Is QB Ben Roethlisberger a Hall of Famer?

[hawaiiansteel]

2014 Steelers season scenarios: Ben Roethlisberger breaks franchise record for passing yards in a season

By Neal Coolong on Jun 30 2014



Roethlisberger's passing total may only be affected by the success of the Steelers' running game. But it's still fully possible Roethlisberger tops 4,000 yards for the fourth time in his career.

Scenario: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger breaks his own franchise record with more than 4,328 passing yards.

Why it will happen: Roethlisberger will have more control over his passing totals this year than he has in the past. The Steelers will run more no-huddle this year due to a combination of the team's trust in its franchise passer and more importantly, trust in the rest of the offense to keep up. Injuries have decimated this team's offensive line over the last few seasons, ruining any semblance of continuity - a key factor in running a no-huddle.

Roethlisberger will also have the benefit of an outstanding pass-catching running back and a fully healthy primary tight end. Le'Veon Bell missed the first three games of the 2013 season but caught 45 passes on 66 targets. Projecting that over 16 games, that's 55 catches on 88 targets. It'll probably be even higher than that, considering Bell's arc of progression scales upward quite a bit by the end of the year. Miller missed Week 1, and played probably closer to 80 percent than 100 for the majority of the season. With a less-than-adequate second tight end for more than two-thirds of the season, Miller had to shoulder the load in terms of in-line blocking. The return of Matt Spaeth - a better all-around blocker than Miller is - will help Miller's catch and target totals because he'll be able to gain priority targets more frequently.

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is coming off one of the best individual receiving seasons in team history, and he is only improving. It'll be difficult for him to improve on a 110-catch, 1,499-yard year - extremely difficult, in fact. The increased total of targets likely to go to Bell and MIller may detract from his stats a bit, but he'll make it up with big-play ability as well as an increase in targets of his own. He had 10 or more targets nine times on the season, and the Steelers were 6-3 when Brown had 10 or more targets.

Why it won't happen: Bell's selection in the second round last year and the signing of LeGarrette Blount this offseason is suggestive of a run-first mentality. While Roethlisberger has control in the no-huddle, running the ball in that will still be an option. In fact, it's easier to run the no-huddle after a running play than a passing play, considering odds are outstanding the clock will continue running after a run. Teams can sub out quickly when the clock stops on an incomplete pass.

The stronger emphasis on running the ball will take attempts away from Roethlisberger, thus, limiting the amount of yards he'll have the opportunity to gain through the air. Brown will still be utilized in the team's wide running philosophy - quick throws to Brown when the presnap read reveals single off-man coverage. The balanced approach of this offense may simply reduce his pass attempts. Ben's highest output was in 2009, when the team finished 9-7. His second-highest is 4,261, which came in 2013, another playoff-less season. Third highest was 4,077, when the team qualified for the post-season but injuries largely wore Ben down, and made him a shell of himself in a playoff loss at Denver.

History shows Ben throwing for more yards equals fewer wins.

Keys: This will all come down to how well the Steelers can establish the run. That's a double-edged sword, though. If the Steelers run well, they can increase their ridiculously low play-action percentage from a year ago (11 percent of the team's passes came off play-action in 2013). That will set up more opportune deep-passing looks. It will also require a commitment not just to running the ball, but running it successfully. The team ran the ball 394 times last year, a product of both an ineffective level of success and a lack of ability for the bulk of the season.

It seems more likely the Steelers will see a large increase in their yards per play and scoring as an offense as opposed to their passing yards, but the passing game worked to a high degree over the second half of last season, and the extra experience will make them better this season.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014-steelers-season-news-preview-schedule-roster-depth-chart/2014/6/30/5856832/2014-steelers-season-scenarios-passing-yards-offense[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

Position preview: Quarterback

JUL 3
By Scott Brown | ESPN.com

This is the start of a series that looks at every position on offense and defense with training camp approaching. Our first look is at quarterback.

Returning starter: Ben Roethlisberger. The two-time Super Bowl winner played every snap last season and has said he feels younger than ever despite turning 32 in March. No matter where experts rank Roethlisberger among his peers, he is still unquestionably a top-tier quarterback.



