Steelers have become pass happy

[pittpete]

Ben had 56 attempts this week
He had 47 last week.
5 picks
Law of averages says the more passes you throw the more interceptions you'll throw.:(

[Ghost]

Didn’t even try to run the first series. At all.

[Buzz]

Tomlin needs to have a heart-to-heart with Fichtner and Ben and reign in this unbalanced approach.

[Ernie]

They seemed to have a pretty good handle on things a few weeks ago. Hopefully they'll get it dialed back in. We need to win 2 out 3 games (against the Chargers, Saints, Pats) to get back what we let slip this evening.

[NorthCoast]

I think this was intentional and maybe wanted to wear out the defense having to chase guys all over the field. They give a heavy dose of Conner in the second half. Conner's fumble may have changed their thinking on that.

[pittpete]

North, Conner had only 6 rushing attempts in the second half.

15:00
1ST & 10 AT PIT 25(15:00)
(15:00) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to J.Smith-Schuster.
2ND & 10 AT PIT 25(14:54)
(14:54) (Shotgun) J.Conner right tackle to PIT 33 for 8 yards (B.Chubb). PENALTY on PIT-J.Washington, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 30.
2ND & 15 AT PIT 20(14:27)
(14:27) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to R.Switzer to PIT 26 for 6 yards (T.Davis).
3RD & 9 AT PIT 26(13:45)
(13:45) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to A.Brown to PIT 27 for 1 yard (T.Davis).
4TH & 8 AT PIT 27(13:10)
4TH & 8 AT PIT 27(13:10)
(13:10) J.Berry punts 52 yards to DEN 21, Center-K.Canaday. R.Cracraft to DEN 27 for 6 yards (T.Edmunds; K.Canaday).

1ST & 10 AT PIT 3(10:47)
(10:47) B.Roethlisberger pass deep middle to J.Smith-Schuster for 97 yards, TOUCHDOWN [S.Harris].
10:32
C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Canaday, Holder-J.Berry.
10:32
C.Boswell kicks 65 yards from PIT 35 to end zone, Touchback.

1ST & 10 AT PIT 23(09:34)
(9:34) J.Conner left end to PIT 34 for 11 yards (T.Davis).
1ST & 10 AT PIT 34(08:55)
1ST & 10 AT PIT 34(08:55)
(8:55) J.Conner up the middle to PIT 38 for 4 yards (J.Jewell).
2ND & 6 AT PIT 38(08:19)
(8:19) J.Conner left end to PIT 46 for 8 yards (J.Jewell).
1ST & 10 AT PIT 46(07:36)
(7:36) J.Conner right tackle to PIT 46 for no gain (Z.Kerr; K.Bierria).
2ND & 10 AT PIT 46(06:53)
2ND & 10 AT PIT 46(06:53)
(6:53) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to A.Brown pushed ob at DEN 47 for 7 yards (C.Harris).
Timeout #1 by PIT at 06:19.
(6:19) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for A.Brown INTERCEPTED by C.Harris [S.Harris] at DEN 42. C.Harris to PIT 43 for 15 yards (C.Okorafor).

B.McManus kicks 65 yards from DEN 35 to end zone, Touchback.
1ST & 10 AT PIT 25(05:30)
1ST & 10 AT PIT 25(05:30)
(5:30) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to A.Brown ran ob at PIT 39 for 14 yards.
1ST & 10 AT PIT 39(05:02)
(5:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at PIT 41 for 2 yards (T.Brock). DEN-T.Brock was injured during the play.
2ND & 8 AT PIT 41(04:40)
(4:40) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to J.Washington.
Timeout #2 by PIT at 04:33.
3RD & 8 AT PIT 41(04:33)
(4:33) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to A.Brown.
4TH & 8 AT PIT 41(04:20)
(4:20)J.Berry punts 49 yards to DEN 10, Center-K.Canaday, fair catch by R.Cracraft.

