Steelers' Charlie Batch Views Mike Williams As Critical "Potential Threat" To Ravens Despite Mike Tomlin's Misleading Comments

The Pittsburgh Steelers made many confusing decisions during their four-game losing streak to close the season. The Week 18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was especially frustrating, considering the Steelers won a shootout against them just about a month prior. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has confounded fans with his coaching decisions in the past and in that game.  

He was chastised for changing his game plan against the Bengals and primarily running the ball. Last time, they won by trusting Russell Wilson and allowing him to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers. 

While the Steelers do not have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to offensive weapons, they picked up Mike Williams before the trade deadline. The fact that they have hardly used him is a topic that confuses many. Since the trade, he has only played 29% of snaps, while Van Jefferson has played 64% of snaps.

Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch was asked about Williams when he joined the Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on 102.5 WDVE. The question posed to him was why aren't the Steelers using someone as big-bodied as Williams, who's a threat in the passing game, to help in the run game, and as a more regular target on offense?  

"And that's why we traded for him," said Batch. "It wasn't a secret, or at least it was the worst kept secret as it relates to the Steelers trying to trade for a wide receiver two (WR2). But now, you finally get him in November, and all of a sudden, you're trying to get to the situation where you're incorporating him in the offense. It didn't happen; he had one opportunity, caught a pass for 25 yards, and we're thinking, 'Ok this may be the week.' Why? Because that's what Coach Tomlin said, 'Hey, be prepared, he's ready this week.' And yet, we didn't see it, and you see the numbers swing to Van Jefferson versus Mike Williams. So if things have to change, I wanna see Mike Williams on the field a lot more if you're going to have a potential threat to that defense; I think Mike Williams provides that over Van Jefferson."

Williams arrived eager and excited after feeling misused by the New York Jets. In his first game in black and gold, Williams had one 32-yard catch for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders. While fans did not expect him to be elite, this catch ignited excitement that he could contribute to the offense. After that, he had three games with zero targets. He was most targeted, four times, in the win over the Cleveland Browns. 

The Steelers are significant underdogs as they face the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night in the Wild Card Round. If they are going to finally win a playoff game again, they will have to abandon the slow starts and run-heavy offense and scheme up something the players buy into.  

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Toting The Bags Of Playoff Losses

Tomlin was asked why he feels confident this team can win in Baltimore when they lost the last four games and haven't won a playoff game since the end of the 2016 season. He said he watches these players daily and knows what they can do. 

He also said he happily "totes the bags" of the previous playoff losses. He told reporters that the losses are his story and not the story of the collective group of players. Indeed, many of the players, and even some coaches, were not even on the team during their loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round at the end of the 2023 season or for the total miss after 2022. 

Do you think using Williams is a key to winning against the Ravens? Click to comment below. 

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