Bill Cowher On Ben Roethlisberger: ‘He’s Having A Lot Of Fun Playing The Game’

[polamalubeast]

(KDKA)- Fresh off a 38-29 win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week, the Steelers sit atop the AFC North thanks to an unblemished 4-0 record. The defense has been strong and the offense has been rolling right along thanks to the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

After missing last season with an elbow injury, it was uncertain what the team would get out of the 38-year-old QB this season. Thus far, it’s been a career-best completion percentage (69.9%), touchdown percentage (7%) and interception percentage (0.7%). Though he’s topped 300 yards just once, but he hasn’t had to get into shootouts because of the strength of the defense.

Roethlisberger’s old coach, Super Bowl XL winner and The NFL Today analyst Bill Cowher says he believes the year off gave Big Ben some “renewed freshness” in approaching the game.

“Sometimes, you don’t appreciate something until it’s been taken away from you. What happened last year is, football was taken away from him,” said Cowher in an interview with CBS Local’s Ryan Mayer. “He sat on that sideline and watched a team that really transformed from an offensive team into a defensive team when they picked up Minkah Fitzpatrick, harnessed Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt, they got Tuitt back this year, he was out last year. Devin Bush is in his second year. It’s a very solid defense. And, all of a sudden, he sees these young receivers and he’s coming back into it with a renewed freshness and new perspective on things and a chance to do this again.”

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[Fire Goodell]

10TD and 1INT, he's definitely having a hell of a start to the season

[fansince'76]

10TD and 1INT, he's definitely having a hell of a start to the season

He's being really smart when it comes to protecting the football. He's not throwing nearly as many risky passes as he has in the past.

[HollywoodSteel]

He's being really smart when it comes to protecting the football. He's not throwing nearly as many risky passes as he has in the past.

I don’t know if I TOTALLY buy into the theory that he forced the ball to AB a bit too much in 2018... but there might be something to that. I really like how many options Ben has now do distribute the ball. And to all selfless players.

Also it’s become more and more clear that Ben was in pain for the last couple of years. It’s nice that his elbow is pain free and his arm stronger now.

[fansince'76]

I don’t know if I TOTALLY buy into the theory that he forced the ball to AB a bit too much in 2018... but there might be something to that. I really like how many options Ben has now do distribute the ball. And to all selfless players.

It wasn't even so much him forcing the ball to AB, for a number of years now he seems to have always been good for at least one "WTF, Ben?" kind of throw per game that would often wind up being a bad INT. He's really not doing that so far this year.

Also it’s become more and more clear that Ben was in pain for the last couple of years. It’s nice that his elbow is pain free and his arm stronger now.

Completely agree. He's been throwing darts so far this year.