Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

[flippy]

I don't know what Ben was doing during his 4 weeks off, but he's all of a sudden dropping his deep ball right into his receivers hands like Tom Brady does.

And he might now have the fastest deep threat this league has ever seen.

If he starts connecting with Wallace on the deep ball, the league is in trouble. A lot of trouble.

[steelblood]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

I don't know what Ben was doing during his 4 weeks off, but he's all of a sudden dropping his deep ball right into his receivers hands like Tom Brady does.

And he might now have the fastest deep threat this league has ever seen.

If he starts connecting with Wallace on the deep ball, the league is in trouble. A lot of trouble.

I would say yes. He looks great and seems very focused and hungry. I hope he can stay healthy. He is taking some shots to make those intermediate and longer throws.

[Tomlinator]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?



He does seem to be hanging in there to the last second before throwing the ball.

[chiken]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

he hired that qb coach remember. Worked with the guy 2-3 hours a day as if he were at practice but they said he threw wayyyy more then he would have thrown had he of been playing.
he worked on his mechanics the whole time.. its obvious right now.

[Crash]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

He's always had a good deep ball. It's not as bad as people think.

He also worked with that QB coach BEFORE 2009, so thats not new either. In 2009 he had 4300 yards, 26 TD passes, and his "deep threat" led the NFL in YPC.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

I wish Ben would've spent part of his suspension working on ball security.

[stlrz d]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

He's always had a good deep ball. It's not as bad as people think.

He also worked with that QB coach BEFORE 2009, so thats not new either. In 2009 he had 4300 yards, 26 TD passes, and his "deep threat" led the NFL in YPC.

Correct.

And reports out of TC were that he was hitting Wallace in stride.

Sorry Flip, but not having your best player for 4 games is never a blessing.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

Could be a blessing from this point of view:

3-1, and

no hits on Ben for the 1st qrtr of the season.

If we make the playoffs, I'll take that tradeoff for sure.

If we miss it by a game, I'll say this was a stupid way to look at things.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

To teammates, Roethlisberger looks better than ever

By Vic Carucci NFL.com
Senior Columnist
Published: Oct. 25, 2010 at 09:12 p.m. Updated: Oct. 25, 2010 at 10:15 p.m.


MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Ike Taylor could see it two weeks ago in practice, as Ben Roethlisberger prepared for his first game back from his suspension.

The footwork. The crispness of his delivery. The accuracy of his throws. The quality of the passes being completed against one of the better defense's in the NFL -- and that included those that came at the cornerback's own expense.

Taylor has been Roethlisberger's teammate for all seven seasons the quarterback has spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has studied his game long enough and closely enough to establish a standard by which to measure his performance. And it's a fairly lofty one given that Roethlisberger was under center for both of the Steelers' Super Bowl victories since 2005 and that before this season, even amid the bad behavior that would lead to him being suspended for the first four games, Roethlisberger was easily among the top five quarterbacks in the league.

"Ben, man, you look better than I've ever seen," Taylor told him. "Even (better than) in training camp, when everybody was saying you looked good."

So it hasn't come as any surprise to Taylor, or anyone else on the Steelers who has had a close-up view of Roethlisberger's workouts, that his return is going exceptionally well.

After a little bit of a slow start against the improving Cleveland Browns in Week 6, he showed the familiar form that makes him so good. On Sunday, with the Miami Dolphins shutting down the Steelers' running game, Roethlisberger responded the way an elite quarterback should by throwing for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He effectively ran the no-huddle offense for the first time this season. He also lunged for what was initially ruled a touchdown, but later became a fumble that the Steelers, in a controversial ruling, were able to retain to set up the winning field goal in a 23-22 victory.

"I still left quite a few things out there," Roethlisberger said. "I'm disappointed in myself, but with that being said, a win's a win."

If you ask his teammates, they'll tell you their quarterback is being a bit too hard on himself. "I think he's doing a great job," linebacker James Farrior said. "I mean, to come back in after a month and to play as well as he's played these last two games, I think, is tremendous. The sky's the limit for him, and I think he's only going to get better each week."

