Ben's interceptions the one stain in an otherwise stellar season

[hawaiiansteeler]

Roethlisberger's interceptions the one stain in an otherwise stellar season

January 2, 2016
By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is on pace to finish the season with one of his worst touchdown to interceptions ratios of his career.

In many ways, Ben Roethlisberger will complete one of the best seasons of his illustrious career Sunday when the Steelers play the Browns in the regular-season finale in Cleveland. He is averaging 326 yards per game, the highest yards per game average of his career. He shredded two of the NFL’s best defenses when he threw for 456 yards against Seattle and 380 against Denver. His peers took notice as he was voted to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time despite missing four games in the middle of the season with a knee injury.

But there is one statistic that doesn’t shine brightly for Roethlisberger in 2015. His touchdown to interception ratio is among the worst in the league.

Scan the list of the league’s best quarterbacks in this important category and some familiar names are at the top. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are Nos. 1 and 2. League MVP candidates Carson Palmer and Cam Newton are in the top 10.

Where is Roethlisberger? All the way down at No. 36 behind rookies Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. Behind Jay Cutler, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Bradford, Tyrod Taylor and a host of other no-name quarterbacks.

One season after posting one of his best touchdown to interception ratios of his career (32 to 9), Roethlisberger is about to finish the season with one of his worst. He has thrown 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 11 games.

Roethlisberger is throwing an interception on average once in every 31 attempts. That’s on pace for his second-highest interception rate of his career.

For comparison’s sake, he threw an interception once in every 67 attempts last season.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201601020029

[Psycho Ward 86]

hmmm. i wonder how we can mitigate this and still move the ball well.


in all seriousness though. the fact that Ben never fumbled this season is pretty astonishing to me and lessens the number of picks he threw by a bit.

[SteelerFanInStl]

I think that Ben has simply been trying to force things a bit too much this year. I'm sure that he's felt the pressure to put up points with all of the talk of how great the offense is and with how bad the defense is.

[Moose]

Ben seemed good for 1 or 2 interceptions a game. Thankfully, few came back to bite us in the ass.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Ben seemed good for 1 or 2 interceptions a game. Thankfully, few came back to bite us in the ass.

unfortunately, they did last week against the Ravens...

[ALLD]

Taking too much risk and it cost us. It's like going double or nothing at the casino every time. Sooner or later the house will win it all.

[43Hitman]

I think that Ben has simply been trying to force things a bit too much this year. I'm sure that he's felt the pressure to put up points with all of the talk of how great the offense is and with how bad the defense is.

Yeah this is probably it, but he should know that if he just operates within the offense, spreads the ball around to his weapons, the points will come. We have to many guys that are capable for defenses to stop everyone. He just needs to be more patient.