Ben Roethlisberger is entering his 11th season as the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback.

New face: Brendon Kay. The former Cincinnati Bearcats standout signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent after throwing for 3,3302 yards and 22 touchdown last season and completing 66.3 percent of his passes.

On the bubble: Kay. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound passer has the build of a prototypical NFL quarterback and he impressed during offseason workouts. Still, he will have to clearly – if not vastly – outplay second-year man Landry Jones to make the 53-man roster. Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2013, probably has to flop during training camp and in preseason games to put his standing as the Steelers’ No. 3 quarterback in jeopardy.

By the numbers: Roethlisberger’s career regular-season winning percentage of .669 ranks third among active NFL quarterbacks with at least 50 starts. He also ranks third among active quarterbacks with 95 regular-season victories, trailing only Peyton Manning (167) and Tom Brady (147).

Did you know: Bruce Gradkowski, Roethlisberger’s backup, went to high school in Pittsburgh, and as a senior at Seton-LaSalle in 2000, his 30 touchdown passes broke Dan Marino’s Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League record for most touchdown passes in a season.

Outlook: The Steelers are fine at quarterback as long as Roethlisberger stays healthy. Now one of the most tenured Steelers, Roethlisberger is still playing at a high level. Big Ben set a team record with 375 completions last season and threw for 4,261 yards, the second-highest total of his career, with 28 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. His health is also vital to the Steelers’ running their no-huddle offense frequently in 2014, and there could be a correlation between the two. Roethlisberger was sacked just seven times in the final seven games in 2013, when the Steelers employed more of an up-tempo offense, and he generally got rid of the ball quicker when running the no-huddle attack.

[URL]http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/7375/position-preview-quarterback[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

New face: Brendon Kay. The former Cincinnati Bearcats standout signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent after throwing for 3,3302 yards and 22 touchdown last season and completing 66.3 percent of his passes.

That's gotta be some kind of single season passing yardage record.

[Slapstick]

That's gotta be some kind of single season passing yardage record.

That's about 2,400 yards per game, right? That's pretty good...

[RuthlessBurgher]

That's about 2,400 yards per game, right? That's pretty good...

I bet he can throw a football over them mountains...

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Ben is a game manager and was a beneficiary of playing with great Ds.

Troy Aikman

[Slapstick]

Except Aikman had Emmit Smith and Michael Irvin as well as the Dallas O Line of the early 90s...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Except Aikman had Emmit Smith and Michael Irvin as well as the Dallas O Line of the early 90s...

Which made him a game manager (which is not an insult, by the way).

[steelsnis]

Troy Aikman

Good call with Aikman.

In comparison withe Ben, the numbers are pretty similar (with Ben having played 2 fewer seasons at this point) Ben has the edge statistically though. According to Pro Football Reference, in two fewer seasons, Ben has thrown for more yards, more TD's and with a higher completion percentage than Aikman. He also has a higher Yards/Attempt and Yards/Completion.

Aikman is 3-0 in Super Bowls, and Ben is 2-1.

Aikman's a HOF'er, Ben's a HOF'er.

[PSF_Steelreign]

I'd have to say that Ben will be a Hall of Famer when he is done. Some will say he had a bad Super Bowl in XL, well John Elway had a couple of Stinkers before he won two. Ben easily could have been the MVP in SB XLIII. There really isn't another QB that can do what he does and he hasn't peaked yet. Another 4 or 5 good years and his H.O.F. credentials should be cemented.

[hawaiiansteel]

Does Pittsburgh Steelers Roethlisberger Have Any ‘Big Wins’ Left?

by Craig Gottschalk



Recently, Brenden Driscoll of NPC penned an article talking about the “title window” and whether or not it is closing in on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The argument centers on franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He’s only 32, in his prime, and has quite a few years for the Steelers to build a more potent offense and stout defense to get them back into Super Bowl winning form.

Pondering this notion lead me to another thought – “Does Big Ben have any big wins left in him?”

