Batch as QB coach? Not so fast ...

Over the past several years, I've read quite a few posts on message boards saying that Charlie Batch should be the Steelers quarterback coach when he's done playing. I haven't been as sure as most Steelers fans. It's not that I think he CAN'T be a great coach ... it's just that I have no clue whether he can be, and I have no idea why others are so positive about his coaching ability.

I also saw a lot of posts last year about Hines Ward becoming our receivers coach. My feelings at the time regarding Ward as a coach are the same that I have about Batch ... what evidence do we have that either one would make a good coach in the NFL? I stated last year that Ward would need to start at a lower level and gain experience as a coach. Same for Batch.

In a Q&A, Ed Bouchette addressed Batch as coach. I've thought about the need for experience, but Ed brings up another good point about why we won't see Batch as our QB coach anytime soon:

Quote :

Some of their former players do return to the Steelers to coach. Carnell Lake is their secondary coach and Darren Perry was too. Joe Greene, now a special scout, was their defensive line coach for a period in the 1980s. Tony Dungy was their defensive coordinator. Those are some examples. What’s true for all of them is that they did not step from playing for the Steelers to coaching for them. Organizations and head coaches like to see former players put time between their playing and coaching careers for many reasons. One is that there can be conflicts between someone who was your teammate now coaching you.

http://sulia.com/channel/pittsburgh-steelers/f/6ec25228-a0b7-49a6-b183-3f5b6dc43150/?source=twitter

bayz101 wrote:

Forget Batch as QB coach. Sign Shaq to back up Ben. Defenders can't tackle Ben ... what the hell are they going to do against Shaq?

Coaching a former NBA player to compete on a reality show isn't quite the same as coaching a quarterback to win the Super Bowl. I can help my kids with their homework, but I'm not lecturing at Harvard.

The EB comments make sense. I do think in time Charlie could be a good QB coach. Hines might make a better LB coach though.

I believe Charlie is a natural when it comes to coaching/teaching. Unlike Ward, who has the mentality for the game, but not for coaching. I think it's in Charlie to take the QB process from mind, to paper, to young athlete.

I would love for Batch to be our QB coach, but I don't see it happening. I think the current coach wouldn't want to leave.