Tag Archives: Ben Roethlisberger
Todd Haley, Big Ben and the Steelers new look offense
Coach Todd Haley brings a trail of nothing but winning to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Haley was hired by the Steelers to replace Bruce Arians as the new Offensive Coordinator. When Haley was the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs he turned their program around and put the Chiefs in a position to be a playoff contender. He also helped the Arizona Cardinals, as their Offensive Coordinator, to get the team to their first division title and also to the team’s first Super Bowl (XLIII). Todd Haley is also the son of a former NFL player Dick Haley who spent 44 years with NFL and he was the Steelers Director of Player Personnel from 1971-1991.
As Roethlisberger goes so do the Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is the starting quarterback of a team that is known for stellar, top notch defense. With names such as Jack Lambert, Joe Greene, Franco Harris, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu the Steelers legacy has always been on the defensive side of the ball.
Big Ben has changed this thinking because no one in the NFL, not named Peyton, is as crucial to his team’s success or failure as Roethlisberger is to the Steelers.
The Steelers’ quarterback finished the year throwing for 4,077 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Did the 49ers run a ‘bounty system’ during the 2011 season?
Everyone knows that the San Francisco 49ers are a tough physical football team but did part of that toughness include some form of a bounty system in which opposing player’s injuries were targeted last season?
According to NFL.com, in a recent interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hinted that he thought something was going on in their game against the 49ers last season.
” But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra … Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bulls-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them.”
2012 NFL Draft: Evaluation of the first round
The 2012 draft started out with no surprises to anyone with the first two picks going to the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins picking Andrew Luck from Stanford number one overall and Robert Griffin III from Baylor. These two quarterbacks are the biggest names in the draft. They will always be compared to each other. Only time in the league will tell who has the better career.
Andrew Luck is called the NFL prototype QB with his size at 6ft. 4in. tall and weighing in at 234lbs. He is a good decision maker. He does not have the strongest arm, but he is very accurate. He is being compared to Peyton Manning, and those are very big shoes to fill. Luck has a lot of work ahead of him if the Colts are to be successful considering all the departures of key players.
2012 NFL draft: Pittsburgh Steelers projected picks
When draft day comes around the Pittsburgh Steelers have always flown under the radar compared to most teams. They have never been a team that drafted the big name players. They only draft players that fit into the Steelers mold and the Steelers way of doing things. They stick to the formula that has won them six Lombardi trophies. I don’t think this year will be any different. Pittsburgh has the 24th pick in the first round if nothing changes in the hours leading up to the draft on Thursday night.
Ben Roethlisberger, the toughest quarterback in the NFL?
Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is nicknamed “Big” because he is a load at 6’5 and 241 pounds. When it comes to the quarterback position, one does not really think of the word tough anymore due to the NFL changing the rules to protect the quarterback from being hurt. The quarterback being the marquee position on the field, it is imperative that they be protected. Big Ben is not the quarterback who will take a knee or slide to avoid being hit. He is old school, in the style of Johnny Unitas who would run over or through you to get that first down or that touchdown. He was fearless taking the snap from under center. Big Ben seems to be cut from the same cloth. He will fight and struggle to get extra yardage. He will stand in the pocket knowing that he is going to get hit in the mouth by opposing defenses. He is big and powerful and not afraid to run the ball if it comes to that. He will put his head down and plow forward.
Can Todd Haley and Big Ben co-exist?
So far in this new off-season the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen a lot of action occurring in the coaching department. Former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians first “retired,” in reality the front office didn’t renew his contract due to his pass happy offensive scheme, and now has the same role with the Indianapolis Colts under first year head coach Chuck Pagano. Furthermore, the Colts almost swooped in for future defensive coordinator and current linebackers coach Keith Butler, but it was announced last Monday that he reached a deal that will keep him in the Steel City.
As a replacement for Arians the Steelers seem to be seriously entertaining the idea of bringing in former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. Without question, Haley is a much different coach than Arians. Haley has been known to get very emotional and let his players know how he feels in a very animated way, no matter what the situation. This was most evident during the NFC championship in 2008 while serving as the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He created a media frenzy when he got in the face of then Cardinal wide out Anquan Boldin when the player seemingly confronted his coach about a lack of playing time. Conversely, Arians was very stoic and seemed to be a calming force on the Steeler’s sideline for the last five seasons. As a matter of fact it is hard to recall a time when he showed any emotion during a game!
