Ben said his arm strength led to INT's against Dallas and Cincy

[steelz09]

So the Steelers thought that a Ben who couldn't get any "zip on his passes" was a better option than a healthy Charlie Batch? I don't get it...after Charlie played as well as he did vs. the Ravens...I mean, what do you have a backup QB for if not to come in for your starter when he can't make the throws?

Exactly... why have Charlie or Leftwich even on the roster if you are so afraid for them to replace Ben when he's injured. And even when they are playing due to injury, they refuse to allow them to throw the ball.

If they have that little confidence in both Batch and Leftwich then why have them on the roster. It goes beyond comprehension.

[steelz09]

I understand what you're saying, but Ben has built his career on not fighting another day, but getting the big play now. It's made him a lot of money and highlight reel adulation. When it works, it's spectacular. When it doesn't...

Ben needs to adjust his game a bit because that worked better when he was younger. Now, that sandlot football is causing him to miss extended periods of time. It'll only get worse as he gets older.

[Siggy00]

No. One time doesn't prove my point. I've watched every game he's played for the Steelers. To see what I see, you must actually have your eyes open while watching the games.

And yet you won't list the examples I asked you to.

9 years. I would almost guarantee he hasn't taken them out of FG range ten times via sack.

[feltdizz]

Yep...this is called football. It is a violent contact sport. It happens.

I love how several months ago I kept saying this was going to happen. In the off-season we would learn that Ben's injury was more than was led to believe. Certain posters kept bashing Ben over and over and over. Some here (those with common sense), would say that maybe the poor play after he got hurt had something to do with the injury he suffered.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Stay thirsty. It's your own misguided self.

Cool story...

[steelz09]

And yet you won't list the examples I asked you to.

9 years. I would almost guarantee he hasn't taken them out of FG range ten times via sack.

Ben? Is that you?

[grotonsteel]

I agree with that. You live and die by the sword but here is my problem...

Ben has been in the league for awhile and if he hasn't learned by now to "live to fight another day" then I think he's either to stubborn, ignorant or just to stupid to ever learn it.

It's pretty simple... Two golden rules:

1) If your in field goal range, don't take a freakin' sack and take us out of field goal range. It's one thing if he's sacked immediately. That's different. Normally, that's not the case. It's because he's running around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to buy additional time. Sometimes, you just need to get the 3 points.

2) When it's 2nd and 3 (give or take)... don't take a dumb sack and make it 3rd and 15 (give or take). Like I said, sacks happen especially with our o-line but the reality is A LOT of those sacks happen when Ben is holding onto the ball for WAAYY to long. If he doesn't take the stupid sack in these situations, we still have 3rd and short. Instead, we have 3rd and long and typically it results in a punt. They are drive killing sacks that shouldn't be.

You really hate Big Ben don't you...I am not sure you even read the article...You are mouthing off just by reading the headline..

Can you tell me how many times Ben took Steelers out of Field Goal range by taking a sack..one/two/three times???

You are saying majority of the sacks are on Ben because he was holding the ball too long whereas O-line was okay??? Hahahahahaa....

Carry on with your Ben hating agenda...

[Siggy00]

"Fans" like 09 deserve another 25 years of nothing when Ben retires.

[grotonsteel]

Ben is not ideal but he is not the main reason why Steelers were 8-8 last season. Well if you consider his injuries then yes but his play was far better last season behind the makeshift O-line, new OC and young dummy crew who could not get open or hold on to the ball..


People are knitpicking one or two bad plays by Ben and extrapolating it to entire season. He is not perfect and he will not make perfect desicion all the time..unlike few armchair QB do on these board. All i care about is winning and Ben more often than not had lead Steelers to winning the game.

[skyhawk]

Agendas always seem to forget Ben was having an MVP season prior to injury.

Add in the game where there were 8 fumbles and a trio of RBs that couldn't get traction. A game where our backup QB couldn't hit the broadside of the barn. Also, add in the the fact the OL was horrid and injured all season once again. Yeah, blame Ben. He takes a lot of the blame - good for him. He was injured. I don't think he was making it an excuse. Ben is a leader. But you add in a couple of bad apples, eg Wallace, Mendenhall, etc, added in with the departure with the greatest Steeler WR, and Aaron Smith and James Farrior, I'd say that's a lot a team (let alone a QB) can be expected to overcome.

[skyhawk]

Ben is not ideal but he is not the main reason why Steelers were 8-8 last season. Well if you consider his injuries then yes but his play was far better last season behind the makeshift O-line, new OC and young dummy crew who could not get open or hold on to the ball..


People are knitpicking one or two bad plays by Ben and extrapolating it to entire season. He is not perfect and he will not make perfect desicion all the time..unlike few armchair QB do on these board. All i care about is winning and Ben more often than not had lead Steelers to winning the game.

