Why does Ben always swing for the fence ?

Thanks so there is some memory capacity left..

 

the "double coverage" he was referring to was on the first play of the game (it was not double coverage)

the 4th and 1 play is not in to double coverage either. The safety is making a play to a sideline zone. Ben makes the right read. Wheaton is open. Go watch the coaches film. He has beaten the corner and the safety is playing the sideline. Watch the snap from behind Roethlisberger. There's 9 in the box. The first read is easy to pick up, it's the guy Ben immediately looks at. If the LB doesn't take James off the line, it's an easy first down. The LBer takes James, and the next read is Wheaton against the CB, who Wheaton has beaten. The CB shouldn't allow inside release as the safety is playing the sideline.

Ben made the right read, it was a good playcall. It should've been 7.... but Ben underthrew it (after overthrowing earlier), and Wheaton lacks any "big play" ability to make a contested catch.

Ben did NOT throw in to double coverage. Denver's coverage broke down and Ben read it right.
Ben was not late, he just slightly under touched the ball.

Unfortunately, if the CB/FS played it better/correctly... Ben would've been forced to his third read... a wide open Heath on the crosser. although he probably would've been sacked as Touissant missed his block

 

Not disagreeing at all. I'm scratching my head (OK, griping) at why, in those circumstances, the second read is a deep route. Not that every receiver should be sent two yards out, but there's got to be a play in the book that has a second read closer than heave-it distance away.

 

bingo

 

Part of it too is not turning the ball over, Ben had way too many pics this year IMHO.

 

After watching the Panther / Cards game,,I'm really glad BA is gone,,how many deep passes did they throw? and not 1 landed, what a waste of downs.

 

Like RPO mentioned, it's route progression. The QB scans the routes/coverages from one side of the field to the other. So while the Outlaw and Heeeeath were both short routes, they were on different sides of the field. Ben saw that the second read was open, and there's no guarantee the third opens up, so you have to take that shot downfield and hope the execution is there (it usually was).

 

And I take issue with a "and-short" play that incorporates that progression. I've seen lots of plays from lots of teams where the second target isn't on the same side of the field as the primary receiver.

Moreover, we're discussing an elite quarterback in a 4th-and-1 situation. I expect Ben to look to the next-best option, not the next-closest, even if it means he has to turn his head.

 

Palmer stunk in both playoff games, his passes landed but they landed 4 times with picks in the panthers hands, plus he turned the ball over twice on fumbles, maybe it's true he chokes in playoff games, but BA is not blaming him for their loss, he plans on palmer being back under center this year and making another run at the playoffs, which may or may not happen with 17 free agents needing new contracts....