However, despite their personalities they seemed to have similar ideas when it can to offense. In most of the major offensive categories these guys are rubbing elbows. For that alone, Todd Haley should be proud considering he was stuck in the injury plagued and offensively deficient Kansas City for the last three seasons. Haley’s offensive prowess will help him win over the players, namely quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Big Ben and Bruce Arians had a very healthy relationship, especially since Arians went against the franchise norm and created a pass first scheme to fully utilize the franchise quarterback. This is even further evident with the Ben coming out and publicly expressing his unrest over the decision to let Arians go. However, Haley has experience with star quarterbacks through his time with Kurt Warner in Arizona. He and Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhut helped Warner reach a renaissance in his career which ended with a couple playoff appearances, an NFC championship, and a last second loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XXLIII.
Contrary to Ben’s beliefs, Todd Haley will help him more than the submissive Arians. It always seemed like the Steelers only caught some kind of rhythm when Ben was calling the plays and running the no huddle. This is speculated, and pretty obviously due, to the lack of creativity and fluidity of the play calling by Arians. At times, it seemed like you could watch the game and call what the offense was going to run due to the formation or a tendency in the game. If fans can guess it, then paid football players and coaches can also! Haley is a very credible play caller and once the Steelers are keeping defenses off-balance and marching down the field, Roethlisberger will hop onboard.
Another reason the Steelers could be viewing Haley as a viable replacement is his familiarity with the organization’s culture and his ability to utilize the running game. In Arizona, he strategically utilized an aging Edgerrin James and in Kansas City he ran the legs off of the two-headed monster of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. The Steelers haven’t been able to get former first round pick Rashard Mendenhall to reach full potential despite sparks of brilliance here and there. Assuming he fully recovers from his ACL injury, Haley can help kick-start Mendenhall’s career and also incorporate the skills of backup Isaac Redman.
Surely, Todd Haley would have to win over a player or two at first, but his attitude and mentality is exactly what the Steeler’s offense needs. He won’t exhaust his strengths, but instead challenge the players to address their weakness and bring a tougher overall outlook to match their fiery defensive counterparts. Most importantly, he will not fully cater to Ben Roethlisberger. He will push him harder and create a relationship where he is viewed as the superior and not a buddy and/or equal.
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Roethlisberger Only Acts Injured After Bad Decisions
Much has been said about the status of Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger’s ankle injury and his play against the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, but go back and watch the game and follow his actions after he makes bad decisions.
Throw an interception…he limps. Incompletion…a grimace.
But when Big Ben throws a completed pass, needs to move up to the line of scrimmage, or wants to argue a call there never seems to be a problem with his ankle.
This isn’t the first time we have seen this in the career of Roethlisberger, but either you are injured or you’re not.
In the first half he struggled against the Broncos defense completing 11 passes out of 23 for 134 yards, and 1 interception. The interception was thrown right to the Broncos defender where then Roethlisberger would limp off the field.
Since injuring his ankle against the Cleveland Browns, Big Ben has now thrown only one touchdown pass and five interceptions.
While I’m not arguing his apparent injury if he is going to play though the pain…play. We don’t need to see you grimace or limp only when things are going bad.
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A Time of Reflection: The Steelers’ Regular Season Awards
With the regular season now at a close, it’s time to look at the individual accolades for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are two awards that demand a tie, and interestingly they are both on the defensive side of the ball.
- MVP – Ben Roethlisberger (Quarterback)
He gets the offensive MVP for his four thousand plus yards passing and twenty-one touchdowns. He gets the team MVP because he has become an elite quarterback and has made great strides to become a better teammate and leader. His attitude has changed and can now demand comparisons to the Aaron Rodgers, Tom Bradys, and Peyton Mannings of the league. No other quarterback sacrificed as much for his team this year as Big Ben.
- Offensive MVP – Ben Roethlisberger (Quarterback)
Four thousand yards passing with twenty-one touchdowns, all he does is find ways to win. Also, it was evident that his recognition of defenses has improved and he is now cerebral enough to call plays from the line with great efficiency and has gained the trust of his teammates.
