Roethlisberger: Washington needs to make that catch

This isn't the first time Ben has used his radio show to throw everyone but himself under the bus. Despite the rookie's drop, X's fumble, Conner's fumble ect., the team was in position to tie/win at the end and Ben blew it. He didn't mention that during the radio interview. He blamed Pouncey for blocking too good, AB for not running the route flat enough, the coach for the play call. Everyone but himself. That's what I have a problem with.

 

You have a head coach with little to no locker room control and a team leading QB who’s a drama queen that throws his fellow players under the bus through the media.

And we wonder why this team can’t get over the hump recently.

 

You should admit mistakes. You should point fingers at yourself. Still doesn't make it right to call out a rookie who is clearly struggling and not for a lack of trying. Ben says he's earned the right as a 15 year veteran....well maybe he should stop making rookie mistakes too.

 

I was referring to the radio interview he did tuesday on 93.7 FAN. No mention of a bad throw.

 

Damage control? Wouldn't be the first time....

 

He said himself he's not sure how they took it and that someone should ask them themselves. So if he doesn't know how it was received. How does he know it was the right approach. I highly doubt JW was slacking and just waiting for his QB to call him out,so he can show him ho good he is. Earning the right....doesn't make it right. So tell me what is JW supposed to do with this constructive criticism? Try harder? That's probably part of the problem already

 

From JW comments today you could tell the kid was embarrassed and his confidence already low, hurt. He said something along the lines of we all have the right to free speech. Yes it sounds like he took it well!

The thing that really makes no sense is Bens love affair in public with JuJu. He has to know that will affect the diva AB.

I don’t think Ben calculates any of this honestly. I think he’s a lug head and a self centered me guy. Thus why the rest of this dysfunctional team follows him as their leader and acts the way they do.

 

What a real leader would say is I take the blame for this loss with two terrible interceptions. We as a team need to get better with our ball security or we won’t be going very far this season.

Then to the side talk to his players and give them critique or criticism and offer ways to improve their play. Not through the media or on radio shows.

Ben has always needed to shut up and just play. He’s a great QB but not a great leader.

 

Wasn't there friction between Ben and Ward when Hines attempted to give Ben similar advice in private and Ben didn't like it? Not adressing right or wrong just saying how perspective can change for some people.

 

Sorry Blast but if he's such a great motivator and leader tell me what were the advantages of taking this to the media ? If his words are so impactful why couldn't it be done behind closed doors? Was there a added benefit to taking his criticism public? I don't see one. Don't be so sure Wasingtons comments were taken to heart and beneficial. Ben said JW lacked confidence and JW clearly refuted that. His comment about freedom of speech can also be taken as he can say whatever he wants but I don't have to appreciate it.
He followed it up with we all have that right. Also don't discount his comment about his RECEIVERS picking him up when he is down. Which is something Ben could of done and hasn't.
Again where is the criticism of Conner? His fumble against Cleveland,his dropped pass against JAX and most recently his fumble against Denver are all significant and glaring mistakes. Certainly as big if not bigger than JWs gaffe. I'm sure with what Conner has been through in his life a little criticism would roll right off yet all you hear is praise and the expression of full confidence in Conner.....hmmm?

You wanna help the kid how about you call a couple plays his way other than low percentage bombs that to be honest Ben has been missing all season. The situation and the response to the question could of been handled with ease, without controversy and in a more beneficial way to a young WR who is struggling with the mental aspect of the game.
How about......we left a lot of points out there on the field. My guys made some fundamental errors out there today. I made a couple questionable decisions myself and we came up short. We will learn from this as a team. We will do our best to eliminate some of these issues and put the necessary work in to make sure these things don't become a issue from here on. Guys are giving their all out there and we will continue to try and improve each week. Not that difficult I don't think.....

 

I would have never believed an innocuous comment on a radio talk show would have lead to four pages of discussion. I think it would have been mentioned and quickly forgotten had Pittsburgh won Sunday. But apparently, Ben is the villain for the week, so on top of being a terrible QB, he is equally bad as a leader.