1ST & 10 AT PIT 37(03:16)
(3:16) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger scrambles right end ran ob at PIT 43 for 6 yards (T.Davis).
2ND & 4 AT PIT 43(02:30)
(2:30)(Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to J.James to PIT 47 for 4 yards (S.Cravens).
1ST & 10 AT PIT 47(02:01)
(2:01) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to J.James to DEN 40 for 13 yards (J.Simmons).
1ST & 10 AT DEN 40(01:21)
(1:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) PENALTY on PIT-C.Okorafor, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 40 - No Play.
1ST & 15 AT DEN 45(01:04)
(1:04) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to A.Brown. PENALTY on DEN-C.Harris, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 45 - No Play.
1ST & 10 AT DEN 40(00:59)
(:59) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger sacked at DEN 46 for -6 yards (S.Barrett).
2ND & 16 AT DEN 46(00:10)
(:10) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to J.Conner to DEN 23 for 23 yards (B.Roby). FUMBLES (B.Roby), RECOVERED by DEN-D.Stewart at DEN 21. D.Stewart to DEN 21 for no gain (J.Conner).
END QUARTER 3

[pittpete]

1ST & 10 AT PIT 25(09:17)
(9:17) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to J.James to PIT 34 for 9 yards (J.Simmons; W.Parks).
2ND & 1 AT PIT 34(08:45)
(8:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to J.Smith-Schuster to PIT 47 for 13 yards (I.Yiadom).
1ST & 10 AT PIT 47(08:06)
(8:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to A.Brown.
2ND & 10 AT PIT 47(07:59)
(7:59) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to A.Brown to DEN 48 for 5 yards (D.Stewart; W.Parks).
3RD & 5 AT DEN 48(07:23)
(7:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to J.Smith-Schuster.
4TH & 5 AT DEN 48(07:10)

1ST & 10 AT PIT 44(04:26)
(4:26) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 38 for -6 yards (sack split by V.Miller and S.Harris).
2ND & 16 AT PIT 38(03:45)
(3:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at DEN 43 for 19 yards (J.Simmons).
1ST & 10 AT DEN 43(03:37)
(3:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to R.Switzer (C.Harris).
2ND & 10 AT DEN 43(03:32)
(3:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to R.Switzer to DEN 39 for 4 yards (C.Harris).
3RD & 6 AT DEN 39(02:49)
(2:49) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at DEN 20 for 19 yards (I.Yiadom).
1ST & 10 AT DEN 20(02:44)
(2:44) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to A.Brown to DEN 15 for 5 yards (C.Harris).
2ND & 5 AT DEN 15(02:06)
(2:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger scrambles left end pushed ob at DEN 3 for 12 yards (A.Gotsis).
Two-Minute Warning
1ST & 3 AT DEN 3(01:57)
(1:57) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to J.Smith-Schuster.
2ND & 3 AT DEN 3(01:53)
(1:53) (Shotgun) J.Conner left tackle to DEN 2 for 1 yard (T.Davis; S.Harris).
3RD & 2 AT DEN 2(01:07)
(1:07) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for A.Brown INTERCEPTED by S.Harris at DEN 0. Touchback.

[pittpete]

We ran 1x in the 4th quarter
:rolleyes:

[SidSmythe]

We ran 1x in the 4th quarter
:rolleyes:

On 2nd down at the GOALINE and then ran RPO on 3rd down as if the BRONCOS were worried about any RUN option at that point.

That reminds me no one's talking about VM's drop on 1st down - he looked at the coverage and BEN threw it.
Looking back at the entire game NOTHING went right outside of the FAKE FG and JUJU's 97 yarder. Other than that we gave the game away.