- Defensive MVP – Lawrence Timmons (LB) & Ike Taylor (CB)
Timmons won’t get the recognition he should for what he did for the team this season. He moved from inside linebacker to outside while LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison sustained injuries. There was never a drop off in his level of play or a complaint. Unquestionably, he was a huge catalyst in the Steelers recovering from the slump at the beginning of the season to letting up the least yards of any team in the league. Taylor (Swagger) played like an All-Pro this season, shutting down receivers like Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, and Anquan Boldin to help lead the best pass defense in the league.
- Breakout Offensive Player – Antonio Brown (WR)
When you dethrone a future hall of famer in Hines Ward for a starting spot, you are having a breakout season. He became Big Ben’s favorite target on third down and it seems like Bruce Arians can’t find enough ways to get the ball into this guy’s hands.
- Breakout Defensive Player – Keenan Lewis (CB) & Jason Worilds (OLB)
Lewis is a player that has been around for a couple of years but comparisons to names like Ricardo Colclough started to arise. However, this year he turned into a reliable cover corner and even beat out the veteran Bryant McFadden for playing time. Worilds was second round draft pick and has had some injury issues since joining the team, but this season he was thrown into the fire with injuries to both James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Interestingly enough, he responded greatly and proved to be a very reliable outside linebacker. He could still work on his pass rush a little bit, but he plays the run well and with Woodley or Harrison opposite him, he’ll have time to develop his pass rushing skills.
- Offensive Rookie of the Year – Marcus Gilbert (RT)
He was put into a high pressure situation when he was inserted into the lineup. It was already a shaky line to begin with, but to add a rookie with a shortened off-season could have turned into a huge problem. However, the growing pains of the former Florida Gator haven’t been a liability and he seems to be catching on more and more as the weeks go by.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year – Cam Heyward (DE)
The Steelers rarely are put into situations where rookies play a huge role on the defense, but Cam Heyward earned himself a good amount of playing time this year, especially on passing downs. Behind Brett Keisel, he has proven to be the best pass rusher of the defensive lineman and held his own on early downs also. With him and Ziggy Hood at the ends, the Steelers will be set for years to come.
- Special Teams Player of the Year – Antonio Brown (KR)
Not only does he make big plays for the offense, but he was also the best return man in the league this year. Also, add to it that he was the first person to go over a thousand yards receiving and returning in a season and it is clear-cut. No matter the situation, he has a chance to turn any play into a touchdown.
Steve Gross is a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag and can be contacted at SGross@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com
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Free Car, If Browns Shut Out Pittsburgh Steelers
Two odds makers have put the odds of the Cleveland Browns keeping the Pittsburgh Steelers scoreless at 5,000 to one and 1,000 to one but a Kia dealership in Medina, OH is offering to rebate the cost of cars bought from December 26th through New Year’s Eve if the Browns can shut out the defending AFC Champion Steelers.
Anyone who purchased a car at that time would get their vehicle free except for taxes, but odds are the dealership won’t have to pay up.
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Young Money Is Plenty, But Who’s Top Dollar for Steelers?
The young group of very talented Pittsburgh Steeler’s receivers has come of age and is proving to be a force to be reckoned with this year. Coming into the season, the fans thought that Mike Wallace and Hines Ward would be getting a majority of the targets from Ben Roethlisberger this year. However, it is Antonio Brown who is not only playing alongside Wallace, but also making a case for him to be possibly mentioned as the number one receiver for the black and gold.
We are very used to seeing Mike Wallace burn opposing defensive backs for explosive plays and highlight reel touchdowns. This has been very true of this year, as it seems like he is putting together a season that could end with an invitation to the Pro Bowl. However, statistically, Brown is either close to or better than Wallace in seven of the nine major receiving categories. The two areas Wallace has the advantage by far are yards after catch and touchdown receptions, but the rest are up for grabs between the two. It is also interesting when you see the categories that Brown has the advantage. He has been targeted eight more times than his counterpart and with the astounding catch and run he made to finish off the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night he took the lead in receptions of twenty yards or more. To think, everyone thought that Mike Wallace was the deep threat for this offense!
|
YPR |
20+ |
Rec |
TD |
YAC |
YDS |
TAR |
YDS/G |
1 DWN |
|
|
Mike Wallace |
16.7 |
15 |
62 |
8 |
367 |
1034 |
89 |
79.5 |
48 |
|
Antonio Brown |
16.8 |
16 |
55 |
2 |
198 |
925 |
97 |
71.2 |
46 |
Beyond the numbers, Brown has proved to be visibly the target of choice for Big Ben in clutch situations (this can even be dated back to his amazing touchdown reception against Baltimore in the playoffs last year). Time after time it seems to be No. 84 coming down with a big reception on third down with his precise route running and reliable hands. Also, he seems to have taken on the role of finding the gaps in the defense during scrambles by Roethlisberger, similar to how Hines Ward did in past years. Not bad for a guy that was stumbled upon by Mike Tomlin while in college at Central Michigan.