 

Curious as to where I can also read that Wasingtons struggles were caused by needing a kick in the butt. I never once read anything about him having anything but a determined work ethic. Guys who need a kick in the butt are typically guys not doing what they are supposed to be doing to work hard,progress and get better.. When I actually read that is the cause of JWs struggles I might say Ben did the right thing.
Still holding my breath for the Conner critique. He's been sub par for a few weeks now and has had a previous slip up that possibility cost us a win. He may need a kick in the butt as well....just sayin.

The cause of Washingtons struggles have been documented as a lack of experience running the entire route tree and because he basically played only one WR position at OK.ST. . The Steelers ask a lot of their WRs and they are expected to learn the X,Y and Z positions. JW is having a hard time grasping all the route combinations and nuances of playing multiple WR spots. You can almost say it's a learning disability right now and it's just taking him more time to swallow all that is being put in his plate. I wouldn't say a kick in the butt is a appropriate form of motivation in this case. It's not athleticism and work ethic holding him back it's knowledge and experience......

 

Ward didn't just do it in private. He publicly criticized Roethlisberger for being honest about concussion symptoms, which led to missing a game against the Ravens. I didn't have an issue with a veteran like Ward calling out a teammate. I had a problem with the idiotic point he was making. Ward was saying that players should try to hide it if they have concussions, which is incredibly stupid.

At least Roethlisberger is making sense with his comments about Washignton. He is saying the kid should trust his hands and he shouldn't have dived for the ball.

 

I remember that whole thing differently and it might be as you have written it. I recall Ben saying something about being injured and playing it up in the way he does to joke with the media. Then because there was some friction between the two and Ward had been giving Ben advice about being a leader it had somewhat polarized the locker room and when this had gotten out Ward had commented on Ben needing to drop the drama.

If I remembered it incorrectly I apologize and it doesn't apply here. I just recall Ben is fine with criticism from certain people while not so with others.

 

We may be talking about two separate incidents. I was just pointing out that Ward also played the role of a veteran publicly criticizing a young teammate. Here is a story about him later apologizing to Roethlisberger.

https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/...-criticizing-steelers/A4Wi7d4t0dtShOfcMZvAUO/

Below is the money quote, which was Ward questioning Roethlisberger's decision not to play in a game against the Ravens.

"Ben practiced all week," Ward told Costas. "I've lied to a couple of doctors saying that you know, I'm straight, I feel good when I know I'm really not straight. I don't think guys really worry about the future when they're playing in the NFL."

 

My point throughout this whole discussion has been if you’re screwing up you don’t need to criticize somebody else for screwing up. Especially calling them out publicly.
The message was fine, but the timing and the venue was terrible.

 

So the veteran leader of the team can only speak out a few times a year? Everybody screws up some on the football field and it is particularly easy to see those mistakes when the quarterback makes them. There was nothing terrible about what Roethlisberger did. The timing was just fine. The venue, a mid-week interview or show, is exactly the right time to speak out. It is better then than in the emotional aftermath of a game or once the real practice work of the week starts on Wednesday.

People get so caught up in the loss and three bad throws that they forget just how much of the load Roethlisberger carried to give the Steelers a chance to win Sunday. The throw to Smith-Schuster on the touchdown was fantastic. He threw at least two more balls that should have been touchdowns, to Grimble and McDonald, if not for a mistake on the receiving end. It's a bit much to say the ball to Washington should have been a score, but the guy we saw on the game film from Oklahoma State certainly would have gotten there. It was thrown well enough to be caught, but it was off just enough that maybe he catches it but can't keep his stride and is taken down there.

The other thing many of you are forgetting is that Washington has been almost completely useless most of this season. That is why the drop is a big deal. Roethlisberger is mixing in a hell of a lot of production with the mistakes. Washington is not.

 

Honestly, the comments I have an issue with are the ones about the final interception. That is a ball he shouldn't throw. That's all he should be saying. He still isn't wrong about Brown not running the route flat enough. Brown did allow the defender to get position on him, but Roethlisberger had time to see that and fire it out of the back of the end zone and live for fourth down.