Steelers History Question- Batch and Maddox

Let’s review the Steelers QB situation over the last 10 years:

1999 – Kordell Stewart, Mike Tomzcak, Pete Gonzalez
Stewart is the starter until the 1st half of his horrific performance in week 12 against Cincinnati when he throws 2 picks in his first 11 passes and is relegated to wide receiver the rest of the season. Tomzcak becomes the starter for the rest of the year playing ok his 1st few games in defeat before the wheels come off at the end of the year. After he throws 4 interceptions against the Chiefs fans are clamoring for Gonzalez to get into games because he’s a hometown boy. Cowher gets testy at press conferences when reporters ask about Pistol Pete getting into games. After the season Tomczak retires and the Steelers sign Kent Graham to compete with Stewart for the starting job. They draft Tee Martin to replace Gonzalez.

2000 – Kordell Stewart, Kent Graham, Tee Martin
Graham wins the starting job coming out of training camp, but absolutely sucks the first 3 games, all losses, including the infamous sack on 3rd down with 10 seconds left against the Browns which allowed time to run out. In week 4 Stewart becomes the starter but does nothing special in his 2 game stint while Graham is injured to keep the job. Graham comes back as starter against the Bengals but is horrible and the next game is benched for Stewart for the remainder of the season and for next year. The Steelers release Graham after the year and are now left with an opening for a backup QB as Martin is deemed not ready to do anything. They sign Tommy Maddox, the XFL MVP to be Stewart’s backup.

2001 – Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox, Tee Martin
Stewart plays excellent all season long up until week 16 against Cincinnati when the wheels start to come off heading into the playoffs. Against Baltimore in the playoffs he is mediocre but they still win. Against New England he is worse than mediocre in the AFCC game. Still, there is optimism that Stewart has turned the corner as an NFL QB. In the offseason the Lions draft Joey Harrington with the first overall pick making Charlie Batch, who was injured to close out 2001, expendable. With Maddox still a largely unknown NFL quantity the Steelers need a legit backup QB to Stewart and Batch gladly signs a hometown discount to play for the Steelers for one season with the intention of being a starter somewhere else the following year.

2002 – Tommy Maddox, Kordell Stewart, Charlie Batch
Stewart begins the year as the QB but is awful and is benched in the 3rd game of the year against Cleveland. Maddox leads the team in a thrilling come from behind victory and is the starter the rest of the year, except when he is temporarily paralyzed against Tennessee and the following 2 weeks when he is recovering. After the season the Steelers release Stewart now that Maddox is the unquestioned starter. With Maddox and Batch accomplished NFL starters the Steelers decide they can use their #3 spot on a developmental QB and draft Brian St. Pierre. After finding no takers in free agency to compete as a starter, Batch resigns a longer deal with the Steelers to be their backup.

2003 – Tommy Maddox, Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre
Maddox has an up and down season but never loses his job as starter. Batch plays in relief but does nothing to distinguish himself. In the offseason, despite needs along the offensive line at tackle the Steelers take BPA in the draft after Ben Roethlisberger falls into their lap.

2004 – Ben Roethlisberger, Tommy Maddox, Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre
Coming into training camp Ben is the #3 behind Maddox and Batch and St. Pierre looks like he is auditioning for another team. However Batch blows out his knee in preseason and Ben is elevated to the backup job and St. Pierre gets to stay on as the #3 QB. Maddox is injured against the Ravens and Ben becomes the starter we go 15-1 and never look back.

2005 – Ben Roethlisberger, Tommy Maddox, Charlie Batch
St. Pierre is released in the offseason as Batch is now healthy. Ben remains the unquestioned starter but he injures his knee against San Diego on MNF and Maddox is called on to start against Jax where he proceeds to have one of the worst games by an NFL QB ever. He is so bad he is bumped to #3 on the depth chart behind Batch. Ben reinjures his knee against the Ravens on MNF and Batch is called on to start the following week against Green Bay and then against Cleveland. Against the Packers he plays like garbage but the defense and Duce Staley lead the team to victory. At the end of the 1st half against Cleveland he breaks his hand on a QB. Maddox starts the following week against the Ravens and looks like a deer in headlights. Thankfully Ben returns and he saves the season. In the offseason Maddox is uncerimoniously dumped and the team resigns St. Pierre to be the #3 QB again. They also draft Omar Jacobs to provide competition.

2006 – Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre
St. Pierre beats out Jacobs for the #3 spot. Ben’s appendectomy forces him to miss the season opener against the Dolphins and Batch plays admirably. Ben returns and starts the rest of the year playing horrible until the New Orleans game to start the 2nd half of the year.

2007 – Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre
Ben starts the first 15 games before being sat as a precautions against Baltimore in the finale. Batch plays like garbage in the defeat. St. Pierre is finally dumped for the final time in the offseason and Dennis Dixon is drafted to be the developmental #3 QB.

2008 – Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon
In preseason Batch breaks his collarbone, is put on IR and the team signs Leftwich off the street. Ben starts every game though Leftwich plays the entire 2nd half against Washington leading the team to victory. After the year Leftwich signs with Tampa thinking he can be a starter in the league again. Batch is brought back as the #2.

2009 – Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon
Story yet to be written

2010 – IMO Ben Roethlisberger, Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch
Batch is demoted to #3 QB as Dixon shows himself capable of being the backup and Batch still provides a veteran presence.