Steelers.com brings you the Ask the Steelers feature. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.
Running Back Baron Batch
Jay Regal, Memphis, Tennessee: What are your initial thoughts of Todd Haley's offense?
Batch: It's a learning process, but everyone is getting the hang of it and it almost flows easily as far as the no-huddle calls and just the way the numbering system and the way the plays are called. It's easier for me to learn than some of the other offenses I have been in. I think Coach Haley does a really good job of explaining everything and being real hands on and showing what he wants done. When you have a coach like that players pick up on it quicker. He shows you how he wants it and I appreciate that.
Matt Zimmerman, Landover, Maryland: Do you feel like you need to prove yourself again during training camp because you were out all last year?
Batch: Everybody does. When you play in this league each year you have to prove yourself over again. For me, I had two weeks under my belt when I went down with my injury. I didn't play in the preseason. I am eager to prove myself again and I will. That will be my mindset next year too, even if I have a great year.
Doug Mills, Washington, Pennsylvania: The Steelers drafted Chris Rainey this year. Do you look at him as your direct competition?
Batch: Everybody in the running back room is in competition with each other. Everybody on this team is in competition. You have guys fighting for position spots, for special team's spots. If you don't like to compete, you don't deserve to play in the NFL. That is why a lot of guys don't last long, they are scared of competition. I am not scared of competition. I am excited they brought in a guy that can help us win games too. I am going to help him out any way I can just like the older guys did for me last year. As soon as the season starts they are looking for guys to take our jobs. That is how it goes. It's the nature of the game. You either get scared of it or embrace it. I think it's a cool thing to be in such a high-level league that each year you have to fight and claw to stay in it.
Mike Green, Palmetto, Florida: What do you bring to the running back position that is different?
Batch: I think we all bring a little something different. I can do a little bit of everything, I can catch it out of the backfield, I can block, run. I can do a little bit of everything. There isn't anything that jumps out as far as being super fast, but I am well-rounded. More than anything I am a competitor and I pride myself on being tough. Those are the two things that are most important to me. Those things aren't based on physical ability, but are mental and I pride myself on that.
Dan Myers, Rochester, New York: What goes through your mind when you are lined up in the backfield and you know the ball is coming to you?
Batch: I am thinking just which way to go, what my read is. There is a lot that goes on. In college there wasn't that much. There is more added to it now, play checks, things like that. It's a lot. And as soon as the ball is snapped you have to put it in action and make it happen.
Davis Kimble, Morgantown, West Virginia: How does it feel to live the dream of playing in the NFL, something so many would love to do?
Batch: It's definitely a blessing. Every day when I come in, walk in and see it says Steelers, it's cool to know I have been able to work hard and get here. But I am not satisfied with where I am. There is a difference between making it to the NFL and making it in the NFL. A lot of people make it to the NFL, but to make it in the NFL you have to put in a lot of work and there is a lot that goes into it. I want to be a guy that when my career is done I can say I made it in the NFL.
Ben Wright, Charlotte, North Carolina: How big is high school football in Texas?
Batch: It was huge. I think it's something everyone should experience once, going to a big rival game in Texas. It's just like you see in the movies, towns shut down and everyone goes to the game. It's pretty neat.
Jake Brown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: How did you become interested in photography?
Batch: When I was younger I was artistic, liked to draw and look at picture books. When I was in college I had a friend into photography so I went and bought a camera and the rest is history. It's one of my passions, something I love to do.
Maria Clark, New York, New York: Is being well-rounded important to you?
Batch: The reason I love football is it's iconic of how life is. Like Coach Tomlin says, the more you can do the longer you will stick around and the better you will be. It's the same in life. I fell like being a good person, exploring the passions you have and making them things you do is important. If you have a guy on the field that can run only one play, he is not useful and it takes away from the game. Being able to only do one thing in life, takes away from life in a sense. I want to be able to say I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see and enjoyed it when it's all said and done.