[K Train]

It had to be something they saw and gameplanned for because I thought theyd go with a heavy dose of conner. They really let that one slip away from them even after being able to move the ball seemingly at will

[Terrapin]

It had to be something they saw and gameplanned for because I thought theyd go with a heavy dose of conner. They really let that one slip away from them even after being able to move the ball seemingly at will

Coaches routinely try to prove how clever they are by doing the exact opposite of what they should. Like I said in another thread, we were on the road against one of the worst rush D's in the league. So what do we do? Pass on the first 9 plays of the game, and throw it 56 times total compared to what, 12 runs?

[Northern_Blitz]

I was yelling at the TV for us to run the ball four times from the goal line on that last drive.

We had lots of time to score and probably wouldn't have had too much time left to get a stop and our own scoring drive if we scored there.

Running gives them less time to get a FG and I think that we hit it with 4 tries.

But, Ben's also been very successful this year. You're going to have some bad plays when you throw that many times (but man was that ever a horrible play on the pick).

[Ghost]

The last play was a run/pass option but the shotgun snap was low and Ben said by the time he got it controlled it was too late to comfortably hand off to Conner. I think they were planning to run it there.

[Eich]

There is absolutely no excuse for Ben to throw that last pick. None. It was as bone-headed a decision and atrocious execution that any QB could ever make. You don't even expect that kind of play from a rookie.

How does a HOF QB do THAT?

I hate losing games where we beat ourselves. It's one thing to be out-played. It's a completely different level of frustration where we hand the game over to an inferior opponent. Yeah, Denver has some play-makers on defense. But we beat ourselves, plain and simple.

[K Train]

Coaches routinely try to prove how clever they are by doing the exact opposite of what they should. Like I said in another thread, we were on the road against one of the worst rush D's in the league. So what do we do? Pass on the first 9 plays of the game, and throw it 56 times total compared to what, 12 runs?

Still though two really odd turnovers from grimble and conner were the difference. They were absolutely shredding them through the air

[williar]

Agreed! You can almost always tell who won the game by looking at the turnovers. This team has gotten so careless protecting the football. Ben has always been prone to throwing bad interceptions, and now throw in Connor fumbling all lover the place. This team will go nowhere in a hurry giving the ball away at this rate.

[Buzz]

There is absolutely no excuse for Ben to throw that last pick. None. It was as bone-headed a decision and atrocious execution that any QB could ever make. You don't even expect that kind of play from a rookie.

How does a HOF QB do THAT?



These are the kinds of plays that make people wonder whether players throw games.

[Eich]

I don't care that they are pass-happy at times. A good team should be able to be pass-happy when it's called for, run-happy when it's called for and balanced, when necessary. You take what the defense is giving you.

Our problem is consistency.

It drives me insane how incredibly stupid Ben can play at times. It just feels like it's hard to trust him anymore. He can play like a Hall of Fame QB and then throw a pick to end the game that's so ugly, that you wouldn't even expect it from a rookie.

How can so many bad things happen in one game?
-Conner's no-ball-contact-fumble
-Grimble's stupid decision to take on a safety at the goal line and get punched in the mouth so hard that we get 0 points
-Blocked FG after the Broncos have a jumper on tape doing that
-Ben's penchant for interceptions and especially bone-headed decision at the end
-Washington's decision to dive for a ball he could have run under

I feel like Juju and AB are the only guys I really trust anymore. And every team is focusing on AB.

[Eich]

These are the kinds of plays that make people wonder whether players throw games.

Yeah, that would explain it. You hate to think that but how else does a HOF QB do that? Every replay I've seen, including a camera angle that looks like it was from Ben's helmet, shows that there was nothing there. It was Ben just winging it right into the teeth of the defense. Stupid. Inexcusable.

[williar]

Like someone suggested, I don't know if I can believe what I am seeing a lot of times watching these games. You would be naive to think not to think there is something "fishy" going on behind the scenes. I mean afterall - this is made for TV entertainment... From the birdseye view it seem like the Steelers went above and beyond to give that game away.

[Steel Maniac]

When we got in the 5 yard line at the end, I don't care how much he messed up before, Conner should got the ball all three times if need be. They made it more difficult then it had to be.

They went away from Conner and it cost them.

