Is Ben still clutch?

[st33lersguy]

So the first game this year where Ben is at 100% and doesn't light up the scoreboard and statbook and all of a sudden we have to question his clutch? Like last week when he spear-headed a 17 point comeback win against the best defense in the league. Take Big Ben away from this team and the game last Sunday would have been a battle for 2nd place in the division.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Is that Ben or the whole team in general that they haven't been there?

of course we have to distribute blame. its not all on Ben, but even so, Ben is missing out on plays he would normally make in the same situations. he's missed many wide open receivers going for the kill shot, very uncharacteristic of him. as i said in another thread, i suspect tomlin/haley are encouraging him to do this so i dont put it all on his shoulders, but it still seems he doesnt have the same magic he used to have. if ben is on the field and he hits the checkdown for yet another 1st down instead of an incompetion/pick, i doubt anybody, including tomlin/haley are going to complain.

on a side note, the thing that really annoys me about Haley is how different our offense seems from year to year, with no clear direction as far as "breaking open the playbook." The 1st 2 years we were extremely overzealously a dink and dunk offense, which allowed our very good YAC receivers to utilize their skill set, but completely nerfed Ben's arm talent. then last year, we seemed to have a pretty healthy mixture in terms of passing distances, albeit not without a couple of horribly called games like that 2nd browns game where we had like 15 runs called in a row at one point. And this year has been a shit ton of home run balls.

I prefer last year the most

[ALLD]

Ben is clutch, but that does not mean he can walk onto a field with no preparation and get consistent desired results. It looks like he took the holiday week off and was distracted. His focus was not entirely on football and the tape shows it.

[86WARD]

of course we have to distribute blame. its not all on Ben, but even so, Ben is missing out on plays he would normally make in the same situations. he's missed many wide open receivers going for the kill shot, very uncharacteristic of him. as i said in another thread, i suspect tomlin/haley are encouraging him to do this so i dont put it all on his shoulders, but it still seems he doesnt have the same magic he used to have. if ben is on the field and he hits the checkdown for yet another 1st down instead of an incompetion/pick, i doubt anybody, including tomlin/haley are going to complain.

on a side note, the thing that really annoys me about Haley is how different our offense seems from year to year, with no clear direction as far as "breaking open the playbook." The 1st 2 years we were extremely overzealously a dink and dunk offense, which allowed our very good YAC receivers to utilize their skill set, but completely nerfed Ben's arm talent. then last year, we seemed to have a pretty healthy mixture in terms of passing distances, albeit not without a couple of horribly called games like that 2nd browns game where we had like 15 runs called in a row at one point. And this year has been a shit ton of home run balls.

I prefer last year the most

Even last years offense with this years "defense" would've gone deep into the playoffs IMO.

[teegre]

BB was locked in on AB. Period. He had Heath and D.Williams open all game long, but he forced the ball to AB. So much so, that the CBs were able to jump routes and get 3 INTs (one was called back).

He's still clutch; he simply focused too much on AB on this particular day.



NOTE: BB hit Bryant to get into FG range. Bryant simply dropped it.

[lotas]

BB was locked in on AB. Period. He had Heath and D.Williams open all game long, but he forced the ball to AB. So much so, that the CBs were able to jump routes and get 3 INTs (one was called back).

He's still clutch; he simply focused too much on AB on this particular day.



NOTE: BB hit Bryant to get into FG range. Bryant simply dropped it.

Good point, Tiger. I agree with ALLD as well, Ben looked completely unfocused and lost out there, even the way he was dropping back and stutter-stepping like a damn ballerina looked odd and uncharacteristic? Maybe it was just how out of sync he was, and perhaps some of that came from him looking to AB as option #1 too often when the defense had already shown it wasn't going to be there.

AB is great, but he's not so great we shouldn't utilize our other receivers when he's having a hard time getting open. Unfortunately, Bryant seems to be becoming less and less dependable. His best and most consistent catch is probably the WR screen where the catch is unopposed, as is his next best catch, when he gets over the top of the defense and catches it on his chest down the sideline. He needs to really work on some of his fundamentals, and he needs to get his mental game sharpened to stay focused and disciplined and get over the drops, don't let it start to define you.

