Ben Roethlisberger: “…it starts with me.”

[Steeler Nation]

After losing their second consecutive home game, this time to the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had his weekly press conference with the media on Wednesday morning. In that meeting, we heard the seemingly-weekly Roethlisberger catch-phrases; “I need to play better”, “…it starts with me”, and “…I just have to be better.” It may just be me, but I feel like Steeler Nation has heard those same phrases repeated since Week 15 of the 2020 season. So, this begs the question, what can we expect to see change to address the back-to-back poor offensive performances? According to Roethlisberger, it goes back to what he was told in college where it begins with faster starts on offense:

“Traditionally, I’ve never really been a fast kind of start guy,” he explained. “My college coach, Coach Hoeppner, used to say the same thing. He would say we have to get you started faster in practices and games. I need to start faster.”

It was then in the press conference where the play-calling forecast got a bit bleak when Roethlisberger said:

“I know the coaches are doing a great job of scripting things, whether it’s screens or getting the ball out. Plays you really like. As an offense we need to start faster, but it starts with me. I need to get better with that because that’s kind of the key to a successful day, starting fast.”

Isn’t this what the offense was known for in 2020 under then-offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner? Isn’t this exactly what fans are starting to get anxious about going into Week 4? Roethlisberger said he needs to start getting more screens and quick passes going earlier in the game in order to be successful, but is this truly the solution?

Let’s take a look at some early-season numbers. Yes, I understand only 3 games have been played, but that is enough to forecast a trend. Through the first 3 games, Roethlisberger has thrown 83 completions out of 130 attempts for 801 yards. That is an average of roughly 43 pass attempts per game. If this trend maintains for the duration of the season, that’s about 737 total pass attempts in a 17-game season. Understanding it was a 16-game season, the next-most attempts Roethlisberger threw was in 2018 with 675 attempts where he threw for a career-high 5,129 yards. With that said however, here is a major detail; in 2018, Roethlisberger averaged 7.6 yards per attempt. So far in 2021, he’s averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. This is his lowest of his career, with the exception of his short 2019 season where he averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. So, with a sputtering offense where the team’s running back is second in receiving yards, are short and quick passes the answer? Of course, there is the argument and valid point that this is due to a weak offensive line. But even in 2009, Roethlisberger took a career-high 50 sacks in the season and still maintained an average of 8.6 yards per attempt.






Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field is going to pose quite the challenge for that type of game plan. Through the first 3 games, the Green Bay defense has allowed an average of 3 passing touchdowns per game while averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. In Roethlisberger’s last 3 games against the Packers, he’s averaged 26 completions on 40 attempts for 340 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception. This is where the game will be decided on Sunday. The Steelers are going to need the offense to win the game and this involves Roethlisberger pushing the ball downfield. At some point, Roethlisberger and company needs to open up the playbook and start airing the ball out beyond the first down markers.

When Roethlisberger says the offense starts with him and he needs to get better in order for the team to win, now is a better time than any to take that next step to winning.



What are you looking for in this week’s game preparation? How do you think Roethlisberger will play against Green Bay? Let us know in the comment section below!

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[paperclip]

he needs to start faster.

how many days does he practice during the week?

 

[Punxsutawney]

So, I'm guessing he was full participation in practice today to work thing out?

 

[Steelr4evr]

The guy needs a OL. You know an actual running game people have to worry about. What shouldn't be happening is 58 ******* pass attempts. That **** should have ended last year.


This completely one dimensional offense will never produce. I'd kill to have a running game like the Titans. Our passing game would look light years better.

 

[chipped ham]

I bumped into Hines Ward, and I said “Hines, you hang out with Ben Roethlisberger, just between me and you, how old is Ben Roethlisberger?” You know what Hines told me? He said “Ben Roethlisberger is 137 years old.” 137 years old!

 

[Drink IRON City]

When is it ever going to be anything different for BEN's answers. He takes the weight of the team at all times, something his head coach is lacking.

Ben can't block / pass / & receive all in the same play, litterally impossible play in and play out yet some feel that is exactly what he needs to do and even if he actually did it some would still be disappointed.