[D Rock]

I don't care that they are pass-happy at times. A good team should be able to be pass-happy when it's called for, run-happy when it's called for and balanced, when necessary. You take what the defense is giving you.

Our problem is consistency.

It drives me insane how incredibly stupid Ben can play at times. It just feels like it's hard to trust him anymore. He can play like a Hall of Fame QB and then throw a pick to end the game that's so ugly, that you wouldn't even expect it from a rookie.

How can so many bad things happen in one game?
-Conner's no-ball-contact-fumble
-Grimble's stupid decision to take on a safety at the goal line and get punched in the mouth so hard that we get 0 points
-Blocked FG after the Broncos have a jumper on tape doing that
-Ben's penchant for interceptions and especially bone-headed decision at the end
-Washington's decision to dive for a ball he could have run under

I feel like Juju and AB are the only guys I really trust anymore. And every team is focusing on AB.

Consistency and efficiency.

I'll probably start a war by pointing this out, but Ben is only 18th in the NFL in passer rating this year. Ignore the high yardage and elevated TD totals - those are a result of way more passing attempts than other QBs. He is not playing efficiently.

Seriously - 12 guys have 100+ passer ratings right now. Ben is at 95.9 After 11 games...that is not a fluke, it is the new NFL. And looking at Ben's stats now compared to his career stats is a flawed analysis. He is not performing at a high level relative to his peers. Period.

I don't think he looks physically broken like I did earlier in the year, but I also don't think he is competing well on a mental level.


https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/individual/?sortStatId=QB_RATING&selectedTable=0

[D Rock]

1st in attempts
2nd in yards per game
8th in touchdowns
2nd most INTs
27th in sacks taken - shouldn't be making so many mistakes with taking so little pressure


18th in passer rating
18th in completion %
11th in yards per attempt
14th in yards per completion
15th in TD %
19th in INT %

All of this shows me that the gameplan of giving the ball to Ben to throw more is wrong - he should be getting it less because he is doing less with it than his peers

[Northern_Blitz]

The last play was a run/pass option but the shotgun snap was low and Ben said by the time he got it controlled it was too late to comfortably hand off to Conner. I think they were planning to run it there.

I'd rather have run some non-shotgun plays from the goal line...but they've generally been good in the red zone this year, I can't complain too much.

[Eich]

The last play was a run/pass option but the shotgun snap was low and Ben said by the time he got it controlled it was too late to comfortably hand off to Conner. I think they were planning to run it there.

That's understandable. But what he did after getting the ball controlled was inexcusable for an NFL quarterback.

[Chucktownsteeler]

That's understandable. But what he did after getting the ball controlled was inexcusable for an NFL quarterback.

I agree, I simply don't know what Ben was thinking on that play. Did the ball slip? Either way Brown had no chance. I think at times Ben forces the ball to Brown too much. Remember the stretch play at the goal line a few season back against Baltimore. That was a very low percentage play with the game on the line and no time outs. Had Brown not stretched we would not have beaten the Rats and made the play-offs.

If anyone sees or knows what Ben was thinking, please post.

[steeler_george]

1ST & 10 AT PIT 25(09:17)
(9:17) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to J.James to PIT 34 for 9 yards (J.Simmons; W.Parks).
2ND & 1 AT PIT 34(08:45)
(8:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to J.Smith-Schuster to PIT 47 for 13 yards (I.Yiadom).
1ST & 10 AT PIT 47(08:06)
(8:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to A.Brown.
2ND & 10 AT PIT 47(07:59)
(7:59) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to A.Brown to DEN 48 for 5 yards (D.Stewart; W.Parks).
3RD & 5 AT DEN 48(07:23)
(7:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to J.Smith-Schuster.
4TH & 5 AT DEN 48(07:10)