I'm really pulling for the kid but when I listen to him talk and watch him interact I feel he's got a ways to go in terms of maturity and growing up to do. I can't imagine being 22 and becoming a millionaire, so I don't fault the kid, he still wants to have fun like a college aged kid, but he's at a place in his life where he needs to focus on what he's got and grow up to keep your career sustained and successful.

On the other hand, Wheaton seems much more mature, dependable, respectable, and disciplined, and between the two I think Wheaton is actually more valuable in the long run, especially if Bryant continues to struggle. This whole WR crew, as good as they are, have room to improve in general.

AB is god damn awesome, but I think he's the type to get frustrated and give less and less effort as the frustration builds. Whereas a player like Heath Miller is going to play with 100% intention and effort for all 60 minutes, but I guess AB is flashy superstar and that shit comes with the territory sometimes. I'll take AB over Chad Johnson (I'm not calling you your god damn numerical name, ass) Terrell Owens, or even Dez Bryant.

I'm just gonna throw this out there, sometimes when Ben throws a bad ball to AB, he sometimes gives up and doesn't give a true effort to catch/bat down the ball

[zulater]

BB was locked in on AB. Period. He had Heath and D.Williams open all game long, but he forced the ball to AB. So much so, that the CBs were able to jump routes and get 3 INTs (one was called back).

He's still clutch; he simply focused too much on AB on this particular day.



NOTE: BB hit Bryant to get into FG range. Bryant simply dropped it.

Good points agree with all of them. I would like to add Wheaton could have made a better adjustment to the ball on the 4th down play. By his own admission he got distracted by the defenders arm. But the fact is the ball came to him untouched, and hit him at the top of his right shoulder-pad. ( not to be confused with collar bone high)

What's frustrating is that as bad as Ben was if either of those two balls gets caught we're probably going to OT or winning in regulation. Also if Antonio's touchdown is upheld as it should have been it's a different ball game as well. Instead of being in mourning mode today we would be talking about how it's the sign of a good team to win on a bad day. As they say, "game of inches".

[teegre]

Good points agree with all of them. I would like to add Wheaton could have made a better adjustment to the ball on the 4th down play. By his own admission he got distracted by the defenders arm. But the fact is the ball came to him untouched, and hit him at the top of his right shoulder-pad. ( not to be confused with collar bone high)

What's frustrating is that as bad as Ben was if either of those two balls gets caught we're probably going to OT or winning in regulation. Also if Antonio's touchdown is upheld as it should have been it's a different ball game as well. Instead of being in mourning mode today we would be talking about how it's the sign of a good team to win on a bad day. As they say, "game of inches".

Amen, brother.

That game could have been so different if any number of plays had gone the other way.


Oh... and, we'd be talking about how BB fought through his early struggles (as opposed to talking about whether or not he's still any good).

[teegre]

Good point, Tiger. I agree with ALLD as well, Ben looked completely unfocused and lost out there, even the way he was dropping back and stutter-stepping like a damn ballerina looked odd and uncharacteristic? Maybe it was just how out of sync he was, and perhaps some of that came from him looking to AB as option #1 too often when the defense had already shown it wasn't going to be there.

AB is great, but he's not so great we shouldn't utilize our other receivers when he's having a hard time getting open. Unfortunately, Bryant seems to be becoming less and less dependable. His best and most consistent catch is probably the WR screen where the catch is unopposed, as is his next best catch, when he gets over the top of the defense and catches it on his chest down the sideline. He needs to really work on some of his fundamentals, and he needs to get his mental game sharpened to stay focused and disciplined and get over the drops, don't let it start to define you.

I'm really pulling for the kid but when I listen to him talk and watch him interact I feel he's got a ways to go in terms of maturity and growing up to do. I can't imagine being 22 and becoming a millionaire, so I don't fault the kid, he still wants to have fun like a college aged kid, but he's at a place in his life where he needs to focus on what he's got and grow up to keep your career sustained and successful.

