polamalubeast
10-27-2010, 12:36 PM
By Bucky Brooks NFL.com
Analyst
Published: Oct. 26, 2010 at 07:07 p.m. Updated: Oct. 26, 2010 at 10:38 p.m
It appears Ben Roethlisberger has quickly shaken off the rust following a four-game suspension and is performing at a high level.
Roethlisberger has guided his team to two victories, and has directed an offense that was pedestrian in his absence.
In two starts, Roethlisberger has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes with five touchdown passes and only one interception. His 122.4 passer rating would blow the doors off the league leaders if he had enough attempts to qualify.
That sampling of numbers would make him a worthy Most Valuable Player candidate at anytime, but it has been his impact on the offense as a whole that has him on the radar. Roethlisberger has added a big-play element that had been missing. The Steelers only connected on 12 passes over 20 yards during their first four games, but have completed 14 passes of 20-plus yards since the two-time Super Bowl winner returned.
With the return of the deep ball, the Steelers have had an effective answer to opponents trying to slow down Rashard Mendenhall.
Some would argue that Roethlisberger is only a controversial call away from having a .500 record in his return. Still, that officiating error can't take away from his production.
While his play can't completely remove the stain that Roethlisberger's behavior cast on the Steelers' organization and the league, it has thrust him into a pool of MVP contenders.
read more
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ba4e51/article/week-7-awards-watch-big-ben-moving-into-mvp-conversation
Analyst
Published: Oct. 26, 2010 at 07:07 p.m. Updated: Oct. 26, 2010 at 10:38 p.m
It appears Ben Roethlisberger has quickly shaken off the rust following a four-game suspension and is performing at a high level.
Roethlisberger has guided his team to two victories, and has directed an offense that was pedestrian in his absence.
In two starts, Roethlisberger has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes with five touchdown passes and only one interception. His 122.4 passer rating would blow the doors off the league leaders if he had enough attempts to qualify.
That sampling of numbers would make him a worthy Most Valuable Player candidate at anytime, but it has been his impact on the offense as a whole that has him on the radar. Roethlisberger has added a big-play element that had been missing. The Steelers only connected on 12 passes over 20 yards during their first four games, but have completed 14 passes of 20-plus yards since the two-time Super Bowl winner returned.
With the return of the deep ball, the Steelers have had an effective answer to opponents trying to slow down Rashard Mendenhall.
Some would argue that Roethlisberger is only a controversial call away from having a .500 record in his return. Still, that officiating error can't take away from his production.
While his play can't completely remove the stain that Roethlisberger's behavior cast on the Steelers' organization and the league, it has thrust him into a pool of MVP contenders.
read more
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ba4e51/article/week-7-awards-watch-big-ben-moving-into-mvp-conversation