Ben is ‘back to zipping the pigskin around the park’
“It’s leaps and bounds different from when we first started. He’s been working hard, and it’s been cool to be a part of that process and just to see him put his mind to coming back, just to see that tenacity has been neat to be a part of.” — Ryan Switzer.
From Kevin Patra at NFL.com:
While the focus the past several days has been on Ben Roethlisberger’s hair trim, the velocity of passes thrown in his session with teammates is the more relevant aspect of Big Ben’s recent video release to Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
Coming off elbow surgery, the quarterback has been cautious with his rehab, taking it slow especially, with offseason workouts being wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, however, Big Ben has ramped up the RPMs.
Wideout Ryan Switzer, who along with JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner worked out with Roethlisberger, told The Athletic that the quarterback is back to zipping the pigskin around the park.
“You know, like when the ball cuts through the air and you can hear that ‘pfft-pfft-pfft’ sound?” Switzer said. “That’s what JuJu said it sounded like. I didn’t hear it but, man, I have been trying to catch with no gloves for a couple of months to build up these callouses, but ask my hands how they feel catching his throws.”
Roethlisberger said earlier in the offseason that he’d been holding back during rehab to strengthen the elbow without overworking the injury. According to Switzer, there was no down-throttling from Big Ben in the most recent session.
“Man, he let it rip. There was no restraint, no hesitancy, he was just out there. He has been throwing like that for a while and, in my opinion at least, getting out there on that field for the first time and throwing full-speed routes was refreshing. The control factor was taken out of it. He was out there and he was throwing. Did some off-schedule stuff. No restraints. He threw everything — across his body. Everything.” — Ryan Switzer.
Switzer began catching passes from Big Ben in February, so he knows how far the quarterback has come in his rehab.
“Somebody with the accolades, has all the money in the world and to have an injury like this and to see that drive … I think a lot of […]
He’s backkkk!!!
To our Amazing Mom!!
You have been more than ‘just a Mom’ the last couple of months.
Thank you for being our teacher, chef, classmate, principal, and so much more…
We know it hasn’t been easy, but through it all – you have loved us more than we can even imagine…
And for that, we say thank you and we love you Mommy. You’re the best! — Love Jr, Bay and Bo.
I would also like to say Happy Mother’s Day to my Mother, my Mother-in-law, and all the other amazing Mothers out there. Hope you all have a Great and Blessed Day. — Ben.
For your viewing pleasure
“We are extremely confident in his readiness. We are enjoying the process he is going through right now. We like where we are. He is throwing on a rehab schedule. It’s going well. We fully anticipate him being ready to go.” – Mike Tomlin on #7 being ready for the opener.
Homistek: ‘Enough.’
“I’ve watched him, the last three years he’s been in unbelievable condition. Just getting in shape. I think that arm was hurting him for a year. So I think they’re going to have a big, big year. I think the Steeler defense is coming on. They could be right back in the thick of it.” — Bruce Arians.
From Hunter Homistek at DKPittsburghSports.com:
Ben Roethlisberger isn’t fat and out of shape, people.
Enough.
Roethlisberger’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and his conditioning, while it’s become a hot topic recently thanks to a comment from Jay Glazer, has never been a problem on the field. Where it matters.
That said, it’s 2020, the Internet exists, and people went berserk with the Glazer’s words. As such, Pat McAfee had to investigate during Thursday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show. Speaking with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians — who also served as the Steelers’ wide receivers coach from 2004 – 2006 and the team’s offensive coordinator from 2007 – 2011 — McAfee steered the conversation toward Roethlisberger, first by joking about the jungle currently growing on the quarterback’s face.
“Oh, baby. He’s got it going,” Arians, who is Roethlisberger’s neighbor on Lake Oconee in Georgia, began. “He’s trying to replace [Brett] Keisel.”
Then, McAfee turned to Roethlisberger’s recovery and his conditioning, noting that he had heard Roethlisberger is, in fact, taking his fitness seriously after coming off elbow surgery that sidelined him for all but six quarters of the 2019 season. Arians agreed.
That sentiment echoes Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert’s from late February in Indianapolis.
“He didn’t play last season so his body, the rest of his body, got the year off,” Colbert said. “I think that’s part of it. Anytime you repair anything with any kind of surgery, nobody knows at what point, you know when it happened, but what were the symptoms? Was his arm as strong as it had been? Who knows? I’m just optimistic that it could be better.”
Hunter’s Take:
What’s left to add? Everyone close to Roethlisberger has said the same thing since he went down last year and got the required surgery: He was hurting for a while, the issue’s handled and he’s on track to return for Week 1 of the 2020 season.
You can read more from Mr. Homistek’s report here.