Ben Roethlisberger: Rinse, Lather, Repeat

[Steeler Nation]

On Wednesday before practice, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger met with the media to discuss the Week 4 loss to the Green Bay Packers and his preparation heading into Week 5. It seems as though Roethlisberger’s press conferences tend to take on the persona of a shampoo commercial; rinse (“It starts with me” and “I need to play better”), lather (“We need to execute plays on offense” and “I won’t make any excuses”), repeat.

Head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Roethlisberger’s new hip injury in his Tuesday press conference. Naturally, this was one of the first questions Roethlisberger addressed:

“It’s pretty sore. It’s just something we’ve all got to deal with when we play this game of football,” he explained. “I’m not going to make excuses, but as a quarterback there’s so much involved in your lower body. People probably think as a quarterback or as a thrower it’s how’s your arm doing. Your arm is a small part compared to the whole package, just your core, your lower body.”

Roethlisberger missed some relatively open and routine throws we’ve seen him make in past years — specifically, two open JuJu Smith-Schuster touchdowns which would’ve changed the course of the game. After completing 26 out of 40 passes for 232 yards last week against the Packers, Roethlisberger admitted his mechanics were off on some throws:

“I’ve got to find ways to be better with my lower body, going back and watching the game. A lot of the throws that I missed were missed because my lower body wasn’t in sync. Over striding, not stepping towards my target. Things that mechanically I know I can fix and need to fix. Obviously when you’re dealing with pain it’s harder to get through those things, but nothing I can’t get through and I’ll work to get through”, he said. “I think there is some compensating that happens when you can’t drive into a throw, but once again I’m not going to make excuses. I’ve been doing this a long time, played through lower body injuries before so that’s things I need to get better with.”

Steelers fans know it is natural for Roethlisberger to shoulder the blame for poor offensive performance and to praise the entire unit when they perform well. This is something fans have loved about him and praised him for the past several years. However, after repeating himself every week since November of last year, these seems to be a façade. I’m no expert in body language, but watching Roethlisberger answer the media’s questions today took on almost a, “I’m not telling you anything and you can’t make me” attitude. This may be due to the fact that most of the Week 4 postgame commentary surrounded the potential love affair between coach Tomlin and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was almost as if a significant other was seen flirting with a different person amidst of a break-up. Needless to say, there are now more questions than answers at the quarterback position in Pittsburgh.






Sitting at 1-3, there is speculation as to who we can see start at quarterback should the offense still continue to fail under Roethlisberger. When asked about this potential controversy after the first four weeks, Roethlisberger replied:

“I know that I can play better football,” proclaimed Roethlisberger. “I believe in myself. I know that no matter what’s going on, I’m going to fight my butt off to get a win. If that’s the way that I need to lead right now by showing these guys that I’m going to do everything I can to win a football game, then I’ll keep doing that.”

In regards to any panic or concern setting in the locker room, Roethlisberger concluded with:

“We’re not going to panic. We’re just going to get ready for a challenge this week.”

Do you think the Steelers should hit the panic button at quarterback? Who do you want to see start behind center? Let us know in the comments!

#SteelerNation

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[BLITZ]

I am not sure it is hitting the panic button if theybench a struggling player. Even if it is a qb

 

[6Lombardis]

Did Ben practice today? If these things are wrong, if he is going to work to get it right, can we at least see him not take days off if only for the optics of it?

 

[Drink IRON City]

There was an article out I read in another post about Canada & Tomlin handcuffing him. They aren't letting him audible out and no plays installed on the no-huddle (muddle huddle) scenario of BEN's game. That no-huddle is a very big part of and he is very good at it so much so it's how they scored that 3rd qtr (?) touch down that got them back into the game, 6 plays.

Why would you take out a BIG part of what has worked????? I know they want the new offense installed but at what cost(s).?

There is visual / mental / clairvoyancey all involved in knowing there is something wrong in the coaching and QB play. Ben still has the arm & brain but has lost movement but hamper that with limited input during live action and you have part of what's happening game day live.





Salute the nation

 

[Steeler]

This offense has always been at its best when Ben has the freedom to audible or push the pace.

 

[Drink IRON City]

This offense has always been at its best when Ben has the freedom to audible or push the pace.

If you haven't, go read that article as it's in the Neutered Ben thread, Well worth the read.



Salute the nation

 

[MB47]

For a while now Cowherd has said on his show he has been told by coaches and players that the Steelers have one of the least sophisticated audible systems in the NFL and it has hurt their offense. Hard to disagree with him.

 

[Badcat]

If you haven't, go read that article as it's in the Neutered Ben thread, Well worth the read.



Salute the nation

At this point, why would Ben listen to them? It's his last year to win one more. What are they going to do, bench him?

 

[Drink IRON City]

At this point, why would Ben listen to them? It's his last year to win one more. What are they going to do, bench him?

As fans it is easy for us the say / think that but maybe there was an under-the-table stipulation to bringing him back as to he has to follow what is laid out in this new offense? Regardless it's a bullshit move if true. If he is handcuffed in any way then why did they bring him back ????





Salute the nation

 

[mdk2]

For a while now Cowherd has said on his show he has been told by coaches and players that the Steelers have one of the least sophisticated audible systems in the NFL and it has hurt their offense. Hard to disagree with him.

We don't have an audible system at all this season, so there's no sophistication.

How can you listen to that clown.

 

[Badcat]

As fans it is easy for us the say / think that but maybe there was an under-the-table stipulation to bringing him back as to he has to follow what is laid out in this new offense? Regardless it's a bullshit move if true. If he is handcuffed in any way then why did they bring him back ????





Salute the nation

Agree. If it were me I'd be like "**** it, lets go boys, time to take control of this **** show"

 

[MB47]

We don't have an audible system at all this season, so there's no sophistication.

How can you listen to that clown.

Love his guests and unlike other talk show hosts he wears well.

 

[wig]

I gathered from the article, Ben's comments and Tomlin's comments that the offensive language at least has changed enough that "audible calls" are a bit difficult because not everyone is completely comfortable with the language.

Also, Tomlin flat out stated that there are some plays where Ben isn't allowed to audible. That's just dumb. The 4th down plays were the ones specifically mentioned. However you can't just kill the coaches because at least on the 1st one, Muth WAS wide open in the middle and Ben never even looked his way. (IE an audible wasn't necessary in that case, seemingly.)

I think Ben's got the yips and he either has to sit or commit to saying "**** it." If he's going to get hit and crushed in the backfield, that's on the O-line and not him. He needs to just say, "I'm going to hold the ******* ball until a receiver comes open and it's up to YOU ******* GUYS to keep the defense off me so I can make a decent throw."

Then, he needs to just go out and do that, come hell or high water and make some of those old Ben plays. Winning is contagious and if they start performing well, we might see a touch of confidence and swagger show up in the offensive line.

The other issue is that, as of 4 games, the Steelers are (by far) the least running team in the NFL. There was an article that said they've only run 66 times in the first 4 games. That's basically 16 runs a game. That should be the first ******* half, perhaps even the 1st quarter. If they're going to commit to the run, they might want to... you know.. run it.