1ST & 10 AT PIT 44(04:26)
(4:26) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 38 for -6 yards (sack split by V.Miller and S.Harris).
2ND & 16 AT PIT 38(03:45)
(3:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at DEN 43 for 19 yards (J.Simmons).
1ST & 10 AT DEN 43(03:37)
(3:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to R.Switzer (C.Harris).
2ND & 10 AT DEN 43(03:32)
(3:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to R.Switzer to DEN 39 for 4 yards (C.Harris).
3RD & 6 AT DEN 39(02:49)
(2:49) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to J.Smith-Schuster pushed ob at DEN 20 for 19 yards (I.Yiadom).
1ST & 10 AT DEN 20(02:44)
(2:44) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to A.Brown to DEN 15 for 5 yards (C.Harris).
2ND & 5 AT DEN 15(02:06)
(2:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger scrambles left end pushed ob at DEN 3 for 12 yards (A.Gotsis).
Two-Minute Warning
1ST & 3 AT DEN 3(01:57)
(1:57) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to J.Smith-Schuster.
2ND & 3 AT DEN 3(01:53)
(1:53) (Shotgun) J.Conner left tackle to DEN 2 for 1 yard (T.Davis; S.Harris).
3RD & 2 AT DEN 2(01:07)
(1:07) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle intended for A.Brown INTERCEPTED by S.Harris at DEN 0. Touchback.


I was thinking that too, why do we stop giving it to Conner. Ever since he got that concssion in the Carolina game, it seems as if Tomlin or Fetcher are scared to run the wheels off him. That fumble didnt help either!

[steeler_george]

When we got in the 5 yard line at the end, I don't care how much he messed up before, Conner should got the ball all three times if need be. They made it more difficult then it had to be.

They went away from Conner and it cost them.

This is the biggest reason why we lost not Grimble nor Conners fumble nor is it Ben's 1st pick.

[Mr.wizard]

I was thinking that too, why do we stop giving it to Conner. Ever since he got that concssion in the Carolina game, it seems as if Tomlin or Fetcher are scared to run the wheels off him. That fumble didnt help either!

I think they are trying to minimize Conners carries, he has been taking some punishment and i think they want him healthy for the cold weather games down the stretch. With that being said, Conner has to limit the mistakes, two big drops last week that could have cost us the games and the Fumble this week that put us in bad spot.

[williar]

I didn't mind the game plan - change up a bit, show some versatility, there's nothing wrong with that! It's the execution and the turnovers that killed us. They just didn't seem to have the heart and the fight that they showed against the jags.

And what was Ben thinking? How many times have we seen those foolish turnovers at the worst times.. He doesn't protect the football. Let's face it, he is a two-edge sword. It is what it is! :rolleyes:

[RuthlessBurgher]

I was thinking that too, why do we stop giving it to Conner. Ever since he got that concssion in the Carolina game, it seems as if Tomlin or Fetcher are scared to run the wheels off him. That fumble didnt help either!

Or maybe they were running the wheels off Conner for the first 10 games of the season, thinking they'd have Bell for the stretch run and the playoffs in case Conner breaks down. But now that Bell is no longer an option, they seem to be making a concerted effort to minimize his touches to preserve Conner now...interesting...

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

When we got in the 5 yard line at the end, I don't care how much he messed up before, Conner should got the ball all three times if need be. They made it more difficult then it had to be.

They went away from Conner and it cost them.

Agreed. They should have put Nix in the game, two TEs, one WR, get Ben under center, and go on the public address system and state that they are running the ball.

[phillyesq]

Or maybe they were running the wheels off Conner for the first 10 games of the season, thinking they'd have Bell for the stretch run and the playoffs in case Conner breaks down. But now that Bell is no longer an option, they seem to be making a concerted effort to minimize his touches to preserve Conner now...interesting...

Conner looks like he becomes more effective with more carries. We don't need to give him 25 carries per game, but the offense needs to be more balanced than it was. If they want to preserve him, I'm fine with giving Samuels a few more carries, and think they should mix him in here and there.

