Should Steelers Move on From Ben?

[Coolie Man]

Franchise QB making franchise $ should be able to win you a road game or 2. Bell has carried the offense more. So yeah.

[feltdizz]

I think some fans are going to be disappointed/shocked by how far we DON'T drop once we move on from Ben. Ben is what you need to win a SB when a game is tight and players nut up. We didn't have that when we drafted Ben but we had everything else in place. We are seeing the same thing in Dallas and if not for a ridiculous pass by Rodgers we would have seen Dak reach a championship game like Ben.

I love what Ben did for this franchise BUT he isn't the type of QB to carry a bad defense deep into the playoffs. It's the other way around and once he leaves and we spend his money on other positions this team will be a 10 to 12 win team who may not win a SB but will always be in the mix and that's good enough for me.

We stunk in the 80's because we probably held onto Noll too long but it's not like you can blame anyone for that.

We draft well, we play hard and we always find those diamonds in the rough. I also think in this day in age the QB's are better and unless you overpay for a bum like Osweiller you should be ok with a game manager.

hell, even this year we have to admit Ben was garage on the road. He was awful and we still won 11 games this year and made an AFC Championship. We played NE tough at home with Landry Jones when they had Gronk. I think some fans give Ben a little too much credit for this teams success this year. Don't get me wrong, Ben definitely had his moments this year (Baltimore drive) and I want him to play another 3 to 5 years but all will not be lost when he retires.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Big Ben has the biggest home/road split in the league. League best over the past 3 years at home, near the bottom away from Heinz.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/big-bens-qb-rating-shows-biggest-home-road-split-past-3-seasons/

I think playcalling is part of the reason -- but part of it has to rest with Ben. I'll repeat my thought from a couple of months back -- there may be some sort of mental/psychological issue going on with him.

[feltdizz]

Big Ben has the biggest home/road split in the league. League best over the past 3 years at home, near the bottom away from Heinz.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/big-bens-qb-rating-shows-biggest-home-road-split-past-3-seasons/

I think playcalling is part of the reason -- but part of it has to rest with Ben. I'll repeat my thought from a couple of months back -- there may be some sort of mental/psychological issue going on with him.

does his wife and family travel for away games? I wonder if Ben has turned into a softy on the road simply because he is a family man now. Missed the kids and the wife.

my priorities changed immensely once my kid was born.

[NJ-STEELER]

You have to keep Ben. I don't see any guy the Steelers would have a shot at getting being anywhere near his level. If they can get Brown & Bell locked up for another few seasons along with Bryant coming back strong and get a few D guys back (Heyward, Golston) plus additional growth from a strong young D (Dupree, Shazier, Davis, Burns) you have a really good if not great team to make a legitimate run.

With that said; Ben has to play much better come playoff time. Over the last 3 years he's been downright pedestrian. Over 24 playoff quarters from 2014 - 2016 he's thrown only 5 TDs and also 5 interceptions. Two of six games with no TDs and three games with 1. Those are bad numbers. Maybe what he really needs to contemplate in the off season is how he plays better when the season is on the line.

That 5 TD STAT could have been 10 IN THE last 2 games if the receivers could hang onto a ball and with James extending the ball out as he's being tackled to the ground

[D Rock]

Hell no... might as well scoop up Tyrod Taylor. Hokie QB's are terrible at reading defenses and passing downfield.

I can't comment on his reading of defenses, but he seems pretty willing to go downfield. Had 8.4 YPA and completed 63.5% of passes.

Also has really good size to hold up to the beating of an NFL career and is very athletic and mobile, but can still throw. Does have a bit of an odd looking throwing motion, though I can't identify exact what is odd about it. He seems to have a very strong arm and can go downfield with ease even without really stepping into his throws all the way.

[Shawn]

does his wife and family travel for away games? I wonder if Ben has turned into a softy on the road simply because he is a family man now. Missed the kids and the wife.

my priorities changed immensely once my kid was born.

I've noticed the competitive fire Ben used to play with just doesn't seem to be there since he got married. He's still a good QB but honestly I'm not sure we can win another SB with him at the helm. But, one thing I know is we can't win another without him. Not until we go through years of painful searching for a new QB.