On the other hand, Wheaton seems much more mature, dependable, respectable, and disciplined, and between the two I think Wheaton is actually more valuable in the long run, especially if Bryant continues to struggle. This whole WR crew, as good as they are, have room to improve in general.

AB is god damn awesome, but I think he's the type to get frustrated and give less and less effort as the frustration builds. Whereas a player like Heath Miller is going to play with 100% intention and effort for all 60 minutes, but I guess AB is flashy superstar and that shit comes with the territory sometimes. I'll take AB over Chad Johnson (I'm not calling you your god damn numerical name, ass) Terrell Owens, or even Dez Bryant.

I'm just gonna throw this out there, sometimes when Ben throws a bad ball to AB, he sometimes gives up and doesn't give a true effort to catch/bat down the ball

BB was having an off day. When that happens to a QB, he looks for his "go to" guy, which is AB. The problem was: AB seemed to be a little off, as well.

AB had a TD called back, didn't really fight for two interceptions (one of which was called back), and didn't get both feet in in a third down pass. He was his usual self on the rest of the day, but the difference between All-Pro and pretty good are those exact type of plays.

Bryant slipped to R4 in the draft, because he dropped a ton of passes. He's the ultimate "boom or bust" type of player... on a single-game level, season level, and career level. He has the potential to be a 1000 yard 16 TD guy, but he could just as easily be a 400 yard 3 TD guy who drops 30 passes per season.

Wheaton is the epitome of a #2. He's got great hands, runs great routes, and is smart. Oh, and he can put up 150 when called upon to do so. He's just starting to develop. He'll be a 800 yard 8 TD guy for a decade.

[Mojouw]

Good points agree with all of them. I would like to add Wheaton could have made a better adjustment to the ball on the 4th down play. By his own admission he got distracted by the defenders arm. But the fact is the ball came to him untouched, and hit him at the top of his right shoulder-pad. ( not to be confused with collar bone high)

What's frustrating is that as bad as Ben was if either of those two balls gets caught we're probably going to OT or winning in regulation. Also if Antonio's touchdown is upheld as it should have been it's a different ball game as well. Instead of being in mourning mode today we would be talking about how it's the sign of a good team to win on a bad day. As they say, "game of inches".

The best perspective and statement on the game I have read all week. Great stuff, Zu!

[hawaiiansteeler]

last season Ben threw for 32 TDs with only 9 interceptions.

this season he has 21 TD passes but also has thrown 16 interceptions.

I love Ben and am very glad he's our QB, but he's definitely not playing like a future Hall of Famer this year...

[fansince'76]

I love Ben and am very glad he's our QB, but he's definitely not playing like a future Hall of Famer this year...

He wins the SB this year with this defense and his ticket is as good as punched.

[hawaiiansteeler]

He wins the SB this year with this defense and his ticket is as good as punched.

[ETL]

last season Ben threw for 32 TDs with only 9 interceptions.

this season he has 21 TD passes but also has thrown 16 interceptions.

I love Ben and am very glad he's our QB, but he's definitely not playing like a future Hall of Famer this year...

Agree.

He has the ability to play really well. I hope he does this Sat.

[tube517]

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/r...s/201601110038


Yeah, it's Ron Kook.

[Psycho Ward 86]

yesterday's performance by Ben will go down as a big part of his lore. It wasnt the prettiest but he was awfully impressive given his injury. I hate that the 2 penalties at the end of the drive are overshadowing the fact that Ben was driving us down the field just fine irregardless.

I really think that if neither of those penalties happened, we would have still won the game, just more along the lines of a 48ish yard field goal

[zoneblitzerII]

Ben is back in gear.