[squidkid]

bens is just setting himself up for his next contract extension
he'll show them where he has thrown the ball more that any other qb and will demand to be paid 1.5 times more than the highest qb in the league

[Captain Lemming]

bens is just setting himself up for his next contract extension
he'll show them where he has thrown the ball more that any other qb and will demand to be paid 1.5 times more than the highest qb in the league

Now thats funny.
He also has proven to be a game winning "short yardage" runningback......So he should be paid like the like a QB AND runningback!!!!!

Bell has opened my eyes to how underpaid Kordell was. :)

[Mr.wizard]

It had to be something they saw and gameplanned for because I thought theyd go with a heavy dose of conner. They really let that one slip away from them even after being able to move the ball seemingly at will

It had to be and i think they were right, we a lot of guys running wide open, we lost that game because we were careless with the ball. 4 turnovers, i dont care how balance your attack is if you turn it over that many times its tough to win.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Ben Roethlisberger makes no apologies for 12 interceptions, tied with Ryan Fitzpatrick for second most in the NFL. "I'm a quarterback that is going to go out and sling it," said Roethlisberger on his weekly radio show, adding that shooters keep shooting.

1h

[squidkid]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Ben Roethlisberger makes no apologies for 12 interceptions, tied with Ryan Fitzpatrick for second most in the NFL. "I'm a quarterback that is going to go out and sling it," said Roethlisberger on his weekly radio show, adding that shooters keep shooting.

1h


there better be more to that interview or else ben is an idiot

[RuthlessBurgher]

Mike Tomlin “not overly” concerned with James Conner’s fumbles

Posted by Josh Alper on November 27, 2018, 1:41 PM EST

A lot has gone well for James Conner in his first year as the feature back in the Steelers offense, but one area that’s been a problem at times has been ball security.

Conner lost a fumble in last Sunday’s loss to the Broncos and it’s the fourth time that he’s fumbled so far this season. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the fumbles during Tuesday’s press conference and said he’s “not overly” concerned about them, but did say that Conner has to be aware that the Chargers and other future opponents will be aware that they have been an issue.

“I will acknowledge that as a feature ball carrier in this league, when you got some tape with some balls on the ground that people use that as motivation,” Tomlin said. “I know we do. We’re playing a feature runner and in recent weeks he’s got balls on the ground, Wednesday morning that’s being discussed. That’s the nature of my conversation with James. Just understand how the other 31 teams function. That in L.A. somewhere tomorrow morning, they’ll be talking about his balls on the ground. I’ll be excited abou watching his response to that.”

Tomlin closed by saying he has a lot of confidence in Conner and doesn’t think there are fundamental issues that need to be addressed, but the question will surely come up again if Conner should be responsible for more turnovers in the future.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/27/mike-tomlin-not-overly-concerned-with-james-conners-fumbles/

[RuthlessBurgher]

there better be more to that interview or else ben is an idiot

Ben Roethlisberger going to keep throwing despite interceptions

1:53 PM ET

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger makes no apologies for his 12 interceptions, tied with Ryan Fitzpatrick for second-most in the NFL.

Shooters shoot.

"I'm a quarterback that is going to go out and sling it," said Roethlisberger on his weekly radio show Tuesday.

Roethlisberger is putting up prolific numbers for the 7-3-1 Steelers, ranking second in the league with 3,664 passing yards and tied for seventh with 24 touchdowns. But he isn't afraid to take chances, resulting in 55 interceptions in 52 regular season games dating back to 2015.

He's one of five quarterbacks with at least 50 interceptions during that span, including Jacksonville Jaguars' Blake Bortles (59 in 57 games), Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jameis Winston (55 in 51), New York Giants' Eli Manning (50 in 58) and Sunday's opponent in Heinz Field, Los Angeles Chargers' Philip Rivers (50 in 59).

But Roethlisberger has the best record by far among that bunch, going 37-14-1 in those games, with 102 touchdowns.

