He has given up

[Northern_Blitz]

I think it's more about ability and opportunity than desire.

[feltdizz]

These are all fair points but you’re saying he’s doesn’t care in your original post. That goes way beyond his physical limitations. I seriously doubt he’s “given up and lost his desire”.

This team has a laundry list of problems. Ben’s desire is at the bottom of the list.

I will be honest.

If Ben threw past the sticks on 4th down and we lost these games I wouldn’t question his desire.

I’m sorry but those plays have forced me to wonder if Ben just doesn’t care anymore.

How can anyone think other wise?

Muth was open.. Ben isn’t even looking down field!!!!!

He is checking down so fast and we all see these receivers he is targeting have no chance to make a first down so I have to wonder..

is he tapping out?

Seriously.. when those balls leave his hands does anyone think our offense has a chance to stay on the field?

Those 4th down decisions are inexcusable Steelbucks.

Romo was being kind yesterday but he said it plain as day. 4th and 4 and you throw it 2 yards????

[feltdizz]

I think it's more about ability and opportunity than desire.

I could see if it was the over throws to JuJu or missing Washington on the out..

but where does ability and opportunity fit with it comes to a 2 yard pass on 4th down?

I can’t wrap my head around this philosophy. 3rd and 4 and we go deep but on these 4th downs we throw short every time?

[Northern_Blitz]

I could see if it was the over throws to JuJu or missing Washington on the out..

but where does ability and opportunity fit with it comes to a 2 yard pass on 4th down?

I can’t wrap my head around this philosophy. 3rd and 4 and we go deep but on these 4th downs we throw short every time?

Without looking at the tape for that play in particular, I think the other option that teams are giving him is throwing into tight coverage over the middle of the field. I don't think he can do that anymore.

So he chooses the dump. Especially because the line often doesn't give him time to wait for deeper routes. And even if there is time on a particular play, he might not feel like there is because the OL often sucks.

[Northern_Blitz]

I won't say he's given up. But here's my question; do the Steelers really need a Ben Roethlisberger to run the kind of offense they are currently running!?? I mean short dumps to the WR or RB, occasional misses on a deep throw, avoiding the middle of the field on intermediate throws, taking a couple of sacks per game and maybe an int or two.
I mean, I could see Rudolph pretty much do the same thing.

Ya...we've been uncompetitive in 3 of 4 games. And the one we were competitive in the D was amazing and ST scored a TD.

Are we really going to be less competitive if we start seeing what the future of the QB position might look like?

I don't think Ben is the biggest problem on offense (OL).

But I do think he's not going to be successful with the personnel we have.

Maybe we catch lightening in a bottle with one of the other two.

Or maybe we find out they both suck and it makes the decision to go all in for a QB in the draft easier to make.

Playing Ben would make sense if he was the reason we were competitive in games.

But we aren't.

He is now past Dan Marino in yards. And he has 400 TDs.

That's a hell of a career. And he absolutely deserves to be a 1st ballot HoFer IMO. Not just because he won 2 rings (Eli will get in too). But because he was just so amazing to watch when he was balancing on the knife edge of success and catastrophe. And he came out ahead on those plays more often than he had any reason to. The best play of his career is one that "smart" QBs throw away because there's 2 more chances left. But he puts it perfectly into triple coverage for what is the most memorable play I have ever seen in real life (and likely will ever see).

[Mr.wizard]

Without looking at the tape for that play in particular, I think the other option that teams are giving him is throwing into tight coverage over the middle of the field. I don't think he can do that anymore.

So he chooses the dump. Especially because the line often doesn't give him time to wait for deeper routes. And even if there is time on a particular play, he might not feel like there is because the OL often sucks.

Not really buying that, those 4th down plays he is just hiking the ball and throwing it. He is either scared or making poor pre snap reads, there isnt even an attempt to survey the defense. The whole thing with o-line is way overblown, yes they are bad but they arent you cant even run an offense bad.

[NorthCoast]

Roethlisberger is currently on pace for a 40+ sack season. The last time he hit that threshold the team went 8-8 (8 yrs ago). He won't be starting 16 games this season at that pace.