The offensive line will dictate how this game plays out. Slow things down for them, add heavy packages, don't do those ******* bunch formations closr to the line of scrimage or right next to the tackle. WHY suck the defense in when you are running unless you think that helps when run to opposite....... (news flash: it doesn't in our case).

A full back could actually help if used consistantly (more than once every other game). How about snell/harris in the same back field ??? Our pre-snap motion isn't fooling anyone so gear it to running the football. Until we can run and I mean actually run, nothing else will matter. The OL players can build off the run for pass blocking.


I know I may over simplify this aspect but when nothing is working you go back to absolute basics and establish that then build off of it.............football 101.


Ben (author), thanks for the article !






Salute the nation

 

[black and gold apex]

No one other players steps up and says these word. Amazing no line receivers that cannot separate then 50-50 to catch ball. Have a good play yellow flags. The true fact is this line has not come close to getting the job done, no run game , no pass blocking, a lot of stand looking down at Ben.. Why is it no one sees this. Then as I said receivers not in position not catching. Punt the ball then after the defense struggles we then have field position stating inside the ten

 

[madinsomniac]

When is it ever going to be anything different for BEN's answers. He takes the weight of the team at all times, something his head coach is lacking.

Ben can't block / pass / & receive all in the same play, litterally impossible play in and play out yet some feel that is exactly what he needs to do and even if he actually did it some would still be disappointed.

The offensive line will dictate how this game plays out. Slow things down for them, add heavy packages, don't do those ******* bunch formations closr to the line of scrimage or right next to the tackle. WHY suck the defense in when you are running unless you think that helps when run to opposite....... (news flash: it doesn't in our case).

A full back could actually help if used consistantly (more than once every other game). How about snell/harris in the same back field ??? Our pre-snap motion isn't fooling anyone so gear it to running the football. Until we can run and I mean actually run, nothing else will matter. The OL players can build off the run for pass blocking.


I know I may over simplify this aspect but when nothing is working you go back to absolute basics and establish that then build off of it.............football 101.


Ben (author), thanks for the article !






Salute the nation

Im 100% sure the lack of fullback is a Tomlin thing he inherited from Arians… its been pretty consistent with mild exceptions… and I know Canada utilizes fullbacks and h backs in past offenses…

 

[GILBERT]

The guy needs a OL. You know an actual running game people have to worry about. What shouldn't be happening is 58 ******* pass attempts. That **** should have ended last year.


This completely one dimensional offense will never produce. I'd kill to have a running game like the Titans. Our passing game would look light years better.

Completely agree. Need to get Harris going early. May even a screen??? Teams are stacking the box from the first snap. Get down by 2 scores and we have no choice but to throw.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Im 100% sure the lack of fullback is a Tomlin thing he inherited from Arians… its been pretty consistent with mild exceptions… and I know Canada utilizes fullbacks and h backs in past offenses…

Another trend that Tomlin has his hand on a failing offense. A poster said Talent can overcome coaching so our offensive line is struggling not just to the guy in front of him but also to over come coaching too.

I know Coach Tomlin can't play for the players, they have to play but he could do things to make their jobs easier yet he doesn't.


Salute the nation

 

[Badcat]

It may start with him...but it doesn't end with him.

The challenge is on Matt Canada to solve for the Offensive Line woes with personnel and schemes until this unit gels and gains some experience.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Completely agree. Need to get Harris going early. May even a screen??? Teams are stacking the box from the first snap. Get down by 2 scores and we have no choice but to throw.

Every single team has been stacking the line since last year. They have a few more games to produce a running game. If they go into a 1-4 or 1-5 hole, it's going to be damn near impossible to climb out of.


Defensively they're screwed without a consistent pass rush. If they play a bunch of zone with no pass rush against Rogers, he's going carve them up like a Thanksgiving turkey.


