Roethlisberger's decline

I know we have had plenty of discussion of Roethlisberger's play this year, but it often ranges from he sucks to two Super Bowl rings, with the occasional ridiculous call for Dobbs or Jones thrown in.

I was hoping we could have a real discussion of what is going on with Roethlisberger this year. Yes, he looked great last week, but that doesn't cancel out the first nine games. It does, however, highlight some of the areas where he has to perform.

Roethlisberger has hat fits of inaccuracy and miscommunication with his receivers this year, but he has always had those. The larger concern for me has been the lack of two things that always set him apart: pump fakes and the ability to make plays when things break down.

Roethlisberger was as good as any quarterback in the game at using the pump fake, but we just haven't seen it much this season. Are others seeing that, too? Any ideas why?

Until the last two weeks, he hadn't been making plays under pressure or after contact, which used to be his strength. Lately, he has been doing that far more often. That has to be part of his game for him to be effective. Maybe he was making business decisions early in the season, but now he's getting back to his old self as the playoffs approach?

I'm sure part of the improvement has been growing confidence in Smith-Schuster. He has given Roethlisberger another trustworthy target, something neither Bryant nor former No. 3 receiver Rogers seem able to do.

I also wonder if the lack of a decent tight end is a big part of it, too. The Steelers haven't come close to finding a competent replacement for Heath Miller. For years, Roethlisberger went on and on about Miller's importance to the offense and we've seen that since he retired. James has moments, but he isn't a good enough blocker and he lacks athleticism. McDonald has those things, but he can't catch consistently enough. The lack of production at tight end is a real issue for this offense.

Thoughts?

 

Two things I see really that make a difference. The offense had not been in sink until the last couple of games. The other difference is Haleys playcalling. I am suspect of what he calls . Ben seems to operate more efficiently running the no huddle.. So the changes are making a difference . The offense seems to be getting better. I really do not think its been Ben that has declined. Just rhythm problems. Bryant looks terrible with the exception of the last game where he showed some glimmer of being a decent wide receiver.

Yes a good tightend means all the difference.. Since Heath has left there has been a change. I think going forward your going to see a better Ben and a better offense once Juju gets going and they settle in on having Vance or JJ play. If Bryant gets better we will be a force to be reckoned with.

 

I’ll just say, there are some things I could do 10 years ago, that don’t seem to work very well now. Just saying.

Ben has never been a big physical fitness fan, and by NFL standards, he is getting old.

 

Yea just ask my wife

 

Uh oh for Tomlin..soon w/o a qb.

 

You buyin’ or sellin’?

 

When pass protection breaks down now, he seems to focus more on how he will get hit and from where. It doesn’t help that he now moves like a Sleestack.

His eyes used to always be downfield scanning for open receivers for the most part. Not so much anymore.

The more he risks being the old Ben by extending plays however, could be an ugly result.

 

This is why Haley needs to draw up quick routes.

 

Ben has always been blessed with great players around him. On a team like the Browns he would have probably been a nobody. He will always be a Pittsburgh hero to me. All I'm asking of him is to be a Champion 9 more damn games. (8 if the Cleveland Brown game is meaningless)

 

Yep, agree, Ben is a rhythm QB, he is not as good with giving the ball to runs up the middle on 1st and 2nd down, then throwing on 3rd down which happen in most games earlier this year. He is much better at opening things up mixing passes and runs, going no huddle, play action passes. Haley's conservative play calling does not help Ben's play, it keeps him healthy and with low scoring games.

 

Based on the body wear, I agree.

From a financial standpoint, I can think of $29.4 million reasons he would come back next year.

 

I will give my uneducated/unprofessional take on what MY OPINION is on what is going on with Ben.

#1 there is some kinda of problem between Ben and Haley but I feel this is where the retirement talk is coming from. I have said this before on here but I really feel Tomlin needs to step in and get these two on the same page. This isn't high school and they don't have to like each other but they are both here for the same reason to work together to bring home the W. I am not a Haley fan but I have liked what he has brought with him since being here and imo added a few more years of Ben to this team. Sorry to all the BA fans here, yeah the offense was fun to watch with him calling the shots but at what expense, Ben was a walking pinata with him here. I am not trying to get into the Haley vs Arains conversation cause they are both good I am looking at the health of what makes this offense go and that is with BA Ben was the most hit and with Haley he was the least. Enough of that for me.