+++++++++++1

[feltdizz]

Agendas always seem to forget Ben was having an MVP season prior to injury.

Add in the game where there were 8 fumbles and a trio of RBs that couldn't get traction. A game where our backup QB couldn't hit the broadside of the barn. Also, add in the the fact the OL was horrid and injured all season once again. Yeah, blame Ben. He takes a lot of the blame - good for him. He was injured. I don't think he was making it an excuse. Ben is a leader. But you add in a couple of bad apples, eg Wallace, Mendenhall, etc, added in with the departure with the greatest Steeler WR, and Aaron Smith and James Farrior, I'd say that's a lot a team (let alone a QB) can be expected to overcome.

Ben was having a great season... but as a team we were still playing sub par football and making boneheaded mistakes before his injury.

I still find it odd for some to point out his injury like it was some huge secret or the only reason we lost.

[steelz09]

You really hate Big Ben don't you...I am not sure you even read the article...You are mouthing off just by reading the headline..

Can you tell me how many times Ben took Steelers out of Field Goal range by taking a sack..one/two/three times???

You are saying majority of the sacks are on Ben because he was holding the ball too long whereas O-line was okay??? Hahahahahaa....

Carry on with your Ben hating agenda...

You just don't get it do you? It's not a 'hate' Ben agenda. It's a 'hate' Tomlin agenda. It's not a hate Wallace or Mendenhall 'agenda'. It's humorous that people thinking your a "hater" because you critique a certain player, coach, etc. We aren't that good of a team and it showed last year. There is a lot to critique. Trust me. You can keep the Steelers blinders on and think "all is good" if you want..

Ben is one of our best players if not THE best. If he's hurt, we have no chance at a SB just like most franchises when they lose their franchise QB. With that being said, Ben doesn't do himself many favors on several fronts and I critique him on those fronts because I wish he'd improve them because it would make himself a better player and the Steelers a better team.

As far as those stats go....If there was a stat captured for these specific sacks, then obviously I could get it. Obviously, there isn't one so .... it's pointless to say "provide me stats". If you don't believe me then that's fine, I could care less to be honest. It's moronic to even ask for something that you and I know damn well it's impossible to show. I just suggest you watch the games very closely. DVR them and re-watch if you have to.

Yes, historically Ben gets sacked way more than what he should because he holds onto the ball to long. Last year was a bit of a exception. Why? Because Arians offense is gone and Haley's offense focused on Ben getting the ball out quicker. That's no secret. I don't know if you watch the games with a lot of die hard non-Steelers fans but I do. I watch just about every game on every Sunday including the Steelers. Talking with some of these die hard 'other fans' is a good perspective to get because you get the non Steelers "homer" perspective. One of those non-Steelers perspectives has been that Ben holds onto the ball to long. You don't need to be a genius to figure that one out. It's been a known fact. Last year was an improvement in that regard.

[steelz09]

Ben was having a great season... but as a team we were still playing sub par football and making boneheaded mistakes before his injury.

I still find it odd for some to point out his injury like it was some huge secret or the only reason we lost.

It wasn't a huge secret, that's the point ... it's dumb for him or a writer to even bring it up at this point.

[steelz09]

Agendas always seem to forget Ben was having an MVP season prior to injury.

Add in the game where there were 8 fumbles and a trio of RBs that couldn't get traction. A game where our backup QB couldn't hit the broadside of the barn. Also, add in the the fact the OL was horrid and injured all season once again. Yeah, blame Ben. He takes a lot of the blame - good for him. He was injured. I don't think he was making it an excuse. Ben is a leader. But you add in a couple of bad apples, eg Wallace, Mendenhall, etc, added in with the departure with the greatest Steeler WR, and Aaron Smith and James Farrior, I'd say that's a lot a team (let alone a QB) can be expected to overcome.

I don't think Ben is the leader most of us wish he was.

The moaning about Haley was not something a leader should have done... or at least not for as long as what he did.

Even during the games, he wanted nothing to do with Haley. You could tell with his body language and he would walk away and avoid him during a timeout instead of consulting with his OC like he did with Arians. That is flat out childish and obviously problematic. It could impact the offenses success and probably did hinder it. Sorry to the John Clayton's of this message board, there isn't stats available on this....

Also, I think it was the denver game where the sound crew caught Ben saying something along the lines of "not that f****** s*** " right now to Haley after he called the play.

For as well as what Ben was playing earlier in the season, I was extremely disappointed in his leadership & professionalism in regards to the Haley situation.

[feltdizz]

It wasn't a huge secret, that's the point ... it's dumb for him or a writer to even bring it up at this point.

It's a "no s@#$# sherlock" moment but some fans think they are geniuses for pointing it out. LOL...