The next 3-4 weeks will tell about how this year is going to go. That schedule doesn't look good and they just got handled at home by the bungles. Cleveland and Baltimore will be slug fests. They'd better be ready to man up or it's going to be an awful year.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Doesn’t it all start with Canada? He puts the play in, the execution starts with Ben and the OL..yes...but Canada creates and installs how we will attack (lay down at the opponents feet)

But it all starts with the OC. If we only call plays that attack about 30-40%of the field we are essentially making the D’s job of covering us between 2-3 times easier.

OC, focus on the run game because until we get that fixed our Swiss cheese OL will continue to show holes all over the place in their collective game.

But alas, we operate almost exclusively out of pistol/shotgun likely because we can’t block long enough for our 137 year old QB wearing cement shoes to do a drop back from under Center...and I’ve never seen a dominant or even average run game ran exclusively from shotgun.

Our identity is lacking other than we need to remember to put our helmet on because we may just fall out of the short bus we rode in on.

This experiment so far has been a really special kind of stupid. Can we please find ONE thing we can do well and start building from there?

 

[Hypocycloids]

Who is ultimately responsible for evaluating and acquiring O line talent? Start with that guy.

 

[SteveA]

And ends.....

 

[Hines57]

Need the OL to block. Need the WRs to run the correct routes and get open. Need Ben to hit them when they get open. Pretty simple if you ask me.

If all we can do is dump off passes, he's through

 

[warriors42]

what I don't get is you have a 39 year old HOF QB that has taken a beating for the better part of his career in what is most likely his last season and you choose to protect him with rookies an old guy and a new addition. you can't even make this **** up.

Some of this has to fall on Rooney. If I owned a team even if I was hands off I would still insist we protect possibly the best player we have ever had in perhaps his final season. I would have made it very clear this was not an option no matter what we had to do, even if that meant tagging Watt.

I love this team but some of the decisions that are made make me sick to my stomach.

 

[Steelr4evr]

what I don't get is you have a 39 year old HOF QB that has taken a beating for the better part of his career in what is most likely his last season and you choose to protect him with rookies an old guy and a new addition. you can't even make this **** up.

Some of this has to fall on Rooney. If I owned a team even if I was hands off I would still insist we protect possibly the best player we have ever had in perhaps his final season. I would have made it very clear this was not an option no matter what we had to do, even if that meant tagging Watt.

I love this team but some of the decisions that are made make me sick to my stomach.

I don't grasp the line of thinking. They spoke of wanting to reestablish a running game. So far I see last year as this year. It actually looks worse so far.

I keep looking for something that stands out. I mean Harris stands out in what he's doing, but he's barely got any room to run and has had a truckload of dumpoff passes go his way.

 

[Drink IRON City]

what I don't get is you have a 39 year old HOF QB that has taken a beating for the better part of his career in what is most likely his last season and you choose to protect him with rookies an old guy and a new addition. you can't even make this **** up.

Some of this has to fall on Rooney. If I owned a team even if I was hands off I would still insist we protect possibly the best player we have ever had in perhaps his final season. I would have made it very clear this was not an option no matter what we had to do, even if that meant tagging Watt.

I love this team but some of the decisions that are made make me sick to my stomach.

slash summed it up pretty well in one of his post(s)

The Rooneys have a perfect business model. They win quite often and stay under the cap, able to retain fan-fair and money.

I hear yaz warriors42, even Art Sr. wanted to win but didn't know how until DAN got invovled. Now we are down to Art Duece and I know he cares business wise but not sure he is a through and through football man. Tomlin does not help the matter any as well.






Salute the nation

 

[CoolieMan]

And ends.....

bullshit

Ben can only throw the passes, someone has to catch them. 11 ******* drops in one game is just pitiful

 

[Drink IRON City]

It may start with him...but it doesn't end with him.

The challenge is on Matt Canada to solve for the Offensive Line woes with personnel and schemes until this unit gels and gains some experience.

I agree with this staement but realize Coach Tomlin also has his hand in the OCs outcome. Matt Canada has to find a way to lead past Coach Tomlin and all other things to succeed.

We are not seeing a true Matt Canada offense as it takes time to infuse and right personal plus the Head Coach influence. Time can only help.





Salute the nation