Times are changing for offense, QB says
Thursday, December 24, 2009
By Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Mr. 500 is so far beyond last Sunday, he already has turned back the clock to the 1970s.
That explains his thin moustache and what he considers his disco-age, wild hair. That explains the roots movement joined by center Justin Hartwig, who sports a growth underneath his nose and lower lip plus sideburns that descend an inch or two short of mutton chops. That explains the black-and-white photocopied picture on Roethlisberger's locker, a snapshot of Steelers quarterback coach Kenny Anderson back in the Cincinnati Bengals day.
In fact, Roethlisberger -- whose Steelers will wear their throwback uniforms Sunday at Heinz Field for their playoff-teeming contretemps with the Baltimore Ravens -- donned a practice jersey yesterday bearing his coach's long-ago No. 14 and a gold "Anderson" across the shoulders.
But not before the newly named AFC Offensive Player of the Week uttered publicly the words that Steelers followers can hardly seem to grasp about the past:
This isn't your father's Steelers offense anymore.
"It's probably hard for people to wrap their heads and their fingers around, but this offense is changing," Roethlisberger said yesterday, his first remarks since the aftermath last Sunday of his Steelers-record 503 yards passing, three touchdowns and no interceptions that placed him in elite company. Only Hall of Famers Y.A. Tittle and Warren Moon have passed so fancily before, and only nine times in NFL history has a quarterback ever thrown for more yardage.
"This team is changing on offense," Roethlisberger said. "It's not a run-it-first team anymore. And that's not a bad thing, it really isn't. We've got two 1,000-yard receivers. We'll have a 1,000-yard rusher. It's a pretty fun thing."
The fact he was able to hang a half-thousand on Green Bay last weekend in a 37-36 victory, concluded on a 19-yard pass to rookie Mike Wallace with no time left on the clock, illustrates to Roethlisberger a complete game by this modernist offense. Protection came from the line. Performance came from the receivers such as Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes along with running back Rashard Mendenhall. Points came in droves -- by two touchdowns more than the previous norm.
"I think BA called a great game," Roethlisberger added of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
"We came out and we threw the ball a bunch early. First couple of plays were passes, and I think that threw everybody for a loop. Because everybody assumed we were going to come out and run the ball, pound it. ... I've said that a thousand times: The league evolves. You have to keep up with the Indianapolises and the Saints, teams like that. Because if you don't, you're going to be left behind."
Leave it to a guy spawning a '70s look to talk about a revolution in such a staid place as the Steelers' offense.
Then again, take it from the newest fellow on the roster -- one who grew up wearing a No. 88 Lynn Swann jersey every game day Sunday across the Ohio River in Bellaire, Ohio.
A Steelers quarterback pass for 500? "I never thought I'd see that day," receiver Joey Galloway said.
Numbers, outside of victories and Super Bowls, mean nothing to Roethlisberger, so he professes. He swears he had no idea about his yardage total and still has no idea about his completion percentage (63 percent, with one throwaway). Nobody on the Steelers' sideline Sunday seemed to realize he topped a historic mark, until the notice flashed across the Heinz Field scoreboard afterward.
"We knew he had some type of yards, but we didn't know he had 500," said cornerback Willie Gay.
"That's just Ben," offensive tackle Max Starks said of Roethlisberger finishing with a 29-for-46 day and 121.9 passer rating. "We just played well as a unit. Ben made plays, receivers caught balls. We gave him some time. That's a credit to him, keeping things alive and making things happen."
"He's just, in my opinion, one of the best in the league," added defensive end Brett Keisel. "He's the real reason why we're in this position. He's one of the greats, and I'm glad he's in here with us."
He certainly made a difference last Sunday. A Steelers offense that ranks third in the NFL in time of possession, 10 seconds per game behind New England and four behind Cincinnati, averaged better than one point per minute of the 35 minutes, 22 seconds it had the football.
Possession time is a critical number for Arians' offense: The goal is for point production to equate to minutes of possession, though the Steelers' 33:18 and 22.5 averages don't quite jibe.
"That's something that we need to really strive for," Roethlisberger said of a one-for-one balance. "Because we feel we have a really good offense, that we should at least put three points on the board every time we have the ball. I mean, that's what we want to do."
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