Steelers notebook: Ben Roethlisberger rekindles old, late magic

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201601110037

It had been almost five years since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger showed off the quality that defined the early portion of his career. Once known for being one of the most clutch quarterbacks of his era, Roethlisberger rekindled that magic Saturday night in Cincinnati when he orchestrated a nine-play, 74-yard drive in the final minute that ended with Chris Boswell’s 35-yard field goal in the Steelers’ 18-16 victory in an AFC wild-card game at Paul Brown Stadium.
It was Roethlisberger’s fourth, fourth-quarter playoff comeback and the 38th of his career overall. Among active players, only Tom Brady (nine) and Eli Manning (five) have more fourth-quarter comebacks in the postseason. And by getting his fourth, Roethlisberger wrote his name in the record books alongside Terry Bradshaw, John Elway and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who notched his fourth, fourth-quarter comeback in a playoff game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
It was Roethlisberger’s first fourth-quarter comeback since he led the Steelers on a late touchdown drive that beat the Ravens, 31-24, in a 2010 AFC divisional-round game. He had failed in his previous three fourth-quarter comeback attempts. He had the ball with a chance to win at the end of Super Bowl XLV, but the Steelers turned the ball over on downs. He had a chance to beat the Broncos at the end of regulation in the playoff loss at Denver after the 2011 regular season, and he couldn’t find a way to beat the Ravens at Heinz Field a year ago when he had the ball and a chance to tie the score in the fourth quarter.
“The only one I can’t put it ahead of was the Super Bowl against Arizona,” said veteran tight end Matt Spaeth, who witnessed firsthand three of Roethlisberger’s four postseason comebacks since joining the Steelers in 2007. “That was pretty amazing. But [Saturday] was up there. It was close. It was a crazy game. The fact that he did it the way he was feeling and hurt. It was pretty awesome.”
Roethlisberger’s first fourth-quarter playoff comeback came as rookie against the New York Jets in a divisional-round game in 2004. And of course, his most famous comeback came in Super Bowl XLIII. That drive ended with one of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history, a 6-yard pass to Santonio Holmes that completed an eight-play, 78-yard drive.
What made this one special were the circumstances. Roethlisberger made like Willis Reed and re-entered the game with 1:23 remaining after being injured on the final play of the third quarter when Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict sacked him.
He was 5 for 8 on the final drive, including a fourth-and-3 conversion to Antonio Brown with 28 seconds remaining.
“For me, it was probably his gutsiest one because he was in no way, shape or form, 100 percent out there,” said longtime long snapper Greg Warren, who has been with the team since 2005. “He was just grinding through, probably a lot of it on adrenaline and just trying to do everything he could to get this team through because we were that close. He knew if he could just go out there and help a little then that’s what he’d do. And he did. He gave us exactly what we needed. It was amazing.”
For a while it appeared the shoulder injury would prevent Roethlisberger from going back into the game. He didn’t immediately re-enter the game upon returning to the sideline. Backup Landry Jones led three drives, including one that ended in an interception with 1:36 remaining.
After Ryan Shazier stripped Jeremy Hill on the first play of the next series, Roethlisberger came on to lead the final drive.
“When he was out and then came back on the field everyone kind of got excited,” Spaeth said. “And then when he doesn’t go out there you realize he’s in a lot of pain because it’s not in Ben’s nature to not play. He’s a tough guy, and this is what he lives for. So it was a little disheartening when he wasn’t out there. And then when he did go back out there I think everyone got that little excitement and that little bit of energy that we needed.”
“Wild”, “awesome”, “amazing”, all words used by players Sunday to describe what took place Saturday night in Paul Brown Stadium. For the way it ended, with two personal foul penalties on the Bengals that set up the winning field goal, it will go down as one of the strangest endings in NFL annals.
For the teammates who watched Roethlisberger gut out the victory with an injured shoulder, it was one of the sweetest.
Sometimes, it takes time for moments to crystallize in sports history. And sometimes the moment is recognized immediately for its brilliance.
Warren said he knew as it happened that he had just witnessed one of the most remarkable endings to a playoff game in NFL history.
“Yeah, while it was happening we knew it was the greatest comeback that we’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “Even 24 hours later it hasn’t sunk in. We’re still excited about winning. It’s pretty special.”

[stillers4me]

The argument is moot. The man has a heart and gives all he's got and then some. No question about it.

[steel striker]

Ben has true grit!