This is on top of the fact that he is #1 in time to throw. Imagine if he held onto the ball for another half second... he'd end up looking like a deboned chicken after the game.

[feltdizz]

Without looking at the tape for that play in particular, I think the other option that teams are giving him is throwing into tight coverage over the middle of the field. I don't think he can do that anymore.

So he chooses the dump. Especially because the line often doesn't give him time to wait for deeper routes. And even if there is time on a particular play, he might not feel like there is because the OL often sucks.

If he can’t make the throws he needs to sit down.

The OL is subpar but when he has time he is still leaving a lot of yards on the field.

Are we seriously going to waste a whole season with this nonsense?

[feltdizz]

Not really buying that, those 4th down plays he is just hiking the ball and throwing it. He is either scared or making poor pre snap reads, there isnt even an attempt to survey the defense. The whole thing with o-line is way overblown, yes they are bad but they arent you cant even run an offense bad.

Burrow, Wilson, Tannehill, Lamar Jackson Baker Mayfield and Justin Fields have all been sacked more than Ben.

I’m not buying this excuse of sacks or the threat of a sack as a reason Ben won’t pull the trigger on 4th down plays.

He is checking down before there is pressure on these plays.

[NorthCoast]

Without looking at the tape for that play in particular, I think the other option that teams are giving him is throwing into tight coverage over the middle of the field. I don't think he can do that anymore.

So he chooses the dump. Especially because the line often doesn't give him time to wait for deeper routes. And even if there is time on a particular play, he might not feel like there is because the OL often sucks.

He missed on a 3 yd dump to Harris in the middle with no one around him (Harris). Routine plays not being made routinely.

Honestly, I don't want to see him go out like this but it is getting harder and harder to come up with positives he's bringing to the offense right now. His QBR exactly matches Rudolph's from 2019. He is looking more and more like Rudolph in this offense. His stat line is eerily similar at this point.

[KYPITTFAN]

Oh good grief, some of these comments. Ben has more money than he could spend in several life times. Ben is also loved in Pitt and will never buy a beer. He came back to play because he loves the game, wants to compete and because the team wanted him back. Ben has gotten old and slow in a game where fresh fast QB's rule. He is also playing behind a O-Line that can not run or pass block. Ben is a SMALL part of the the problem.

[feltdizz]

Oh good grief, some of these comments. Ben has more money than he could spend in several life times. Ben is also loved in Pitt and will never buy a beer. He came back to play because he loves the game, wants to compete and because the team wanted him back. Ben has gotten old and slow in a game where fresh fast QB's rule. He is also playing behind a O-Line that can not run or pass block. Ben is a SMALL part of the the problem.

an 18 year QB who can’t make all the throws is definitely a big part of the problem.

I don’t expect 100% accuracy but this is ridiculous.

[Eich]

an 18 year QB who can’t make all the throws is definitely a big part of the problem.

I don’t expect 100% accuracy but this is ridiculous.

It is ridiculous. And sad. But to say it's because he's given up and doesn't care is equally ridiculous. If he truely gave up and doesn't care, he could fake an injury to sit. That would be far less embarassing than what's taking place right now.

[T.Ferguson]

I think the issue is the entire offense is just bad, from play calling to scheme to o-line play to Ben being clearly past his prime. Is it just me or does the offense look like it doesn't even practice that much? lol I mean I know they have to practice but it sure doesn't seem like it at times.

Ben checking down so much could be a number of things, I seriously doubt it's because he doesn't care, why even be out there then? He's already won SB's, has made more money than he'll ever be able to spend. Doesn't make sense.

[feltdizz]

per brooke pryor on Twitter

https://twitter.com/bepryor/status/1444822691010256899?s=20

Interestingly enough, the Packers didn't pressure Roethlisberger much and he was hit just 5 times. He threw 40 passes vs. GB and was pressured only 7% of the timeThat's the lowest pressure percentage by a QB with 40 attempts in a loss since 2013