With a "new and improved" Roethlisberger, the Steelers can make a prety convincing case as the best team in the NFL.

Their defense and running game helped carry them while Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch filled in at quarterback. Now, they have the passer who can deliver those long, difference-making throws, such as the one that resulted in a 53-yard touchdown to Mike Wallace and the one that produced a 43-yard gain to Hines Ward to set up a field goal.

"He stepped up in the pocket and I was coming open into a zone and he laid it over the top, only where I could get it," Ward said, marveling as if that hadn't happened many times before and in bigger games. "He's the same Ben. Every time we step into the huddle, we feel like we have a chance to win every ballgame. And that's always been the same."

Ward does, however, see Roethlisberger showing a better understanding of the offense than he did even a year ago.

"He's looking down to his first, second, third reads," said Ward, who also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass against Miami. "It's amazing. And then his escapability, getting to extend the plays, even makes him more dangerous. All in all, he's getting back into form and it's great to have him back."

Great is one word. Taylor has a different one.

When he thinks about the Steelers' 3-1 start without Roethlisberger, when he thinks about their defense (which ranked sixth in the NFL overall and first against the run entering Week 7), and when he thinks about a running game that has been mostly solid this season, he sees the team being capable of something that is appropriate for the season.

"It can be scary, man," Taylor said.

[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b9da36/printable/to-teammates-roethlisberger-looks-better-than-ever"]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... -than-ever[/url]

[feltdizz]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

It was indeed a blessing. It sucks that it involved a chick but I think these 4 games off lit a fire under Ben.

Some people, and they know who they are, will jump on here and say "Ben was always this and that" but they can't help themselves... they love him so much they think pointing out an improvement is bashing his past performance.

and yes crash....we know Ben was good before, had a QB coach, we know he could throw the ball far, we know he was always this thin we know he was hitting Wallace in training camp and the report was made just to remind us... not to acknowledge an improvement in timing.

Our team bond is tighter than ever and it is showing... and yes, I know it was always this strong it just wasn't reported.

[Crash]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

Last season was the only year Ben was heavy. Let's face it, letting his body heal and the "perks" that come along with winning a 2nd ring don't go hand in hand in off seasons.

But no one can tell me the suspending of an innocent man, and the embarrassment and the witch hunt of the media was a "blessing" for he or this football team.

What fire was lit under him? Two rings in six years and a 4300 yard 26 TD pass season in 2009. It's not like he was playing bad people.

[flippy]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

I see a better Ben on the field.

Specifically his mechanics.

He's putting better touch on his long passes and hitting receivers in stride.

Ben elevating his game has nothing to do with whether or not he was good in the past.

But he does look much better.

[feltdizz]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

Last season was the only year Ben was heavy. Let's face it, letting his body heal and the "perks" that come along with winning a 2nd ring don't go hand in hand in off seasons.

But no one can tell me the suspending of an innocent man, and the embarrassment and the witch hunt of the media was a "blessing" for he or this football team.

What fire was lit under him? Two rings in six years and a 4300 yard 26 TD pass season in 2009. It's not like he was playing bad people.

he wasn't playing bad at all.... but I think the chip on his shoulder grew larger over the off season.

and how dare you use his stats from last season... that is blasphemy. Stats are for baseball.. we were 9-7 and it was all the offenses fault. ( for sarcasm)

I don't think flippy's question is in regards to the nature of the suspension...

[feltdizz]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

I see a better Ben on the field.

Specifically his mechanics.

He's putting better touch on his long passes and hitting receivers in stride.

Ben elevating his game has nothing to do with whether or not he was good in the past.

But he does look much better.

true... but he is over throwing a lot of 20 yard passes... I think it's due to being backed up and c.ock strong. He needs to let a few babies loose before the game. I'm surprised he fumbled so much last game. I thought his grip would be vice tight. LOL!

[Crash]

Re: Was the 4 Game Suspension a Blessing?

I think he looks the same. He's just lighter than he was in 2009.