As the Steelers reminded reporters this morning, we are not permitted to write or discuss who takes what first-team snaps at quarterback - or any other position, for that matter – once the regular season begins.
That should give you an idea of what they're doing at the position - or not.
© James Harrison has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
© Steve McLendon has been re-signed to the practice squad.
© James Harrison was fined $5,000 by the NFL for a hit on Vince Young on which he drove Young - and teammates Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith - into the ground.
Still think this "mum's the word" stuff about who's hurt and how badly or who's with the first team and who's not is a bunch of baloney.
ReplyDeletePlayers move from team to team and on and off practice squads. Do the coaches really think their opponents don't know what's going on?
I can see asking reporters not to divulge what trick plays are being practiced, but that's it.
who would the bucs be talking to right now to see who is taking 1st team QB snaps?
ReplyDeletei hear Batch is starting
ReplyDeletetrue?
Pretty sure Tampa is familiar with Leftwich since he played for them last year. The only other QB to get ready for is Batch. Neither QB is very mobile and both are primarily pocket passers. But, hey, I've got a secret.
ReplyDeleteSince Tomlin (and Kemoeatu) are reporting that Batch is likely to start and Dale is reminding everyone that he cannot report on who is starting at QB, I would take it to mean that games are being played and Leftwich will start. Then again, maybe I am over-thinking it.
ReplyDeleteThe point is, both qbs are similar except that Leftwich has a stronger arm and Batch is a bit more mobile. It's not like a running qb vs a pocket passer where an opponent might have to work on a lot of extra stuff not knowing which kind of qb would play to the detriment of being able to game plan exclusively for one or the other.
ReplyDeleteadamg,
ReplyDeletethe current situation between leftwich and batch is obviously not a good example.
however, andy reid could have played it close to the vest between vick and kolb and that certainly would have caused issues for the opposing defense.
there's nothing wrong with a coach saying, "i've made up my mind and you will find out on gameday."
You're assuming Kemoeatu is that smart. Actually, a few players let it slip today in the locker room, which made Tomlin's subterfuge moot.
ReplyDeleteBatch will start.
marc, I don't disagree with a situation where a coach has a choice of two very different qbs and he chooses to try and keep his gameday choice under wraps. Just in this case there wasn't much difference between the two potential starters and given only one of those is 100% healthy, it didn't make a lot of sense for Tomlin to try to keep TB guessing.
ReplyDeleteWho cares who starts? Neither of them are capable of winning the game on their own, we just need someone to manage the game while the defense takes control. Quit crying about what Tomlin will or won't say.
ReplyDeletePoint about Kemoeatu well taken Dale. Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteThere could certainly be differences in how a defense will prepare for these two QBs. Batch gets the ball away much quicker than Leftwich. Though I'm certainly not a skilled observer, I would think that the OL protections might be different for these two guys based on that fact alone, and therefore different blitzing schemes would need to be used by the defense. Additionally, the defense might have to prepare a little more for different types of passes - Leftwich is more prone to throw the long ball, and most importantly: we all know that chicks dig the long ball.
ReplyDeleteBatch also moves better in the pocket. He's better at it than he gets credit for.
ReplyDelete