The Steelers were in control Sunday in Denver with 527 offensive yards but lost 24-17 after Broncos nose tackle Shelby Harris intercepted Roethlisberger at the goal line with 1:03 left. Roethlisberger wasn't counting on Harris being near the ball, but the lineman got blocked back into the end zone. Corner Chris Harris was in the line of the ball while covering Antonio Brown, and Roethlisberger said he told Brown he needed to run a "flatter" route to avoid getting undercut.

On an interception to Harris earlier in the game, Roethlisberger said Brown was being held.

Coach Mike Tomlin said he's concerned with his team's minus-7 turnover ratio the last two weeks but not with Roethlisberger's decision-making.

"Ben is just part of it. He's not solely responsible for our inability to maintain possession of the ball," Tomiln said. "He wasn't carrying the ball into the end zone and fumbling it for a touchback. He just needs to continue to be thoughtful about the preservation of the ball, like he always is, and understand the responsibility that comes with being our signal caller. I don't see any issues in that area. But us, collectively, need to do a better job."

The Steelers' other two turnovers in Denver came off Xavier Grimble and James Conner fumbles.

Roethlisberger also delivered a revealing quote Tuesday on his original goal-line plans, which did not include Brown.

The Steelers ran a fade for JuJu Smith-Schuster on first down, and Roethlisberger wanted to revisit that play on third down.

"I think we should have went to (Smith-Schuster) four straight plays," Roethlisberger said.

Brown draws much attention from opposing defenses, and Smith-Schuster has capitalized with 1,055 yards and 77 catches, which lead the team. Brown has 71 catches for 874 yards and 11 touchdowns.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25392626/ben-roethlisberger-not-apologizing-12-interceptions

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Steelers OC Randy Fichtner on Ben Roethlisberger's league-high 472 passing attempts: I have a 15-year veteran. Why wouldn't we throw?

40m

[pittpete]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Steelers OC Randy Fichtner on Ben Roethlisberger's league-high 472 passing attempts: I have a 15-year veteran. Why wouldn't we throw?

40m

Because he keeps throwing picks...LOL

[Steel Maniac]

Because he keeps throwing picks...LOL

last two games he has.

[Steel Maniac]

Ben had 56 attempts this week
He had 47 last week.
5 picks
Law of averages says the more passes you throw the more interceptions you'll throw.:(

You called it; they did the same thing in the charger game. And that falls on the head coach.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ben Roethlisberger: No reason to get worked up over run/pass ratio

Posted by Josh Alper on December 4, 2018, 2:43 PM EST

The Steelers have heard questions about the ratio between running and passing plays in recent weeks, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t think concerns about imbalance are are fueling any conversations.

Roethlisberger has put up 148 passes over the last three weeks — Antonio Brown and Chris Boswell also threw passes over that span — while the Steelers have run the ball 59 times. The team needed a touchdown on their last play to win the first of those games and then lost the next two. Those losses are what Roethlisberger believes is behind any grumbling about how they’re divvying up the offensive workload.

“I don’t think that there’s any reason for people to get worked up over the number of runs compared to passes,” Roethlisberger said on 93.7 The Fan, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “People are always going to get worked up over the numbers, when you lose especially. I don’t know if people would get as worked up if we would have won the game. That’s why [Randy Fichtner is] the OC and calls the plays for us, and I think we’re all just fine with the run-pass ratio. We just want to win.”

The Steelers put up that ratio with James Conner in the lineup at running back, but they won’t have him in the lineup this weekend due to an ankle injury. That may mean anyone looking for more balance will have to wait a little bit longer.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/04/ben-roethlisberger-no-reason-to-get-worked-up-over-run-pass-ratio/

[Buzz]

If we would've/could've run the ball when we had the big lead early in the second half, we would have run clock while keeping the ball out of the hands of the Chargers' offense, and worn them down. Staying heavily with the passing game, especially with a few critical misses, allowed their D to stay fresh and their O to have opportunities.

Not smart football.