The root of this thought is not grounded in his ability. We all know Roethlisberger is a Top 5 (Top 10 for you haters) quarterback in the NFL. Steeler Nation has witnessed time and time again his ability to command the offense, make effective throws, and extend plays that turn potential sacks into 30 yard gains. The thought with Big Ben at the helm is that week in and week out he gives this team the best chance possible for a win.

But as offensive coordinator Todd Haley continues to refine the offense and shift Roethlisberger’s playing style more into what he (Haley) wants, is Haley also taking away one of Roethlisberger’s greatest strengths? And therefore, isn’t he taking away his ability to win games? I’ve always been a critic of Haley from the very start. But this is less of a criticism as much as it is an observation. There’s no doubt that Ben’s adjusting and performing well in the revamped Haley offense.

The demand to have Ben stand in the pocket, deliver the ball quickly and avoid a sack is starting to really take hold. Pushing suspect play calling by Haley off to the side, Roethlisberger did incredibly well in 2013. There’s no doubt that Big Ben has become more efficient with the quick short pass (bubble screen not included). And, it’s effective in slicing up chunks of yards. But, has this style of offense crippled his big play making ability? I would like to think that his ability to scramble, dodge tackles, and hitting a receiver 20 yards downfield into broken coverage is purely instinct. But, it’s not. By keeping him locked into the pocket for the majority of a game, how comfortable is he really in scrambling and accurately slinging the ball down the field? How many times did his over shoot an open receiver last year when he did scramble?

It’s my belief that Ben Roethlisberger is a very different breed of QB. He thrives when the chips are down and his back is pinned to the wall. He’s had 23 4th quarter comebacks, and 32 game winning drives according to Pro Football Reference. They came most frequently in 2005 and in 2008 – the two years the Steelers won the Super Bowl, with one of those game winning drives happening in the final minute of Super Bowl XLIII. All of those drives encompassed him scrambling and dodging and finding the open guy to keep the drive alive. It’s not methodical. It’s not pretty. But at those times (and in those two years) he always seemed to get the job done. It’s not rocket science. And, it’s not ‘the magic’ that I see so many critics spout out when saying that ‘the magic is gone with Big Ben.’ It’s just who he is, and it’s not him that’s the problem by not being able to deliver in a loss.

There are two factors that might be contributing to this – the defense has struggled to keep games close in order to give Ben a fighting chance in the second half of a game. Yes, I said he thrives when his back is pinned to the wall. Being down a TD in the fourth with three minutes left is your back against the wall. Being down three scores in the fourth quarter is just getting stepped on. Rarely will a team come back from that. And then, when the offense gets some scores to close the gap, the defense can’t hold. The other factor is what has been discussed already – he’s out of his element the majority of the game by being forced to stay within the pocket and just get rid of the ball. That kind of switch has to mess with an athletes mind, a poo poo to the critiques who dog him for that like he’s some kind of damn robot who can just switch it on and off.

The style of play that is meant to extend his career is potentially keeping him back from reaching his full potential as a quarterback and Super Bowl bound quarterback. A sick twist, and one I continually hope that is adjusted as much as possible to get Ben the freedom to scramble once again. There’s always a risk for injury at any given time, and I would rather see the risk happen in moments where Ben is giving them a chance to win a game and make big plays – not in moments where he’s committed to the pocket and it collapses around him faster than a cave in.

The title window is far from closing for the Steelers. Just think of that window having a storm window screen in front that they need to bust through. They have an opportunity with a younger team to use speed and raw skill to give them a hot push into a playoff scenario. That offensive line will get better too. I see Ben not only overcoming the defense as an obstacle, but also the style of play he’s been forced into.

It could also end disastrously, but I’m still putting my money on the Steelers and #7 that they can make a few more playoff pushes and get at least get to Seventh Heaven.

[URL]http://nicepickcowher.com/2014/07/15/pittsburgh-steelers-roethlisberger-big-wins-left/[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

Not forgetting Big Ben's tackle

JUL 14
By Scott Brown | ESPN.com



Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" proved to be a landslide winner in a recent ESPN.com poll of the Steelers' most memorable plays, and that was a foregone conclusion.

A discussion of the other two most memorable plays in Steelers' history generated a lot of debate and for good reason.