#2 The health of Ben is in question to me, I am sorry but you just don't lose you touch like Ben had the first part of this season over one offseason. Ben was missing wide open guys short, medium and long.....wide open!!!! I feel the last 3 games we are seeing a different Ben and maybe the health is getting better????

#3 I am starting to think it isn't all Ben but the WR's inexperience. Now what I mean is I was very vocal about Ben throwing long on the 2nd play 2 games ago(colts) and getting picked off cause it was such a bad pass. Well I later heard that Ben told MB that he was going to throw it inside to be ready...MB was anything but. That play made me so mad at Ben cause I was like holy crap he can't throw deep....well wasn't I surprised to find out he threw it where it needed to be. Let's face it other than AB who has Ben had experience throwing to.....Juju is a rookie, MB missed a year and James was a back up last year mostly. While I have been pretty vocal about Ben I think it just maybe a little of both and as each game goes you are seeing things get better.

#4 Ben's age may be playing a role in what made him a superstar QB and that is/was his ability to move and escape which leads to open guys. This was a major factor of Ben's game as you can't cover a guy forever and Ben always found a way to extend and then hitting the wide open guy. That part of his game is largely gone as expected with his age and now Ben needs to adjust to his new playing ability.

Again I am just a fan watching a game giving my untrained unprofessional opinion trying to save the world......the Steeler world, lmao!

 

You are forgetting the prorated signing bonus of $12.4 million that he would have to pay back. That’s where I came up with $29.4.

 

His legs are getting sluggish. Unno.. the saying for rookie players, get up to the NFL's game speed.
Ben is now coming back down to the game speed issue because of his legs and age.

 

Previous injuries+age= inaccuracy. His inaccuracy has been the main issue. Play calling has been an issue. Even after Ben takes a minor hit he looks like he is in the commercial " I've fallen and I can't get up"! He has taken monster shots in his career. The no huddle will help keep him clean and as we saw last week it works. I am just hoping he can make it through this season. As far as next season is concerned I agree with Blast. His retirement talk last season was no fluke. The end is near.

 

If you ask me (and technically you did by starting this thread), Ben's struggles can be attributed to a number of things:

1) Outside of AB, he is dealing mostly with newer receivers with which he still developing a repertoire with.

2) He's getting older, so yes wear and tear has taken a toll on his skills.

3) Most importantly, he is limiting his movement in the pocket to minimize hits. He wants the whole team, including himself, to be healthy when the playoffs start. Too often the past few years key injuries have decimated the team's opportunities to advance far in the postseason. And as other's have stated, a big part of his success has come from extending plays and finding the open receiver. But that comes with a price, and that price is extremely punitive if paid over the course of the entire season. I think when necessary, he will revert to his old style, but only when necessary, like in the fourth quarter of the Indy game.

In short, I think better things are still to come this year.

 

Ben was never known for his speed. His size was what gave him his elusiveness.

 

As another poster pointed out. If receivers run the wrong route and they are in the wrong position Bens accuracy looks a great deal worse. Not saying he has not had inaccurate passes I just don't think its all on him.

 

I suppose it is ok in the NFL for this particular performance enhancing drug.

 

As long as we have Rothlisberger we'll have a chance. When he's gone the elusive search for a franchise QB begins again. A long and painful process just ask coach Cowher. As to his recent issues I think he has too many great tools to use and if they can get in sync we'll see more 2nd half Titan games.

 

Ben is in decline and IMO he will retire after this season. I seem to remember him making concerned comments about his "brain" saying something like "you can`t fix brain" or the like and this before all the recent CTE findings about ex-football players. His extreme concussion from his bike accident probably as bad as 10 football concussions. He should retire for his health.

With KC offense in the gutter, Smith should be available for sure as KC moves on from him. We need to get him or Cousins as we are ready to contend for a S.B. now, not start over on a questionable project QB.