He has given up

[Northern_Blitz]

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.

I'm not arguing for the status quo.

I'm just trying to understand how he could make that decision (again).

It is clearly a terrible decision. And probably a terrible play call too.

I don't think I've even been in the "fire everyone" camp for as long as I've been here or on the Trib. But I can understand the view from there a bit better this season.

[feltdizz]

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.

there is some hyperbole in my OP.

and I think Ben’s pride and ego is why he won’t bench himself or call it a day.

but can you honestly say Ben is giving his all on these 4th down plays? Are these these 4th down attempts by a QB who is trying to win?

If this was any one else besides Ben I think we would question their desire to win.

People keep talking about his money and his family and his history but those are stories for AFTER he retires. Right now it does not appear to me like Ben is giving all he has..

and if he is, then its not enough and its time to retire.

Seriously, this O hasn’t looked good for a long time and its mostly due to bad throws.

[Northern_Blitz]

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.

I agree that this looks like the Rudolph season and the Ben is not the solution to whatever our issues are.

He might not be the biggest problem (although he looked closer to it this game that last IMO). But it's hard to imagine he's the solution either.

[Northern_Blitz]

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.

...

Sadly, I think this is a pretty good assessment of the O.

[IMG]https://c.tenor.com/ghwVL4Pe8y8AAAAM/****-this-****-that.gif[/IMG]

Edit...can't post this gif because of the language in the URL. The **** should be lower case and starts with f.

[feltdizz]

I'm not arguing for the status quo.

I'm just trying to understand how he could make that decision (again).

It is clearly a terrible decision. And probably a terrible play call too.

I don't think I've even been in the "fire everyone" camp for as long as I've been here or on the Trib. But I can understand the view from there a bit better this season.

look at the stats from the tweet I just posted on the pressure Ben faced vs GB.

I know people want to put this on the OL because they aren’t playing well but Ben has time.

Watch other games and you will see QB’s under pressure on some plays.. they take sacks too.

Still not an excuse for plays when you have time or plays when its first down or get off the field.

[Northern_Blitz]

look at the stats from the tweet I just posted on the pressure Ben faced vs GB.

I know people want to put this on the OL because they aren’t playing well but Ben has time.

Watch other games and you will see QB’s under pressure on some plays.. they take sacks too.

Still not an excuse for plays when you have time or plays when its first down or get off the field.

Thanks, I didn't follow the link.

I agree that it was the best game from the OL.

For others: The tweet (Brooke Pryor) says in 40 passes, GP pressured Ben 7% of the time (3 times). The tweet also says he was hit 5 times. So I don't get how they are counting pressures. But it seems to support the idea that the OL was better in this game and that Ben was maybe the bigger issue in this game (I think the opposite was true last week).

[Mr.wizard]

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.

Its not the "old and slow" thats the problem, it is the reads, accuracy, and arm strength that is killing us. Ben should be making much better decisions, he should look at the defense pre snap and already know where the holes in the defense are. His play is inexcusable for having been a top QB in the league for 18 years.

[Northern_Blitz]

Its not the "old and slow" thats the problem, it is the reads, accuracy, and arm strength that is killing us. Ben should be making much better decisions, he should look at the defense pre snap and already know where the holes in the defense are. His play is inexcusable for having been a top QB in the league for 18 years.

The accuracy looked bad IMO. Even on short passes. Looked like lots of high and behind to me...but it's possible that I'm only remembering the ones that confirm what I think.

[feltdizz]

Its not the "old and slow" thats the problem, it is the reads, accuracy, and arm strength that is killing us. Ben should be making much better decisions, he should look at the defense pre snap and already know where the holes in the defense are. His play is inexcusable for having been a top QB in the league for 18 years.

its a continuation of late last season.

its like Ben made a deal with father time and that contract is up. Just seemed to happen so fast.

[Northern_Blitz]

its a continuation of late last season.

its like Ben made a deal with father time and that contract is up. Just seemed to happen so fast.

Maybe having AB hid some of the early signs?

It seemed like Manning fell of a cliff though.

[Mr.wizard]

The accuracy looked bad IMO. Even on short passes. Looked like lots of high and behind to me...but it's possible that I'm only remembering the ones that confirm what I think.

No its all his throws and it looks like mechanics, watch his lower body when throws, it barely moves, there is no drive.

[Ghost]

I found this today in an article online about Ben and the Steelers. Here's what the author said:

"Roethlisberger looks worse on fourth down, when he is required to make throws that he simply can’t make. But instead of trying, he’s given up.

Either the Steelers coaches don’t trust Roethlisberger to complete passes to the first down marker, or Roethlisberger lacks the confidence to make those throws. Either one is troublesome."

[feltdizz]

Maybe having AB hid some of the early signs?

It seemed like Manning fell of a cliff though.

AB and Ben had chemistry..

I bet they could complete passes with their eyes closed.

I knew once we started crowning JuJu it was going to back fire. JuJu’s was the perfect compliment to AB but people started believing we didn’t need AB because JuJu was legit.

He doesn’t have the speed and he isn’t a special player. He’s tough as nails and a great teammate but he isn’t a #1.

DJ isn’t a #1 but he and Ben have something. Unfortunately it looks like no one else is reliable or ready to step up and make Ben look great his last year.

[pittpete]

Ben is scared and is in denial
Needs to go on IR and Tomlin needs to see what he has between MR and Haskins

[LPMAN]

well.. that sure sounds like Ben has given up if a coaching change made him lose his desire to win at all cost.

Personally I don’t buy that Arians stuff because Ben played well under Haley.

While I think Arians being let go was a mistake (partially to the way it was handled) we can’t act like that offense was going to work while rebuilding our defense.

Arians offense needed a strong defense. How man years did we hear the old “we are almost there” after a horrible offensive display.

That Haley offense got the balm out quick to playmakers and the stats proved it. Now we have Ben with even faster check downs and he even admitted he watched other offenses throw it quickly and wanted to emulate it in 2019/2020

Ben played well under Haley, but his style of play changed. They forced him to be pocket passer Peyton Manning type. I think that long term change took a lot out of his ol Superman style of play. They put a square peg & jammed it in a round hole. Ben was gifted enough he still played well especially having Heath AB & Bell. But i'd rather Ben's career have been shorter & he played the entirety his style.

The ol Ben under Haley Ben never would just hike the ball & chuck it to the first read. He had to see the guy open. You always had confidence when Ben threw the ball it was because someone was open. Now he throws it no matter what.