[feltdizz]

I've noticed the competitive fire Ben used to play with just doesn't seem to be there since he got married. He's still a good QB but honestly I'm not sure we can win another SB with him at the helm. But, one thing I know is we can't win another without him. Not until we go through years of painful searching for a new QB.

I agree with the first part but we have no idea what the next QB will bring to the table. It's foolish to think we will have another 20 year drought because of the last one. We could pick the QB from UNC in the second round and he may be the truth.

[phillyesq]

Absloutely.....can't wait for 20 years of Mark Malone, Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister or Neil O'Donnell. Maybe we get lucky and get a Kordell Stewert.

And throw in Kent Graham, Jim Miller, Mike Tomczak, et al. No thanks. Ben isn't perfect, but he's awfully good.

[Jooser]

does his wife and family travel for away games? I wonder if Ben has turned into a softy on the road simply because he is a family man now. Missed the kids and the wife.

my priorities changed immensely once my kid was born.

That's a decent point, I too have wondered how much this has impacted him.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I agree with the first part but we have no idea what the next QB will bring to the table. It's foolish to think we will have another 20 year drought because of the last one. We could pick the QB from UNC in the second round and he may be the truth.

I think the Trubinsky kid comes off the board to one of the QB needy teams in the top half of the first round (he grew up in the Cleveland area, and they pick 1st and 12th). I'd imagine that either Watson or Kizer comes off the board early on as well, but it's possible that the other could make a Bridgewater like tumble down the draft board, though, into the late first or early second. Maybe the Mahomes from Texas Tech comes off the board around where we'd be picking late in round 2.

[feltdizz]

I think the Trubinsky kid comes off the board to one of the QB needy teams in the top half of the first round (he grew up in the Cleveland area, and they pick 1st and 12th). I'd imagine that either Watson or Kizer comes off the board early on as well, but it's possible that the other could make a Bridgewater like tumble down the draft board, though, into the late first or early second. Maybe the Mahomes from Texas Tech comes off the board around where we'd be picking late in round 2.

I heard this years draft is weak at the QB position. I doubt this is the year we go after a QB but I think when we do we will have a much stronger supporting cast for him to work with.

I dont think anyone wants another 20 years to go by like last time but I also think we weren't as aggressive as we could have been during some of those years.

[papillon]

IMO, I think Ben realizes that the possibility exists for him to reach 4 Super Bowl wins (As difficult as that would be at this point in his career) provided the core of this team can stay together for 3-4 years. He's highly competitive and that isn't going to change overnight. here's my caveat, if Bell and Brown get signed and Harrison comes back (he said he is) I believe Ben will be back without hesitation. If, for some reason, Bell and/or Brown and Harrison aren't Steelers it may give him pause for thought. Ben also made a statement when asked about Bryant that seemed to indicate that he's playing next year he said something to the effect that "we need Martavis to prove he can stay clean" (paraphrased) indicating that he's looking to next year.

Pappy

[NorthCoast]

I've noticed the competitive fire Ben used to play with just doesn't seem to be there since he got married. He's still a good QB but honestly I'm not sure we can win another SB with him at the helm. But, one thing I know is we can't win another without him. Not until we go through years of painful searching for a new QB.

There could be some truth there. I recall a comment he made during the season after a player got particularly wound up, said something to the effect to him "he's gotta remember its just a game". Kinda surprised me. I'll try to find the source again.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Absloutely.....can't wait for 20 years of Mark Malone, Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister or Neil O'Donnell. Maybe we get lucky and get a Kordell Stewert.

Exactly, that's what people fail to either understand or remember. Between Bradshaw (last played full time in '82) and Ben (drafted in '04) the best three full time starters were easily:

O'Donnell '92-'95
Kordell '97-'02 but lost his starting job twice during that time
Maddox '02-'03 injured and lost his job to Ben during game 2 of '04

Once Ben is gone then chances are that you become another one of those teams on the QB treadmill chasing the next Ben. Last time it took 22 years. Hopefully it won't take quite as long next time but I'm in no hurry to find out.