What could have been

According to this article, it sounds like Miller could have had 12 receptions for 150+ yards. Ben needs to blame himself for taking Miller out of the game plan. He seems to be reverting back to his old habits of forcing the ball to receivers down the field instead of looking for Heath on an intermediate route.

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/3147139-74/yards-miller-roethlisberger#axzz2FQgcHlTU

 

That article is a little deceptive. On several of the plays where Miller was open, so was someone else for a completion, and on others Ben had no time to throw to anyone. You can't target the same guy every time. One of Bens strengths this season was spreading the ball to everyone available.

 

It's easy to sit back and analyze plays after they happen. Shoulda, coulda, woulda doesn't always apply in the real world.

 

One thing is for sure- watch the last throw for the int and look at the WR open in the middle of to field! Would have been an easy 10 throw and catch for a first down.

 

That's true, Scott, but you really have to wonder why Heath was totally ignored in the second half. He was beating his man like a drum in the first half and continued to do it in the second half. Why wasn't Ben looking his way? You hear of TEs like Gronk, Hernandez, Gates, Witten and others having monster days and that's because they have mismatches that they continue to exploit until the other team stops it. We apparently had that with Heath ALL DAY LONG yet Ben hardly looked his way in the second half??? Don't question the playcalling, Ben, just look in the mirror!

 

I agree that Heath should have been targeted more but there was obviously a reason he wasn't. Whether it was by design or just an oversight (which I have trouble believing) I have no idea. Look at the game against the Ravens... Ray Rice disappeared and he is their best offensive weapon.

 

Then why did he barely look his way in the second half?

Ben enjoys slinging it downfield and getting it into the hands of a fleetfooted WR (i.e. Brown, Wallace) who can get massive YAC IMHO. Earlier this year it seemed that Ben was finally starting to get it and was throwing the ball to Miller and his other check downs more frequently. It just seems to me that the last couple of games Ben seems to be reverting back to his old gunslinger self a little.

 

No matter what play is called, it's up to the qb to make the right reads and find the open receiver, so unless miller stayed in to help block, this is mostly on ben.

 

Point taken. But don't you think Ben seems to be playing less disciplined than he was before going out with the injury? Maybe he's just rusty and still trying to recover, but one of the things that's been lacking the last couple of games is the long, clock-consuming drives where Ben takes what the defense gives him.