There were so many worthy ones that did not make the final three, from John Stallworth's over-the-shoulder touchdown catch in Super Bowl XIV and any number of Lynn Swann grabs in the Super Bowl to Troy Polamalu's interception for a return touchdown in the 2008 AFC Championship Game.

"Where is Ben's tackle?" Polamalu asked when I talked to him about the greatest plays in Steelers history and specifically James Harrison's 100-yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII.

That is a great question.

Of all the plays that did not make the final three, none received more nominations or mentions from Steelers fans via Twitter than Ben Roethlisberger's touchdown-saving tackle in a 21-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts in a 2005 AFC divisional playoff game.

And of all the great plays Roethlisberger has made over the last decade none may be more significant than his tackle of Colts cornerback Nick Harper following a Jerome Bettis fumble as the Steelers were going in for the game-clinching touchdown.

It was such a stunning turn of events with the underdog Steelers poised to seal an upset over the Peyton Manning-led Colts, and only a shoestring tackle by Roethlisberger saved Pittsburgh from one of the most devastating losses in franchise history.

As for Roethlisberger's take on his best-ever tackle, he said, "Because it's a quarterback making a tackle I think that's why it's so unusual. But in the grand scheme of championship runs, if I make that play and we lose the game no one's talking about it. But because we won the game it became such a big deal."

That is precisely why it is such a big deal.

The Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl for the first time since the dynastic teams of the 1970s, and there is no telling how things would have played out beyond 2005 if they had lost that game.

The Steelers had endured so much playoff heartbreak under coach Bill Cowher. Losing a game they had dominated at the now razed RCA Dome might have allowed serious doubt to creep in about whether they could take that final step from contenders to Super Bowl champions.

The Steelers did get some help after Roethlisberger's tackle, most notably from Mike Vanderjagt.

The Colts kicker shanked a 46-yard field goal attempt on the final play, sending the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game.

And there was no stopping them from that point with Bettis' fumble becoming a mere footnote to his retiring as a Super Bowl champion.

"It was just so unbelievable when it happened," Roethlisberger said of one of the defining sequences of his career, "and it was just find a way to make a play."

He did and the rest is history.

[URL]http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/7592/not-forgetting-big-bens-tackle[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers, Roethlisberger running out of time to do new deal

Posted by Mike Florio on July 14, 2014



When it comes to contracts, the Steelers have one very clear rule: Once the regular season starts, no new deals will be done.

For quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has two years left on his current long-term contract, that means there’s not much time to get the kind of raise he surely covets, especially in light of the current quarterback market.

Despite a cap number of $18.895 million, Roethlisberger will earn only $12.1 million in 2014. And while I often follow the word “only” with an “(only?)” when throwing around numbers like that, as quarterbacks go Roethlisberger is grossly underpaid.

Plenty of other guys who haven’t played nearly as long nor accomplished nearly as much have broken the $20 million-per-year barrier. Roethlisberger meanwhile carries the risk of injury (which is quite high given his age and playing style) while waiting for a deal that reflects the current state of the franchise-quarterback market.

The Steelers are content to carry a cap number bloated by multiple can-kicking restructurings, knowing that the next contract will cost them plenty of money. And while they’ll extend quarterback deals with two seasons left, there’s been no indication of progress on a retirement contract for Roethlisberger.

It doesn’t mean progress isn’t being made. Both sides have remained largely quiet about the status of talks, a truce of sorts after a series of reports last season from the league’s in-house media operation suggested Roethsliberger may want out of town. That prompted the player to declare he’ll never leave — and it prompted some (me, at least) to wonder whether the Steelers leaked the story, knowing that Roethlisberger would react by professing the kind of commitment to the Steelers that could make it easier to get him to accept something much less than a market-value deal.

If it worked, no one knows. And no one likely will know until a deal gets announced and then the numbers are dissected to see whether he signed a Tom Brady-style “take one for the team” contract that pays out $30 million to sign — or whether Roethlisberger accepted a Colin Kaepernick-level contract that continues to underpay the player as the market is poised to explode, fueled by a new trend of annual salary-cap spikes.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/14/steelers-roethlisberger-running-out-of-time-to-do-new-deal/[/URL]