I am saying that the Steelers can't afford to allow him the time right now.

Everyone is acting like the Steelers are playing with house money right now because they won the first two games of the season and the goal was to go 2-2 before Roethlisberger's return. Well, that was the goal of most fans and media members. I sure hope the players and coaches don't feel that way.

Pittsburgh needs to go out and win every game it can right now. The difference between starting out 2-2 or 3-1 can mean making the playoffs or missing them. It could mean making the playoffs as a wild-card or having a bye week.

This week, Mike Tomlin must choose between a healthy albiet injury prone Charlie Batch, or the recently injured Byron Leftwich, who will test his injured knee this week and see how it responds.

But I think the choice should be clear. The team must go with Batch this week. Of the two, he's got more mobility than Leftwich does even when he's healthy. And judging by the way the offensive line looked against Tennessee, any quarterback is going to have to move fast.

And, of course. Batch knows the offensive system better because he's been around longer. And whatever rust he had was probably worked out in the game on Sunday and he could develop the timing he needs with a full week of practice with the first team.

The stats show that Pittsburgh had only 21 yards passing, but that was rather misleading since Batch could have very easily had three touchdowns. The dart that he threw to Wallace in the first half would have gone for a touchdown if it wasn't for a great play by safety Chris Hope. Batch also had a touchdown pass to Wallace called back by a holding call. And he almost hooked up with Hines at the end of the game on a beautiful touch pass.

I just think Batch is the best choice this week. Byron might be the better choice down the road, but the team doesn't have time for that. They need to do what's best for them right now.