In case you were wondering why there are so many dropped passes, problem solved

Randy Fichtner has the answer:

Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner says there may be a simple explanation for all the dropped passes: a lack of practice time with starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

“I hate to use the idea that Ben in these shorter weeks hasn’t practiced … but they catch on jugs,” Fichtner said Thursday, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “But there’s something [to] getting more balls and the basic practice schedules where Ben can throw to those receivers.”

There ya go. I think the guy is an idiot but that's just me

 

So a professional receiver forgets how to catch a ball from a specific quarterback after not practicing with him for a couple of days? Right. Good to know.

 

We'll, the one good thing is no one will ever have to worry about other teams going after our staff.

 

This why the "veteran" day off on Wednesday for Ben makes little sense to me. Basically the team practices on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a walk-through on Saturday. By not practicing, Roethlisberger is missing 33% of the reps. I guess with being old, a repaired elbow, and possibly balky knees, rest is more important than repetitions. I can see the benefit more with a lineman, or players nursing minor injuries.

 

It goes both ways as a ball will always look better - or worse - to us sitting on the couch but some of these catches are ones that the receivers have to catch.

 

Sometimes when I don't practice with the wife for a few days I get confused about where I should place it..... oh wait no I don't because that will get me thrown out and possibly killed. Next

 

He should have explained why the other 31 teams are catching more balls in practice. Apparently we are the only team with practice issues.

 

And yet one of Ben's best games to date this season was after a week he couldn't practice and was in quarantine. Its mind bottling.

 

This is what happens when you have noodle arm Rudolph as your back-up. I bet it's like playing catch with your sister. Problem could be easily solved if they actually put time into developing Dobbs and having a valuable back-up.

 

Dust her with flour. Aim for the wet spot.

 

So is CountryStrong13 the only one catching passes from Ben in practice while the others are using the jugs machine? Ebron I can understand, the major knock on him coming out in the draft was his drop rate so that's expected (but not forgiven). I thought DJ18 had only average to below average hands from the onset so I never expected much from him tbh.
Really RF's quote is just misdirection and taking blame off his players much like Ben does, and trying to contrive excuses for players that make a very lucrative living catching NFL passes.

 

Yeah yeah, that’s it seeeeee.....

 

1WR Washington, 2WR JuJu, 3WR Chase; Dionte back-up CB to Nelson; Ebron, go run laps with Farmer Fran

 

Love to understand why so many think Dobbs is anything but what he is. Didn't we let him go and he couldn't make it with another team? Now he's back here and people still think he should be #2? What are the coaches on the other teams missing? What are the coaches on our team missing? What do people here know that no one else knows? Who here has been at every practice validating that Dobbs is the best back up we have? So many think MT is a HOF coach but he can't see that Dobbs should be our back up QB? Help me understand.

 

That's just SDOT being SDOT.

 

OL Randy is so amusing...

Are they not catching passes from Ben on Thursday and Friday?

Or does Ben just stand behind the jugs machine?

Or is there just a cardboard cutout of Ben behind the jugs machine?

Or are the receivers just thinking about jugs?

Inquiring minds want to know...

 

Not that I have any proof but thinking about all of this, what comes to my mind is Ben and the condition of his elbow. Have seen him rubbing the elbow now and then and I am not sure he has the zip for the long ball that has been a part of our passing attack that is MIA. Now RF is somewhat admitting Ben isn't throwing as much as he should to our receivers in practice and I just wonder if that is because his arm is not 100% or they are rationing his throws to minimize something that is ailing him? Connecting these dots may be completely wrong but it would, is a way, explain a couple of things I've been wondering about.

 

Not buying it. This isn't the first season Ben has been given a rest day during the week. He's usually been banged up throughout his career and given minimal practice time. Receivers didn't have a problem with Ben any other season.

 

I've said this in a couple of threads. I believe his elbow is bothering him. And throwing 50 some times is not helping.

 

He went to Jacksonville who paid Foles a lot of money and had a young prospect they drafted themselves. He could be the next Mahomes and he was never seeing the field in that scenario.

 

Overdone might have a different opinion, but I think a little extra practice might help.