After the motorcycle accident, appendectomy, and concussion, Ben Roethlisberger's 2006 season was in essence, a mess. Immediately, everyone (including some Steelers fans...you know you are out there) began questioning Big Ben's ability to be a top-notch quarterback.
Sure, Ben came out of the gates fast, leading the Steelers to the AFC championship his rookie season, and following up with a big fat Super Bowl ring his second season. But critics continued to point to the team around him for these results. These same critics had a field day with Ben's 2006 season - when he threw 23 interceptions, and the Steelers ended with an 8-8 record, failing to make the playoffs.
Prior to the 2007 season, Bill Cowher retires. Mike Tomlin takes over, and promotes former wide receivers coach, Bruce Arians, to offensive coordinator. Arians, former quarterback coach of Peyton Manning, began talking openly about allowing Roethlisberger to take more control of the play calling. Thoughts ran through Steelers fans' minds..."Is Arians serious?" "How many interceptions will Ben throw now?" "What about the running game?" "Are the Steelers going to try to be like the Indianapolis Colts?"
But 2007 saw Big Ben emerge as a top-tier quarterback, to the tune of 32 touchdown passes, a 104.1 passer rating (behind only Tom Brady), and led the Steelers back to the playoffs. All of this while getting sacked 47 times.
Explosive offensive weapons like Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Rashard Mendenhall, Limas Sweed, and I'll even lump in Nate Washington and Matt Spaeth, now give Big Ben a complete arsenal. These weapons will create a lot of match-up problems for opposing defenses. This is where Ben's Roethlisberger's ability to diagnose defensive formations and effectively call audibles will ultimately determine how explosive the Steelers offense will be in 2008.
Ben's critics are awfully quiet these days, their attention has shifted to the Steelers offensive line, and rightly so. But enough of my man crush on Roethlisberger, what do you guys think? Will Big Ben throw up larger numbers in '08? Will the Steelers go back to running the ball more? Will the offensive line improve? Do you believe in aliens?
OTHER EXAMPLES OF OFTOT'S MAN-LOVE FOR BEN:
Kneel Before Ben...
Something To Believe In...
May 22, 2008
Big Ben is better than Brady Quinn...
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8 comments:
I can't wait for this season to start. Mendenhall and Sweed are going to be dynamite. A lot of weapons all of a sudden on this offense, especially considering that some of the younger skill players are just hitting their stride in the professional ranks; i.e., Heath Miller, Santonio Holmes, Willie Parker ... even, arguably Nate Washington and Matt Spaeth. Adding Mendenhall? Yeah, well, that's one way to remedy a raggedy offensive line. Should be interesting and fun to watch.
Ben is a monster, but he still can't take 47 sacks again, hopefully these weapons open up and let him dump it quicker. I am excited, Mendenhall is a house and should be fun to watch bully the opponents.
Nice, you updated the links
Yeah man, I got to thinking, what would Marc do? Then I realized those links needed to be brought up to speed with the rest of the site.
PS - Great post, Domski! Echoes my thoughts exactly. Can't wait to see Ben and the rest of the Offense rip it up this season (hopefully).
JPPB- I'm itching for the season to start as well. I think the addition of Mendenhall will help remedy the offensive line because hopefully the Steelers will run the ball a little bit more. The Steelers' current offensive line was built to run block and naturally offensive linemen prefer to run block as opposed to fending off oncoming defenders. Once the opposing defense has to respect our two-headed rushing machine, the play action pass will become more effective, and the defense's pass rush will be forced to slow down a bit. Lets hope the o-line gels and does it job. GO PENS!
Marc- 47 sacks is unacceptable for both the offensive line and Big Ben. Of course Big Ben runs himself into some sacks, we have to take the bad with the good here and remember that Ben is one of the best (if not the best) passer outside the pocket. The dude shrugs off defenders like a greased pig. I have to agree that one way to slow down a pass rush is some quick hitters out of the backfield to Willie/Rashard/Mwelde...I love the fact that these guys are homerun threats in open space.
Cotter- thanks for providing me a forum and an opportunity for my voice to be heard all mighty one.
One thing I couldn't understand about the offense last season was Arian's failing to call more swing passes and quick screens out of the backfield. Maybe FWP doesn;t have the hands, I don't know. Anyway, I thought for sure, before the season, that ... because they did not bolster the offensive line, they would do a hell of a lot of quick hit type plays like the aforementioned.
Now, with the addition of Mendenhall and Mewelde, I believe they have guys BORN to run those kinds of plays. Mendenhall will score eight touchdowns this year (that's my over under) ... and he will get a hell of a lot of first downs. Moore will contribute, too. Najeh? Eh, not soo sure.
In any case, this is going to be fun. We got (arguably) the best running back in the draft. That's pretty damn exciting for a team with the 23rd pick.
Ben Is one of the best QB'S in the NFL.He was 23 or 24 years old when he won rookie of the year and the Super Bowl.I dont care what kind of team you have around you that has never been acomplished by any one.
oh you menat Tom Brady. I was about to lose it, if you meant Brady Quinn, who hasn't even started a game, nor played in a meaningful one.
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