"It's scary how good Ben can be"

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  • hawaiiansteel
    Legend
    • May 2008
    • 35649

    "It's scary how good Ben can be"




    I know this truth...

    Ben Roethlisberger deserves credit for handling his four-game suspension in 2010, just like he deserved blame for putting himself in that position to begin with. And the truth is that his use of that time -- getting individual work in -- could wind up benefitting his play for years to come.

    That's coming from the coach, George Whitfield, who had Roethlisberger for that month away.

    "Quarterbacks, especially at Ben's level, spend so much time working on the offense, working on game concepts, working on the entire ship," Whitfield said. "They rarely get a chance to work on the cockpit, so to speak, and go over those fundamentals and mechanics. If you don't do that on a regular basis, you can kind of drift away.

    "Those four weeks was really about him, and that was the best use of his time to improve himself as a player. Then to come back, like he did, you're more of an asset upon your return."

    Whitfield and Roethlisberger tried to simulate the Steelers' schedule the best they could during that time, practicing when the team practiced, watching film when the team watch film, breaking when the team broke, to mirror the process and create a seamless transition back to the team.

    But the work was most certainly different.

    Whitfield says the focus was on Roethlisberger being more efficient in getting the ball out on time, being better at bringing the ball back up in scramble situations to become more consistent with his launch point, and being more compact with his footwork in the pocket. And the coach could see the strides in Roethlisberger's 15 games (playoffs included) this year.

    "It's his consistency," Whitfield said. "It's just how organized and consistent he was in terms of playing. There are times, especially during that (Sunday) night Ravens game, when he does things that can't be coached, can't be duplicated. But in some games, it comes down to how you're doing things in the cockpit, little things you notice, where I'd be like, 'Nice shot there.'

    "It's small nuts-and-bolts pieces, but I'd says his consistency mechanically was noticeable."

    Now remember, this is a 28-year-old quarterback with two Super Bowl titles, three conference titles, four division titles, and five playoff berths in seven years.

    And he could still be ascending? Whitfield thinks so.

    "That may shock people," the coach said. "But there are areas where, I don't want to say he can be better, but I'll put it like this: It's scary how good he can be. There are still more weapons within Ben's game, more phases to his game, it's pretty scary. He came in that September with a lot of things we worked on, and he could hone in on those and make them second nature.

    "I don't think the NFL has seen the best elements of Ben. You look at it, and Kobe Bryant is in his 13th year, and there are still things he's doing better in his 13th year than he did in his 8th. … Ben's like that. He's still sharpening his game."

    [url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81e60726/article/cba-uncertainty-forces-personnel-folks-to-keep-open-minds"]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... open-minds[/url]
  • Eich
    Legend
    • Jul 2010
    • 7043

    #2
    Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

    I know this: Ben is the best QB we've had since TB and is the main thing that finally got us over the hump to more rings.

    I hope he does continue to improve. You have to wonder how much more bodily punishment he can take though. And I was hoping to see some of that improvement in the Super Bowl but that wasn't his best game. If Ben had been in his zone, I believe we win that game.

    Comment

    • Mister Pittsburgh
      Hall of Famer
      • Jul 2008
      • 3674

      #3
      Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

      As long as Ben is 90% healthy, we have a shot against ANYONE!
      @_Hellgrammite

      Comment

      • aggiebones
        Pro Bowler
        • Jan 2009
        • 1427

        #4
        Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

        At some point to extend his career, he'll ned a top OL and become more of a pocket and timing passer.
        More fun to watch now, but I think he can do both, thus extending his career longer than most believe.
        .

        Comment

        • SidSmythe
          Hall of Famer
          • Sep 2008
          • 4708

          #5
          Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

          One thing I can say about BEN is his deep ball has improved greatly this year.
          With the emergence of Mike Wallace, this could be a scary thing.

          I don't see BEN as having PINPOINT accuracy like AIKMAN had, but he can make any throw on the field now.
          Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...
          Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...
          Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...!!!

          Comment

          • Crash
            Legend
            • Apr 2009
            • 5008

            #6
            Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

            Have to use Ben's skills and have to use the skill players around him also. Ben's continued "improvement" mostly hinges on the continued development of Wallace, Brown, and Sanders.

            Comment

            • Crash
              Legend
              • Apr 2009
              • 5008

              #7
              Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

              And PS.....Get Spaeth and Johnson off the goddamn field!

              Comment

              • SteelerNation1
                Pro Bowler
                • May 2008
                • 1574

                #8
                Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                Originally posted by Eich
                And I was hoping to see some of that improvement in the Super Bowl but that wasn't his best game. If Ben had been in his zone, I believe we win that game.
                If Ben had hit wallace on the long one in the 3rd q, we'd still be celebrating our 7th. He didn't have to be in a zone, he just needed to be a little better.
                http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...ion1/sn1-1.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...ns_44958-1.jpg
                South End Zone...Screaming My Head Off...Every Game! 111 consecutive and counting.

                Comment

                • Crash
                  Legend
                  • Apr 2009
                  • 5008

                  #9
                  Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                  That was in the 3rd quarter, hard to say if they hold on and win with a ton of football left.

                  The Packers last drive was a constant reminder of why LeBeau drives me nuts. They blitz on 1st and second down, then after a penalty the Packers have a 3rd and 10. So instead of making Rodgers make a quick read and throw like he did on 2nd down, we as usual play scared and send three and drop 8 into coverage and he gets the first down anyway.

                  The biggest play of the season for our defense, and we rushed three friggin' men.

                  Comment

                  • Scarletfire1970
                    Pro Bowler
                    • May 2008
                    • 1138

                    #10
                    Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                    Had to laugh at the Kobe reference. Seriously, he couldn't think of anyone better to use as an example?

                    Comment

                    • ScoreKeeper
                      Backup
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 291

                      #11
                      Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                      Originally posted by SteelerNation1
                      Originally posted by Eich
                      And I was hoping to see some of that improvement in the Super Bowl but that wasn't his best game. If Ben had been in his zone, I believe we win that game.
                      If Ben had hit wallace on the long one in the 3rd q, we'd still be celebrating our 7th. He didn't have to be in a zone, he just needed to be a little better.
                      And if Mendy does not fumble, and if there is not the huge penelty on the kick, and if there is not a route run wrong, and if there is not a pick, and if not...

                      If's suck.

                      And so does trying to get over this loss.
                      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...onbodyslam.jpg

                      Comment

                      • Wolfhound45
                        Starter
                        • May 2008
                        • 786

                        #12
                        Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                        Thanks for posting hawaiiansteel. Excellent article. Good "behind the scenes" stuff on what happened while Ben was away during that four game suspension. Totally agree that Ben has the natural ability to take QB play in the NFL to a completely different level. He is that good.

                        Does he have the drive and passion? Still not sure.
                        http://www.globalarray.net/user/scalpel6/wh.jpg

                        Comment

                        • Crash
                          Legend
                          • Apr 2009
                          • 5008

                          #13
                          Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                          I would say anyone who didn't miss a snap after a broken nose and a fractured foot has all the "drive and passion" one needs.

                          Ben's competitive nature is why he's as tough as he is.

                          Comment

                          • Wolfhound45
                            Starter
                            • May 2008
                            • 786

                            #14
                            Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                            Silence is golden.

                            :P
                            http://www.globalarray.net/user/scalpel6/wh.jpg

                            Comment

                            • Crash
                              Legend
                              • Apr 2009
                              • 5008

                              #15
                              Re: "It's scary how good Ben can be"

                              I agree. So STFU and learn by reading this board instead of posting on it.

                              Comment

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