Surely, it is very easy to say that Mike Wallace is THE best receiver on the Steelers roster and the most valuable of their “young money,” but it is becoming all so more often that we see Antonio Brown flexing and doing his first down celebration than it is to see Mike Wallace sprinting underneath a Big Ben bomb. Recently, the two were featured as the spotlight players on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” with Bob Costas. In the interview, they attributed their success to their hard work before and after practice. This mimics the words of Mike Tomlin and Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians who claim that the players seem to live in the Steelers facility in the South Side of Pittsburgh. With talent like is alongside Emmanuel Sanders and Weslye Saunders, the future looks bright for Mike Tomlin and the Steeler’s offense.
Steven Gross is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at sgross@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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Ben Roethlisberger’s Return After Injury: Guts or Stupidity?
Everyone’s heard the saying “no guts no glory,” but the question has to be asked when does having guts cross the line. When does being gutsy become stupid? On Thursday Night Football after Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger left the game with what appeared to be a serious leg injury he decided to return to the game in the second half. Was this decision by Roethlisberger and the Steelers staff gutsy or stupidity?
The score was 7-3 in favor of the defending AFC Champion Steelers as they led the underdog Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field in the second quarter. On one particular play mid way through the quarter Roethlisberger dropped back and was pressured by the Browns defense. As he attempted to escape he was sacked and as he went to the ground his leg got caught underneath a Cleveland defender. After the play Big Ben stayed on the ground in obvious pain. The replay showed an awkward twist of the quarterbacks leg just above the ankle and from the looks of things, Roethlisberger could have very well been done for the season.
Roethlisberger went back to the locker room while veteran Charlie Batch took the reins at quarterback. For Steelers’ fans, the hopes of a return to the Super Bowl all of a sudden looked bleak for their 9-3 football team. Charlie Batch is more than serviceable as a backup but that Steelers’ team goes as Big Ben goes.
Fortunately for the Steeler faithful the x-rays proved to be negative as a hobbled Roethlisberger warmed up for the second half. Of the injury Big Ben would later say that, “It felt like the middle of my leg was just, cracked … it felt like my foot was outside of my leg.”
In obvious pain, Roethlisberger went on to complete 8 of 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Of his performance his teammates praised him. Wide Receiver Antonio Brown was quoted as saying “it’s amazing to play with a guy like that who exemplifies that type of toughness.” The truth of the matter is, it was stupid.
I get the fact that the Steelers came into this game at 9-3 and a half-game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North standings. Likewise I can appreciate Roethlisberger’s competitive spirit and his desire to go out and win. Here’s where I have a problem…The Steelers were facing the 4-8 Cleveland Browns. With or without Ben Roethlisberger the Steelers should beat the Browns on any given night this season. Yes, there is that much of a gap between the talent and the class level of these two organizations. Where the x-rays were negative, who knew what the MRI might show on Friday so why risk doing further damage and possibly jeopardizing the rest of the season? What the Steelers should have done was sat Big Ben for the remainder of the game pending further evaluation while allowing Batch to get some quality playing time with the first team in a game the Steelers weren’t going to lose anyway.
The fact that the team allowed Big Ben to continue makes me question the decision-making of the Steelers staff. Risking the future of your franchise quarterback in what amounted to a much needed game against a meaningless opponent was simply stupid! Hopefully for the Steelers sake the MRI doesn’t confirm my assessment of the situation. Guess we’ll see.
Aaron Moon is the CEO and a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. An active duty Navy Chief and avid writer, Aaron is a lifelong Bears’ fan who writes about his team from a critics’ point of view. You can contact Aaron on facebook or follow him on Twitter @DA_Bear_Truth. Contact Aaron directly by emailing him at amoon@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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