Maybe Ben isn't washed up after all

He was limited in practice Thursday and Friday. Ben on on full practice probably isn't ideal, but here we are.

 

I don't think it is that simple.

Pro athletes don't practice 16 hours a day, because at some point there needs to be recovery time from the workouts.
As athletes approach 40, that recovery time increases considerably.

(In past posts, I've mentioned how Dara Torres prepared for her last Olympics. I also mentioned videos of Bettis in his last season, where he had to spend most of the week recovering from his previous game to be ready enough for the next game.)

If Ben's throwing motion is being affected more by a painful hip than from familiarity with the receivers, then increasing his practice time will make him worse (keeping the hip injury from healing), not better.

I think part of the problem from last year was not having a bye week. (Not playing in the last Cleveland game does not provide as much recovery as an actual mid-season bye week.) Once Ben (and probably a bunch of other players) "hit the wall", simply cutting back on a practice here or there was a band-aid to keep the situation from getting worse, not a solution to the problem.

I don't pretend to know what the ideal ratio of practice-to-rest is for older players, let alone the younger players.
Just arguing that more practice and/or harder workouts is not always the answer.

 

Just think what might be if he could hit his receivers in stride?

 

The throw to DJ on the last possession of the Browns game was a great call, a great read and hit DJ in stride. I don't think he makes that throw with any type of significant shoulder injury.

His play this year has been about what I expected. His health moving forward is the greater concern giving that the train derailed the last third of the season. I really believe both of his knees were franked up during the Dallas game and affected what little mobility he has left. Plus, it affected his accuracy because his base was shaky.

So, the rest of the season is real simple and everyone here would have to be a dolt not to know the formula. Run the ball effectively and keep Ben upright and healthy. My only additional comment is that if Tomlin realizes Ben is playing injured and it's detrimental to the offense, then he needs to get him off the field no matter what Ben says.

 

I agree but I just can't see any situation where Tomlin pulls Ben unless he is on a cart being carried off the field.

 

Did you not see Mason the last time he started? That should answer your question I would hope.

 

I think many here overrate his play that day, but he wasn't bad vs. Cleveland last December.

 

Yes, many do think that way and it doesn't convince me Mason shouldn't be starting here or somewhere. This to me are indisputable facts:
Mason nearly kept Cleveland out of the playoffs in a historical franchise game in Cleveland with vets sitting out and a limited play book.
Ben gets blown out at home against the same team a week later without their coach and with everyone back and rested.
Call it lucky, overrated, I don't care, but the facts are what they are. I go by what I see and not what I think, feel, sense, wonder about, guess, or whatever. At the end of last year, what I saw was Mason > Ben. I have seen nothing that changes that so far this year. I favor who is the best QB that can win. Just my worthless opinion so that's that Mason haters and Ben lovers. For now, go Ben, beat da Bears (without getting hurt).

 

OK, I think we're violently agreeing. I misunderstood your original post.

 

Yeah because Ben hasn't had any big time throws this season .

 

Few and far between, he's earned the 34th ranking at PFF. He shows a glimmer of past greatness once every 20 throws but can't do it consistently.

 

PFF = LOL

 

I kind of hope Mason is cut after this year.

 

One-game sample sizes are way too small to be valid. You seem to not understand that.

Quarterbacks don't win or lose games by themselves. You seem to be forgetting that.

You also seem to be forgetting that Rudolph and the offense didn't really do much in that game until after they were down 15 points in the fourth quarter. The defense did a hell of a job keeping the Steelers in that game. Was Rudolph out there on defense, too, and we missed it? Was that Rudolph playing great or was it the Browns playing too conservatively after taking a big lead? It was probably a bit of both.

Don't get me wrong. Roethlisberger played a big part in digging that big hole early in the playoff game, but so did just about every Steeler on the field that day.

I have written before that Roethlisberger should have been benched earlier this season. He was hurting enough that his mechanics were completely screwed up and it was hurting the team during the three-game losing streak. I am concerned that we will see something similar tonight. That said, this idea that those two games against the Browns last season somehow prove that Rudolph is better is just silly.

 

I agree. I've wondered if there was a clause in his contract to not be benched since he took less money to play. I think he is going into this game against the Bears with a bad shoulder and he will continue to lie about any pain to keep Mason off the field. If Mason comes in and connects on any long pass with a hint of accuracy, fans will be booing Ben going forward after every 3 and out. After Mason lost to the Browns last year, I remember reading all the comments of how nice it was to see the game start on and extended series versus the usual 3 and out. And how he was hitting receivers in stride and connecting on long passes. However, this year all anyone focuses on with Mason is not his last game, but the first set of starts after Ben went down and Mason was being handcuffed to be a game manager.

 

Ben showed he is way past his prime tonight.

Does Mason start next week?

 

Why would you think Mason would start next week?

 

Hey...We won 4 straight...let's change Qbs. LoL

 

Without Ben we win that game by 20.

He needs to admit he is past his prime, he no longer has the grip strength to even hold on to the ball anymore.

He just look like an old man when he falls to the ground and can't get himself up.

 

Big Ben had a quarterback rating last night of 111.
Barring injury there’s absolutely 0% chance that Mason would start next week

 

I give him credit. Roethlisberger seemed to get the absolute maximum out of his remaining ability last night. With the exception of the pass to Rader in the flat that came up short on third-and-two, he made good decisions. He didn't turn the ball over. He hit on a couple of deep throws and came through with the game-winning drive.

Everything wrong with him at this stage in his career was also on display last night. Both deep balls were floaters. Claypool made a great catch on one of them to set up Harris's touchdown. The other was horribly underthrown, but Washington did a good job and the defenders reacted poorly. Roethlisberger had the opportunity to run for short conversions twice. Once, he threw into coverage rather than try. Then at the end, he came up short when the defense was fooled enough that he should have been able to get there. He also got very lucky that the Bears were stupid enough to not be ready for that slant to Johnson on the game-winning drive. With Claypool out, there is no excuse for them allowing Johnson to beat them, but they did exactly that.

Physically, Roethlisberger looked done. I see some of you laughing at the idea of playing Rudolph, but I get the idea. At best, Roethlisberger is struggling due to the hip and shoulder issues. A short week isn't going to help with those. At worst, his body is shot and better defenses are going to eat him alive later in the season.

 

He looked ancient much of the night. The idea isn't nearly as ridiculous as you are making it out to be. Maybe he gets away with the same crap against the Lions because they are the Lions, but it isn't going to fly against good teams. He is already breaking down just halfway through the season.

 

So you think Mason has a legitimate chance to start next week?